June July 2024 | Kentucky Monthly Magazine

NEW FRONTIER

Orange County, Indiana, offers a diverse range of natural beauty and outdoor activities, from hiking and camping to fishing and cycling, making it an ideal destination for those looking to connect with nature and history.

Whether you’re seeking adventure or tranquility, there is something for everyone to discover.

Let Us Help You Plan Your Trip Today!

Jared and Josh Ravenscraft of New Frontier Outfitters (page 12)

12 True to Home New Frontier

Points of

30 Broadway Beneath the Stars Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theater celebrates

36 Butterfly, Reinvented Louisville-born champion swimmer Mary T. Meagher achieved unmatched success in the pool— and then set out to live a quiet life

38 Happy 250th, Harrodsburg! The Mercer County town has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a frontier settlement

Test your knowledge of our beloved Commonwealth. To find out how you fared, see the bottom of Vested Interest.

1. One-time Henderson resident William Christopher Handy is known as what?

A. The handiest man on the Green River

B. Father of the Blues

C. The first steamboat captain to travel from Louisville to Saint Louis

2. National Boone Day is celebrated on June 7 because it marks which milestone in the explorer’s life?

A. His birthday in 1734

B. His death date in 1820

C. The day in 1769 when he first passed through the Cumberland Gap

3. Abraham Linkhorn (17381786), the grandfather of the 16th president of the United States, is buried in which Kentucky county?

A. Shelby

B. Lincoln

C. Jefferson

4. John “Shipwreck” Kelly, a halfback for the University of Kentucky and the New York Giants, was a cousin of which other Kentuckian who played for the Giants?

A. Phil Simms

B. Brian Brohm

C. Mike Gottfried

5. True or false: Abraham Lincoln’s descendants now number in the thousands.

6. Carl Mays, a four-time World Series champion pitcher, killed fellow Kentuckian Ray

Chapman of the Cleveland Indians with a high-and-tight fastball in 1920. During his career, the Casey County native was called “sub” for which reason?

A. He was a reliever for most of his career.

B. He loved ham and turkey sandwiches on hoagie rolls.

C. He pitched underhanded in a style similar to that of Dizzy Dismukes of the Negro Leagues.

7. Who was the first Miss Kentucky Basketball drafted into the WNBA?

A. Lisa Harrison

B. Ukari Figgs

C. Kim Pehlke

8. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bitter of Covington set the Kentucky record for most children by a couple when their 20th child was born. What year did the baby arrive?

A. 1888

B. 1958

C. 1978

9. Two sprigs of which plant adorn the state seal?

A. Roses

B. Goldenrod

C. Evergreens

10. Kentucky became the 15th state on June 1, 1792. Which other Kentucky mainstay is celebrated on June 14?

A. Bourbon

B. Thoroughbred horses

the best of our Commonwealth

© 2024, Vested Interest Publications

Volume Twenty-Seven, Issue 5, June/July 2024

Stephen M. Vest Publisher + Editor-in-Chief

Editorial

Patricia Ranft Associate Editor

Rebecca Redding Creative Director

Deborah Kohl Kremer Assistant Editor

Ted Sloan Contributing Editor

Cait A. Smith Copy Editor

Senior Kentributors

Jackie Hollenkamp Bentley, Jack Brammer, Bill Ellis, Steve Flairty, Gary Garth, Jessie Hendrix-Inman, Mick Jeffries, Kim Kobersmith, Brigitte Prather, Walt Reichert, Tracey Teo, Janine Washle and Gary P. West

Business and Circulation

Barbara Kay Vest Business Manager

Advertising

Lindsey Collins Senior Account Executive and Coordinator

Kelley Burchell Account Executive

Laura Ray Account Executive

Teresa Revlett Account Executive

For advertising information, call 888.329.0053 or 502.227.0053

KENTUCKY MONTHLY (ISSN 1542-0507) is published 10 times per year (monthly with combined December/ January and June/July issues) for $25 per year by Vested Interest Publications, Inc., 100 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Periodicals Postage Paid at Frankfort, KY and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KENTUCKY MONTHLY, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602-0559. Vested Interest Publications: Stephen M. Vest, president; Patricia Ranft, vice president; Barbara Kay Vest, secretary/treasurer. Board of directors: James W. Adams Jr., Dr. Gene Burch, Gregory N. Carnes, Barbara and Pete Chiericozzi, Kellee Dicks, Maj. Jack E. Dixon, Bruce and Peggy Dungan, Mary and Michael Embry, Judy M. Harris, Greg and Carrie Hawkins, Jan and John Higginbotham, Frank Martin, Bill Noel, Walter B. Norris, Kasia Pater, Dr. Mary Jo Ratliff, Barry A. Royalty, Randy and Rebecca Sandell, Kendall Carr Shelton and Ted M. Sloan.

Kentucky Monthly invites queries but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material; submissions will not be returned.

C. Bluegrass music kentuckymonthly.com

Celebrating

Readers Write

Marvelous March

I was happy to see you share the beauty of Carter Caves with your readers (March issue, page 33). When I visited in the spring, I was greeted immediately with views of white trillium, Dutchman’s breeches and other abundant spring blooms. This welcome was the entry into a naturally engaging experience with beautiful hiking and cave exploration. I would recommend a visit to anyone who loves wild places.

Jesse Hendrix-Inman, Louisville

As usual, I really enjoyed the magazine, especially the article on Stephen Rolfe Powell’s art (page 14), and I got a great laugh about how Stephen Vest’s children put items on “the list” (page 64).

Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Lexington •

I especially enjoyed the March issue with the story of A.B. “Happy” Chandler

and baseball (page 38).

Happy always exuded joyful leadership, character and integrity.

My best personal memory of him was hearing him sing “My Old Kentucky Home” at a UK basketball game. I wrote him a personal letter, bragging on him and his rich voice. He sent me back a personal letter and thanked me. He had class, and he loved people.

Terry Faris, Wilmore

Corrections and Clarifications

n The June 9 Picnic Pops concert during Duncan Hines Days (May issue, page 23) is no longer on the week’s menu of events.

n The photos for the “Paying Respect” story in the May issue (page 32) are by Lorna Littrell Photography

n The description of the 3rd hole at Valhalla (May issue, page 43) should have mentioned that Abraham Lincoln moved to Indiana when he was 7.

n In Merritt Bates-Thomas’ Reader Recipe Contest Finalist entry, Luscious Lemon Blueberry Cake (May issue, page 10), the blueberries should be stirred into the honey and water mixture after it has reduced in step 6.

n In the review of the book 21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball (May issue, page 72), the Kentucky Monthly cover illustration referred to is of “Santa Art.”

We Love to Hear from You! Kentucky Monthly welcomes letters from all readers. Email us your comments at editor@kentuckymonthly.com, send a letter through our website at kentuckymonthly.com, or message us on Facebook. Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.

Trillium at Carter Caves

Jesse Hendrix-Inman photo

MAG ON THE MOVE travel

Even when you’re far away, you can take the spirit of your Kentucky home with you. And when you do, we want to see it!

Suzanne and Terry Zoeller of Louisville visited Notre Dame Cathedral in April 2023 to check out the reconstruction progress.

Florida West Indies

Tom and Kathy Kirk of Prospect celebrated their 50th anniversary with all of their children and grandchildren on Hilton Head Island in July 2023.

Jim and Camille Brown of Dallas, Texas, and Jackie and Tom Maddox of Owensboro visited the Caribelle

Batik in St. Kitts, West Indies.

Tom and Judy Dixon of Owensboro traveled with Tennessee friends Debby and Jim Smith on a cruise to Grand Cayman, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Cozumel. They are pictured in Panama.

Florida

South Carolina

On their recent trip to historic Charleston, South Carolina, Ellen and Scott Turner of Fort Thomas stopped by the rooftop bar at the Market Pavilion Hotel for a spectacular view of the city and harbor.

Montana

Right, sisters Janie Smith and Lee Pacey from Frankfort at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.

Pictured in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, are, from left, front row, Jeanie Suit, Sandy Ashley and Nancye Black; back row from left, Nancy Donovan and Stephanie Dailey. All reside in Flemingsburg except Sandy, who lives in Maysville.

June in...

celebrating 25 July in...

HARRODSBURG

JUNE 11 • 7 PM MERCER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Join us for the free premiere of Lexington-based filmmaker Michael Breeding’s new documentary, The Harrodsburg Legacy: 250 Years in the Making.

Doors open at 6 pm, and guests will enjoy refreshments and additional entertainment. Feel free to wear your historic garb or your red carpet finest! (Or not … no pressure.) There are 350 seats available, first come first serve. Find more information in accompanying Harrodsburg Supplement.

Attendees will enjoy a Meet and Greet with Bill Ellis, longtime Kentucky Monthly columnist and former Harrodsburg football coach, along with other staff.

Above, a scene from the documentary The Harrodsburg Legacy: 250 Years in the Making. Right, check out the supplement Harrodsburg: Celebrating 250 Years for more information on visiting Kentucky’s oldest town.

HARRODSBURG CELEBRATING 250 YEARS

NEWPORT

JULY 26 • 6-8 PM • NEW RIFF DISTILLING

Glier’s GoettaFest (July 25-28 and Aug. 1-4) will take place just a half-mile down the road, and attendees can take a break from all things goetta to join us at New Riff Distilling! Enjoy the distillery’s beautiful modern space and the company of some of our fans and friends. We’ll have light food and a drink special featuring bourbon, of course.

At Home in Somerset

Somerset works for Boone Williams as a musician’s home base, and he plans to keep it that way.

Williams grew up in Somerset, and although he has lived in other places, he always comes back. He has no intention of making Nashville home as many Kentucky musicians do. “I need space and a slower pace to make my music,” Williams said.

Williams’ music varies, but it’s always performed under the band name Tiny Tiny. Williams has been playing in bands since high school, and at one point, he decided he wanted to work on a side project. “I didn’t want to alarm my friends that I was leaving the band,” he said, so he called his side project Tiny Tiny to emphasize it was a small part of his musical life.

hard to do what I’m asking her to do at shows, and she’s tackling it like an absolute champ,” he said.

Williams said Jenny comes to music from a church and choir background, and sometimes, he envies his musician friends with musical backgrounds. He grew up in a family where music was not a big deal. There was a piano at home that no one played. When he was about 15, he started playing the piano out of curiosity. “I started there. Then I listened to music that made me want to play guitar,” he said. “When I started, it wasn’t my plan to write music or join a band. It changed very quickly and became what I think about all the time.”

Time proved him wrong. Tiny Tiny is now his main musical outlet. The band varies according who is in town and available to play, and what the musicians want to do. “I’m the only permanent member,” Williams said.

The sound can vary from folksy singer-songwriter style when he’s playing alone to a full rock sound when five or six members are playing together. He appreciates the variety of playing solo or with others.

“I like it that way,” Williams said. “Whatever I think it is at a given time is what it is.” While the music style at his live shows can vary widely, he prefers for the music he releases to have a more consistent sound. Williams said Tiny Tiny’s sound is hard to pin down. He coined the term “collage pop” for his music. Williams said the closest he can think of to describe Tiny Tiny is a subgenre of indie music called bedroom pop, which tends to have a low-key, not highly polished sound.

The band is made up of musicians in the Somerset area, some of whom Williams has played with since high school. For the past year, he and his wife, Jenny, have teamed up. Even though they’ve been together for almost eight years, they hadn’t performed together until recently. “We’ve had such a good time doing it, why’d we take so long?” Williams said.

Williams is impressed by Jenny’s adaptability. “It’s

Although his family didn’t influence his music, growing up in Kentucky did. The music scene is one of the things he loves about the Commonwealth. “There’s such a wide variety of what’s in Kentucky, what’s being made here, what’s really good,” he said.

Jim James of My Morning Jacket is a favorite Kentucky musician, along with Cage the Elephant, out of Bowling Green. Other, lesser-known musicians also influence Williams. Currently, he likes Top Soil, a Lexington band, and Idiot Glee.

Williams said Somerset has changed since he started Tiny Tiny back in 2012. He said the entire landscape for live music shifted when Pulaski became a wet county, and more locations opened where bands could play.

Tiny Tiny is not a full-time job, and Williams doubts it ever will be. “I’ve worked a ton of jobs over the years. I’ll probably continue to do that,” he said. He said he’s been fortunate to have employers and coworkers who understand what his music means to him, and they have been flexible with his work schedule.

It’s all good because Williams wants to continue to make music and live in Somerset. “I could have left at any time, and I’m still here,” he said. “I like it. It’s my home.”

Tiny Tiny’s music can be found on all major music streaming services. Follow the band on Instagram.

Summer Sides

Sweet ’n’ Sour Kale Salad

SERVES 6-8

8 cups chopped kale

4 cups chopped broccoli tops (don’t use the stems; save them for slaw)

1/3 cup thinly sliced sweet onion, such as Vidalia or red onion

1 cup dried cherries

½ cup roasted unsalted sunflower kernels or pistachios

Dressing

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup carrot juice (can use tomato juice, V8 juice or even apple juice)

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

1½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger

½ teaspoon salt

1. In a large bowl, combine kale, broccoli, onion, cherries and sunflower kernels or pistachios.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together vinegar, juice, olive oil, honey, ginger and salt. Pour over top of salad mixture. Toss to coat everything with dressing. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the kale to absorb the dressing and soften in texture.

3. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Eat within two days.

NOTE: For a shortcut, use prepackaged chopped kale.

Summer entertaining shouldn’t be complicated. The same goes for décor and dishes. In many cases, the pleasant weather is all that is needed for a special backdrop.

By following three essential tips for summer entertaining, you will have a good time at your party:

1. Simple recipes. Recipes should be easy to make and have great flavor.

2. Easy cleanup. Plates, utensils and drinkware that are recyclable, compostable or biodegradable are affordable and stylish.

3. Bug control. Provide sprays and towelettes in a sand bucket in an open area so guests can freely apply as needed.

Keeping it simple, fresh and with a bit of flair is the way to host this summer so that you and your guests can enjoy the fun!

Grilled Corn Salad

SERVES 6

6 fresh ears of corn

1 cup chopped, peeled and seeded cucumber, optional

½ cup chopped sweet onion

¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley

2 limes, juiced and zested

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Grill corn over high heat on an outside grill or a grill pan. Once a few kernels are charred, remove to a cutting board. Cut off kernels and place in a large bowl.

2. Add cucumber (if using), onion and cilantro or parsley to the bowl and stir to mix. Pour lime juice over top and add the lime zest and oil. Toss to mix. Add salt and pepper.

