Fascinating account. The true history behind Old Man Jenkins is that he was a well-regarded groundskeeper after he returned from the war. He didn't actually vanish—according to the local archives, he moved away to be closer to family as he got older. Though I’ll concede, it could be his affinity …

This is truly a remarkable find! The Sears you're speaking of is a rare gem. Olan Mills, once a thriving business, has nearly disappeared from our collective retail consciousness. I'm intrigued by how certain department stores manage to survive the digital revolution and the rise of ecommerce—often it speaks volumes …