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Bag full of dreams

by Herman Adams
Giving up a well-established business and their jobs, James and Linda Wilhelm packed their bags and moved to Scottsville. “It was our dream since we got married – to own our own grocery!” said Linda. The pair moved from Tennessee where she was a plant manager and he owned a restaurant, in 1978. After coming to Scottsville, James, 52, and Linda, 36, bought a small, one-room grocery near the Barren River Reservoir. That grocery, the J & L Market, is now one of the largest businesses on the lake front. It sells gas, deli food, fishing gear and camping supplies, in addition to groceries. Part of the reason for the business’ success is because “they’re good people,” one patron said. Fishermen say they go out of their way to stop at the market for bait. “They give you enough minnows for your money,” said one Fayette County woman. “We don’t count ‘em,” Linda said. “We just dip ‘em.”

Giving up a well-established business and their jobs, James and Linda Wilhelm packed their bags and moved to Scottsville.

“It was our dream since we got married to own our own Grocery,” said Linda.

The pair moved from Tennessee, where she was a plant manager and he owned a restaurant, in 1978. After coming to Scottsville, James, 52, and Linda, 36, bought a small, one-room grocery near the Barren River Reservoir.

That grocery, the J &  L Market, is now one of the largest businesses on the lake front. It sells gas, deli food, fishing gear and camping supplies, in addition to groceries.

Part of the reason for the business’ success is because “they’re good people,’ one patron said.

Fishermen say they go out of their way to stop at the market for bait.

“They give you enough minnows for your money,” said one Fayette County woman.

“We don’t count ’em,” Linda said, “We just dip’ em.”

Giving up a well-established business and their jobs, James and Linda Wilhelm packed their bags and moved to Scottsville. “It was our dream since we got married – to own our own grocery!” said Linda. The pair moved from Tennessee where she was a plant manager and he owned a restaurant, in 1978. After coming to Scottsville, James, 52, and Linda, 36, bought a small, one-room grocery near the Barren River Reservoir. That grocery, the J & L Market, is now one of the largest businesses on the lake front. It sells gas, deli food, fishing gear and camping supplies, in addition to groceries. Part of the reason for the business’ success is because “they’re good people,” one patron said. Fishermen say they go out of their way to stop at the market for bait. “They give you enough minnows for your money,” said one Fayette County woman. “We don’t count ‘em,” Linda said. “We just dip ‘em.”
Giving up a well-established business and their jobs, James and Linda Wilhelm packed their bags and moved to Scottsville. “It was our dream since we got married – to own our own grocery!” said Linda. The pair moved from Tennessee where she was a plant manager and he owned a restaurant, in 1978. After coming to Scottsville, James, 52, and Linda, 36, bought a small, one-room grocery near the Barren River Reservoir. That grocery, the J & L Market, is now one of the largest businesses on the lake front. It sells gas, deli food, fishing gear and camping supplies, in addition to groceries. Part of the reason for the business’ success is because “they’re good people,” one patron said. Fishermen say they go out of their way to stop at the market for bait. “They give you enough minnows for your money,” said one Fayette County woman. “We don’t count ‘em,” Linda said. “We just dip ‘em.”
Sign shows the low bait prices at the L & J Market on the lake outside of Scottsville.
Herbert Johnson checks the oil in his 1946 panel van at J & L Market near Barren River Reservoir Lake in Scottsville. Johnson drives his truck daily as transportation. He is a woodsman.
Giving up a well-established business and their jobs, James and Linda Wilhelm packed their bags and moved to Scottsville. “It was our dream since we got married – to own our own grocery!” said Linda. The pair moved from Tennessee where she was a plant manager and he owned a restaurant, in 1978. After coming to Scottsville, James, 52, and Linda, 36, bought a small, one-room grocery near the Barren River Reservoir. That grocery, the J & L Market, is now one of the largest businesses on the lake front. It sells gas, deli food, fishing gear and camping supplies, in addition to groceries. Part of the reason for the business’ success is because “they’re good people,” one patron said. Fishermen say they go out of their way to stop at the market for bait. “They give you enough minnows for your money,” said one Fayette County woman. “We don’t count ‘em,” Linda said. “We just dip ‘em.”
A young student waits at the L & J Market to catch a ride to school. Many of the local school kids get on the bus there.
Dwight Edwards, who runs J & L Market with his parents talks with Mitchell, a local farmer, outside his store.
Haskell Jackson, 89, of Scottsville caries his groceries from the supermarket to his home where he lives with his sister. Jackson does not drive and never has.
This old gas pump shows how things change slower in Scottsville than a lot of larger cities, At 29 cents per gallon the gas station was destined to go out of business years ago.