3. Place on a shallow-rimmed platter and serve, or refrigerate until chilled. Store any remaining salad in a covered container.

Recipes provided by Janine Washle of The Flavor Queen’s Kitchen in Clarkson ( flavor-queen.com ), prepared at Sullivan University by Chef John Foster , and photographed by Abby Laub

Irish-Style Potato Salad

SERVES 10-12

6 large unpeeled potatoes, washed

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard seed

1 teaspoon celery seed, optional

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup cubed (¼-inch) deli corned beef

¼ cup chopped dill pickles

2 cups finely shredded green cabbage (I just slice thinly with a knife)

¼ cup chopped sweet onion or scallions

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

¼ cup whole milk

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1. Boil potatoes in a large pot with plenty of water until a skewer can easily poke through the center of a potato, about 25 minutes. Drain water off immediately. Cool potatoes until they can be handled, about 10 minutes. Peel away potato skins and discard. Halve, then slice potatoes ¼-inch thick. Put in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, stir together vinegar, mustard seed and celery seed, if using. Drizzle over potatoes. Sprinkle sugar and salt over top of potatoes. Add cubed corned beef, dill pickles, cabbage and onions to potatoes.

3. In another bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, milk, salt and pepper. Scrape out over top of potato mixture. Gently toss everything together until well coated with dressing. Chill in refrigerator before serving. Cover leftovers and store in refrigerator.

Lemony Green Beans

SERVES 6

1½ cups water

2 cups thinly sliced celery

1 cup rough-chopped white mushrooms

4 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped into 2-inch pieces

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup chopped parsley

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest

1. To a large sauté pan, add water, celery and mushrooms. Simmer over mediumhigh heat until celery is crisp tender, about 4-5 minutes.

2. Add green beans and cook until they are crisp tender, about 10 minutes. Pour off any remaining water. Reduce heat to medium low.

3. Add cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, garlic and lemon zest. Stir to combine. Continue cooking until parsley turns bright green and garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

TIP: To be served as a cold salad, cook according to recipe. Drain off the water and place the celery, mushrooms and green beans in a salad bowl. Pour over the vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, garlic and lemon peel. Toss to combine. Chill for an hour.

TRUE TO HOME

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ABBY LAUB

New Frontier produces outdoors apparel and accessories designed through the Appalachian lens

It’s hard to imagine anyone holding a prejudice—conscious or otherwise—against New Frontier Brand founders and owners Jared and Joshua Ravenscraft because of their smooth Eastern Kentucky accents.

“We’d be at a tradeshow in Denver, and people would hear us talk and go, ‘Now, where are you from again?’ It’s something that they haven’t seen before, a brand coming out of Eastern Kentucky,” recalled Jared of their early days starting the brand that’s designed with Appalachian values at the forefront.

The soft-spoken brothers from Morehead take every opportunity— whether it’s mingling with executives from household outdoors brands such as Patagonia or The North Face, or sharing with friends that they’re committed to keeping their operations in Kentucky—to surprise people with their burgeoning brand

that’s designed for function and style with a dedication to durability and sustainability.

Taking on the bigger brands was a tall ordeal for the humble duo and motivated them to push harder. When New Frontier officially was born in 2016, Josh was still in high school “selling hats and stickers out of my backpack,” and older brother Jared was finishing college at Morehead State University, where he played basketball. They worked as janitors on the side to help pay the bills while starting the business.

“We love the Appalachian region, and several years ago, there were no brands making things and representing this region through apparel,” Jared said. “We wanted to give it a shot. We just started out with the graphics and illustrations. We hustled to start.

“We didn’t have a website, but we wanted to build a brand that represented our vision of Appalachia.

We wanted to make similar kinds of apparel that the big brands were making and do it through the Appalachian lens. Those brands speak for their community and clientele, and we wanted to represent home.”

They fully understood that for them, what was home came with different connotations to outsiders.

“People only know what they’ve seen on 60 Minutes—coal country, drug epidemic. So it’s always been important for us to change those stereotypes,” Jared said. “We love this area. The people are our neighbors. And there’s that underdog stigma, like you know you’re going to live out of trailers and ride fourwheelers. We do those things.

“But we weren’t being spoken for on a creative level. We wanted to say something, and we feel like we had something to say. And we’re still trying our best to say that today. We wanted to create products through our lens, and it’s important to

Jared (left) and Josh Ravenscraft

represent our community.”

The brothers see their community as one of people who know the value of hard work.

“When I think of Appalachian people, I think of a Swiss Army knife,” Jared said. “They’re so resourceful. We lean into that. It’s what drives us.” •

Jared and Josh’s drive was passed down through their family. Their mom is a local schoolteacher, and their dad has worked for the government most of his life,

specifically in Eastern Kentucky, helping folks be heard. The brothers credit their parents for teaching them how to care about the community. Their grandfather was a local business owner.

“Our dad’s dad, Bud Ravenscraft, left the Navy after World War II and opened the florist shop with my grandma that’s been here ever since,” Josh said. “They’ve passed, but the shop is still here. So, we grew up around the shop, and that’s a small business, person to person. We spent thousands of hours in that shop. That 100 percent had an effect on us.”

Even though they run a business that ships to all 50 states and a thriving online- and social mediadriven operation, having a local shop in Morehead always will be a priority for them because of their grandfather.

The New Frontier brand is found at retailers such as Mast General Stores, which are located throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company works in a product partnership with country star Chris Stapleton and the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund that Stapleton established with his wife, Morgane. Proceeds from the sale of

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

The name New Frontier was inspired by Josh and Jared Ravenscraft’s love of Western movies. “We like Steely Dan, and they have a song called ‘New Frontier,’ and it just kind of clicked,” Jared said. “And for the future, it’s something we can run with. Everybody has a new frontier in their life, whether it’s a new job, new season, new goals. We like to make gear for your new frontier.” “And the name never puts a ceiling on us,” Josh added.

New Frontier T-shirts assisted people affected by Eastern Kentucky flooding.

The brothers noted that one of their biggest accomplishments has simply been staying true to the brand and the region.

“We have so many friends and people growing up who move to take jobs here and there, and we understand. We felt that same pressure,” Jared said. “People think you’ve got to move to Nashville or you’ve got to move to Austin to be creative. But I think there’s something to be said for the people here in our state who are creative and doing that

kind of work, designing whatever it may be. We appreciate them.

“There’s a cool culture here in our state, and we’re all just building on that with the work we do. So, we’re proud to be part of that community, and we know those pressures that those kids and people face in school— that they’ve got to go somewhere else to do something. It’s cool to be here and be building slowly.”

Josh finds it fulfilling to be a pair of farm boys who are running their successful business just up the road from where they grew up because “Kentucky’s so important to us.”

It’s important for them to represent their state well through creating high-quality products that people want to wear, whether it’s allpurpose tech shorts or waffle hoodies.

“I’ll visualize a bunch of ideas and then filter it through Josh,” said Jared, noting that they sometimes run ideas by their younger brother, Jaxon White, too. “I’ll take Josh 10 ideas, and he’ll pick three of them. With everything we do, there’s about a thousand decisions that go into one item.”

New Frontier clothing may best be described as “mountain leisure” apparel. The brothers aim to create pieces that are functional, timeless and stylish.

“We don’t like to make junk,” Jared said. “They’re essential items someone would need each season. They’re made for movement; they’re inspired by where we’re from. Our warehouse is on the log yard, and we can see loggers come in every day, and we’re like, ‘What are those guys wearing? What are our people

wearing?’ So, we make stretch flannels, functional flannels that those guys can work in and sweat in, but also that they want to wear out. They also want modern style. It’s durable but also looks good.”

Their other wow factor, Josh said, was the aim for sustainability when they launched their line of jeans.

“Recycled jeans coming from a brand that’s headquartered and based in a rural town in Eastern Kentucky is literally unheard of, and it’s some of the most sustainable denim in the United States,” Josh said.

He explained that New Frontier’s denim is manufactured at one of the cleanest factories in Europe. In production, the company uses 94 percent less water and 75 percent less electricity than the industry

production standard. The cloth is made from recycled denim fibers with no chemical dyes.

“Fashion is a dirty industry, and several years ago, we had another inflection point,” Jared added. “We can either keep being a part of the problem or we can clean up our operations and do things the right way, which is a part of where we’re from—it’s full of people who do things the right way and have some quality about them.

“We shifted and launched this denim campaign with some of the cleanest jeans in the world. We would love to make them here in America someday. That’s the goal. It’s part of the bigger mission we are on. We would like to move all our products into that realm and do things the right way.”

New Frontier releases new products more slowly than most brands. The brothers said they are interested only in making products that customers actually need. Q

Kentucky high school sophomores:

our post-secondary, residential program provides two-years of university courses at no cost to you; giving you the opportunity of a lifetime to change the world.

WWW.MOREHEADSTATE.EDU/CRAFT-ACADEMY MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity, educational institution.

TODAY, I AM CANCER FREE

“In 2020, learning I had cancer was a shock. As I made the decision about where to receive treatment, I was led to the outstanding treatment facility that was here at home — the Lawson Cancer Center at PMC.

I’m so thankful that I did my treatment here. The quality of care I received was second to none. The doctors, the nurses, the support staff — everyone involved — became family. I don’t feel like I could have gotten the same treatment in a larger city or institution.”

– Robert Staggs

CANCER can be defeated.

Conley Bottom Resort, Monticello

‘Many Points of Natural Beauty’

Kentucky State Parks celebrates 100 years of preserving the Commonwealth’s outdoor wonders

BY TOM MUSGRAVE

The original lodge at Pine Mountain State Park, one of Kentucky’s first four state parks.

“Mere words can never adequately describe the many points of natural beauty in Kentucky. The best of photographs, while better than prose, falls far short of doing justice to the inimitable sculpturing of wind and wave and frost.”

Those words were written on July 1, 1924, by then-Kentucky State Geologist Willard Rouse Jillson in the preface to his book, the wordily titled Kentucky State Parks: A Brief Presentation of the Geology and Topography of Some Proposed State Park Areas Based Upon Original Field Investigation Jillson had been appointed chairman of the Kentucky State Park Commission and charged with identifying those “many points of

natural beauty” that eventually would come to be the state park system, which this year celebrates 100 years of service to Kentucky.

The agency’s present commissioner, Russ Meyer, said Kentuckians can look forward to a meaningful celebration of 100 years of service.

“It will be a time to celebrate the rich history of the Kentucky State Parks and remember the hard work of the team and staff who have provided wonderful experiences for Kentuckians and visitors from around the world,” Meyer said. “It will be a time to honor those who have contributed to Parks’ success and to share these experiences with others.”

In addition to several special activities specifically related to the 100th anniversary (detailed on page 28), the agency is producing a book

titled Kentucky State Parks: 1924-2024, to be released later this year. The approximately 300-page book will feature a written history of the Parks system and many picturesque photos illustrating the natural beauty of Kentucky’s state parks. The book will be available at state park gift shops.

Ron Vanover, deputy commissioner of Kentucky State Parks, said the centennial celebration has given staff an opportunity to reflect on the origin of the state parks. Vanover began his tenure with Parks in 1987 as a seasonal interpretive naturalist at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.

“The main genesis was not only to protect the park system that we had or the geological structures,” he said, “but we wanted to look at things biologically, cultural and historic entities. And we also wanted to be a

part of what was going on in the movement.”

That movement was one that began with President Theodore Roosevelt, who from 1901-1909 established approximately 230 million acres of public land, including 150 national forests, the first 55 federal bird reservation and game preserves, five national parks, and the first 18 national monuments, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“In some ways, that came right down into state parks,” Vanover said. “We’ve got areas that we protect and we preserve, but we also want to make sure we’re using that resource [paraphrasing Roosevelt conservation adviser Gifford Pinchot] for the most good, for the most people over the longest period of time.”

In 1926, the State Park Commission received $25,000, and two years later, it received $58,000, primarily for developing the first four state parks— Pine Mountain, Natural Bridge, the Blue and Gray, and Pioneer Memorial (now called Old Fort Harrod), said Jennifer Spence, museum curator for Kentucky State Parks. That funding also covered travel and salaries for Jillson and his staff.

“There was a state parks movement at that time, and the National Park Service was very much invested in the states achieving their own state parks,” Spence said. “Also, at the time, there was public interest in being outdoors and traveling, particularly after the First World War. The development of automobiles and roads helped kind of goose that movement to get out and explore those natural areas.”

From those initial four parks, the state park system has grown to 44, which boast 51,198 land acres, 552,838 water acres on Kentucky lakes, 418 miles of walking trails, 203 miles of cycling trails and 1,206 rooms in lodges and cottages for overnight stays.

“[Jillson] had a budget of $25,000 to develop Kentucky’s first state parks. Today, that budget has grown to over $100 million,” Meyer said. “It is a privilege to follow the remarkable team and leadership that had the foresight to modernize our parks and make significant contributions to tourism, the economy and the overall quality of life for the people of Kentucky.”

Kentucky

State Parks 100th

Anniversary Events

ONGOING THROUGH AUGUST 9

Kentucky Progress: Establishing the State Parks

Filson Historical Society 1310 South Third Street, Louisville 502.635.5083 • filsonhistorical.org

JUNE 1

Kentucky History Day

Kentucky Historical Society

100 West Broadway, Frankfort 502.654.1792 • history.ky.gov/1792

JUNE 1

National Trails Day Multiple State Parks parks.ky.gov

JUNE 13-16

Harrodsburg 250 Celebration

Old Fort Harrod State Park

100 South College St, Harrodsburg 859.734.3314 • parks.ky.gov harrodsburg250th.com

JUNE 29

Lake Malone 100th Anniversary Celebration

Lake Malone State Park 331 Ic-8001A, Dunmor 270.657.2111 • parks.ky.gov

JULY 1

Kentucky State Parks 100th

Anniversary Celebration

Old State Capitol

300 West Broadway, Frankfort 502.564.1792 • parks.ky.gov

FOR WANT OF A BUCK FIFTY

Ed Henson retired from Kentucky State Parks in 2003 after 32 years of service. He rose through the ranks, starting as a busboy at Natural Bridge and ending his career as director of recreational parks and historic sites. Henson is one of a few people still living who met Jillson, but it was not in Henson’s capacity as a state park employee. He was a university geology student when Jillson told him a humorous story about the acquisition of Natural Bridge State Park.

