In my last column, I wondered why people in the early 20th century would purchase cow tails, as I saw in an old store ledger. An alert reader provided me with an answer. I met Debbie Temple a few years ago when I conducted an oral history with her and her lovely grandmother, Gladys Stanton Cross. Debbie told me her grandmother told her the cow tails were used to swat flies. Makes sense and another mystery solved.

Barry Gibson

Speaking of oral histories, my friend Vickie Goeller and I interviewed Barry Gibson last week. If you don't know his name you certainly know of him -- he's the man blowing bubbles on weekends in front of his wife Nancy's shop, The Forget-Me-Not Factory. Barry has forgotten more things about Main Street than I'll ever know, and from his spot on the street he meets and greets everyone in town.

The shop is in an old building often referred to as The Opera House. Barry told us vaudeville shows were regularly produced there, and he actually met a woman on the street who used to play the piano during the silent movies that were shown. Jonathan Ellicott used to live in the building, until he moved to his new home near the mill on the other side of the Patapsco. That house was lost after Tropical Storm Agnes. This street contains so much history.

Charlie Risselada

Charlie is one of my favorite waiters at Tersiguel's and a regular Renaissance man. His many talents include a flair for painting, and right now he has an exhibit at Gallery RoCa in Havre de Grace. His paintings on display are made by pouring latex paint on large three-dimensional wood surfaces, which depict actual earth land formations. This exhibit will run through June. The Gallery phone number is 410-374-9291.

Lee Doll

Every time I see e-mail in my inbox from Lee Doll I smile, wondering what he's up to this time. Lee works on Main Street at Cottage Antiques, but that's only the tip of his creative iceberg. He writes songs, he plays in a band, and has a talented wife and daughter.

Now, of all things, he reports the world premier of a movie he is in -- a Western -- is coming up at the Diamond Cinemas Westview, 5824 Baltimore National Pike, in Catonsville. The limited engagement is Monday and Tuesday, July 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m.

The film is titled "One-Eyed Horse," is set in 1887 Hadley, Mo., but filmed in Maryland, and tells a classic tale of the old west with drama, action and adventure. Lee is a Lone Pine Saloon regular.

Sounds like a lot of fun. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online at www.one-eyedhorse.com. Costumes are encouraged for premier attendees, but be warned -- firearms must be checked at the theater door. All in good fun.

Photo contest

Ed Lilley, president of the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation, has announced the winners in the Historic District Photo Contest for 2008. The photos are on display at the Howard County Historical Society through June. The contest judges were Ken Losurdo of Losurdo Photography, Natalie Harvey, a retired photojournalist, and Doug Bruns of f64 Gallery.

Call the Historical Society at 410-750-0370 for hours.

E-mail news and events taking place to janetkusterer@juno.com.

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