OWENSBORO’S ICONIC MIRROR MURAL
AUGUST 2022
with Kentucky Explorer
SWEET SPOTZ Kentucky couple launches Spotz Gelato scoop shops
and more: The Monin House Kentucky’s American Idol Cannabusiness Program at Sullivan University Display until 09/13/2022
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EXPERIENCE EASTERN “My favorite event so far, without question, was the T-Pain concert. It was a special experience for many of us who have come through Eastern together since freshman year.” - Jenna Grace Smith, ‘22 The Exceptional Eastern Experience (E3) offers opportunities for students to connect with others and learn and grow beyond the classroom. The fall E3 line-up includes: • Concerts, featuring Waka Flocka Flame • Colonel football and other EKU athletic games • Big E Welcome and community-wide events to greet students Plus, we’re home to the EKU Center for the Arts, Central Kentucky’s premier live entertainment and arts destination. Enjoy shows, musicals, concerts and more. ekucenter.com
See what being an EKU Colonel is all about:
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Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and Educational Institution.
O N T H E C OV E R Spotz Gelato, photo by Nicole Magera
in this issue
28
AUGUST D E PA R T M E N T S 2 Kentucky Kwiz 3 Readers Write 4 Mag on the Move 8 Music 10 Cooking 45 Kentucky Explorer 56 Off the Shelf 58 Past Tense/ Present Tense 60 Gardening 62 Field Notes
28 Mirror Mosaic Remake After nearly 40 years, artist Gary Bielefeld overhauls his iconic Owensboro mural
14 Summertime Sippin’ Louisville mixologists share refreshing cocktail recipes to help you beat the heat
14
16 Sweet Spotz An accidental find led to a gelato empire for an enterprising Kentucky couple
36 Yes, We Cannabis Sullivan University sows seeds of knowledge about a traditional Kentucky plant
24 Our American Idol Meet Kentuckian Noah Thompson, voted television’s 2022 American Idol, and find out who he idolizes
40 Restoring History Two Kentucky brothers are preserving a Hardin County home that dates back to the Commonwealth’s infancy
63 Calendar 64 Vested Interest k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 1
kentucky kwiz Test your knowledge of our beloved Commonwealth. To find out how you fared, see the bottom of Vested Interest.
KENTUCKY’S PACK HORSE LIBRARIANS
Celebrating the best of our Commonwealth
© 2022, Vested Interest Publications Volume Twenty-Five, Issue 6, August 2022
1. In what year did the program with librarians on horseback, known as the Pack Horse Library Project, begin?
7. Roughly what percent of Kentucky residents did not have access to public libraries prior to the Pack Horse Library Project?
A. 1934
A. 86 percent
B. 1940
B. 47 percent
Patricia Ranft Associate Editor
C. 1945
C. 63 percent
Rebecca Redding Creative Director
Stephen M. Vest Publisher + Editor-in-Chief
Editorial
Deborah Kohl Kremer Assistant Editor
2. Librarians delivered books on horseback to which Kentucky region?
8. Approximately how many miles did the librarians travel per week?
A. Central
A. 35-plus
B. Western
B. 100-plus
C. Eastern
C. 50-plus
3. About how many residents of the region referenced in question 2 were served by the program?
9. What sort of reading materials did Pack Horse Librarians deliver?
A. 20,000-plus B. 50,000-plus C. 100,000-plus 4. Which first lady of the United States helped start this library outreach program? A. Eleanor Roosevelt B. Bess Truman C. Mamie Eisenhower 5. Which government agency initiated the Pack Horse Library Project? A. The PAA B. The WPA C. The WWP 6. Were the Pack Horse Librarians mostly men, women or equally both? A. Mostly women
Cait A. Smith Copy Editor
Senior Kentributors Jackie Hollenkamp Bentley, Jack Brammer, Bill Ellis, Steve Flairty, Gary Garth, Mick Jeffries, Kim Kobersmith, Walt Reichert, Joel Sams, Tracey Teo, Janine Washle and Gary P. West
Business and Circulation
A. Newspapers and magazines
Barbara Kay Vest Business Manager
B. Books
Jocelyn Roper Circulation Specialist
C. All of the above 10. How much did Pack Horse Librarians earn per month? A. $28 B. $35 C. $38
Advertising Lindsey Collins Senior Account Executive and Coordinator Kelley Burchell 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
11. The Pack Horse Library Project began as an effort to “aid and _________.” A. Enlighten B. Inspire C. Educate
times per year (monthly with combined December/ January and June/July issues) for $20 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,
12. In what year did the Pack Horse Library Project end?
Kellee Dicks, Maj. Jack E. Dixon, Bruce and Peggy Dungan, Mary and Michael Embry, Thomas L. Hall, Judy M. Harris, Greg and Carrie Hawkins, Jan and John Higginbotham,
A. 1951
Frank Martin, Bill Noel, Michelle Jenson McDonnell,
B. 1943
Barry A. Royalty, Randy and Rebecca Sandell,
C. 1950
B. Mostly men C. About equal “Kentucky Kwiz” courtesy of Karen M. Leet, author of Sarah’s Courage, a Kentucky historical novel, and co-author of Civil War, Lexington, Kentucky, historical nonfiction, both from The History Press. 2 KE NT U C K Y M O NT H LY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
Ted Sloan Contributing Editor
Walter B. Norris, Kasia Pater, Dr. Mary Jo Ratliff, Kendall Carr Shelton and Ted M. Sloan. Kentucky Monthly invites queries but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material;
kentuckymonthly.com
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Readers Write
The Kentucky Gift Guide
Idioms Abound
It takes two to tango
Enjoyed Bill Ellis’ idioms message (May issue, page 58), and it made me think of many used by my parents and grandparents back in the 1940s and ’50s. Can you imagine someone from a foreign county moving here, trying to learn the English language and being confused by some of our expressions? Below are a few more.
It is easier said than done
He/she is not the “brightest crayon in the box”
In business, don’t forget to do some hand shaking
The “light is on but nobody’s home”
bringing to your attention some
Ray Mauer, Taylor Mill
It’s time to “hit the sack”
and treats our Commonwealth
There’s more than one way to skin a cat You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink You can catch more flies with sugar instead of vinegar Too late now, the horse is already out of the barn Make hay while the sun shines The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
That is “dead as a doornail” I liked Bill Ellis’ article about idioms. It reminded me of a funny thing that happened between my mother and my daughter, when she was quite young. Amanda had learned about idioms in school, and she took delight in pointing them out to my mother, Janet, who says idioms often. Finally being frustrated with Amanda for saying “idiom,”my mother said, “Amanda, stop calling me an idiot!” My mother thought that Amanda was saying “idiot” instead of “idiom.”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Here are some of the idioms my mother says that I don’t think were mentioned in the article:
That person doesn’t have a full deck
That biscuit is “as hard as a brick bat”
One hand washes the other in life
That rotten food “stinks to high heaven”
The early bird gets the worm
Kentucky Monthly is thrilled to partner with Kentucky Proud, of the finest handcrafted gifts has to offer.