Prior to becoming a state park in 1926, Natural Bridge was owned by the L&N Railroad as a private tourism entity, but the state and the railroad came to a property transfer agreement in which the Commonwealth would purchase Natural Bridge from L&N for $1.50. Henson related the story Jillson told him:

“The day they did that, they had a big formal presentation [in Frankfort] at the Capitol in which the governor [William J. Fields] and the president of L&N Railroad and all kinds of dignitaries were in there, and they had lawyers in there and all the staff doing the paperwork. And they got it ready to sign.

“The governor made a big deal

about it and went for his wallet. And—this is what Jillson told me— the governor didn’t have any money. ‘And there we sat,’ [Jillson said.] ‘So, I saw what was going on. I scrapped around the group and got the money out and went over and presented it to the governor’s assistant, and the assistant went and presented it to the governor. For a few minutes there, Natural Bridge State Park hung in the balance over a dollar and a half.’ ”

WOMEN LEADING THE WAY

Less than a decade after passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, two women—Marvin Nell Darnell (1928-1932) and Emma Guy Cromwell (1932-1936)—served respectively as the second and third Parks directors, a title that eventually became “commissioner” in 1960.

Parks highlighted their accomplishments in their roles as director and executive secretary of the Kentucky State Park Commission in publicity surrounding the Parks centennial.

Darnell was praised for securing federal money for, among other projects, the George Rogers Clark Memorial at what is now Fort Harrod State Park and for her meticulous

Share your vintage photos at any state park with Kentucky State Parks on Facebook to celebrate their anniversary.

record-keeping and visitation of the parks in the system at the time.

Cromwell, a suffragist and women’s rights activist, provided much-needed leadership at Parks through the Great Depression, when projects of the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration put Kentuckians to work and bolstered facilities at Kentucky State Parks.

Of the 31 people who have held the Parks commissioner position, nine have been women, most recently former Bowling Green Mayor and Kentucky Secretary of State Elaine Walker, who served from 2012-2015.

“When I took over Parks, it didn’t register with me,” Walker said of the realization that eight of her predecessors were women.

When Walker took the helm at Parks, several of the park directors and other Parks leaders were women, and women in leadership is no longer as rare as it was in the early 20th century.

“It’s more prevalent now. I think we’re moving forward,” Walker said. “The fact that I was not aware of the number of female commissioners there had been when I became commissioner makes me a little hopeful that it’s no longer a novelty.” Q

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Broadway Beneath the Stars

KENTUCKY’S OLDEST OUTDOOR THEATER CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

BY VIRGINIA SMITH

“I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is the outward and visible sign of an inward … culture.”

Sir Laurence Olivier

On warm summer nights, theater lovers gather on the rustic grounds of a converted farm just outside of Danville. At 7 p.m., a bell salvaged from the old Danville firehouse calls them to dinner, where they enjoy a home-cooked meal complete with farm-fresh vegetables and homemade desserts. When dinner is over, they settle into their seats in an open-air amphitheater beneath a star-studded sky for an evening of laughter and Broadwaystyle entertainment.

Pioneer Playhouse, Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theater, began as one man’s dream. Since that inaugural season in 1950, it has become a mainstay of the performing arts in Kentucky. This year, the Playhouse celebrates its 75th season of entertaining audiences who come from near and far, returning year after year.

Born in Danville in 1923, Eben C.

Henson set his sights on becoming an actor while he still was a young boy. After serving in World War II, he pursued a career on Broadway. When circumstances prevented him from realizing his dream in New York City, he came back to his hometown and brought his aspirations with him.

Upon returning to Danville, Henson—who became known as “the Colonel” after being commissioned a Kentucky Colonel—launched a plan to bring Broadway to the Bluegrass. He founded a summer-stock theater program, a model that was popular in the 1940s and ’50s, where the actors, stage crew and tech crew lived onsite and produced plays during the summer months. With little money to fund his vision, Henson found a locale he could use for free—an unused theater inside the old Darnell Hospital.

“Pioneer Playhouse started in a mental institution,” the Colonel’s

son and current Playhouse artistic director Robby Henson said with the hint of a grin hovering at the corners of his lips. “Then, Dad moved the troupe to our current location, and the actors performed in a cow pasture while he built the theater complex out of materials he scrounged from all over. He was ahead of his time when it came to finding and recycling materials.”

The grounds bear testimony to this claim—from the cobbled walkways laid with reclaimed bricks from a demolished building to the 200-year-old beams that originally supported a local livery stable. Even the iconic box office building was salvaged from the set of Raintree County, a 1957 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift that Col. Henson was instrumental in bringing to Danville.

After the Colonel’s death in 2004, his wife, Charlotte, and daughter Holly stepped to the helm to keep the

Eben Henson

PRESTIGIOUS PLAYHOUSE ALUMS

Many young actors gain experience performing in summer-stock theater. At the tender age of 15, New Jersey native John Travolta of Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction fame got his start onstage at Pioneer Playhouse. Eastern Kentucky University alumnus Lee Majors honed his acting chops at the Playhouse when he was still known as Harvey Yeary (his birth name). Majors went on to star in the series The Big Valley and The Six Million Dollar Man. Kentuckian Jim Varney, best known for his comedic performances as Ernest P. Worrell, acted in summer shows at the Playhouse while he was in his 20s.

dream alive. With Holly Henson’s untimely passing in 2012, siblings Robby and Heather filled the gap.

“I was raised around the Playhouse but never planned to work here,” said Heather Henson, a celebrated author and Pioneer Playhouse’s managing director. “I returned to Kentucky from New York to raise my children and focus on writing. But when Holly needed help toward the end of her struggle with cancer, naturally I got involved. And now, the Playhouse is a huge part of my life.”

Robby also left Kentucky to pursue his own interests in theater and film in Los Angeles, though he returned to Danville frequently to direct plays. “I think Dad would be happy to know that his vision of a theater under the stars is still very much alive, even after 75 years,” he said.

• • •

For decades, the driving force of Pioneer Playhouse was Charlotte, the matriarch of the Henson family. Often working long hours in the background, she dedicated her energies to ensuring that her husband’s legacy continued to thrive,

working as a chef, producer and president of the board. She pitched in to do whatever else needed to be done, from costuming to cleanup. Charlotte still was an active participant in the business when she passed away earlier this year at 93.

“She was a real Southern lady,” said Gary Barkman, who showed up at the Playhouse at age 13 from nearby Harrodsburg. After the police returned Barkman to his home several times, Charlotte and Eben arranged for Gary to stay on. Though he never wanted to act, he was fascinated with the technical aspect of the theater and worked for the Playhouse as a set, sound and light designer; an electrician; and then as technical director for more than 30 years. “Charlotte and Eben accepted me into their family,” Gary said. “The Hensons are still my family.”

Maintaining the family legacy of Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theater is not restricted to the Hensons. Many actors and crew return to Danville year after year. Some even make Kentucky their permanent home.

“I auditioned for Robby in 2014 in New York City, where I was living at

Young Robby Henson with The Colonel

the time,” said Erika Lee Sengstack, Centre College performing arts coordinator and artistic director of Scarlet Cup Theater. “The Playhouse is unlike any other theater. It’s a totally unique environment where people work and play with immeasurable commitment. Bonds form quickly and strongly. I’ve built connections at the Playhouse that will last a lifetime, and for that I am immensely grateful.”

Many patrons feel a sense of ownership and dedication to the theater. Former Lexington residents Dennis and Sandra Smith have not missed a single play in 20 years.

“Even though we’re now in Indiana, we still come back for every play,” Sandra said. “There’s a nostalgic feeling when we arrive at the Playhouse— like we’ve stepped back in time. It is such a gift to the community that Heather and Robby have carried on their father’s dream.”

For many years, Col. Henson traveled to New York City to audition and hire a large company of interns, less-experienced actors and a tech crew—a typical practice of summer stock theaters. A normal season would see a company of 30 or so people, all living and working

side by side on the Playhouse grounds. Actors were not awarded roles until they arrived in Danville, which meant some actors might not be cast at all, though they certainly found plenty of work to help ensure the success of the season.

“It takes a tremendous amount of work to run the theater,” Heather. said “Everyone pitches in to keep the place running.”

“When the Colonel hired me as an actor, I didn’t expect to be doing backstage work,” actress Patricia Hammond agreed. “But I’m grateful for the experience because I’ve learned so much about theater production by doing it from the bottom up.”

This summer, Hammond will return to the Playhouse stage for her 26th season and to celebrate the 75th anniversary.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced changes to the regular routines.

“Now, we pre-cast,” Robby explained. “Heather and I select the season’s plays, and—though I might travel occasionally—we conduct most auditions electronically. Actors know their roles before they arrive, and instead of staying all summer, they come only for the plays they’re involved in.”

That change reduced the size of the company roughly by half, which

makes housing and feeding them far more efficient.

The plays performed at the Playhouse also have changed over the years.

“In the beginning, Dad tried different styles,” Robby said. “Some were serious—even suspenseful. But eventually, we found our niche. Our patrons come back year after year to enjoy relaxing, family-friendly entertainment amid fireflies and crickets.”

“Each season, we produce three plays, and we work hard to select those we know will appeal to our audience,” Heather said. “Humor goes over well, so we always feature a farce. This year’s farce is The 39 Steps, which Robby is directing. We’ll end the season with Fireflies, a feelgood romantic comedy starring Patricia Hammond. Between those two, we’ll premiere an original play, That Book Woman, in our Kentucky Voices program.”

The Kentucky Voices program produces plays of local interest written by Kentuckians. The Playhouse began the initiative more than 15 years ago, commissioning original plays on an aspect of Kentucky history, but this year’s play will be the first since the pandemic.

Local author Angela Correll, whose bestselling novels Grounded,

To learn more about Pioneer Playhouse and this season’s plays, and to purchase tickets to the 75th Anniversary Gala, visit pioneerplayhouse.com.

WHEN YOU GO:

Pioneer Playhouse

800 Stanford Road

Danville

859.236.2747

pioneerplayhouse.com

Guarded and Granted have been adapted to the stage, said, “Pioneer Playhouse brought my characters to life for folks who might never pick up my books.”

All three of her plays were performed for sold-out audiences at the Playhouse.

Correll is a regular visitor to Pioneer Playhouse, having attended every season except one since 1997. She also enjoys a strong family connection with the Hensons. “I have known Heather since seventh grade,” Correll said. “Our families go back to 1915, when her greatgrandmother shot and killed my great-uncle over a barking dog on Second Street in Danville.”

One hot July evening, Correll’s great-uncle, Robert Crouch, went next door to complain about Hattie Henson’s barking dog. An argument took place, and in the dispute, Crouch followed Henson to her door, where she shot him. Upon hearing the guilty verdict, Henson “collapsed and was unconscious until restoratives were administered by a physician,” according to an article in the Jan. 6, 1916, Kentucky Advocate “She wept bitterly and begged Providence to lighten her burden. The mental anguish of the prisoner touched the finer emotions of the morbid crowd, who still realizing

that the majesty of the law must be upheld, was stirred to compassion.”

Henson was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary.

•

Though Pioneer Playhouse primarily is known for the summer play season, the Hensons also oversee year-round outreach activities in the community. This summer, they will offer a Young Voices program, where students from challenged home backgrounds will attend theater workshops and then see a show for free.

Heather is the author of several award-winning books for young readers, including That Book Woman, which has been adapted for the stage and will be performed this summer. The story celebrates the Pack Horse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky in the 1930s. “This play will have kids from the community in it,” Heather said. “It will be fun. We haven’t had kids on stage in a while.”

Heather’s next book for young audiences will be released from Simon & Schuster in 2025.

Robby, who teaches film classes at the University of Kentucky, also is an author. His latest novel, Loud Water, was released in August 2023. He runs the Voices Inside program, teaching performance and writing skills to

inmates at Northpoint Training Center. For 14 years, Voices Inside has brought theater to underserved audiences behind bars. The program seeks to raise self-esteem and communication skills and to fight against recidivism when participants are released.

• • •

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Pioneer Playhouse will host an alumni weekend in Danville June 14-15. Actors and crew from the past 75 seasons have been invited to a weekend of nostalgia and sharing memories of their time at the Playhouse. The festivities will culminate on June 15 at a gala celebration event with dinner, drinks, dancing and live entertainment. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the gala, which also will serve as a fundraiser. Proceeds from ticket sales will help to ensure that Pioneer Playhouse continues for another 75 years.

As for future plans: “We believe in making theater accessible for everyone, so we’ll continue as before,” Robby said. “We do improvements to the complex every year, but we’re careful not to change the character of the Playhouse.”

“No Henson ever retires,” Heather added with a smile. “We just keep on going.” Q

Butterfly, Reinvented

Louisville-born champion swimmer

Mary T. Meagher achieved unmatched success in the pool—and then set out to live a quiet life

BY KAITLIN COYLE

As Mary T. Meagher makes her way to the diving block, she adjusts her swim cap, takes the two steps with ease, bends down and places her fingertips against the block’s brittle edge.

Around her, the crowd cheers. Commentators speak in various languages, but in the sea of noise, as Meagher stares ahead, she focuses on one thing: winning.

When the buzzer sounds, Meagher dives off the block. A couple of minutes later, she will end the women’s 200-meter butterfly race, setting her first world record, 2:09.77, at age 14 at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“The meet was being announced in Spanish … Even after I finished, I knew I’d won, but I didn’t know I’d set a world record until about 20 minutes later,” Meagher recalled.

Meagher set two more world records in the 1981 U.S. Swimming National Championships—in the women’s 100- and 200-meter butterfly, 57.93 and 2:05.96, respectively—records that stood for nearly two decades. In the next 10 years, Meagher participated in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, medaling five times—three gold, one silver and

one bronze.

“When Mary T. would swim butterfly, it was literally like she was floating across the water. It absolutely looked effortless,” Katy Wilson, Meagher’s former training partner, said.

• • •

Following Meagher’s early success, she moved from her hometown of Louisville to attend college at the University of California, Berkeley in 1982, balancing student life, collegiate swimming and the Olympics.

Although swimming dominated her schedule, Meagher always made time to attend church. She said that maintaining her Catholic faith was important.

“Sometimes, I look back and wish I … did more social things in college, but it just wasn’t part of my personality, and I think my grades would have really suffered—maybe my swimming, too,” Meagher said.

“She takes on a lot of challenges, but there’s this peace about her that I would probably attribute to her spirituality,” Wilson said. “I think she’s got an amazing relationship with God, and she finds a lot of

comfort and confidence in her life because of that.”

