Martha Shaddix raises the flag at her store/Post Office in Halfway, Kentucky.
Martha Shaddix always wanted to own a Rock City barn.
Growing up in Florida, she rode up through the South in the back seat of her parent's car to visit relatives in Georgia and North Carolina. Watching the road, watching the barns go by, dreaming of a barn of her own. With a See Rock City sign, by golly.
Her dream came true in 1978 when she bought the old store at Halfway, Kentucky, complete with Rock City sign. Opened in 1923, the Halfway Trading Post is one of only two country stores still in operation bearing the Rock City message. The other is in west Tennessee and is not currently maintained by Rock City.
Life is kinda slow in Halfway, except on U.S. Highway 231, where traffic is kinda fast. Martha opens up her store every morning, six days a week, and since she's the Postmaster too, she goes out and raises the flag first thing.
(From my book Rock City Barns: A Passing Era.)
I haven't been through Halfway in quite a few years. Martha is a very old lady now, if she's still with us. She got a kick out of selling the Rock City Barns book in her store.
The second edition of Backroads and Byways of Georgia is almost ready to ship. Watch this space for ordering instructions.
Check out the pictures at my online gallery: https://davejenkins.pixels.com/ Looking is free, and you might find something you like.
Photography and text copyright 2023 David B.Jenkins.
I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.
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