That’s “calling the kettle black” Has the “cat got your tongue?” He’s “all bark and no bite” She “let the cat out of the bag” “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” “Once in a blue moon” You’d better hurry up or you’ll “miss the boat” “Birds of a feather flock together” I’m “no spring chicken” Melissa Webb Earnest, Princeton
Correction Melinda Anderson of Pasco, Washington, wrote to inform the geographically challenged Historian Bill and Kentucky Monthly staff that the town of Havre is in Montana. (June/July issue, page 57).
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.
Drink Local This handy guide to sipping in the Bluegrass State spotlights local breweries, wineries and, of course, distilleries. Discover unique ways to drink in Kentucky, creative cocktail recipes and more.
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C O N N E C T.
UNITING KENTUCKIANS EVERYWHERE. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 3
travel
MAG ON THE MOVE
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!
Take a copy of the magazine with you and get snapping! Send your high-resolution photos (usually 1 MB or higher) to editor@kentuckymonthly.com or visit kentuckymonthly.com to submit your photo.
Celebrating Wedding Anniversaries ARUBA (left) This group of friends traveled to Aruba for a joint celebration. From left, Steve and Terri Fryman of Georgetown, Traci and John Hunter of Simpsonville, and Debbie and Bob Armstrong of Shelbyville.
Small World After All COLORADO (right) Patty, left, and David Sellers of Robards met National Park Ranger Josh Burke while visiting Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado. They discovered that Josh was from Somerset and had attended Eastern Kentucky University.
The Grandest View GRAND CANYON (left) Steve and Sandy Dwinnells of Nicholasville enjoyed a recent trip to the Grand Canyon.
4 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
Dave and June Shuler BARDSTOWN (left) The Albany couple discovered Bardstown while staying at the Jailer’s Inn Bed & Breakfast. They mentioned also discovering good Kentucky hospitality and bourbon!
The Longtines ITALY (above) Greg and Irene Longtine and their daughter, Morgan, of Calhoun ventured to Europe to attend a wedding in France. They are pictured in Courmayeur, Italy, at the end of the 7.2-mile Mount Blanc tunnel from France.
David Malcolm GERMANY The resident of the Summit community outside of Ashland (Boyd County) is shown while visiting Lichtenstein Castle near Württemberg, Germany.
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 5
travel Golf Fans WISCONSIN Monty and Lydia Moore of Somerset attended the 43rd Ryder Cup in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Two-Wheeled Traveling
Ann and Lanny Patten MISSOURI (below) The Pattens, subscribers who live in Philadelphia, visited the boardwalk of Arrow Rock, Missouri, an 1850s river town.
ITALY (below) Hannah Helm of Frankfort and Sara Sproles of Columbia rode e-bikes near scenic Nizza Monferrato.
Nancy Heckman NEW MEXICO (right) The Tamaya Resort and Spa, north of Albuquerque on the Santa Ana Pueblo, was the vacation destination for Nancy and Darrell Heckman of Lexington. The couple enjoyed the wide open spaces and the Sandia Mountains and even saw a roadrunner.“Beep beep!”
6 KE NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
Nationally-Recognized
Heart Care
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k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 7
music by Laura Younkin
County Wide and Beyond
S
ometimes veering off the expected path leads a person to exactly where they need to be. Attending Eastern Kentucky University did not lead to a degree for Aron Bunch, but it did lead him to become the lead singer for country rock band County Wide. And that’s a place where he’s happy to be. Bunch and Anthony Campbell, the band’s bass player and backup vocalist, attended school together at Whitley County High School and then were roommates at Eastern. Campbell left with a degree, and Bunch left with a lot of good memories. After returning home to Corbin, Bunch and Campbell started meeting other musicians. The band formed bit by bit. The other members are Steven Standifer, lead guitarist; Evan Crawford, rhythm guitar and keyboards; and Travis Clem on the drums. Bunch said that he and Campbell met Clem at a gym in Corbin while they were working out. The band evolved organically—friends with similar interests getting together. “We didn’t have bows, we didn’t play golf, so we decided to be in a band,” Bunch said. The band started playing wherever it could, including 4-wheeler events and Harley-Davidson rallies. They’ve moved up in the music world and play more bars, music festivals and NASCAR events, but the band members have no regrets about where they started. “Some of that rough stuff was pretty fun. I can’t lie,” Bunch said. The band has been playing together for nine years. “Most bands don’t last that long,” Bunch said. County
8 KE NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
Wide has branched out from the Corbin area with appearances in Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Mississippi. “We try to keep it in touching distance of Kentucky,” Bunch said. All the musicians have day jobs, so long tours aren’t feasible. Bunch said everyone works flexible hours, though, enabling them to have long weekends to travel to gigs. The band enjoys sharing its sound with new listeners. When asked to describe County Wide’s music, Bunch said the band leans toward country rock. While he said he likes current country and has nothing against it, the band’s sound doesn’t really fit into the mainstream country sound of the moment. “We have a Lynyrd Skynyrd and Montgomery Gentry kind of mix. Put them together, and that’s what we sound like,” he said. Bunch admires many Kentucky musicians and especially looks up to Montgomery Gentry. “There’s a lot of talent that comes out of Kentucky,” he said. Eddie Montgomery, Chris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakam and Exile are some of the musicians he mentioned. Growing up in Kentucky has influenced his music. “Especially growing up in southeastern Kentucky, I grew up with classic country, southern rock and gospel,” Bunch said. Bunch writes some of the band’s songs, and his writing process sometimes veers off the beaten path. He starts with the music, not with a particular idea for a song. “I get a tune in my head; I get a groove; I get out my acoustic guitar and start playing,” he said. He’ll figure out an intro and chord changes, and only then does he start thinking about lyrics. The band varies between serious songs and more humorous tunes. “You can’t be completely goofy all the time,” Bunch said, but he enjoys writing songs “that are a spoof on everyday life.” The band sells CDs at its shows, posts videos on YouTube, and has music available for downloads on all the usual music download apps. While County Wide members like recording music, Bunch said the band really shines when it plays live. “When you’re feeding off the energy from that crowd— they’re cheering; they’re on their feet—you can’t beat that feeling,” he said. It’s a feeling Bunch hopes will continue for years to come.
Aug3
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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The Wailers
Sep16
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Asleep at the Wheel
Oct 6 Darrell Scott Feb 24 Keilor & Company Mar 11 ABBA Mania
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cooking
Wine Is Fine
Some Kentuckians may be surprised to learn that winemaking in our Commonwealth has deep roots that began with the 1796 emigration of Jean-Jacques Dufour (later known as John James Dufour) from Switzerland. In 1798, he settled in central Kentucky with the intention of starting a vineyard in what is now Jessamine County. More than 200 years later, Kentucky is home to around 65 vineyards and wineries.
Wine aficionado and author P. Faye Collins, along with Chef Lee Ann Rose, has released Vineyard to Table: Cooking With Kentucky Wine, which features the history of wine in America and our state, cooking tips and techniques, and an assortment of recipes using Kentucky wine, just a sample of which are included here. Cheers!
Recipes and images from Vineyard to Table: Cooking With Kentucky Wine by P. Faye Collins with Lee Ann Rose, published by Butler Books. To order the book, visit butlerbooks.com.