When Meagher was growing up, her parents taught her to give back to her community. At UC Berkeley, she spent her free Saturdays speaking with different school groups in the San Francisco Bay area, and although she is proud of her swimming career, she does have regrets.

At UC Berkeley, Meagher learned to swim for herself, rather than to please others. Every day, her coach wrote the workout on the board and left, challenging everyone to lead themselves through practice.

“I hated that the first few years, but by my senior year, I was able to motivate myself and work hard just because I wanted the outcome. I wanted the success,” Meagher said.

• • •

After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1978, Meagher swam for Old Dominion Aquatic Club in Norfolk, Virginia. She moved in with Wilson’s family in Virginia Beach, and they trained together for a year before the 1988 Olympics.

Wilson was a senior in high school and an aspiring Olympian. She looked

up to Meagher as a role model.

“Living with Mary T., she made hard stuff look very easy,” Wilson said. “Because I’m sure at some level, she knew there was a younger swimmer here she was influencing.”

Wilson was amazed at how easily Meagher placed herself back into the club environment after swimming at the collegiate and Olympic level, recognizing the pressure and challenges she faced breaking world records at such a young age.

that was so much slower than my best time,” Meagher said.

The memories Wilson holds of Meagher are positive ones—riding to swim practices, swimming laps, laughing, and Meagher pushing Wilson to be a better swimmer.

After the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Meagher made a stellar showing at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, taking home gold medals in the 100meter butterfly, 200-meter butterfly and 100-meter relay. The Soviet Union, East Germany and China boycotted the LA Olympics, so Meagher never had swum against her biggest competition: the East Germans. When 1988 rolled around, she was eager to prove herself.

Meagher lost the women’s 200meter butterfly to two East Germans in 1988, with the first and second finishers swimming in the 2:09 range and leaving Meagher to take home the bronze medal. There was speculation that Meagher might have won the race had the East Germans not been using steroids, but that didn’t satisfy her. “I still would have been disappointed going 2:09, even if I had won, because

By the end of 1988, Meagher was burned out. Watching her friends start careers while she worked at a bank and asked her dad for money made her realize she was ready for the next stage of life.

“Once I adopted the perspective that I can reinvent myself, all of a sudden I saw the world opening up to me,” Meagher said.

Meagher married former Olympic speed skater Mike Plant, and the couple has three grown children: daughters Erika and Madeline, and son Andrew. They split time between Park City, Utah, and Atlanta, where Mike is in his 20th year as president and CEO of development for the Atlanta Braves.

As a mother, Meagher didn’t want to raise her children in the shadow of two successful Olympians, so she gave up speaking events and interviews, opting to be a stay-at-home mom and occasional substitute teacher.

When Meagher met Becky Christensen in 2002 through their sons, Christensen had no idea Meagher was a former Olympian.

Meagher’s son, Drew, and Christensen’s son, Tyler, had play dates where Drew frequently told Christensen and her husband about his mother’s Olympic career. At first, the couple chalked it up to a child’s overactive imagination, but after searching online for Meagher’s biography, they realized it was true.

“That’s one thing I’ve always loved about Mary. She’s humble. She just wanted to be a regular mom raising kids and didn’t want to flaunt that around,”

Christensen said.

Today, Meagher, the namesake of Louisville’s Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, holds an active role in USA Swimming as an athlete representative on the House of Delegates Working Group and National Board of Review Committee.

When Meagher isn’t mountain biking, skiing, hiking and snowshoeing, she volunteers in Park City, cleaning up trails and staffing food pantries. In Georgia, she volunteers for Meals on Wheels and the Girl Scouts.

Meagher, who turns 60 in October, visits the Louisville area when she can. Wilson said Meagher usually attends the Kentucky Derby and was the first to introduce her to Derby Pie.

“Even if she hasn’t physically lived there for a while, I think she does consider herself a lifelong Kentuckian and has a lot of fond memories and gratitude and pride in that history with the state,” Wilson said. Q

Photo provided by Frazier History Museum

Meagher with her family

HAPPY 250 TH , HARRODSBURG

BY RON SOODALTER

The Mercer County town has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a frontier settlement

Contrary to popular opinion, Boonesborough was not the first permanent AngloAmerican community built in what was destined to become the state of Kentucky. That honor goes to a settlement established in 1774 in present-day Mercer County by hunter, scout, soldier, explorer, trail blazer, Indian fighter and all-around intrepid frontiersman James Harrod.

Harrod was born in Pennsylvania sometime in the early to mid-1840s; his exact birthdate is unknown. He was tall for his time, reportedly standing over 6 feet. Harrod led several expeditions into what has come to be called Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region, ultimately establishing his forted community at a large spring near the Salt River.

It was far from a picturesque setting. According to the noted Kentucky architectural historian Clay Lancaster, “[T]hey parceled the south slope of a stream [later Town Branch] issuing from an ample fount … and built ‘improvement cabins.’ These were pens of felled logs 10 feet square, covered by a pitched roof of clapboards. There was no chinking between the logs and only a crawl hole for entrance, but they were better than shelters of earlier scouts fashioned of already available materials. The settlement … consisted of a number of cabins on their respective lots of one half acre.”

The community James Harrod started was called Harrod’s Town—or Harrodstown—and was the first permanent non-American Indian settlement west of the Alleghenies. It was abandoned almost immediately due to Native depredations, but it was resettled the following year and grew rapidly. When the Virginia Assembly responded to a petition by some 150 residents in 1785 and officially recognized the town, it stipulated that “all persons acquiring in-lots were required to ‘erect and build thereon a dwelling-house of the dimensions of twenty feet by sixteen, at the least, with a brick or stone chimney.’ ” Within 10 years, the small settlement had grown from a cluster of open-slatted shacks to a respectable community of properly built structures.

In 1780, Harrod’s Town became the county seat of newly established

Kentucky County, Virginia. When the legislature formed Mercer County five years later, Harrod’s Town again was named the county seat. Harrod himself was a prominent member of the community, playing an active role in local politics. He subsequently served as a county justice, a town trustee and a representative to the Virginia House of Delegates. Harrod was also an unflagging proponent of statehood for Kentucky. Well-to-do farmer though he became, he never lost the urge to venture off into the woods, often alone.

Perhaps James Harrod would be as well-known and widely sung today as his contemporaries Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton had he not had the misfortune to walk into the woods one day and simply vanish. To this day, his disappearance remains a mystery, with folktales and oral history providing several possibilities. One version has him slain by Indians, while another avers that he simply left after finding evidence of his wife’s alleged serial infidelity. Perhaps the most reasonable explanation stems from a trapping foray he made with two companions—one of whom was the respondent in a lawsuit brought by Harrod. Presumably, the two men left camp, whereupon a shot was heard, and only one returned.

Harrod was gone, but the town he had established continued to prosper and grow. For reasons that remain unknown, the name of the settlement was changed in the early 1800s. Two hundred fifty years after its founding, situated in an idyllic setting, James Harrod’s town exists as the picturesque community of Harrodsburg. This year marks its quarter millennial—or semiquincentennial—anniversary. According to the most recent census, the population hovers just south of 10,000. Community spirit runs high, as witnessed in the upcoming anniversary observances.

Harrodsburg has planned a full schedule of events commemorating its 250th. On June 8, activities will kick off with a parade and pageant sponsored by the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce and a vocal presentation by the 250th Birthday Celebration Choir at St. Peters AME

For more information on Harrodsburg and its anniversary celebration, see Kentucky Monthly’s accompanying supplement, Harrodsburg: Celebrating 250 Years

Church. The following day, and continuing through June 11, Harrodsburg’s Centennial Baptist Church will hold a street revival on Broadway Street in honor of the city’s birthday.

The city’s Celebration Festival officially begins on Thursday, June 13, and continues through June 16. Along with other attractions, it will include a concert series featuring an impressive roster of singers and musicians. Headlining is noted country singer Drew Baldridge, whose song “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” has been streamed more than 100 million times and has been named Certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Drew’s drummer, Chris Flick, is a native of Harrodsburg. Kentucky singer/songwriter/

guitarist Daniel Craig will offer his blend of folk, country, blues and rock. The four belles of the Femmes of Rock—who have performed with Beyonce, Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder—will perform their interpretations of classic rock tunes.

On a more country-grounded platform, the three multitalented women who make up Runaway June not only write and sing their own material, they also accompany themselves on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, autoharp, piano, banjo and harmonica, and have charted a number of their singles. One of the trio, Jennifer Wayne, is the granddaughter of film legend John Wayne.

Other performers who will bring their musical talent to Harrodsburg’s 250th Celebration Festival include Mercer County native Dillon Carmichael, Kentucky’s own J.D. Shelburne, on-the-rise country artist Chayse Abrams, and Nashville-based Kate Colosimo

Old Fort Harrod will be a hub of activity throughout the four-day celebration. The central attraction of

15-acre Old Fort Harrod State Park, it is a full-scale recreation of the palisaded 1774 settlement built by James Harrod and his compatriots. The cabins and blockhouses are replete with tools, weapons and other implements of the period. The cemetery at the fort dates to the settlement’s founding and—as with Harrodsburg itself—is the oldest Anglo-American graveyard west of the Alleghenies.

Throughout the festival, reenactors and craftspeople will be camped outside the fort’s walls, offering demonstrations and selling crafts. Culminating the activities, the reenactors will stage a raid on the fort. For our readers inclined to don buckskins or headdresses, you are welcome to apply to participate!

A complete list of the happenings planned for Harrodsburg’s blowout— including a vintage car show and a production of The Trial of James Bridges, a play about the man accused of killing James Harrod—can be found at harrodsburghistorical.org/ harrodsburg-250th-calendar-of-events

Learn how our past shapes our future as you explore Kentucky’s rich history, with heroic stories, interactive exhibits, fascinating tours, plus archives and genealogy resources. Inspiring and engaging for all ages, plan your unforgettable visit today. history.ky.gov

Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History Kentucky Military History Museum • Old State Capitol

Fans of local history should consider a trip to Harrodsburg’s Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky’s largest national historical landmark. The restored community was established more than a century ago by the Pleasant Hill Shakers, and some 34 of the original 260 buildings still stand, making it the nation’s largest private collection of 19th century buildings. Aside from providing glimpses into a simpler way of life, as well as displays of the exquisite crafts for which the Shakers are so widely known, Shaker Village offers visitors overnight accommodations and an outstanding dining experience. The farm animals are a treat for kids, and the 3,000 acres of grounds beg for a hike or stroll.

At the Old Mud Meeting House, a

commemorative 250th anniversary church service will be held on June 16 at 10 a.m. Built around 1800 by a colony of Dutch settlers, the building stands as a large, imposing whiteframe structure with a red roof, green shutters and stone foundation. It was the first low Dutch Reformed Church to be built west of the Alleghenies, and it has served a number of denominations through the years. Local legend has it that the ghosts of former congregants haunt the old church. It is said that if you press your ear to the wall, you can hear a ghostly sermon from times past.

As written in the annals of the Kentucky Historical Society, “Adjacent to the church is the graveyard ‘where rest the ashes of those who starved with Washington

at Valley Forge; who faced the Britons at Monmouth and Brandywine and crossed the Delaware and stormed the Hessians at Trenton; and staked their all upon the field at Princeton and in the trenches at Yorktown.’ ” The cemetery is rumored to be haunted as well.

Annual events in and around Harrodsburg include the July Mercer County Horse Show and Pioneer Days, held in August at Old Fort Harrod State Park.

Whether celebrating its 250th anniversary or simply enjoying its rich history, a trip to Harrodsburg—which WorldAtlas.com recently named one of the historic towns in Kentucky—is well worth the visitor’s time. Q

Macauley’s Theatre opened on Oct. 18, 1873, on the north side of Walnut Street between Third and Fourth streets in Louisville. It was razed in 1925. The Brown Theatre, which opened in 1925, was rechristened as The Macauley Theatre from 1971-1998. Photo courtesy of Louisville Kentucky’s Past Facebook page.

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Harold Brown, Indianapolis

Holmes Hall Memories

I enjoyed reading the article by Patti Grace about Holmes Hall at the University of Kentucky (February 2024, page 53). It brought back some memories I have of Holmes Hall beginning in late 1959.

I spent four years in the United States Navy and was discharged in 1959. Afterward, I was hired by the University of Kentucky’s electric shop.

Each week, Mr. Howard Webster made nightly rounds on the campus to list all the night lighting that was not working. The next day, someone from the electric shop spent a large part of the day replacing all of the broken or burned-out bulbs. Since I was the last person hired, the lighting list was given to me and a student worker along with an old hand-cranked ladder truck. Student safety was most important, so student housing, parking lots, building flood lights, sidewalk lighting and fire escape lighting were to be completed first.

Holmes Hall almost always had some lights out. There were several large floodlights on top of the building, along with outdoor lighting. A lady from the building led us up to the roof while calling out: “Men on floor, men on floor.” In the spring, she had us pause before going onto the roof due to some young ladies sunbathing. After announcing that there were men on the roof, she let us go forward to make repairs.

On several occasions, a specific light on the fire escape was on the outage list. I remember one young lady advising us several times not to replace the bulb because she would

FOUNDED 1986, VOLUME 39, NO. 5

remove it when we left. We asked her not to because we would have to come to replace it the next week. She just grinned and said, “Ok, I’ll see you next week.”

I worked in the electric shop with a wonderful group of men until I graduated in December 1965. The last living man I worked with during those great years passed away last February.

Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading Kentucky Monthly. Bob Lykins, Danville

Best wishes from 1939 Congratulations, Seniors!

By Steve Vest, Frankfort

I was pleasantly surprised to see my dad’s poem from 1939 appear on the Walton-Verona High School Alumni Facebook page. Harold G. Vest (1921-2003) was a proud Bearcat.

After graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked most of his career for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was a loyal husband, a proud father and grandfather, and an active member of his church.

Clark County, created in 1792 from Bourbon and Fayette, is named for Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark.

UK’s Holmes Hall

In memory of Donna Jean Hayes, 1948-2019

The Sights and Smells of Summer: Kentucky Memories Bring Me Home

By Sheila Reynolds, Lawrenceburg

The year was 1959. My dad, Norman Lee Snider, and mom, Shirley Murphy Snider, knew that farm life was not for them. They both grew up as part of a farming community in Central Kentucky, an area where generations of both families had called home. Now 900 miles from family, friends and everything they knew, our family began a new life journey in Cocoa, Florida.

