Hearsay: Just where is Possum Kingdom?

Cowpens or Cope-ins? Hearsayer Martha of lovely Lavonia (Ga.) has a similar story to the one recently told here concerning the curious matter of Possum Kingdom, a community near Anderson that is famous for the kind of directions folks get when they inquire as to where PK actually is. Folks down the road from PK will tell you it's "just up the road a ways" and folks just up the road will tell you it's "just down the road a ways." Geographically speaking, no one seems willing to claim the place. So here's what Hearsayer Mar had to say: "A lot of people will probably remember when a young woman from South Carolina won Miss America. The commentator asked her what town she was from and she said, ‘Cope-ins.' She was from Cowpens, but I guess I wouldn't want to say Cowpens, either, would you?" Sorry, Mar, but Hearsay ain't willing to step into that one.

Neat "recycled" train engine needs a name! Hearsay was in Big "M" Ace Hardware in heavenly Hartwell (Ga.) the other day where she spied a small red train engine sitting at the front of the store. The engine is the work of Hearsayer Harlan of Hartwell, who announced he's an "avid recycler and retired builder. The engine is an old (riding) lawn mower. The red hood is an 80-gallon water tank. The front tire was recycled off an old Snapper lawn mower. The pipe for the smokestack came out of the old Springs (textile) plant." Now Mr. H has two passenger cars and a caboose he plans to put behind the pretty engine, then, he'll get down to business. "We're going to start a birthday business," said Mr. H, who can be reached at (706) 376-3583. "We'll attend social events with it — Anderson or wherever — riding children around in it." Hearsayer "Freight Train" Maxwell of Hartwell, who can whistle like a train, will be the conductor. But speaking of the train, it still needs a name! "We're inviting children (10 years old and under) to come in to Ace and name the engine," Mr. H said. A winner will be announced just before Thanksgiving and will get a $100 savings bond. Entry forms are at the hardware store, which is situated behind the Hartwell Post Office on Franklin Street. But wait! There's more! Anyone who brings a train-naming kid into Ace will get a $5 store coupon. So don't tarry; go name that train!

Is it concrete or could it be cement? Hearsayer Byron of hoppin' Honea Path tuned in with a note to Hearsay: "In your article of 10/5/10 you refer to the ‘cement in Atlanta,' I'm sure you know the difference between cement and concrete. I see this error frequently. Have a fun-filled day." Well, Mr. B of HP, Hearsay's never really considered the difference between concrete and cement, but for all those concerned about matters of mortar, she has since learned that concrete contains cement plus sand and gravel. It is the cement that binds the sand and gravel together to form concrete. So there you go, Mr. B, have a fun-filled day and don't get stuck in any wet cement! (Or would that be concrete?)