10 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY A U G U S T 2 0 2 2
Peach UpsideDown Cake This fresh and tasty variation of a pineapple upside-down cake is a quick and easy recipe. Those who want an even easier recipe may use a boxed yellow cake mix and add 1 teaspoon vanilla. SERVES 12-18 Cake 2 cups cake flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup butter 1 cup sugar, sifted 3 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup milk Peach Topping ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted ½ cup packed brown sugar ¼ cup peach wine 1½-2 cups frozen peaches Cake 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. 3. Cream together butter, sugar and egg yolks. Add vanilla. 4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 1/3 at a time, alternating with the milk. 5. Set batter aside and mix peach topping.
Old-Fashioned Baked Beans For many people, making baked beans consists of opening a can of beans from the store and maybe adding a few ingredients. Until you experience baked beans from scratch, you are missing something. They are definitely worth the bit of extra effort. This dish is special and was typically made by my mother for cookouts, parties and special events. I hope you enjoy this recipe that is a family favorite.
SERVES 6-8 1 pound dried navy beans 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup dark molasses 1 cup ketchup (preferably Heinz) ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup Chambourcin wine 6 slices thick-cut smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
Peach Topping 1. Pour melted butter evenly over the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch cake pan. 2. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly across the pan, then stir in the wine. Arrange the peaches on the bottom of the pan. 3. Pour the batter over the peaches. 4. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
1. Sort the dried beans and discard any bad ones. Place beans in large Dutch oven or stockpot with water about 1 inch above the level of the beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cook about 1 to 1½ hours to medium doneness. The beans should be slightly firm. Drain beans and return them to Dutch oven. 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 3. Add diced onion, molasses, ketchup, brown sugar and wine. Stir together gently until blended with the beans and pour mixture into a 9- by 9-inch baking dish (preferably glass). Arrange bacon on top of the beans. 4. Bake for 2 hours. They are great served immediately but are also excellent as they cool.
5. Let cool and invert the cake onto a platter. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 11
cooking
Flank Steak with Garlic Rosemary Norton Pan Sauce This Mediterranean-style marinade works great for pan-roasting a flank steak. This recipe consists of a make-ahead marinade and an easy pan sauce.
Pan Sauce
Pan Sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
SERVES 4-6
1/
cup Norton wine
1. Heat olive oil in medium pan over medium-high heat. Wipe paste off steak and place steak in pan. Cook each side 3-4 minutes or until desired doneness. For example, mediumrare steaks would reach an internal temperature of about 120 degrees.
1-2 pounds flank steak
1/
cup low-sodium beef broth (Swanson’s preferred)
1 shallot, minced ½ teaspoon minced fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Marinade 1 shallot 4 cloves garlic
3 3
1½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 3 pieces
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary 4 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons Norton wine
1. Purée marinade ingredients in blender until a smooth paste forms. 2. Dry steak with paper towels and prick each side about 20 times with a fork. Cover steak with paste and place in a large resealable plastic bag. 3. Place in refrigerator for 2-24 hours.
12 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY A U G U S T 2 0 2 2
2. Remove steak from heat and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Add shallot, rosemary and brown sugar to the pan and cook about 10 minutes until sugar melts and shallots caramelize. 3. Add wine and beef broth and cook over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or until sauce is reduced by half. 4. Lower heat to medium-low and stir in balsamic vinegar, mustard and butter until combined. Remove from heat. 5. Slice steak thinly against the grain and spoon sauce over sliced steak. Enjoy!
Warning: The coffee’s worn off, and the wine hasn’t kicked in yet!
Proud to call Kentucky home.
Make a Difference as a Family Nurse Practitioner
Grits Topped with Country Meat Sauce SERVES 6-8 Meat Sauce 6 ounces applewood smoked bacon cut in ½-inch pieces 6 ounces country sausage links, sliced 6 ounces country ham, cooked and cubed
Meat Sauce 1. Brown meats together in a large skillet. When meats are almost cooked, add green onions and garlic. Cook until they are semisoft, about 5-10 minutes. 2. Add tomatoes, spices and wine, and bring to a simmer over low heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
½ cup sliced green onions 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes, undrained 1 teaspoon minced dried sage 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1 teaspoon dried thyme Pepper, to taste ½ cup Cabernet Franc wine
Creamy Parmesan Grits 4 cups water 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 1 cup grits, regular or quick
Creamy Parmesan Grits 1. Bring water and 1 tablespoon butter to a boil. Add grits. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until cooked. (Cooking time depends on which type of grits you use.) 2. Add remaining butter and ¼ cup heavy cream and continue stirring until grits begin to thicken and bubble. 3. Gradually add the remaining ¼ cup cream and cheese, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. 4. Spoon the grits onto plates and top with meat sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
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½ cup heavy cream 1½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese Chopped fresh parsley, optional
NOTE: THIS DISH TASTES GREAT WITH A GLASS OF CABERNET FRANC.
Frontier.edu/KyMonthly k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 13
Summertime Sippin’
If you like piña coladas—and any other fun frosty summer cocktails—you need to check out these refreshing drink recipes shared by Louisville mixologists.
The Sneak Recipe courtesy of Heather Wibbels, managing director of Bourbon Women and CocktailContessa.com, Louisville 8 ounces lemonade 2 ounces bourbon 1 ounce limoncello 1½ ounces lavender simple syrup, recipe follows 3 dashes lavender, orange or hummingbird bitters Optional: ½ ounce fresh lemon juice if you prefer very tart cocktails Optional: ½ ounce bourbon to top the slush as you serve it Garnish: lavender sprig and lemon rose 1. Add lemonade, bourbon, limoncello, lavender syrup, bitters and the optional lemon juice to a freezer-safe, sealable container. Lay flat in the freezer for about 4 hours. 2. To serve, place container on the counter for 5-10 minutes. Stir/fluff with a fork and scoop into chilled glasses. Use a coupe if you want to be fancy, and serve with a small dessert spoon.
PHOTO COURTESY NORTH OF BOURBON
PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER WIBBELS
1½ ounces vanilla beaninfused Tito’s vodka
Lavender Simple Syrup
¼ ounce Giffard Vanille de Madagascar
1 cup sugar
1½ ounces house-made Big Red syrup* Condensed milk to top Crushed ice
Your Red Drink Recipe courtesy of North of Bourbon, 935 Goss Avenue, Louisville
Add ingredients and ice to a food processor or blender. Pulse until well combined. * For syrup, add Big Red to a pan over
medium heat. Bring to a boil and then simmer on low until soda reduces to a syrup.
14 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
1 cup water 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender Add dried lavender to 1 cup of boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and add sugar. Let dissolve completely and transfer to a clean glass jar. Can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
PHOTO COURTESY LOUVINO
Raspberry Swirl Piña Colada Serves 5 people, about 12 ounces each
Recipe courtesy of Hilary Pelly, lead bartender at LouVino Douglass Hills, Louisville ¾ cup sauvignon blanc 1 cup Don Q Rum (or any clear rum) ½ cup coconut purée 2 cups coconut milk 11/3 cups Coco Lopez cream of coconut 1½ cups pineapple juice 1½ teaspoons vanilla paste ¾ teaspoon kosher salt 1/
3
cup lime juice
1 cup of your favorite fruit purée Crushed ice Add all ingredients to a food processor or large blender and pulse until well combined.