For 15 years, we lived and breathed the space program. Dad loved his job as communication engineer for NASA at Cape Canaveral Space Center. As kids, we were always excited to be told by him that a “secret” missile was going to be launched at night. We were allowed to stay up late to climb the TV antenna and watch from our roof. But the absolute best part of our family life during those years was our trips every summer to Kentucky.

Dad built a bed extension as a part of the back seat in our blue 1960 Impala. My older sister, little brother and I were placed on this bed extension during the early morning hours. We would be asleep in our spots to begin our long road trip to Kentucky. My youngest sister years always slept in the middle of the front seat. It felt unfair as a seating arrangement, but we were on our way to Kentucky, so we didn’t argue.

After traveling for the better part of two days, we arrived at my grandparents’ home in Spencer County community of Waterford. I can still smell the big boxwoods that lined the front of the house, which was surrounded by pastures of cows and fields of tobacco and corn. Behind the house were apple trees full of green apples. The cows loved them, but we thought they were too sour. Under the trees was an outhouse. Each year, we attached new Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog pages to the walls to help as a distraction from the many buzzing bugs that called this house home. Over the years, a bathroom was added to the house and the attic was finished to include two double beds and a single bed stuffed with feathers. There then were enough beds for all of us. A fan was placed in a window at one end of the attic that pulled in the cool summer breeze through the window at the other end.

We woke up to Grandma Murphy’s famous cinnamon toast and fried apple pies. We helped her pick the apples, which she sliced and placed outside on a long, covered screen board to dry. After they had dried, she put them in storage bags and freezed them. When she was ready to make pies, she rolled out dough, added sugar, cinnamon and apples, folded over the dough, and fried them in a wellused wrought-iron skillet. As with most of her recipes, this one was never written down.

The memories of Granddad Murphy are few because he died of a heart attack near the back pasture barn. But memories I do have are of him loading us kids into his Studebaker and taking us to the White’s Grocery Store. He was a terrible driver, and Mom never liked us going

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anywhere with him. But he sneaked us out with promises of any candy we wanted. He always barely missed the small ditch as we left the gravel drive. I’m sure we all closed our eyes and hung on tightly for the short ride. We usually walked back home after eating our choice of candy. Granddad remained to catch up on local events with his neighbor men on the porch of the store.

Our other grandparents, the Sniders, lived on Route 1 in Taylorsville. Their back property joined my uncle’s property, making a perfect U shape. While at our grandparents’ home and our uncle’s farm, we spent our days hiking between the two houses, fishing in the pond, collecting eggs from the hen house, and climbing the huge tree in their front yard. When no adults were looking, our cousins showed us how to line up apples across the road, climb up the tree and watch as unsuspecting cars passed by and smashed the apples. The more apples smashed, the louder the cheers could be heard from atop the tree.

As we got older, our parents left the older three of us to visit our Kentucky family for two more weeks. During these two weeks, my older sister stayed with our aunt and uncle in Mt. Washington and with Grandmother Murphy. My brother and I stayed between our Snider grandparents and our aunt and uncle in Taylorsville. My brother and I spent our days going through our grandparents’ fields of tobacco, past the pasture of cows and into the barnyard of pigs, finally arriving at the gravel road leading to our aunt and uncle’s house. As we traveled this gravel road, we sang The Wizard of Oz song “Follow The Yellow Brick Road.” Our meals were made up of country ham cured in a small building behind the house, vegetables from the garden and our grandmother’s homemade pickles. Before bedtime, we were allowed to watch a small TV in the back bedroom with a bag of potato chips and Big Red—a real treat because we weren’t allowed chips or soda at home. We were always sad when our Kentucky adventure ended each year.

Three years ago and recently retired, my husband and I moved to Kentucky. People asked, “Why would you move from California to Kentucky?” I tell them it’s these summer memories that brought me home.

Send memories to Deborah Kohl Kremer at deb@kentuckymonthly.com or

P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602.

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Send your memory in today!

Forty Cents a Gallon

By David R. Caudill, Daytona Beach

When Dad retired from the Army in 1953, we moved back to Kentucky and settled into the old home place at the head of Rockhouse Fork of Big Willard Creek in Perry County. A few months after our arrival, a twin brother and sister were born, making a total of seven children. As a family of nine, we had a difficult time stretching Dad’s retirement pay of $143 a month. Needless to say, there was no extra money for a teenage boy to do anything with the other boys on the creek.

I worked whenever and wherever I could, but there were only so many jobs of hoeing corn or pulling fodder. We didn’t tend the right-hand bench of our property, and blackberry bushes had taken it over. They were full of ripe, juicy berries. I asked around and discovered that there was a ready market for them at 40 cents a gallon. I had never picked blackberries before, so I envisioned a treasure trove growing right on our property.

I was warned about snakes but didn’t worry too much about them because a rattler will warn

Blackberries Are Evil

By Carol Ingle, Scott County

My love-hate relationship with blackberries began when I was big enough to walk. If you can walk, you can pick blackberries. If you are about 4 years old, you can pick all the ones at the bottom of the bushes. Any good blackberry picker knows that you start at the bottom and pick your way to the top. When you’re little, you are at the bottom and you meet in the middle with whoever is picking from the top.

you, and a copperhead got out of your way if you made enough noise and gave them time to leave. Most people who get bitten do so by stepping over a log or moving a rock where a copperhead has its nest.

With visions of money in my pocket, I set out one morning with a bucket in each hand. I figured I would have them full in no time at all. Was I in for a surprise! I didn’t realize how many berries it took to make a gallon, nor did I realize I would have to act like a contortionist to reach the berries without getting stuck with thorns. It was slow going, and I wasn’t very successful in dodging the thorns. No matter how I twisted and turned, they stuck me in the arms, head, neck or back. Before long, I looked like I had been in a catfight!

I also discovered something else. As the bucket filled, the weight of the berries pressed down on those below and mashed all the air from between them. It took over two hours to fill one bucket. But being a stubborn person, I persevered until both were filled. I continued to go back to the patch every few days until the berries were gone. After the first trip, when I set out for the patch, I no longer had visions of money in my pocket but scratches all over my body.

To get ready for picking, you put on your biggest pants and long-sleeve shirts. It doesn’t matter that it’s hot outside; you dress for picking.

Blackberries have a partnership with several insects. There are chiggers in the bushes, and I don’t care what you do, they will get you. Chiggers are not nice; they are nasty, invisible little monsters. They not only get all over your hands, but they like to get in any crease you have on your body. They get in between your toes, under your arms and

even on your elbows. I’ve used cases of clear nail polish to try to stop the itch.

Blackberries also partner with June bugs. When you least expect it, a June bug will jump out at you, dive at your head, get under your shirt, or get caught up in your hair.

A variety of snakes hang out in the weeds around the bushes. If you smell cucumbers, that’s a copperhead. Get away as fast as you can.

Blackberries have thorns that hurt, especially when they break off under your skin. They will reach out and grab you when you walk around in the berry bushes.

Blackberry juice will stain your hands for days. It is almost as bad as walnuts. It’s like blackberries say, “Here I am, humans. I’m delicious. You love your cobblers, pies, jams and jellies, but I come at a cost.”

I’ve looked like I got into a knockdown, drag-out fight after picking berries. Then, it’s time for round two. Got to can the berries and make jam!

The lobby of the Pine Mountain State Resort Park lodge was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Fourth of July Picnic

By Bobbie S. Bryant, Jefferson County

Our 1963 Ford Fairlane smells like fried chicken as our family crams in everything we’ll need for the Fourth of July picnic at Uncle Tommy’s house. The windows are down to let in the sweltering hot summer breeze. My parents, brother and I are off to the annual family reunion on my momma’s side.

Her daddy has five brothers and six sisters. Each of them has at least two kids apiece, but most have 10 or 12. Uncle Tommy’s wife is our Aunt Cora Their house is located close to the old homeplace where all 12 Chilcutt children grew up before leaving home to make families of their own.

When we arrive, the yard is full of people varying in age from newly born to ancient geezer. My brother and I know a few of our cousins by name, but nearly all of them live in other towns, so we’re all a bit like strangers.

I love Cloys. He’s enormous; really a big old Teddy bear and gentle as a garden rabbit. Both he and Robert are school bus drivers. I wouldn’t recognize them if they weren’t dressed in bibbed overalls and plow boots. Neither ever married, but their hearts are as big as the moon, and all of us kids adore them.

Everyone has brought a picnic basket or box full of food. No one wants to be embarrassed by not bringing a lot of good things to eat. Momma and I carry our offering over to the flatbed wagons to arrange with all the others. The wagons are covered in tablecloths and quilts of every hue, some faded and worn, yet still colorful and festive. There are three wagons. One is for the beverages, bread and condiments, another for meats and vegetables, and the last for an amazing assortment of desserts.

Top, Job Chilcutt (center, facing the camera), the great-grandfather of the author, at the Chilcutt family reunion, circa 1950; above, the maternal greataunts of the author prepare the food.

We nestle Momma’s fried chicken in with two other platters full. Her deviled eggs are distinctive among the other trays, as she sprinkles paprika on the silky yellow yolks. Then we bring out the corn on the cob soaked in butter, homemade sweet pickles, and a big pot of green beans, cooked with onions and ham hock.

I fish out Momma’s chocolate pie that her momma taught her how to make. It’s got a graham cracker crust, and the chocolate is smooth and creamy. The best part is the topping made with toasted meringue.

After I put our basket away, I run toward the house to find my girl cousins to play with. Aunt Cora’s house always looks the same to me. It is an old farmhouse, two stories tall with a wraparound porch. There are hot pink crepe myrtles in spectacular bloom on either side. Chickens run rampant, fluffing their feathers and pecking about the yard. Inside, the wallpaper is patterned in faded blue cornflowers with pale white trim that’s still waiting for a coat of paint.

Each bedroom has a wooden or iron headboard with bolster pillows and quilt coverlets. With windows open and fans blowing, the house remains surprisingly cool on hot summer days. The kitchen is bright and has a long plantation table that Aunt Cora, Uncle Tommy, their daughter Addie, and sons Cloys and Robert use every day.

I finally find three of my girl cousins in one of the back bedrooms playing house. One of the smaller girls is the baby. When I arrive, I get to be the babysitter.

In the meantime, my daddy and brother find their way out into the backyard, where every size and type of ladder-back, cane-bottomed chair has been arranged under shady white oak, locust and hickory trees. Everyone must watch where they step so they don’t trip over spit buckets that have been strategically placed about.

The older men sit in clusters around nail kegs or pickle barrels. Others are on the ground, sprawled on a blanket or an army-green pallet. They argue about politics while they play pitch. Some shake their heads and look the other way as a few of the men saunter down to the creek bed for a little nip.

The middle-aged men discuss their crops and the latest high school ballgame scores, while tossing washers in heated competitions. The young men and boys pile around one cousin’s brand-new 1966 Corvette. In reverent tones, they marvel at the fancy leather interior and shiny chrome trim. They all brag about how fast they can go and tell one another where the best places to drag are located.

As the heat of the day bears down, someone finally decides it’s lunchtime. Somebody leads a prayer that gets caught in the wind. We kids are called first to get our plates, then the men. The women are always the last to eat. They often stand around one of the wagons and use it as their table.

Late in the afternoon, the wooden ice cream buckets and cranks are brought forth. The children cluster around to help turn the crank as the adults pack in the ice. Fresh peaches or strawberries are added to some, while other options include chocolate morsels and vanilla flavoring. Watermelon is sliced, and everyone enjoys a cold, crisp bite of summertime heaven.

As the shadows grow long, Daddy rounds us up to head home. Momma always tears up when we leave Uncle Tommy and Aunt Cora’s. She hugs all the old ladies and tells them she’ll call, reminding them to be in touch when they find the time.

We pile into the car for the long drive home. Fireflies blink against the evening sky. My eyes soon close as the crickets chirp a sweet summer lullaby.

An excerpt from an article that ran on July 9, 2020, in the Murray Ledger & Times

The Old Country Highway

By Mary Popham, Louisville

A little jag of road off the thunderous I-65 winds into the peaceful countryside. Reconstructed in 1975, Ky. 245 still connects commuters who work in Louisville to their homes in Bullitt and Nelson counties.

Taking Exit 112 going south, country lovers depart from the four- and five-lane congestion into a microcosm of rural Kentucky. Urban life approaches and marks its contrast against the rolling ranges of trees, shrubs and flowers. In sharp contrast, old mansions once settled on cleared hilltops and surrounded by acres of trees and wild growth, fade. A rectangular, brick-housed subdivision with paved driveways and newly sculpted landscaping appears. Billboards announcing “LOTS FOR SALE” loom close to the highway. A white frame house peeps from heavy foliage and a mass of trees, then abruptly hides from view. It seems like a shy little child trying to hide in the folds of its mother’s skirts when company comes.

The heavy masses of deciduous and coniferous trees that hide the houses distinguish Kentucky hillsides and knobs. Rounding a curve of a rolling hill presents a breath-taking panorama. Just beyond the roadway’s guardrail are clearly outlined shrubs and sprinklings of moss and mushrooms among the grass and weeds. Gently climbing the small hillocks are sturdy evergreens of cedar and pine, sometimes green, sometimes blue-green. They have rooted themselves according to their needs for water and nutrients, forcing out the weak ones, thus maintaining natural, perfectly imperfect spacing. This foreground blends with higher levels of leafy maples and oaks. In the distance, the tangled undergrowth of vines and wild berry bushes blanket the floor below the hillside. A smoky, misty-blue haze of moisture meets the sky, shimmers above the blend of green growth.

In the middle of this paradise, the cut-away interrupted and made way for Ky. 245. Civilization thrust forth, revealed between portions of brown-rusted rock, once shaved raw and shiny by bulldozers and blasting machines. However, persistent Mother Nature demands constant surrender; she has sprinkled seeds that take root, spread flowers and weeds into the crevices of ancient rock and slate banks. Small blue cornflowers (also known as bachelor’s buttons), Queen Anne’s lace (called bird nests by the children because they fold up in the center), goldenrod and red clover attract bees and other insects.

The expanse of trees and undergrowth on the hills gradually breaks away from solitude into the civilization of country homes near the roadway. Outside a trailer beside a broken fence, a head-scarfed old woman picks blackberries every morning. Nearby sits a farmhouse with a ruin of a barn and rusty farming tools. A pair of healthy calves with smooth coats over firm flesh romp and graze. They contrast with the barn’s discolored tin roof and a double gate, gray without paint and sagging where it should join and close.

