For five years she worked alone. Sometimes when the weather was not too bad she saddled a horse and rode out in the country with her camers to make pictures. her work kept her busy. Groups enjoyed coming to the gallery to have their pictures made. During the elections all canidates had pictures made. Her favorite hobby was baby pictures. Every proud parent wanted their child's picture and Mrs. Kelly was always ready to oblige. Recalling some of the persons whose picture she had made was that of Buford Overton, one of the three men who was hung in this country years ago. The three deputy sheriffs who captured Overton posed for their picture too. Mrs. Kelly was an ambitious young woman and saw the prospect of a great future here in her line of work. After five years of working alone, Mrs. Mollie Ball Bailey went away to take a course in photography and help with the gallery. The gallery was later moved up stairs in a building where the Cumberland Hardware is today. Mrs. Kelly lived with her aunt, Mrs. Mary Smith Beaty on second Street across from where the Cherry building is today. Mrs. Beatty was one of the pioneer switch board operators in Harlan. Her one room office was over the Harlan Supply building. There were very few telephones in Harlan at the time. She handled all the local and long distance calls alone.
Prospered For 8 Years
Few of her hours were spent in the "picture gallery." The pose picture shown on page one was arranged by Mrs. Kelly. She placed her friends before the scenery and adjusted her tripod camera just right. Then she flew back to her position while someone snaped the picture.
Mrs. Kelly prospered in the picture business for eight years before selling her equipment to Jim Eads, who operated one of the first printing presses in Harlan. Her photography equipment was used in his business as long as he had a shop in Harlan.
Sunday November 9, 1952
Volume 51 No. 265
pages 1 & 8
