January 2006

Wood Thing Inn

Willa Dean Bonnell Spiker

Dean reveals that "prissy" Jean Spiker Haught felt "Woodpecker" was a naughty word.

Some of my children wanted me to tell this story (true) about Aunt Jean Haught.

We were driving out the “Harrisville Ridge” talking about “things” we saw on the way. We passed a beer joint owned by Freer Kiester. It was called the Woodpecker Inn. Now as you all know, Aunt Jean was a “prissy” thing, well, maybe not prissy exactly but very dignified, wouldn’t say anything the least bit naughty. She called it the “Wood Thing Inn”. Our children thought this very funny. We used to tease her a lot about it. By the way, the place is no longer there.