JOKER STORE AND POST OFFICE BROUGHT TO LIFE - Potbellied Stove, "Liar's Bench," And Penny Candy

(01/14/2024)

Sketch of the long-gone Joker store and post office by Everett Vernon "Bill" Gainer, who says the sketch depicts Gainer on the porch waving to Walter Tuttle, carpenter and handyman, as he drives by, with a 1931 Ford on the left being the Gainer's family car in which he delivered the mail, but in and bad weather would ride his horse for delivery

By Bob Weaver

Longtime Ohio transplant Everett Vernon "Bill" Gainer, grandson of Joker old-timer the late Everett Gainer, solved our longtime dilemma of not finding a photo of "downtown" Joker, principally the Joker store and post office.

Gainer made a sketch of the establishment from his late 1930s memories.

During his time the store and post office was operated by Kelsey and Scottie Dawson.

The Joker post office was established in 1904, with Joker Sewell the postmaster, the village's namesake.

It was a meeting place with a pot belly stove, cracker barrels and about a half-dozen chairs around the stove for winter warming, with a "liar's bench" on the porch for summer visitors.

"I remember the penny candy and peppermint sticks," said Gainer.

Nearby was the Bryner Chapel Methodist Church, now closed.

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