*these photos do know belong to me. Top is from USA Today and the bottom pic probably belongs to Ian.*
This is my friend Georgette. If you have ever visited me, for the day or days, we've gone to Marshall and we stopped in her store, Penland's. Her family has owned it for three or four generations. Even the the front displays carry a touch of nostalgia. The displays of modern Carhart, pajamas made in North Carolina, books about the wild stories of Madison County (there are some great stories), homemade products from the artisans in the area and sometimes fresh veggies and fruit. It is the heartbeat of downtown Marshall.
I first met Georgette when friends took me to her store and introduced us. It was part of their Madison County tour because my friends grew up there and have a deep abiding love for that county. Cuman, Inez's husband, has some great stories and he knows the history, good, bad, legal and maybe some illegal. He has some of the best stories of moonshine days. He wasn't with us that day but he asked Inez not to take the river road to Madison. We swore secrecy not to tell Cuman we did. Oops! Anyway... Several weeks later I went back to Penland's and reintroduced myself. Her friendship took me right in. I'll forever be grateful for that. Since I was here by myself then and didn't really visit with people much, she was so patient as I talked and talked and talked to her. Then before leaving I'd always apologize that I had taken so much of her time. She was always gracious saying, I enjoyed visiting. When locals came in to shoot the breeze or pick up a few things, Georgette would introduce me just like I was from around there. Not too long after meeting her, she gave me her cell number and home phone number. She said no matter what time, day or night, call if you need help or anything. We are not that far from you and we will be there in a jiffy. I still have that note in my project desk room attached to a wall hanging so I would never lose it. In exchange I always shared oil and gas related news to her. Roy called one day and said it hasn't hit the news yet, but Colonial Pipeline is shut down. It is the pipeline supplier to our area of the country. I texted friends but one of the first I told was Georgette. Fill up your cars, your family members cars before the news hits and lines start forming at the gas stations. Over the years I sent her that alert several times.
Downtown Marshall began a resurgence several years ago and Penland's was an anchor to that. Then Hurricane Helene came a calling and changed everything. Half of downtown, gone. Buildings that had survived the flood of 1916, gone. Six feet of water got into her store. Her family lost everything in that store, including 100 year old red oak floor and sub floor, the old display cases. Only the antiques on the very top made it, including Pee Wee Herman. Now they are trying to put it all back together. Mud removed and waiting on estimates for HVAC and other things. If anyone deserves our support right now it is Georgette.
I am hoping that any Houston friends that stopped and shopped at her store might want to make a contribution of any size to the rebuilding of a business but so much more than that. If you come in the future, invest so that we can make a stop there. Georgette always takes care of everyone, now is the time to help take care of she and her husband and extended family to make a go of this again. Mountain Strong! Madison Strong!
If you would like to make a monetary gift to them, message me and I will send you her mailing address. So worthy of time and consideration.
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