I met Renee Hansen and Karen Reinertson at the Montana Room at the Big Sandy Library. This is where you will find all the old Mountaineers bound and available to the public to read. They use them to do their research for the Old-Timers column. So many people were asking who we got to recompile the column, I thought it would be interesting to visit with them about it.
Why did they decide to write the column? Karen said, "I hated to see the column disappear." It was too important to her. Renee said she thought it would be a fun thing to do--getting together with Karen. "I totally enjoyed reading the old-timers news, and I missed it also! It is so fun and interesting. And some of the articles in the old papers are"...She paused while trying to find the right word to express what they found in the old papers, "quite interesting." Then both Karen and Renee laugh. Clearly, they have enjoyed the process of researching the old timers' columns.
Karen told me that she wished in a way we could make the column in the paper longer. "We try to pick articles that will be the most interesting." While looking through the old newspapers at the library, they find so many intriguing old articles.
Renee was impressed, "The prices of things 100 years ago, 75, even 25 years ago. It's amazing!"
Karen told me she felt honored to be asked to compile the information. Karen and Renee meet for coffee at the Senior Center. On a quick thought, one day, I went in and asked if anyone there was interested in writing for the paper. I was excited to find that they were. The old-timers' column is the favorite of almost everyone, so finding someone willing to do the research was essential.
They learned that sometimes it was not published every week, and it had world information in it. Back then, it was the only source of news the community had. There is real value in understanding we were here 100 years ago. That we have survived and are still a strong community that is starting to grow again, I think it is even more remarkable that the paper still exists and can be read from one hundred years ago.
Renee said, "I love it, and I hope we do it justice. One thing about working with Karen it is so much fun! We are still in the learning stage, so please be patience."