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 15
Instagrammer Nicole Magera featured her daughter, Olivia Magera, on her instagram page @frankfortkyfavs.
16 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
Sweet Spotz An accidental find led to a gelato empire for an enterprising Kentucky couple BY JAC KI E H O LLE N K A M P B E N T L E Y PHOTO S B Y N I C O LE M AG E R A
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 17
B
eth Richardson and Philip Enlow love to travel. Every year, the husband-andwife duo took time off from their successful corporate careers, suspended their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) deliveries from their Scott County hobby farm, and headed south to their favorite Mexican town, Playa del Carmen. About 10 years ago, during their nightly visit to a nearby ice cream
shop, they made a discovery that put them on a path they didn’t see coming. “I finally said to the owner, ‘Is this just good because we’re on vacation? Why is it so much better here?’ ” Richardson said. “He said, ‘It’s not ice cream; it’s gelato.’ ” Gelato, Richardson learned, is made daily, has a higher milk-to-cream ratio, and is churned more slowly, resulting in a denser consistency than ice cream. “I thought, ‘Well, why don’t I go home and try
18 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
and make this in our kitchen, just for us, from all of these things that these [Kentucky] farmers are already growing locally?’ ” she said. “So I would take it to potlucks and family gatherings, and one too many people said I should sell it. At the same time, we were looking for a little side gig to do on weekends in a food truck, and gelato was it. So we put it in a truck, and that was how we started.” That was 2013. Today, Spotz Gelato is now served out of multiple mobile units and several stand-
alone shops. “That little side gig has turned into this great big thing,” Richardson said.
The couple’s first truck was equipped with a gelato machine so the sweet concoction could be made then and there. But once Richardson and Enlow expanded to a second truck, they found a need for a commercial kitchen. They built one on their farm just outside of Midway. Spotz Gelato, a Kentucky Proud company, continues to use products
Photos courtesy of Spotz Gelato k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 19
20 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
@spotzgelato
Spotz Gelato is open Tuesdays through Sundays, noon-9 p.m.
grown by local farmers. Richardson said that it’s “mind blowing” how much gelato comes out of their kitchen. “Even to this day, every pan of gelato that’s sold in our stores and our trucks is produced in that commercial kitchen, and it’s delivered from the farm to wherever it’s going,” she said. “We still make everything ourselves. They’re all my recipes. “I’ve always liked to cook. I was raised in a family with a lot of good cooks, so food and entertaining and having good meals is all part of how I was raised. But I never dreamed anybody outside of my family or friends would want to eat
things that I make.” But they do. So much so that two trucks multiplied into six mobile units and six Kentucky stores in Midway, Frankfort, Versailles, Georgetown, La Grange and Shelbyville. Richardson and Enlow even have a shop in Las Peñitas, Nicaragua—their first stand-alone shop. During one of their many winter trips, the couple discovered Las Peñitas and eventually bought a house there. It was in Nicaragua in 2018 that they decided to test the waters and sell their gelato from their front porch, using local products such as coconuts, papayas and other tropical fruits to make the treat. “I guess our idea was,
if we built a successful store under these circumstances, maybe we need to try and do this at home. And that’s what we did,” Richardson said.
In 2019, Spotz Gelato “scoop” shops opened in Versailles and Georgetown. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent havoc wreaked on businesses throughout Kentucky—especially establishments that serve food—they opened a third scoop shop, in Shelbyville, in the summer of 2020. “We decided to take the risk and followed through with our plan [to open] and just crossed our fingers that it was going to
Where to Enjoy Spotz Gelato 246 Versailles Road FRANKFORT 109 East Main Street LA GRANGE 135 West Main Street GEORGETOWN 130 East Main Street MIDWAY 545 Main Street SHELBYVILLE 148 Court Street VERSAILLES If you happen to find yourself in Las Peñitas, Nicaragua, visit Spotz Gelato on the Beach Road, a block from Hotel Suyapa. Open November-March.
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 21
22 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
@frankfortkyfavs
Frankfort Favs “Highlighting our favorite things in and around Frankfort, KY • We love local biz and events, inspiring views and good eats!” #frankfortfavs Instagrammer Nicole Magera started Frankfort Favs in June 2021 to highlight pieces of Frankfort to encourage locals and tourists to get out and explore!
Beth Richardson takes Spotz Gelato on the road via truck, bike, wagon or mini-bar for parties and other events. Menus and booking information can be found at spotzgelato.com.
be OK. And it was,” Richardson said. Since then, three more Spotz Gelato shops have opened, with locations in Midway, Frankfort and La Grange. Aside from their signature gelato, the scoop shops offer sorbet, milkshakes, sundaes, floats, Italian sodas, affogato (gelato with coffee, whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles), and a wide selection of toppings. As for future shops, Richardson said they keep an open mind, since the previous six locations “dropped” in their laps. “Not that we don’t have a short list in our head—
towns that we would be interested in if the opportunity arose—but I’m a firm believer in things happening when it’s time for them to happen,” she said. “I have no idea how many we will open. It depends on how many good opportunities present themselves. It’s gotta make sense for us and be a good community fit. “We love all the towns that we’re in, and we are so grateful for all the support we’ve received from people who live in those local communities … That’s what makes each of our stores so special.” Meanwhile, Richardson
and Enlow will continue to manage their family business and see how the future might continue to surprise them. “If you had told me 10 years ago this is what I would be doing, I would have thought you were crazy,” Richardson said. “I’m in my mid-50s, and it’s just amazing to me that now I have a completely different career than what I thought I was going to be when I grew up. It’s amazing and a whole lot of fun—a lot of work but a whole lot of fun.” Q
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 23
Our American Idol Meet Kentuckian Noah Thompson, voted television’s 2022 American Idol, and find out who he idolizes BY JAC K B R A M M E R
24 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
Easton Schirra photo
A
s a boy growing up in eastern Kentucky, Noah Thompson rode in a car with his grandmother on U.S. 23, known since 1994 as the “Country Music Highway,” and read the signs with the names of country music legends from the region. The 144-mile stretch of road that runs from Greenup County to Letcher County recognizes such musical icons from the hills and hollers as Loretta Lynn, Tom T. Hall, Naomi and Wynonna Judd, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless. According to the Kentucky Department of Tourism, the area has produced more hit country artists per capita than any other region in the country. With the signs whizzing by him as a boy, Thompson proclaimed to his grandmother that someday his name would be on a sign on the famed highway. Thompson, now 20, took a big step in fulfilling that dream on May 22. Beyond his wildest expectations, 16 million people across the country voted him the winner of ABC’s popular American Idol TV show for 2022.
The 5-foot-9, 155-pound Thompson—with black hair, blue eyes, an aw-shucks demeanor and a raspy voice that projects sincerity—became the first Kentuckian to win the title in the show’s 20-year history. The life of the construction worker from Blaine—a community of about 66 in western Lawrence County in the valley of Blaine Creek, a northeast-flowing tributary of the Big Sandy River—was to be forever changed. Fame and fortune, such as the $250,000 prize and a deal with Disney’s Hollywood Records, were now in his grasp. The media started bombarding him with questions: “What are you going to do next?” (Go into music full time.) “Got a girlfriend?” (Yes, and she’s pretty.) “What’s your favorite color?” (Blue, as in the Big Blue Nation’s University of Kentucky Wildcats.) A whole new life was to be embraced. But Thompson certainly knew what he wanted to keep, what is at the center of his world—four Kentuckians whom he idolizes. “I wouldn’t be here and getting all this attention if I didn’t have them,” he said in a recent interview.
