303 Bryan Street Hopkinsville, KY

2009-04-12T19:03:00.001-07:00

2008-12-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

Meredith Shellcross Hopson moved his family from the Gracey farm in 1911. He built 303 Bryan Street for $4,500. After Shell & Bettie Hopson passed, the house was left to Jim & Bess Hopson Wolfe. Granddaddy Wolfe had a thing about brownstone. Whenever he saw a piece in a shop he bought it brought it home.

Good Aromas from the Kitchen

2008-12-17T10:13:00.001-08:00

Both Jim & Bess loved to cook. They had dinner parties for family & friends. During the Great Depression, Jim took food to family and neighbors. He also prepared kettles of soup for the homeless. He would pick folks up at the railroad tracks and feed them in the backyard.

Christmas Mornings

2008-12-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

For a few years, when Johnny & Betty were very little, Santa knew that they were in Hopkinsville. He would leave their gifts at 303 Bryan Street. Betty has a special memory of one such Christmas. The fireplace in the front bedroom was lit. There was a rag doll for Betty and a monkey doll for Johnny. Bess Wolfe had personally assisted Santa in the making of these dolls.

Having grown up at 303, Dorothy remembers Christmas waiting in the dining room. The fireplace was lit, a Christmas tree and fruit filled stockings were arranged. On Christmas Eve, her daddy (James Wolfe) would help her write a letter to Santa. He'd mail it by holding it in the fire's draft and sending it up the chimney.

Young Bess

2008-12-16T11:41:00.000-08:00

(Bess is left)

"I think it's a step forward to go back to those days in this country when neighbors knew neighbors and kids were not afraid to go play sandlot ball on their own." Joe Schriner

"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin

"I purchased excellent and beautiful horses, visited all such neighbors as I found in congenial spirits, and was as happy as happy could be." John James Audubon

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22:39

Uncle Guy's Son

2008-12-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

Willard Hopson making a delivery to Bryan Street.

Delivery Wagon

2008-11-19T19:16:00.000-08:00

Uncle Guy worked for Granddaddy Wolfe at the Standard Oil Distribution Plant. Here he is delivering coal oil to Bryan Street.