Another old barn once sat near the highway. The proud matriarch outlived its purpose and pitched sideways on shaky legs. It bent toward the ground under the force of gravity while young, sturdy vines grasped its legs and pulled it farther down. The rotting planks gaped apart like

unreplaced teeth, and its bowed legs shook with strain. Birds flew in through huge cracks in the dingy red roof. The relic was unresisting as small animals scampered across sunken floors to drop their wastes in the rundown stalls. Like a Tinkertoy loosely put together, the barn gave way to a gust of an autumn wind, splintering and crumbling to the ground.

Unused and outdated barns and farms give way to new growth and occupation. For example, a little country store, Rooster Run, grows a big reputation. New business moves in. Now, cozy antique shops share Ky. 245 with mini-marts, a golf course, and a service station that surrounds itself with gas pumps and giant displays that rear high in the air announcing coffee and slushies. Bernheim Forest, a traditional and celebrated nature sanctuary, draws tourism that may, paradoxically, destroy the solitude it seeks to preserve. Historic liquor businesses Jim Beam and Seagram distilleries share their rural location with the newer ventures of Magnum Mold and the Boy Scout Reservation.

Across Ky. 245, the semi-trucks rush their goods. Grasscutting machines with red cabs and silver blades buzz through the wildness, driven by suntanned men in short sleeves and billed caps. The old utility wires, strung like giant, double-crossed Ts, contrast with a new, rearing satellite dish. Brown reeds and cattails, looking like big corndogs, stand in stagnant ponds, while next door, water toys float in an above-ground pool.

The family that has a wringer washer on their front porch may someday replace it with a newer automatic model and put it indoors. They may remove their clotheslines. The laundry room will lose the open-air spaciousness and the gift of birdsong. The sweet smell of honeysuckle and soapsuds will be replaced by scented dryer sheets. The nearby cornfields and long gravel driveways will be plowed under to make room for more families. Disintegrating silos and rusted fences will be torn down as eyesores. Nostalgia is too expensive to maintain.

With the changes of progress and the surety that more will come, the residents who live beside Ky. 245 clutch their country lifestyle. Ducks still parade around their rocky pond; old couples enjoy the shadow and shade, sitting outside in their yards after supper. Somewhere in a front yard stands a statue of the Madonna in a red-flowered grotto; small boys play in streams that flow in the valleys between the hills. Petunias flourish in cutoff whiskey barrel planters, and a sign in a field advertises BULL FOR SALE. In another yard is a figure of a jockey in colorful silks. He holds a ring, pretending to be ready to harness the horses.

The days of the plantation home with acres of land and slave quarters have mercifully passed, though high-rise condos amid city pollution still seem far away. Small farms remain, with hay mounds rolled into the corners of fence lines, cows munching grass under shady trees, and little girls with tender feet walking through the gravel to the mailbox alongside Ky. 245.

Change is our only constant, and in time, we will see an eight-lane freeway sporting through this land. Though sad about the loss of a genuinely rural setting, today we still admire, appreciate and revere our country highway.

Black Patch Tobacco and the Night Riders

By Robert Zwicker, Richmond, Virginia, and Jean Paige, Louisville

Farmers in the Black Patch region of Western Kentucky and Tennessee traditionally have grown the labor-intensive, smoke-cured dark tobacco commonly used for snuff, pipe and chewing tobacco. In 1890, the largest vendor of tobacco products, James B. Duke, convinced his competitors to join him in forming a corporation, the American Tobacco Company, which would have monopolistic powers over tobacco price fixing. The company then lowered the buying price to the point where many farmers could no longer make a profit, and some lost their farms.

The farmers responded by forming the Planters Protective Association in 1904 to withhold their tobacco and convince others to do the same until the company raised the price. When the company refused to negotiate, Association members became more militant and formed a paramilitary organization, generally known as the Night Riders, who attacked and beat noncompliant farmers, ruined their tobacco beds, burned barns and committed other such acts of terror. On Dec. 1, 1906, a group of about 200 Night Riders rode into the town of Princeton, masked and armed, after having captured the police station and telegraph office, and proceeded to dynamite and burn down tobacco warehouses and the tobacco inside. They carried out similar town invasions in Hopkinsville (Dec. 7, 1907), Russellville (Jan. 3, 1908) and Dycusville (Feb. 4, 1908), destroying warehouses and vandalizing other unfavored businesses. During the Hopkinsville raid, an impromptu posse was formed and followed the invaders out of the city, eventually finding an opportunity to kill one Night Rider and wound another. A particularly atrocious Night Rider attack was made on April 9, 1908, on an African American community in Birmingham (Marshall County), where residents were working in the tobacco fields of non-compliant farmers. Two residents were killed in the gunfire.

By 1908, authorities had identified many of the Night Rider leaders, and a Kentucky State Guard unit arrested some of them in April. Although few, if any, Night Riders ever were convicted by a Kentucky jury, the arrests put a damper on their activities. Around the same time, American Tobacco relented and raised the purchase prices somewhat, further easing tensions in the area. Then, in 1911, the Supreme Court declared American Tobacco to be an illegal monopoly and ordered it to disband. This effectively ended price fixing and the tobacco war.

Although Night Rider activities were mainly limited to the dark tobacco counties of Western Kentucky, some sought to bring Night Rider tactics to the burley country of central Kentucky, where prices also were controlled by the

Historical marker at the Caldwell County courthouse in Princeton; right, Bessie and Joe Coy.

tobacco monopoly. Around 1907, George Coy of Nelson County sold his tobacco crop against the wishes of the local Night Riders, neighbors of the Coys.

Shortly thereafter, some Night Riders broke into his home, looking for the tobacco money. They expected the house to be empty, but George’s son, Joseph Coy, then about 8 years old, was in the house. He saw the intruders coming and hid under a bed while they ransacked the house. They didn’t find the money, as it had been hidden in a flour barrel, but at one point, one of the Night Riders saw young Joe under the bed but didn’t say anything to the others. Joe related that for some time after this, a certain gentleman in town was especially nice to Joe and his friends, buying them treats and other favors. It was only years later that the man finally admitted that he was the Night Rider who had seen Joe under the bed.

As a young man, Joe joined the urban migration and settled in Louisville’s West End, where he was reasonably safe from Night Riders but not entirely out of danger, as he found a wife there. Joe married Bessie Peake in Louisville in 1922, and the couple raised a large family there on Joe’s distillery wages before he died in 1972.

It is interesting that, although the Black Patch Tobacco War constituted a serious armed uprising supported by a sizable portion of the state’s populace, most Kentuckians today know little or nothing about those events. We might guess that today’s farmers and tobacco companies prefer it that way.

Edmonson County was named for Captain John Edmonson (1764–1813), who was killed during the War of 1812.

Edenah and the Community Baby Basket

By Judy Yount Lions, Lexington

In 1911, a a free soul was born laughing. Her name was Edenah, and she arrived six years after her brother, Charles Allen. They were to be the only two children of John Thomas and Addie Burford Henderson, who lived up the hill from Six Mile Creek at what is now 199 Joes Branch Road, Pleasureville.

The farm where they lived had been divided many times among heirs of the original tract that was bought in 1802 by David Hall. It had come down to them via inheritance and buying out other heirs of Thomas Lawson and Rebecca Hall Buford, and remains in the family today.

Edenah grew up and said she was the “gopher” who ran back and forth across the field to her grandmother’s house for a pinch of salt, a bit of cornmeal or a cup of sugar when supplies ran low. She took a drink of cool water to her daddy in the field where he was working, having pumped it from the well into a small metal bucket. They had no coolers or ice in those days. She drove a buggy with a “turn” of homegrown corn to get it milled at the Sewell Mill.

Edenah had a wonderful childhood and loved to ride horses. She wore pants that girls typically didn’t wear. Her life was carefree, and she even learned to drive a car. After graduating from Bethlehem High School, where she played basketball, she spent two years at Transylvania University followed by classes at Georgetown College.

Coming back home in 1933 with a teacher’s certificate, Edenah mentioned in her journal that she received a salary of $64.60 per month with increases to $72.76 for the three years she taught grades 1-8 at Salem School on Six Mile Creek. Having ditched her side saddle to ride astride, she rode over the hill to the one-room school on Hot Shot, her high-spirited horse. She arrived in time to build a fire. At day’s end, a quirt was required to get Hot Shot to go back up the steep hill.

Years later and as an old lady, Alene James grinned as she told me she got to and from school by riding behind Edenah on Hot Shot, saying she sometimes slipped off as they rode up the steep hill. She said that she was never

hurt, and she never told her mother. Laughing, she said she knew her mother would blame the high-spirited Hot Shot, not the steep hill, and wouldn’t let her ride again.

Edenah wed Charlie Yount in 1936 and welcomed a baby girl in 1937. The infant was named Jane Allen. The “Jane” was for both great-grandmothers, and the “Allen” was for the many Hall ancestors that carried that name.

Mom and Pop, as Edenah’s parents were called, bought a baby basket for Jane, their first grandchild. It was almost waist high with handles and folding legs, so it could be put into the car and could be easily moved from room to room, wherever the heat was. It was white with a painted pink edge.

Oh, it was nice for the times! So nice that after Jane outgrew it, it was occupied by a cousin who was born in Cincinnati. Then, it was brought back home to Pleasureville, where twins John and Judy were born in 1940. And then, it was used by another baby and another, and then two more babies, Helen and Charles, joined the family.

On the bottom of the basket are 32 handwritten names and birthdates of those who have occupied it. Some names are missing, and some are faded. Many new parents simply were too busy or forgot to add the name of their new arrival.

The basket’s condition is not as good as it once was. It has been repainted. In 1979, it was covered with a long white skirt with eyelet trim through which a pink or blue ribbon was threaded. The skirt was made by Jane Allen, the original occupant, for her son, Shane Allen Maskalick. Another skirt was made in 1999 by Sue Yount for Mom and Pop’s great-great-granddaughter, Megan Clifford.

The basket that was bought in 1937 by grandparents for a granddaughter became a community baby basket and an unusual historical item, thanks to the generosity of Edenah, the mother of the original owner.

Whoever wanted to use it was welcome to do so, and they still are!

Far left, this photo from 1941 shows the baby basket’s first occupant, Jane Allen Yount (standing), with twins Judy Linden Yount, left, and John Rueben Yount, born Dec. 13, 1940; middle, the names of basket occupants written on the bottom of basket as of February 2024; left, the community baby basket, primarity used by babies in Henry County. It originally was bought for Jane Allen Yount—born Aug. 24, 1937—by her grandfather, John Thomas Henderson.

Chinn’s Cave House

By Bobbi Dawn Rightmyer, Harrodsburg

Colonel George M. Chinn (1902–1987) grew up in Harrodsburg on Mundy’s Landing. He played on the 1921 Centre College national championship football team and was a bodyguard to Gov. A.B. “Happy” Chandler. An accomplished ordinance engineer, Chinn served in the armed forces during both World Wars, in Korea and in Vietnam.

Before his military career, Chinn turned a small section of Mercer County in the Kentucky palisades into a roadside attraction. He built a gas station and restaurant along the river palisades, giving the locals a decade of Chinn’s Cave House.

During Prohibition, Chinn hired a man named Tunnel Smith, who knew about explosives. Smith was responsible for blasting out the Boone Tunnel just across the river. Chinn got the idea for this cave house business after visiting Bat Cave in North Carolina. In 1929, Smith began to blast away at the façade of the palisades with dynamite, and soon he had a tunnel that went into the cliffside almost 50 feet, straight from U.S. Rte. 68. Before the blasting was completed, Chinn hung up a shingle at the cave’s entrance reading “CHINN’S CAVE HOUSE.”

When completed, the business had four gas pumps (gas was about 24 cents per gallon) and a deli inside, which sold sandwiches and footlong chili dogs. There also was an indoor shooting range at the back of the cave with a secret entrance. At the time Chinn finished the cave house, which maintained a constant interior 57-degree temperature, it was the only stop for gasoline available between Lexington and Harrodsburg.

The cave held a secret: The gas pumps and roadside dining hid illegal activities in the back of the cave.

Chinn’s wife, Cotton, made thick country ham sandwiches for 15 cents each, and they also offered hot dogs and assorted brands of soda. The bar area near the front tunnel was for grownups only. Chinn built the bar high, so that children or teenagers could not reach the top of it. He installed a sign at the cave’s entrance: “If you Like Me, Come on in. If not—there’s the River—go jump in it.”

There were no chairs inside the cave, so it was standing room only. There were a few seats outside, but only about 10 feet separated the cave’s entrance from the busy highway. Across the highway, the Kentucky River was only several feet away.

Most customers did not see the illegal line of slot

Top, historical postcard of Chinn’s Cave House [Bobbi Dawn Rightmyer Collection]; above left, Chinn’s Cave House [Armstrong Archives]; above, Colonel Chinn; left, Chinn’s Cave House today [Keith Rightmyer photo].

machines in the dimly lit tunnel to the left of the cave. At the end of each day, Chinn opened the slots and counted the money, and although the machines were only for pennies and nickels, he made a profit. Authorities eventually discovered the slot machines and charged Chinn with operating an “illegal game of chance.” In court, Chinn defended himself, arguing that the slot machines did not constitute an illegal game of chance because “you don’t have a chance when you gamble at Chinn’s.” Why? Because Chinn said every slot was rigged, so that whoever played lost money. The jury was convinced, and he was acquitted. Before the Cave House closed, Chinn collected all the slots from his cave, hauled them across the road, and threw them into the river. He was afraid children would find the slots, and he didn’t want that on his conscience.

In the late 1930s, after less than 10 years in operation, Chinn closed the Cave House. Years later, retired Marine Colonel Chinn was called back into service to develop a gun that would be used in Vietnam. The Cave House was the perfect place to test and assess this new weapon. The result was the MK-19, a high-velocity grenade launcher.

Today, this area is fenced off and marked as private property.

Shryock

A Letcher County treasure ... Carcassonne Celebrates 100 Years

By Michael Caudill

Carcassonne Community School was built as a response to the need for a high school to serve the students in what was then the remote area of Gander in Letcher County. The post office later was moved to Carcassonne’s campus, and the community was renamed Carcassonne. Many dedicated residents in the community helped Rev. Hendricks D. Caudill Sr. and his wife, Anna Dixon Caudill, erect the original building on land the Caudills had donated for the school.