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Photo courtesy of ABC
Thompson with grandmother Karen Thompson (left), whom he describes as “my soul”; his girlfriend, Angel Dixon; and their child, Walker Thompson. Opposite page, Thompson with close friend and fellow construction worker Arthur Johnson.
Grandmother
KAREN THOMPSON Noah started living with his grandmother in Lawrence County when he was 3 years old. His parents had divorced. His father, Chris Thompson, an entrepreneur, still lives in Kentucky, and his mother, Elizabeth Miller, died in 2018 of a heart attack. Thompson’s dad played in a rock band, and the boy became enamored with music. His dad encouraged him to pursue his interest in music. His grandmother thought Noah would play the drums. He got a set of bongos but turned to the guitar. “I learned a lot from my grandma,” Thompson said. “She has been my soul.” The grandmother has referred to Noah as “an old soul.” What does she mean by that? “It means she knows I enjoy the little things in life—cutting the grass, just sitting around and talking, listening to people, taking it easy,” Noah said. “And I’m really a homebody.” Karen Thompson made her first trip to California this year to be with her grandson for the Mother’s Day episode of American Idol and the finale. She did not get to spend much time with Noah, though. His schedule was jampacked, and he tested positive for COVID-19. “I knew she was there with me,” Noah said. “She always is.” For the Mother’s Day show, Thompson sang one of his grandma’s favorite songs, “Landslide,” originally released by the rock band Fleetwood Mac in 1975.
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Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’ ’Cause I’ve built my life around you But time makes you bolder Even children get older And I’m getting older too
The new American Idol said he will try always to follow the advice his grandmother has given him: Stay who you are regardless of what happens
Girlfriend
ANGEL DIXON Thompson met Angel Dixon at Lawrence County High School. They have been an item since 2018. She has been busy chasing her dream in business but became Noah’s most vocal cheerleader during the American Idol competition. In a May 18 Instagram post, she wrote, “I’m not gonna lie I’m ready for my man to be home. It’s very hard to leave one another, but I know that God is in control and he has a plan!” After Noah won the title, Angel wrote on social media, “I’M STILL IN SHOCK YALL. This is so dang crazy!!! I just want to thank each and everyone of you for all the love and support you have shown Noah throughout his whole journey!!”
Photo courtesy of ABC
On the show, Thompson spoke of his girlfriend several times and dedicated to her his rendition of “Stay” by Rihanna.
and a flannel shirt, carrying a guitar. He proceeded to wow judges Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan with his performance of “Giving You Up” by Kameron Marlowe.
Not really sure how to feel about it
’Cause I’m giving you up
Something in the way you move
Just like I did them Marlboro Lights
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you
And I’m giving you up
It takes me all the way
Same way I did the whiskey on ice
I want you to stay
When he introduced the song, Thompson said, “This isn’t a song I would usually do, but it reminds me of being back home because it is a song me and my girlfriend, Angel, would sing together.”
Son
WALKER THOMPSON Noah Thompson and Angel Dixon have a 1-year-old son named Walker Thompson. “Angel is a good mother to Walker,” said Noah. Of the child, Noah said, “He means everything to me. He is why I am doing all this. He keeps me going.” Noah said that American Idol and its consequences enable him to be a strong provider for his son. “I want him to be secure in life, happy,” he said. “I want to be a good dad for him.”
Best Friend
ARTHUR JOHNSON There was nothing flashy about Noah Thompson in his audition for American Idol. He simply came out in faded jeans
Thompson informed the judges that he was a construction worker in a Kentucky town called Louisa. He acknowledged that he had lacked the confidence in his singing to sign up for the show, and that his construction worker friend, Arthur Johnson, had taped one of his songs and sent it to the show. The two friends met about two years ago on a construction job, said Thompson. “Arthur plays the guitar, and we hit it off,” Thompson said. “Not only did he get me on the show, but he encouraged me throughout, even when I was thinking about quitting the show. “My family and good friends like Arthur never gave up on me.”
THE FUTURE FOR NOAH THOMPSON With the unique title of American Idol on his résumé, Thompson has an excellent start on a path to a successful career in music. Maybe—just maybe—someday he will stand along U.S. 23 in his native eastern Kentucky and be recognized with a sign for his contribution to the Commonwealth’s country music legacy. How nice it would be if accompanying him there were his grandmother, the mother of his son, his son and his buddy who saw talent in him he could not see. Q
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mirror mosaic remake
After nearly 40 years, artist Gary Bielefeld overhauls his iconic Owensboro mural T E X T A N D P H OTO S B Y M I C K J E F F R I E S
30 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
I
t’s a blazing hot summer afternoon, and Owensboro artist and entrepreneur Gary Bielefeld is staring at the Ohio River and thinking about sea monsters. “Can’t you just see a giant octopus reaching up the side of the bridge?” Bielefeld asks, looking almost dewy-eyed at the prospect. It’s probably not the first thought most Owensboroans have when considering ways to improve the city’s venerable Glover-Cary Bridge. One real giant in Bielefeld’s life hangs not by tentacled suckers but with industrial-grade glue, and it’s made of thousands of shards of mirror. It’s Bielefeld’s iconic Kentucky mirror mosaic mural, one of Owensboro’s most enduring sights, which has been viewed by thousands who have crossed the bridge since the last original shard was placed in November 1983, completing the epic 110- by 42-foot work of art. To Bielefeld’s knowledge, it’s the largest mirror mosaic in the world. And that’s a lot of mirror, especially on a sunny day. “The minute the sun comes over, when you look down on the ground, you get it right back in your face. Then, the whole thing starts to heat up. So it’s only a few seconds before your bald spot goes,” he quips.
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MAKING THE “BIG STUFF.” Giant sculpture is Gary Bielefeld’s forte. Middle photo: the artist’s landmark grocery bag.
Four decades ago, Gary Bielefeld may not have had a bald spot to be concerned about when he and a clutch of his Kentucky Wesleyan College student volunteers installed the original Kentucky mirror mosaic over a period of about four months. Little did he know that he’d be back up on that wall again, thanks to a fluke of science that was causing problems. “It was the silver on the back of the mirrors,” he says. “The adhesive had a reaction after 40 years, and the silver was letting go. So, clear glass was starting to drop off.” Forty years, though. That’s pretty good, right? “On a painted mural outside, you’re lucky to get 10 [years]. This one’s good for 50. And if there’s a problem, they can come and dig me up and scatter my ashes in the parking lot,” he says with a laugh. During the mural’s refurbishment, the COVID-19 pandemic cost him the volunteer labor he had enjoyed the first time he worked on it. “I ended up doing it all myself—every bit of it,” Bielefeld says. “The only thing I haven’t done is bring the pallets of glass in.” In the original iteration, the glass was scrap donated by Kentucky Mirror & Plate Glass in Louisville. In the ensuing years, that business expanded to include an Owensboro branch, so there’s enough scrap in town, and the company also supplies its own custom adhesive. The city of Owensboro and Daviess County provided additional financial assistance for the project, and individual citizens and “friends of the arts” chipped in, Bielefeld said.
