Dunagan's Store

Everette Dunagan said it best about Dunagan's Store when he wrote about its history. The following is his presentation which has been updated.


"This quaint country store, still in operation as a family-owned business after some 60 years, was founded by my Dad, James Edward “Jimmy” Dunagan, in the late 1920’s, while working at a blacksmith shop for Zelmer Milton “Milt” Tarter at the junction of what is now Kentucky 1275 and old Kentucky 90. He sold merchandise in conjunction with his shop work. When Mr. Tarter moved one mile east and built a larger shop, my dad and his brother-in-law Cleve Ramsey, continued the store and shop. They closed it in the early 1930’s and my dad built a store near where this one now stands. It was called “J.E. Dunagan’s Store”.

In 1935, my dad bought this building and moved it 100 yards from its original site with the assistance of a man from Cartwright, Kentucky, a neighbor of Clyde Corder and a pair of mules. The building was moved by winding a cable around a post rotated by one mule. Logs beneath the building rolled as it moved. The trek took two days, but a week was required to turn it around to its present position. Deed books provide a list of previous (and current) owner:

1890 – Amanda Lanier and others sold 47 square rods of land to James B. Lanier.
___Thomas Lanier to Eads and Walden
1903 – J.D. Eads to A.B. Parrigan
1918 – A.B. Parrigan to Charles Burnett
1919 – Charles Burnett to B.E. Roberts
1919 – B.E. Roberts to Weaverton Lodge No. 871 (Upstairs)
1920 – B.E. Roberts to J.B. Simpson (Downstairs)
1928 – J.B. Simpson to George Van Hook
1930 – George Van Hook to Willie Dick
1935 – Willie Dick to J.E. Dunagan
2002 – Everette Dunagan to Helen McClendon & Carolyn Simpson (current owner).

Soon thereafter Mr. George Catron, principal of the Mill Springs High School entered into partnership with my dad. “Dunagan and Catron” was the new name. After two years Mr. Catron sold his interest back to my dad and the store became “J.E. Dunagan’s Store again. It stayed that way until 1946, when I returned from the Air Force and, as I had requested, went into business with him. The new name was “J.E. Dunagan and son”. It continued that way until the mid 1950’s, when I assumed full ownership and changed it to “Dunagan’s Grocery and Supply”.

I was married in 1949 to a Wayne County girl, Laura Ellen Kelsay. We were blessed with two sons: Daryl in 1950 and Duane in 1955. Lake Cumberland was constructed and filled in 1950. With the lake came a new constituent of customers, good, fun-loving people mostly from Ohio. Mill Springs Park with the Old Mill was dedicated in 1961.

As most country stores do , we carry a staple line of groceries, meats, vegetables, dry goods, shoes, hardware, feed, fertilizers, notions, fishing supplies, ice and of course, country ham and bacon. Times have changed, but the store’s appearance has not. Some things are not available as previously, but we desire to satisfy the demands of the public as best we can.

The Store houses the Mill Springs Post Office, established in 1825, the county’s first outside of Monticello. It has been painted by two artists: Larry Hampton of Indiana and Craig Hendrix of Michigan. It has been described in a newspaper article and hardback book by Byron Crawford of the Louisville Courier Journal. It is photographed daily in the summer by people from every state and numerous foreign countries.

There have been many memorable experiences over the years, but the friendliness, love and caring of everyone are the greatest memories.

My sons are now married and living elsewhere, however, returning is a treat for them, their wives, the grandchildren and also the proud grandparents.

The returning of people year after year is gratifying. I still enjoy what I do. I have been blessed through the years and for that I am thankful to God.

I hope you enjoy your stay and soon return to the place where- “Good or bad, it is as it is. It wouldn’t be the same any other way and you are a stranger but once.”"







Post Script – In May of 2002 Everette Dunagan sold his beloved store and all its contents at a public auction which attracted hundreds. The building and land were purchased by Helen McClendon and her daughter, Carolyn Simpson, the present owner. The building is now named: Dunagan’s Store.

Mr. Dunagan passed and met his Maker on November 4, 2010. He is missed by his family, friends, neighbors and customers.