The first classes at the new school were held in July 1924. The Letcher County School Board helped with school supplies, and Alice Lloyd of Caney Junior College sent teachers. Donations from all across the United States enabled the school to expand to serve not only the Carcassonne children but also many students who were boarded there. The original building burned in 1929, but classes were held in the newly completed gymnasium while the current building was being constructed. At its largest, the Carcassonne campus consisted of 20 acres and approximately 40 buildings. These included classroom buildings, a dining hall, boys’ and girls’ dormitories, and houses for administrators, teachers and visiting dignitaries. The school served as a community and boarding school, educating students from all over Eastern Kentucky. Students could work to pay their tuition, or their parents could pay through barter of garden produce or livestock.

The school also offered night classes for adults in the community, teaching proper agricultural techniques, carpentry, mechanics and health care. During the Great Depression, Carcassonne hosted at least two Letcher County Fairs, with athletic competitions and contests involving vegetable, fruit, and meat production and preservation. The school was selected as one of the University of Kentucky’s “Listening Centers.” This meant that it received a battery-powered radio, which enabled the local citizens to gather at the school to listen to scheduled broadcasts of news, music and cultural productions, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats.” The audience then engaged in discussions about the broadcasts. These opportunities were invaluable during the Depression and World War II.

The school fielded both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams when enrollment offered enough students to make a roster. The athletic team’s name was the Pioneers, according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame records. The students competed in the county spelling bees and had intramural competitions in many subject areas, including a wide range of debates. The Carcassonne 4-H club was very active.

Eventually, roads into the area were improved enough for high school students to be transported to Stewart Robinson School and then Letcher School. High school classes ceased in the late 1940s, but first- through eighthgrade classes continued much longer. Several Carcassonne graduates became teachers, including Dr. Reedus Back and Dennis and Pelma Dixon Estill Caudill taught and coached boys’ basketball. Gurney Campbell, Beckham and Virginia Caudill, and Edna

Clockwise from top left, painting of Carcassonne; the caption reads “Part of the class of 1944 ...” because several boys had left for basic training as World War II raged on. The author’s mother, Edna (Mae) Whitaker—second from left—was the class valedictorian at age 16; square dancing at Carcassonne in 2016; photo from the fall of 1971.

Thelma Loyace Stovall, was the 47th Lieutenant Governor and the first woman to hold the office in Kentucky.

Whitaker Caudill taught in the present building after the boarding school closed. When it became a “one-room” elementary school, Richard Cornett, Ronnie Back, Jon Henrikson and Merle Boggs held classes. The last full year of classes consisted of grades 1-6 in 1973-1974, and was taught by Marcia Caudill, who also taught at Letcher and Beckham Bates before becoming a county-wide resource teacher, then principal of Whitesburg Middle School.

The building still serves Carcassonne as a community center, presenting social, cultural and historical activities for the community as well as hosting guests from around the world. The Community Center received new life in the 1960s. College students from Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and Appalachian Volunteers helped area residents make needed repairs and hold reunions and celebrations. Square dances had been held for many years in private homes, and the Community Center became a natural location for these to continue. A sewing club was established, and woodworking classes were offered. The Center has served as a focal point for the preservation of traditional Appalachian music and crafts.

Carcassonne has been featured in many novels, tourist guidebooks and magazine articles. Numerous clips of dances held at the Center can be found online, and the facility has been used for the production of several videos.

Many birthdays, reunions and other family celebrations are held there each year. Carcassonne hosts the “longestrunning community-sponsored” square dance in Kentucky, usually on the second Saturday of each month, except for the winter months. The Center also hosts celebrations and/ or community dinners several times during the year and has hosted open-invitation health fairs. The Center serves as a valuable asset to the community.

The small community of Carcassonne will celebrate 100

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Reach 120,000 readers with classified advertising available in Kentucky Explorer. Classified ads $50 per issue (up to 25 words). Contact Deborah Kohl Kremer at deb@kentuckymonthly.com

BURLINGTON ANTIQUE SHOW — More than 200 dealers, 10 minutes south of Cincinnati. Sunday, June 16, and Sunday, July 21, 7am-3pm., rain or shine, 513.922.6847. www.burlingtonantiqueshow.com

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KENTUCKY EXPLORER MAGAZINE — We have a select number of back issues of Kentucky Explorer from 1986-2000. Back issues are $5 plus postage. If you are in search of a certain issue or are interested in adding issues to your collection, please contact Deb at deb@kentuckymonthly.com to see if it’s available.

Above, the uncompleted new building, circa 1930; right, Prof. H.H. Hadley with his wife and daughters on the porch of the dining hall at Carcassonne.

years of service to the education of Appalachia this July. The Centennial Celebration will be July 12-13. There will be vendors, speakers, music and a health fair. The final event will be a square dance.

For more information, please contact Michael Caudill at macaudill@tvscable.com, or call or text at 606.454.4052. Michael is the chair of the Carcassonne Community Center Council and the grandson of the founder, plus the proud husband of the last full-time teacher at the school.

WANTED — Paying cash for large diamonds; collections of vintage wrist and pocket watches; gold and silver coins; sterling flatware and serving pieces; gold and silver jewelry; collections of arts and crafts and pottery; antique advertising signs; antique walking canes; pocket knives; collections of antique guns and swords; military collections; early hand-crafted crocks and jugs; musical instruments; call Clarence, buyer for more than 35 years; 606.531.0467. (F-D)

WANTED — All types of antiques and collectibles. Top prices for gold, silver and costume jewelry. Scrap gold. Gold and silver coins. Wrist and pocket watches. Collections. Early post cards and fountain pens. Civil War swords and other military items. Vintage toys. Pocket knives. Lighters. Old eye glasses. Pottery and stoneware. All types of railroad items. Advertising signs. Handmade quilts. Marbles. Jars. Much much more. Complete and partial estates. Call Clarence, buyer for more than 30 years, at 606.531.0467

(F-D)

BOOK FOR SALE — True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think, third edition; $14; order from Amazon or a bookstore. Ebook $2.99 from Amazon. Educates. Helps. Inspires. Provokes. The book provides one Kentuckian’s opinion. You may read part of the Ebook free on Amazon to preview it. Enjoy blessings!

Letcher County

The Man Who Built Harrodsburg

Harrodsburg holds the distinction as the oldest permanent English settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. According to local historian Bobbi Dawn Rightmyer, James Harrod not only founded the town in 1774, but he served as “the man who built Harrodsburg.” In James Harrod: Founder of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Rightmyer chronicles the soldier and pioneer’s undying influence in the town’s development.

Rightmyer, who has written three other books about Harrodsburg, shares 192 pages of meticulously researched information on Harrod and the town’s history. She provides ample evidence that the subject is of good character, a lover of adventure, a resourceful individual, and a natural leader. Though Harrod disappeared on a hunting trip in 1792 and was never seen again, his legacy stands today.

Rightmyer’s articles have appeared in a range of Kentucky periodicals, and she is the administrator of the “Harrodsburg Sestercentennial” page on Facebook, providing information on the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration (see also page 38 and the Harrodsburg supplement included with this issue).

By Steve Flairty

Quirky Kentucky

Kentucky history can be a fascinating subject. With unique people and interesting events happening within our borders, there are many tales to tell.

There is a chapter devoted to little-known anecdotes about Abraham Lincoln. Who knew he had a substitute fighting in the Civil War for him or that he sent a thankyou note to a woman who mailed him a pair of homemade socks?

There are stories of Kentucky ghost towns, tales of missing people, and the notorious and gruesome story about the murder of Pearl Bryan, whose decapitated body was found in Fort Thomas, but her head was never located. This 115-page paperback is easy to read and has a selection of illustrations. The book also has a detailed bibliography at the end for the reader wishing to conduct further research.

Author Keven McQueen is an instructor at Eastern Kentucky University and has written many books pertaining to the Bluegrass State’s history, including The Kentucky Book of the Dead, Offbeat Kentuckians: Legends to Lunatics and The Great Louisville Tornado of 1890

By Deborah Kohl Kremer

Bizarre Bluegrass: Strange But True Kentucky Tales, by Keven McQueen, illustrations by Lucy Elliott, The History Press, $21.99 (P)

James Harrod: Founder of Harrodsburg, Kentucky,by Bobbi Dawn Rightmyer, The History Press, $23.99 (P)

The Nature of Humor III

If you read my columns about humor in the April and May issues, you possibly could be fed up with this didactic trend of mine to try to educate readers. By the time you read this, I will have passed my 25th anniversary of open-heart, quintuple-bypass heart surgery, so cut me a little slack, as the old mountain saying goes. Humor may well be something that should not and cannot be described, analyzed or explained. But some of us tell jokes and stories anyway.

Any analysis of humor includes the superiority, incongruity and relief theories. Avoid using your belief in your alleged superiority to make jokes about individuals different from yourself, lest someone do the same to you. We all have our weaknesses.

Something is either funny or it is not, depending on the person. I have to go into a separate room to watch reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond because my wife, Charlotte, simply does not like it. To promote domestic tranquility, I comply with her wishes. Lottie and I will have been married 64 years on July 30.

One story I tell that some people think is funny is about the time I was a freshman at Shelbyville High School in the fall of 1954. Walking down the long hallway, I turned and watched a pretty senior girl walk away from me—maybe “gawking” is the word. That opened up a new world for me. Perhaps I was a late bloomer. Who knows?

by Bill Ellis

Of what use is humor? Some folks are naturally humorous and have a sense of humor about themselves and others. Other people I like to think are damned because of their false sense of humor. These people make fun of others but take themselves seriously.

A certain amount of discretion is necessary. I could tell you a great story about King Charles of England but will refrain because of his health problems. I don’t make fun of the ill, the handicapped or other people with special needs. I have a grandson with cerebral palsy. So, I am appalled by people who make fun of “special” people.

The lady in question and her husband find the story above quite funny today. You may not. So, tell me a story from your experience that you find hilarious but someone else might not.

I come from a family of somewhat normal people. We laughed a lot on Snow Hill just outside Shelbyville. We laughed at ourselves. Unfortunately, I grew up with a lot of prejudices. I have overcome most of them, but I still make fun of the rich and famous, including most presidential candidates.

Growing up in Shelbyville, folks made fun of Jimmy, who was a special person. I guess I will have to take my place in line to apologize to him when we all get to heaven. If we all get there.

Is a sense of humor important and useful? According to several sources, it is. Norman Cousins in Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by a Patient claimed so. He suffered from a mysterious illness that affected his spine and caused great pain. Along with taking large doses of vitamin C, he watched hours of Laurel and Hardy, which he believed helped reduce his pain. Physicians Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams, Louisville’s Clifford Kuhn and other practitioners ascribe to the humor regimen.

Under the most trying conditions, people have found relief in humor. You can, too.

I have written more about Abraham Lincoln than about anyone else over the course of my 24 years of contributing to Kentucky Monthly. Why? For all his pain and suffering and living through the most trying of times, he could say: “God must have meant us to laugh, else He would not have made so many mules, parrots, monkeys and human beings.”

Readers may contact Bill Ellis at editor@kentuckymonthly.com

Dr. Clifford Kuhn

by Walt Reichert

Crossing the Shrub Border

The older I get, the more I appreciate the value of shrubs in the landscape.

“Why?” I hear you cry.

Well, let me tell you.

Shrubs can’t replace trees for casting shade, but the larger ones can throw a whole lot of shadow in the time it takes a tree to grow out of the twig stage. At my age, that’s no small consideration.

Well-chosen shrubs can provide effective screens that block off the view of the neighbor’s pit bull on a chain or their rusty F-150 sitting on blocks in one-tenth of the time an evergreen takes to make a green curtain. Again, no small consideration.

For the garden designer, shrubs add background and height to perennial beds.

Once established, shrubs require considerably less maintenance than perennials or annuals. You might want to thin out the old wood every four to five years or so, but as long as you haven’t put a too-tall shrub in a too-short space, that’s about all you will need to do.

If you like to watch birds or attract them to your yard, shrubs are the way to go. Most of our local songbirds— robins, cardinals, song sparrows, thrashers and mockingbirds—build their nests in dense shrubs rather than trees. And many shrubs offer berries that sustain birds through the winter months.

Flowering shrubs are excellent at attracting a host of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees,

butterflies, predatory wasps (that eat the worms that eat your plants) and pollinating flies.

Finally, if you get serious about replacing some of the lawn with plant beds, shrubs will chew up a lot more of that grass than perennial beds will and require a whole lot less effort.

Planning the Shrub Border

Are you heading out the door to stock up on shrubs? STOP! June and July are not the best time to plant shrubs unless you are willing to be persistent in keeping them watered. But these are good months to plan for a shrub border or just to add a few specimens to the yard. It’s too hot to do much else anyway. Then come September and October, which are good months to plant shrubs, you’ll be ready to go. While the garden centers may have a more limited selection than they did in April, the prices will be much better.

Let me suggest a few shrubs that may fit some of the situations you face as you make your plans: Full Sun/Lots of Space –Consider the ‘Shasta’ viburnum, a

large shrub that sports white blooms in spring. Easy to grow, this viburnum can become so dense it forms an effective screen even when the leaves are off in the winter. Another shrub that will take up large chunks of lawn in a full-sun setting is the bottlebrush buckeye. It has white spike flowers in late spring and will grow up to 15 feet wide. Its foliage is so dense that almost nothing will grow beneath it.

Part Shade/Lots of Space – An oldie but goodie is the ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea that was frequently planted next to foundations back in the day—waaay back in the day. This hydrangea has huge, snow-white blooms that bees and craftspeople love. Keep it watered to get it established, but once it takes off, expect it to hit 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide.

Deep Shade/Some Space –

Not many shrubs will bloom heavily in deep shade, but clethra and oakleaf hydrangea will handle the dark about as well as any. Clethra, also called summersweet, blooms in late summer, smells fantastic and is a favorite of honeybees and bumblebees. Most of the cultivars bloom white, but some, such as ‘Ruby Slippers,’ bloom pink. Older cultivars are tall—up to 6 feet—but narrow shrubs. Plant breeders have developed shorter varieties that would fit under windows and decks. Clethra also is a good choice for spots that may stay wet, such as those near downspouts, as it is one of the few

Oakleaf hydrangea

shrubs that will tolerate poor drainage.

Oakleaf hydrangea, a native of the southeastern United States, has been discovered by plant breeders, and it is now available in dozens of cultivars. Most have white conical flowerheads that open in early summer, but some new varieties are pink or red. Oakleaf hydrangea has year-round interest, too; it sports deep maroon fall color and peeling bark on its stems in the winter.