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Community volunteer and Owensboro media personality Kirk Kirkpatrick has long been a fan of Bielefeld’s work. “Gary has an incredible imagination and the talent,” Kirkpatrick says. “The original mirror project is a great example but was only one of many of the huge pieces of art he’s created over the years in Owensboro.” Bielefeld has a knack for making “Big Stuff,” the onetime business name for what also has been called Bielefeld Creative Services. His artwork is not all mosaics—though piecing together and resourcing wacky proposals could be seen as its own kind of mosaic. One of his specialties is to give local businesses iconic “big stuff” to promote their brands. Bielefeld has created a giant utility tool belt for a lumber retailer and a shopping bag for a local grocery. “It was probably 30 feet tall and was as big of a Frederica Street tourist attraction as our largest sassafras tree,” Kirkpatrick recalls of the shopping bag. “I don’t think any of us realize the amount of time, planning and work that goes into creating a piece of art like Gary’s. We all owe him our gratitude and appreciation for his investment in our community, both artistically and as a person. And I can’t wait to find out his next project!” His next project seems to be on Bielefeld’s mind, too. As he gazes down from the Frantz Building Services lot that is home to the Kentucky mirror mosaic, he gets a faraway look. “See those three silos down there?” he asks, eyeing the concrete detritus that is common for any Kentucky river town. “I want to paint them like medieval towers and do all the fairy tales involving towers—like Rapunzel’s hair coming all the way down. And the French guy going, ‘I spit in your general direction … and your father smells of elderberries.’ ” Bielefeld’s version of Monty Python references notwithstanding, his decades of work in Owensboro are no joke.
“He’s a guy who just seems like the gears are always turning,” local builder Scott Jagoe notes. “He’s probably already thinking about something else while he’s doing the mural. I think he’s just working to make things better. It’s not just for himself but also for people around him.” And if some of those people have businesses they want to promote, well, he probably has “big stuff” for them, too. • • •
Years ago, after the debut of the Kentucky mirror mosaic on the giant wall of what was then Progress Printing, Bielefeld got a call from competitor HardinGraybill Printers. “They said, ‘We’d like you to do for us what you did for them,’ and I said, ‘What? Mirrors?’ and they said, ‘No, we want something to make our building
stand out,’ ” Bielefeld recalls. “And so we turned the whole building into a printing press. We had the wind turbines on it. And we had hog feeders coming off the front, which look like big ink rollers. And the awning looked like it was coming out from between the rollers.” Tool belts, grocery bags, printing presses—Bielefeld has been having fun with his big stuff for decades, and Owensboro has benefited from his madcap exploits. Mark Calitri of Visit Owensboro sees Bielefeld’s work as a great boon to the city. “Changing a town into a destination does not happen overnight. Public art, like the mosaic mirror, can be a key factor in establishing a unique and culturally active place,” Calitri says. “Gary’s true greatness and significance are in his ability to envision a work of art and conceive concepts and shapes at a level few can. I’ve been so impressed with his work ethic and determination. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 33
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THE OG KENTUCKY MIRROR MOSAIC MURAL (above). Bielefeld’s mural was first unveiled in November 1983. Right, the artist works on the new version of the iconic mosaic.
“Gary has experienced every Kentucky weather season—heat, high winds, cold temperatures and rain. He even persevered through a global pandemic. Since he’s doing almost 100 percent of the work alone up in the bucket with no one around, I’ve joked that Dr. [Anthony] Fauci would be proud of his social distancing!” Terry Woodward, CEO and founder of Owensboro’s WaxWorks VideoWorks, says, “Gary is a very talented artist, and [the mirror mosaic] has been his showpiece. Everyone in Owensboro fell in love with it immediately, and I guess it had a larger impact that I would ever have imagined. It’s such an Owensboro thing, and we’re proud to be part of our great state of Kentucky.” One person who is outsize proud is Gary’s life 34 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
partner/co-conspirator/helper/cheerleader, Janet Woodall Corum. “When I first saw his mirror mural, it brought tears to my eyes,” she recalls. “To see this project being reimagined and recreated by one man after 40-plus years was just overwhelming to me. I have seen him come in with glass in his arms, hands and legs, and blood running down from a cut. He has had to go to the emergency room for gashes from the glass and has had near frostbite from the cold as well as sunburn and near heatstroke from the heat. He cuts each and every piece of glass that he places on the wall. I wish there had been a way to count them all.” For all of its thousands of shards, the Kentucky mirror mosaic mural reflects well on both Kentucky and Owensboro. Q
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Sullivan University Celebrates 60 Years
S
ullivan University started in 1962 as Sullivan Business College in Louisville, founded by A.O. Sullivan and A.R. Sullivan. As time progressed, it grew into Sullivan University. Sixty years later, it has expanded from Louisville to Lexington, Fort Knox, online classes, and a Learning Center in Louisa. Sullivan currently offers certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs! Programs range from Baking & Pastry, Business, Culinary, Information Technology, Medical, Nursing, and Pharmacy. One of the things that makes the school unique is that, since the beginning, it has always been a family-owned business. Glenn Sullivan, the third generation of the Sullivan family, is the Chancellor and CEO leading the University. He said, “It is exciting to be part of a multigenerational family-owned business that now has
participation from a fourth generation … Every day, coming to work, I am so fortunate to see our talented and devoted faculty going above and beyond to help our students succeed and am proud of what Sullivan University is today and what we are yet to accomplish.” The University has a worldrenowned culinary program that has been around the planet. In 2008, Sullivan was chosen to send culinary students to Beijing for the Olympics to cook for the United States Olympic Delegation. Chancellor Emeritus Al “AR” Sullivan was quoted as saying, “If you took the Sullivan graduates out of restaurants in Louisville, 80% would close.” A “fun fact” is that since the very first graduation, every student has shaken the hand of a Sullivan. A.R. Sullivan began the tradition in 1963, and it has been carried on by Chancellor Glenn Sullivan.
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 35
Sullivan University sows seeds of knowledge about a traditional Kentucky plant BY JACK B RAMMER
Yes, We Cannabis
36 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
Don’t know much about history Don’t know much biology Don’t know much about a science book Don’t know much about the French I took But I do know about cannabis And I know that it can relate to us What a wonderful world this would be. With apologies to Sam Cooke’s 1960 classic
name “Hemp Hop Queen.” “It’s good for Kentucky to learn more about this crop used for fiber and medicine. It has helped me with the business I am in,” GoodinHunfjord said. “I would have liked to have seen in it more hands-on training. There is some, but it’s an online course.”
