Pine Mountain, Then and Now

Today I’m sharing my interview with Amy Skinner — many of you know her as the creative force behind the Pine Mountain Art Alliance (PMAA)! In this episode, Amy talks about the PMAA, plus two exciting events coming up: the grand opening of the ArtSprout Gallery with a ribbon cutting on October 18 at 2:00 p.m., and the Plein Air Event happening right here in Pine Mountain on October 25. Tune in and hear how art is blooming all around Pine Mountain!

Season 3 of Pine Mountain, Then and Now kicks off with the story of the Man O’ War Trail—once a busy railway line, now a 13.4-mile path connecting our community. I’m joined by Dawn Hiers of Chipley Cycle, who shares how she and her husband built their downtown bike shop into a hub for cyclists of all ages. And in the Memory Lane segment, the late Pope Davis recalls a 1937 fireworks explosion in Chipley—a small-town story that’s as funny as it is unforgettable.

Most folks know Dowdell’s Knob as one of FDR’s favorite picnic spots—but not everyone knows about the B-25 bomber crash that happened there on a foggy October night in 1953. In this solo episode, I share the powerful true story of a plane crash and the 19-year-old sailor who miraculously survived. Nearly 60 years later, the community came together to honor the five men who were lost—and the one who lived.

Once upon a time, you could buy a brand-new Ford right here in downtown Pine Mountain. In this episode, we trace the story of Wisdom Motors, the town’s longtime car dealership — from its start in 1917 to its final days in the ’80s. PLUS — don’t miss our Memory Lane segment featuring Pope Davis, who just turned 101. Pope shares his memories of growing up in Chipley, including a humorous story about his wife Evelyn’s early days as a cook.. And be sure to stop by the Chipley Historical Center Open House this weekend for their new exhibit, Harris County Cooks in the 1940s.

Today’s episode isn’t your typical history lesson. This amusing and wildly creative tall tale about the origin of Chipley is steeped in Southern charm, touched with a little moonlight magic, and — let’s be real — packed with more than a few questionable facts. It’s 100% storytelling, 100% fun, and absolutely unlike anything you’ve heard before.

Did you know there’s a female World War II veteran buried in the Pine Mountain City Cemetery? I didn’t, until I spotted the gravestone of Mary Hastey Hewitt during a stroll through the cemetery. That one moment sent me down a rabbit hole of questions. Who was she? Before I knew it, my little walk had turned into a full-on search for answers. And in today’s episode, I share what I found.

Did you know that Pine Mountain used to have a Coca Cola Bottling Plant right in downtown? It was located where the Chipley Historical Center stands today. Even though the plant is long gone, there’s some really great things happening on the site. You can participate in an architectural dig on Saturday afternoons from 1 to 4 with our local archeologist and volunteer extraordinaire, Patrick Severts. And drum roll please . . . the Chipley Historical Center received a grant from Norfolk Southern RR and will use it to refurbish the caboose’s exterior, starting this month!

Today I share the history of the building in town that was built in 1892, and still has the cash register, hand crank elevator and wood floors inside. There’s so much history to the building, including what you could buy at the store back in the day, and some of it will surprise you. You’ll appreciate Cat’s Meow even more after you listen to today’s episode.