While a shrub isn’t the substantial investment in money and time a tree is, the costs are not inconsiderable. Be sure to research the shrub’s light requirements, its need for drainage, and its ultimate size. A shrub that likes full sun may survive in full shade, but it isn’t going to be happy, and it will show that by refusing to bloom well. A shrub that likes some shade, such as hydrangea, can survive in full sun if kept well-watered. REALLY well-watered.

A shrub that needs good drainage—and most of them do—will die quickly in a swampy spot. But, as noted, shrubs such as clethra tolerate soupy conditions. Buttonbush is another great shrub for wet spots; I saw one growing a few years back IN Lake Barkley, about 5 feet off shore. Finally, shrubs look best to me if left to grow to their natural size and shape. That means don’t choose shrubs that will grow to block windows or doors or crowd each other. Read the label on the plant, and take seriously the description of its ultimate height and width. Then, when you plant, add another 2 feet to that. You’ll be glad you did.

Readers may contact Walt Reichert at editor@kentuckymonthly.com.

June 7–June 29 THE 39 STEPS July 2 – July 20 THAT BOOK WOMAN July 23–August 10 FIREFLIES

August 15, 16, 17 WE THREE KINGS: AN ELVIS EXPERIENCE with live band Kashmere!

Home-cooked BBQ meal with all the fixin’s! Dinner: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:30 pm

Go to pioneerplayhouse.com or call 859.236.2747 for more information

Stay overnight in Historically Bold Danville! danvillekentucky.com

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS

by Gary Garth

Bluegill on the Fly

Irecently was fishing with a friend who is one of the most accomplished anglers I know. But when he arrived with a fly rod, I was somewhat perplexed. I was unaware that he owned one.

“I didn’t know you fly fished,” I said with a cadence that attempted to pitch the comment as neither a query nor a statement.

“I don’t, much,” he explained. “Thought I’d try it today.”

The day ended with few fish, but that didn’t have much to do with the fly equipment. We had been wade fishing a small stream under a cloudless sky, the water low and clear, the fish spooky and uncooperative. The creek was one that receives regular trout stockings but also harbors a fair population of smallmouth bass. Neither species wanted much to do with the variety of flies we had offered.

“Bluegill,” I said.

“What?” He sounded borderline incredulous. “Bluegill?”

“How’d you like it?” I asked, gesturing toward the rod he was stuffing into its tube.

He shrugged. “I’ll probably try it again. What do you suggest?”

I’m hardly an expert fly fisherman. Enthusiastic, yes, because it’s a fun way to fish. But average at best and only under favorable conditions. Targeting friendly fish helps, too. But I had a ready solution for my friend’s fly-angling woes.

Fly fishing is most often associated with trout, but the tackle can be and is used to catch almost anything that swims in freshwater and many saltwater species as well. Bluegill, which is how many fishermen—me included—were introduced to the sport, aren’t typically targeted by fly fishermen. That’s too bad. They are widespread, plentiful, great fun and sport on a fly rod and provide an excellent way to

improve and hone one’s flyrod skills.

Here’s what you need: For gear, keep it simple. And light.

For the experienced fly angler, the 5- or 6-weight rod you use for trout or bass will serve perfectly for bluegill. But to boost the fun factor, lighten up. I have a 3-weight 8-foot full-flex and a 4-weight 7-foot mid-flex rod that I often use for bluegill; the 7-footer for small stream waters and tight casting, the 8-footer for ponds and open water. Bluegill are scrappy fish that fight hard, and if they grew to 10 pounds, it would take saltwater gear to land them. A hand-size bluegill is typically about 6 to 8 ounces. A 1-pounder is rare. The International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record is 4 pounds, 12 ounces, but a hand-size bluegill will put a deep bend in your 3-weight.

Complete the rig with a floating line, 6-foot leader and about 2 feet of 4X or 5X tippet. A 6- or 8-foot strip of 2-pound or 4-pound test monofilament also will serve perfectly well. Spool the line on a simple, inexpensive click and pawl reel. Don’t worry about the reel not having a drag system. You won’t need one.

For fly selection, bluegill aren’t choosy. They do have small mouths, so don’t tie on any fly larger than a size 12. A small popping bug is the surface bluegill fly of choice, but to catch more (and usually bigger) fish, work below the surface. A small

Photos courtesy of Alan Clemons

wooly bugger works well. So do spider flies, as do small marabou jigs, which—strictly speaking—aren’t flies, but are effective. I’ve found that bluegill and other panfish can hardly resist the 1/125-ounce marabou jig tied by PJ’s Tackle Company (pjstackleco. com). Use a strike indicator.

As summer melts into June and July, bigger bluegill typically will retreat to deeper, cooler water, although they can sometimes be found in shallow cover in the early morning and late evening. Otherwise, look for fish near grassy and timber cover, especially near submerged (4-8 feet) grass. Also look for them under docks or other structures.

An ultralight spinning rig tipped with a cricket or worm under a bobber is the time-tested bluegill rig. But try bluegill on the fly. It’s great fun.

Wherever you live in Kentucky or beyond, bluegill are swimming nearby. In its 2024 Fishing Forecast, which is compiled by state fishery officials with the Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/ fishing-forecast.aspx), 11 waters are designated as good or excellent (4 or 5 stars) for the feisty, hard-fighting panfish. Twenty-three more get a fair or fair plus (3 or 3½ stars) rating. Of the Commonwealth’s 45 statemanaged FINs (Fishing in Neighborhoods) lakes, 21 are rated good or excellent bluegill fisheries. Farm ponds are another prime spot to find bluegill.

Readers may contact Gary Garth at editor@kentuckymonthly.com.

JUNE 2024

2

Sunday Seminar: Eastern Bluebirds, Mahr Park Arboretum, Madisonville, 270.584.9017

9

Barn Raisin’, Josephine Sculpture Park Frankfort, 502.352.7082

16

Burlington Antique Show, Boone County Fairgrounds, Burlington, 513.922.6847

Ongoing Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, through Sept. 15, 270.781.7973 30

Ongoing

Karen K. Stone: Purpose + Passion Exhibit, National Quilt Museum, Paducah, through Aug. 6, 270.442.8856

3 Tea Tuesday, Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington, every Tuesday in June and July, 859.272.3611

10 MotorTrend Hot Rod Power Tour, Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, 270.781.7634

17 Lecture Series: Evolving Central Europe The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, 502.635.5083

Ongoing Capturing the West: Timothy O’Sullivan Exhibit, Speed Art Museum, Louisville, through July 31, 502.634.2700

4

Moderated Talk with Lonnie Ali, The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, 502.635.5083

11 Faye Webster in Concert, MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport, 859.900.2294

Ongoing Stitches in Time, Kentucky Museum, Bowling Green, through July 26, 270.745.2592

Ongoing

Barbara McCraw: Life Stories Exhibit, National Quilt Museum, Paducah, through July 15, , 270.442.8856

5 6

Fiddler on the Roof, Market House Theatre, Paducah, thrrough June 24, 270.444.6828

W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Fest, downtown, Henderson, through June 15, 270.823.4984 25 23 FATHER’S DAY 12

24

13 Harrodsburg 250th Celebration, Downtown, Harrodsburg, through June 16, 1.800.355.9192

26 ROMP Fest, Yellowcreek Park, Owensboro, through June 28, 270.926-.891

7

The 39 Steps, Pioneer Playhouse, Danville, through June 29, 859.236.2747

14

Alien Ant Farm in Concert, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, 606.324.0007

21 Foreigner and Journey in Concert, The Amp at Log Still, Gethsemane, 502.917.0710

27 28

4th Fest, Madisonville City Park, Madisonville, through June 29, 270.824.2100

1 Railbird Festival, The Red Mile, Lexington, through June 2, railbirdfest.com

8 Beer Cheese Festival, downtown Winchester, 859.744.0556

15 Pioneer Playhouse 75th Anniversary Gala, Pioneer Playhouse, Danville, 859.236.2747

22 Kentucky Blues Music Festival, Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, Renfro Valley, 606.256.1000

29

4th of July Celebration, downtown Campbellsville, through July 4, 270.465.3786

From Karen K. Stone's Purpose + Passion Exhibit, National Quilt Museum

FOURTH OF JULY 7 5 Food Truck Friday Summer Concert Series, Century Bank Park, Lawrenceburg, 502.598.3127

14 Cody Smith, Louisville Comedy Club, 502.795.1919

2 That Book Woman, Pioneer Playhouse, Danville, through July 20, 859.236.2747

11 Finding Frenchtown, McCracken County Public Library, Paducah, 270.442.2510

Olivia Rodrigo Guts Tour, feuturing Chappell Roan, Rupp Arena, Lexington, 859.233.4567 28 Tick, Tick … Boom! Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington, 859.491.2030 29 30 Taking Back Sunday, MegaCorp Pavillion, Newport, 859.900.2294 22 Pioneer Life Week, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill, 606.286.7009 17 Boonedogs Hot Dog Eating Contest, Boonedogs, Lexington, 859.554.6000 18 The Master Musicians Festival, Somerset Community and Technical College, through July 19, 606.875.6732 21 Burlington Antique Show, Boone County Fairgrounds, Burlington, 513.922.6847

12 Berea Craft Festival, Indian Fort Theater, Berea, through July 14, 859.986.2540

19

Lex Arts Gallery Hop Pop-Up Market, ArtHouse, Lexington, 661.388.9259

6 The Pop 2000 Tour, Beaver Dam Amphitheater, Beaver Dam, 270.298.0036

13

SkeeterFest, Grant County Fairgrounds, Williamstown, 1.800.382.7117

20

Minnie Adkins Day, Little Sandy Lodge, Sandy Hook, 606.738.5515

Guided Hike: Pollinators, Mahr Park Arboretum, Madisonville, 270.584.9017

What’s Next?

When we embarked on the 25th anniversary tour, I expected to hear, “Who’s your favorite cover feature?” “Which story stands out?” and “What have you learned about Kentucky that you didn’t expect?”

I didn’t plan on: “So, what’s your exit strategy, your succession plan?”

From Maysville to Madisonville to Murray, the topic has turned to my inevitable demise. “You can’t keep doing this forever, you know.”

“Do you plan on retiring, or will you die at your desk?”

Nick Clooney is a frequent guest at the Augusta Beehive Tavern, which dates to 1796.

I’m not thinking about retiring or my journey to the great beyond, but I always figured someone would come along who sees the value in what we do, and I’d pass them the baton, maybe hang around as a helpful mentor, and then devote more time to a future hobby or worthy cause. Maybe I’ll run for secretary of state or take a job driving the 27-foot-long Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

I could see myself being a Hotdogger, handing out wiener whistles to make people smile. But before we start that chapter, let’s finish this one.

STEPHEN M. VEST Publisher + Editor-in-Chief

As you read this column, we’re on Kentucky Monthly’s 25th Anniversary Cruise to Alaska. We may be back in Seattle by now, enjoying a ballgame between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels. Once back home, we have three more stops on the 25th-anniversary tour. On June 11, we’ll be in Harrodsburg for the premiere of a documentary about Kentucky’s oldest city, and you’re invited to join us. It’ll be held at Mercer County High School with a red carpet. Kentucky Monthly is sponsoring the swag bags.

Let’s answer those questions above. My favorite cover feature? It’s tough, but I’d say Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal. She’s pictured on the cover boarding a bus in her 1963 film Hud, in which she co-starred with Paul Newman, who plays Hud, a hard-drinking, arrogant womanizer.

I interviewed Ms. Neal at Williamsburg’s Cumberland Inn before her one-woman show at the University of the

Cumberlands. She shared the details of her marriages, affairs, strokes, children, heartbreaks and successes. Born in 1926 in Packard (Whitley County), a bygone mining town, as a young woman she rose to fame in films such as 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s

She was a year older than my mother, and they shared similarities and mannerisms, including jiggling their bracelets and popping Dentyne gum. We hit it off, and from 2001—when she graced the cover—until her death in 2010, she called the Kentucky Monthly office several times a year.

“Stephen,” she would begin in her deep, gravelly voice. “How are things in old Kentucky?”

She always was preparing for an adventure—a cruise or a road trip to visit friends. She was willing to talk about the past, but she was always looking forward.

Which story stands out? Undoubtedly, a 26-part series by Amanda (Griffith Hervey) Stiltner. Monthly, we alphabetically drew a town out of a hat, and Amanda, then in her early 20s, had 24 hours to come back with a story.

Each installment was worthy of inclusion in any collection. The series, which was compiled in a book, Kentucky A to Z, was a perfect merger of coming-of-age, travelogue and memoir, which begins: “Heading southbound ... the sun beat down through the windshield like the judgmental light in an interrogation room, reminding me that I had only a few hours to find a story.”

What have I learned about Kentucky that I didn’t expect? I didn’t expect the people we featured, such as Patricia Neal, to become my friends. One of my favorite stories is about Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000, who has graced the cover a record four times. Her daughters, Taylor and Harper, laughed at my story. Her mother, Diana, did, too. If you see me, ask me to share the tale.

No lunch is more full of laughter than one at the Augusta Beehive Tavern with cover subjects Nick and Nina Clooney, twice arranged by Dr. Jim and Cora Morris

“Has it been 25 years since you started Kentucky Monthly?” asked Nick, a veteran newscaster who turned 90 a few weeks before.

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“You look it, my friend,” he said with a grin. “But somehow, I haven’t aged a day.”

Kwiz Answers: 1. B. While Handy claimed not to have written any songs in Henderson, it was there that he realized the type of music he wanted to create; 2. C. Boone’s entrance into Kentucky through the iconic gap; 3. C. Linkhorn, a Revolutionary War veteran, supposedly was buried next to his cabin, now home to the Long Run Baptist Church and Cemetery in Eastwood; 4. A. Kelly was born, raised and buried in Simstown; 5. False. Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith (1904-1985) was the last undisputed legal descendant of Abraham Lincoln. He and his sister, Mary Lincoln Beckwith, died without children; 6. C. Mays was called a submarine pitcher; 7. B. Ukari Figgs of Scott County was selected 28th in the 1999 WNBA draft; 8. B. The wife of a bricklayer, Mrs. Bitter gave birth to her 20th child at age 40; 9. B. Kentucky’s state flower; 10. A. June 14 is National Bourbon Day. According to legend, Rev. Elijah Craig first produced bourbon on that date in 1789.