song “Wonderful World”
I
n May 2021, Sullivan University in Louisville became the only institution of higher education in Kentucky to offer a cannabis business studies certificate. Spare the pathetic puns, please! Sullivan has heard them all. Weed the people. High expectations. Now I know my CBDs. You’re my best bud. You can’t spell healthcare without “THC.” Sullivan, a private for-profit university since 1962, is serious about studying the business and social consequences of the tall green plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves and glandular hairs. Cannabis plants grow well in Kentucky and are commonly used to produce hemp fiber and CBD oil products that are marketed for potential health benefits. The nine-month, online, 24-hour course offered by Sullivan is designed to provide students with an introduction to the social, legal, psychological and economic impact of cannabis use. It strives to familiarize students with the cannabis and hemp industry, including hemp, CBD and other derivatives of cannabis plants. Sullivan’s website lists the 2022 tuition and fees for the Cannabusiness Studies certificate at $9,480. It also states that Sullivan is prepared to help qualified students with financial assistance. Every degree from Sullivan comes with career services assistance. “The cannabis program at Sullivan definitely is worthwhile,” said LaToya Goodin-Hunfjord, who graduated from the program in June after starting in it last October. She has been a hemp farmer in Green County since 2014 with the brand
HOW THE PROGRAM BLOSSOMED The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, which licenses programs at state universities, said there may be some outof-state online cannabis programs like the one at Sullivan, but Sullivan appears to be the only Kentucky school with such a program. (The University of Kentucky is in line to get an on-campus cannabis research center.) Sullivan Chancellor Glenn Sullivan said that the seed for a cannabis program at Sullivan started when the United States Congress and several states, including Kentucky, focused on industrial hemp. Sullivan noted that the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill allowed states to operate pilot programs regulating hemp production, and the 2018 Farm Bill expanded on it. “I was looking for a new program for Sullivan and thought about the retail-public side of hemp,” he said. “I know hemp is not a panacea for our woes, but it is an opportunity for our people to diversify. An online program was born.” Sullivan contacted the Kentucky Hemp Association, which advocates for the hemp industry, local growers, manufacturers and processors, to ask what a university cannabis business program should look like. The term “cannabusiness” was coined. Sullivan said there was no interest in establishing a four-year degree. “Most people were looking for a
certificate program,” he said. The program took about two years to develop, and the university started with an online introductory course followed by the certificate program. University officials were surprised that 93 students from 23 states—with more than half the enrollees from outside of Kentucky—initially signed up for it. “We had students who were going to medical school, law school, business, law enforcement—all
kinds,” Sullivan said. “Our Advisory Board members recommended that we offer courses on the history and sociology of cannabis, the legal and medical issues, and the retail side of the business.” Courses in the program today range from an introduction to the social, legal, psychological and economic impact of cannabis use to principles of sales management in cannabusiness. To enroll, students in the program must be a minimum of 21 years of age within nine months after their start date. The program has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Katie Moyer of Christian County, president of the Kentucky Hemp Association and owner of Kentucky k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 37
Hemp Works in Crofton, said, “It’s a great idea for a business school to include the studies of cannabis. I have heard only good things about it.” Moyer agrees with Sullivan that, as the industry expands and the demand for employees grows, entrylevel workers should understand basic business operations such as retailing, manufacturing, sales, supervision, and supply chain management, as well as social, legal, psychological and economic issues surrounding the industry. She said hemp production slumped a bit nationally in recent years, but that is expected to change. The U.S. hemp market is projected to triple from the current $5.6 billion annually to $17.4 billion by 2027. Kentucky is in the top 10 states of hemp cultivation. DON’T CALL IT A SOCIAL MOVEMENT The Sullivan program is “objectively focused without attempting to be involved in any social movement,” said Sullivan University Social and Behavioral
Science chair Tonnie L. Renfro, who oversees the course. Cannabis is illegal in the Commonwealth for recreational use, though non-psychoactive CBD oil is legal in the state. Kentucky has a lengthy history of cultivating industrial hemp, which was grown for fiber beginning in 1775. Renfro said the program must note that state laws vary on cannabis since the program is online and students are enrolled from all over the U.S. She thinks the program has “a good future” at Sullivan. “We initially saw some students enroll in it for curiosity,” Renfro said. “Now, we run 25 to 28 in the class, and I think their interest overall is more intense. We have more and more students who want to get fully invested in the industry.” An interesting field trip for the class, she said, is a visit to Evercure Farms near La Grange in Oldham County, especially during harvesting time in late summer. Renfro said her opinions on cannabis have changed. She said she
came from a strong religious and military background and frowned on cannabis. “Twenty years ago, I was anti-cannabis. Today, I think there are good medical benefits to it, and I believe Kentucky someday will allow the use of medical marijuana under certain conditions,” she said. “But I don’t get on a soap box about it with my students. That’s not my job. I let them decide their own opinions of cannabis.” Renfro said she has never been criticized for teaching cannabis business, “though some members of my family raised an eyebrow when I told them what I’m going to do. But after I explained it all, they said, ‘OK,’ ” she said. Goodin-Hunfjord, armed with her freshly presented cannabis business studies certificate from Sullivan University, has persuaded another student to take the course. Her son, Kris Hunfjord, started the program this spring. “We are looking at building and running our own greenhouse someday,” she said. “I know the program will help him.” Q
ABOUT SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY With about 2,100 students and campuses in Louisville, Lexington and Fort Knox plus a
learning center in Louisa, Sullivan University offers a variety of degrees, from post-graduate studies to doctorates. For more information about Sullivan, including its cannabis business studies program, visit sullivan.edu.
