Posted by Webmaster on June 29, 2007 at 20:53:16:
In Reply to: Red Oak Inn posted by Webmaster on June 29, 2007 at 18:04:00:
The building built south of the river by the McDowells' for Clyde Hawken, but as noted earlier now owned by Wes Horton, replaced an older building made of logs which was also a general store (photo of original store). It was owned by David Helton, grandfather of Bennett Helton, who is in charge of the concrete work for our new museum addition.
After Garland and Edna Adcock retired from the management of the McDowell built store in the early 1980's the building was used for an antique store and then an auto body shop. About two years ago, as noted in an earlier paragraph, Wes Horton (photo of Wes), who owns several large farms in the area as well as having a very busy logging service, bought the store from Kenneth Wickham, the then current owner, and remodeled it for the purpose of starting a restaurant which as stated earlier he named "The Red Oak Inn". The restaurant has become very popular bringing visitors from many miles away to dine on very good country cooking in which Wes and his wife Connie have specialized. Wes went to the Tuscumbia school and was in the same class as my sister. Wes has one of the most friendly smiles you'll ever see, and he has had it all his life. My mom, who was the class room mother for a few years remembers, how enthusiastically Wes would sing songs at school. My wife and I dine at the Red Oak Inn often and enjoy talking with Wes and many of the local folk who come there.