West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 136 by Charlie Miller

Earl E. Gregg, who, along with Mrs. Gregg, operated the West Jefferson Insurance Agency office in the Mellott Building. He later was affiliated with Charlie Hay in the Gregg & Hay Insurance Co. He also at one time managed the Ohio Fuel Gas Co. He was born Edwin Earl Gregg on March 19, 1887, but always went by Earl or just E. E. Gregg. He was a colorful character; he was a champion trap shooter. He served as a Village Clerk for many years. He rode motorcycles in his youth and was still riding motorscooters in his 90’s. When Evil Kanevil was jumping the Snake River with his motorcycle, Earl said he was going to jump Little Darby with his scooter! He lived on the corner of Rt. 40 and Plain City Road, he had a building with an open front that held a 1917 Ford; he was asked to sell it so many times that he just put a big sign in front of it that said NO. Earl died October 30, 1983, at age 96, and is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. In 1969, Earl submitted this to the Madison Press: Mayor Horace G. Putnam was very original while living; he prepared for the hereafter by selecting a highly elevated lot in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery so it would be free from floods. He arranged for the purchase of a white marble slab that covered the entire grave; it is very thick to discourage grave diggers, vandals, and storm and high water. He had it lettered in large, bold carved letters and figures as follows; “Horace Putnam July 10, 1855 to July 28, 1942. This Life Would Be Hell Had Providence Not Made it Beautiful By Death.” E. E. Gregg, Village Clerk under H. B. Putnam in the 1920’s.

-Albert “Tab” Braithwaite owned the Electric Shop. He first opened his shop in the building on the corner of Main and Center Streets, which was shared with the I. G. A grocery store, now Veterans’ Park. He later moved to the building he built in 1952 at 12 W. Main St. and shared it with the Post Office. Your writer saw his first TV in the front window of the shop. The tab would be set up on Saturday nights when there was a crowd that came in to do their shopping.

-The Madison Press, dated the week of October 14, 1934, listed the following business in West Jeff:

E. J. Britton & Son, grocery; Harry Coe, Farmers Implement Co.; John Baber, dealer In DeSoto and Plymouth cars; Ed J. Buckley, Hardware; Edith Bradfield, Floral Shop; Kiser-Hoe Cannery, Eugene Compton, Garage and dealer in Ford cars; Norman Smith, Restaurant; Ed Cochran Rock Filling Station; Okie Rice, Pool Room.

- A new filling station is under construction on E. Main Street and will be operated by A. F. Dietsch and Son. The new firm will be known as the Sunset Oil Co. They are also erecting a fine new home on the lot next to the filling station. This is now C&C Auto and Towing.

- Samuel Willoughby bought the William Wanzel saloon in the James Murray Building. Mr. Wanzel moved this saloon to his newly erected building on Main St. on October 3, 1905. (This building is located at 25 W. Main St. The James Murray Building sits on the current site of Pat’s Pizza & Pub on the corner of E. Main St. and Chester St.)