← Back to 1988

A country store tradition

by Laura Husar
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. After a long day’s work, Alfred, Elizabeth and their granddaughter Tanyel walk across Highway 55 to their house across the street.

Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. 

Miller’s grocery opened Nov. 2, 1948, the day Harry Truman was elected president. Miller, 73, married his wife Elizabeth the same year.

“I don’t think I could have made it without her,” he said. “There wasn’t a honeymoon,” Elizabeth said. “He couldn’t leave because he was married to the store.”

Miller enjoys watching generations of Russell County’s young people grow and join his older customers’ conversations. Miller loves the simple life in his country store and hopes that growth in Russell County won ‘t change small stores like his.

Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. The dusty shelves in Miller’s store are decorated with old pictures of the University of Kentucky’s basketball team, Alfred’s favorite. He said he has never missed a single game since they’ve been on television.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Alfred Miller reads the newspaper while his wife and granddaughter do a crossword puzzle to pass the time of day.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Alfred Miller stands in the doorway of his store, ready to greet customers and friends who come to visit.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Alfred Miller was born and raised in Jamestown, and opened his store the day Harry Truman was elected president.
The “Rock of Ages” quartet practices at the local baptist chapel. Singing from left to right is Harry Kimbler, Bob Ford, Charles Knight and Delno Roy. The quartet plays at Christian rock music for the community at various events.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Alfred Miller cleans his fingernails with a knife.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Elizabeth Miller walks under the natural bridge on the outskirts of Jamestown, near the area where she was born.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Local fisherman, molasses-makers, farmers and teachers enjoy the warmth of the rising sun inside Miller’s store.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Doing a crossword puzzle together, Tanyel Kimbler, 11, leans closer to Elizabeth Miller, her grandmother.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Miller was born and raised in Jamestown, and opened his store the day Harry Truman was elected president.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Outside the store, Miller still pumps gas for his customers.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Outside the store, Claud Ashley whittles and his son Peanut drinks soda pop to pass the time of day.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Alfred Miller still uses the same cash register he bought over 50 years ago.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Cleaning up before opening at 3:00 am, Alfred Miller and his wife prepare for their early morning customers.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. After a long day’s work, Alfred, Elizabeth and their granddaughter Tanyel walk across Highway 55 to their house across the street.
Up in the hills on KY 55, about eight miles outside Jamestown, grocery store owner Alfred Miller leans back and lets his guests entertain themselves. Farmers, fishermen and anyone else with time to sit and talk gather at the grocery. Sewing while watching the evening news, Sally Wheat, 82, Elizabeth’s mother, lives with the Millers.
Three Russell Springs Country grade school football players stand on the sideline during a heated part of the game. They lost to the Oilers 20-12.