38 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
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. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 39
40 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
Restoring History Two Kentucky brothers are preserving a Hardin County home that dates back to the Commonwealth’s infancy BY GARY P. WEST
T
he Monin House, somewhat isolated in the backwoods of Hardin County, has stood the test of time for 227 years. That isolation is about to change now that the Ford Motor Company has gobbled up 1,500 acres not far from Monin Road on Interstate 65 near Glendale. It is the oldest house in Hardin County, built in 1795 and located in a section of the county with little commercial development. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Thanks to Leon Howlett and his brother, Paul, the Monin House isn’t going away anytime soon. Several years ago, they purchased the property and began a restoration project to preserve not just the outward appearance of the structure but also the interior. Their efforts have been slow but rewarding in restoring the building, originally a
two-story log home much larger than most constructed during that period. “[It’s] a labor of love,” Leon Howlett said. “Almost every weekend for eight years, we have worked on the restoration. The only exception was during harvest time on our other property. We are finally reaching the end.” • • •
The house’s history reveals an intriguing story, which begins with Adam Monin, who emigrated from Switzerland, where he was born in 1727. He and his wife, Elizabeth, raised a family in their new house. As the years went by, the home was passed down to offspring. Adam was one of around 200 pioneers to make their way into Kentucky with a land grant from the Revolutionary War that took him first to Paris. Bourbon County was one of the first nine Kentucky counties, and
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the land grants were a big part of the pensions that soldiers received. It wasn’t long before Adam traded his Paris parcel for land in Hardin County, shortly after the county was formally established in 1793. Two years later, he began construction on his home near what became the community of Nolin, 10 miles from Elizabethtown. To put the age of the house and its owner in perspective, these were the days of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. George Washington was beginning his second term as president of the United States, a country still in its infancy. • • •
The house didn’t leave the Monin family for decades. During the Civil War, Union Gen. L.H. Rosseau made the large home his headquarters, while more than 10,000 of his soldiers camped nearby. Later, several of his manuals and a saddle rack were found there and are on display at the Hardin County History Museum in Elizabethtown. Harold and Frances Monin were the last of the descendants to live in the house. When Harold died, his wife stayed on until 1996, when she moved to a nearby assisted living facility. Louise Monin Diddle grew up in the historic home. She was the wife of Ed Diddle, who coached men’s basketball
at Western Kentucky University from 1922-64. The Diddles had two children, Mary Jo Phillips and Eddie Diddle Jr. Eddie Jr. played basketball as a WKU Hilltopper from 1949-51, then went on to coach basketball at Middle Tennessee State University. Louise attended WKU, where she played basketball. That’s where she met the future Hall of Fame coach and later married him. “These were the best of times,” Mary Jo said of their childhood years. “Eddie and I would board the train [to Nolin] in Bowling Green on Friday and return Sunday night. “I was 4, and Eddie was 8. We’d get off the train, walk uphill through some woods, and cross a swinging bridge. I had a playhouse, climbed trees, caught fish out of the creek, collected shells, and picked blackberries. We had cousins who would come from Key West on the train to stay all summer.” Nolin was a thriving community with a mill, a post office and a bank. Most importantly, the community had a railroad stop that ensured it was on the map. “Mother and I, years ago, went to Switzerland with my husband, Jim, to see where my family originally had come from,” Mary Jo said. “He [Adam Monin] was from the town of Tramelon in the French-speaking area of the country.” Adam Monin walked all the way to Detroit and back to Kentucky to fight in a Native American uprising, according
to Mary Jo. That’s history. He died in 1831 at age 104 and is buried in the Monin family farm cemetery. “I still have the muzzle-loading rifle he used,” Mary Jo said. Mary Jo Phillips now lives in Nashville and is probably the only person alive who has spent time in the Monin House. “My grandfather graduated from UK before it was UK,” she said. “My grandmother graduated from Centre College and worked in Chicago for a time. I had twin uncles who ran Monin Bros. Garage in Glendale.” • • •
“If we could find the right buyer, we’d sell it,” Howlett said of the house. “At one time, making a small distillery here was talked about.” The historic significance of the Monin House and surrounding acres would lend itself to some creative bourbon brands with some interesting history. “I don’t know if Adam Monin ever made whiskey on the place or not,” Howlett said, “but it would be a great place for a distillery, small warehouse and tasting room. There’s so much history.” Surveyors are at work preparing for secondary roads to be widened in the area near the house. With the efforts the Howlett brothers have put into this Hardin County relic, they are not about to let it disappear under their watch. Q
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 43
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The 1901 Kentucky Derby was the 27th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on April 29, 1901.
K ENTUCKY XPLORER E All About Kentucky
Volume 37, Number 6 – August 2022
These well-dressed folks, circa 1917, appear to be attending a Sophia Braslau opera sponsored by Western Kentucky State Normal School in Bowling Green. The school later became Western Kentucky University. Photo Courtesy of the Earl D. Rabold Collection.
Your Letters – page 46 Finding Your Family in the 1950 Census -- page 50 The Paridos of Clark County – page 52
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Featuring Things Old & New About Kentucky
46
THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER
Kentucky Explorer a magazine published for Kentuckians everywhere Charles Hayes Jr. • Founder Stephen M. Vest • Publisher Deborah Kohl Kremer • Editor Rebecca Redding • Typographist One-Year Subscription to Kentucky Monthly: $20
FOUNDED 1986, ISSUE 335, VOLUME 37, NO. 6
Letters to Kentucky Explorer Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.
Orphan Train a Touching Story Welcome to the dog days of summer. This time of year always reminds me of February because I’m happy to curl up in my favorite chair and avoid the outdoors. We have some interesting articles this month. Kentucky pottery is treasured by many, and we have a piece celebrating Louisville’s Hadley Pottery. The “I Remember” section includes a fun story about laundry and a visitor from afar. Those interested in genealogy will enjoy learning about the online release of the 1950 United States census by the National Archives in April. The census has been taken every 10 years since 1790, and some data—such as the total population—is released at that time. But there is a 72-year restriction on some of the more personal questions. The 1950 census was the first to include each person’s line of work, how they are related to others in the household, and if they had running hot water, a radio and a television in the household. Take some time at this site because, once you dive in, you might be there a while. I found both sides of my family’s 1950 census records. I was picturing my then-teenage mother wearing saddle shoes and talking on the phone, while Grandma stood at the door giving the information to the census taker. My paternal grandma, usually the most honest person in the world, apparently lied about her age on the form, which makes me smile. Although we are in the thick of summer (and with our humidity, I do mean “thick”), I’m already looking ahead to fall. For our October issue, I would love to include a few memories about legends or spooky places in Kentucky. When I was in high school in Kenton County in the 1980s, my friends and I drove around looking for haunted places. There was a scary, dark road out in the country where the trees were full of chickens. There is a street in Covington where, if you put your car in neutral, it will glide uphill due to some unexplainable force. If you have a short spooky tale to share, send it in by the end of August. You can reach me at deb@kentuckymonthly.com or mail items to Kentucky Monthly, Attn: Deb Kremer, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602-0559. — DEBORAH KOHL KREMER In memory of Donna Jean Hayes, 1948-2019
I picked up a copy of Kentucky Monthly while in Bowling Green (the May 2022 issue). I enjoyed the magazine, and there was one article that really touched my heart—“The Kentucky Orphan Train” (page 50). I had never heard about this and was happy to see it published in your magazine. As soon as I returned to Indiana, I contacted the article’s author, Suzanne Morris, and she is sending me a copy of the books. Needless to say, I can’t wait to read them. Thank you for printing the article. It is priceless. Leanne B. Fleetwood Seymour, Indiana
Sounds Like a Country Song When I opened my April issue of Kentucky Monthly and made it to the Explorer section, there was one of the greatest country music song titles I’ve ever encountered: “More Than Just a Porch Swing!” (page 49). Isn’t that great? I think I got chills as I read it. I’m a BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) songwriter with cuts, and since you can’t copyright a title, I’m going to jump on this with both feet and try to turn it into a really good song—“More Than Just a Porch Swing.” So rich with pictures and memories. Paul W. Hanks Grayson
In Search of L&N Railroad Article Kentucky Monthly magazine is always a welcome sight in the mail! The most recent issue was no exception. I was particularly excited to see that you had assumed stewardship of Kentucky Explorer. It is a treasure trove of the Commonwealth’s incredible history, and I am pleased to know that you will provide insight into the previous issues of this publication. I am in search of a copy of the November 2002 issue of Kentucky Explorer. There was an article about the Lebanon Branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in it, and it particularly focused in and around Gethsemane in Nelson County. Maybe a subscriber has this back issue? If so, please contact me. I anxiously await a reply. Frank D. Bryan 101 Red Oak Court Elizabethtown, KY 42701 fdbryan49@aol.com
The Aug. 19, 1782, Battle of Blue Licks is regarded as the final battle of the American Revolutionary War.
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The 134-Year Delivery By Chad Comer Gamaliel
along with confirmation of the production of the marker. James R. Pitcock was born on March 8, 1842, the son of Laban Pitcock and ulia Evans was the Tompkinsville Elizabeth Chapman Pitcock. He and his postmistress in the 1880s when a father enlisted in the Union Army in Civil War veteran’s headstone October 1861. At their time of enlistment, arrived in the mail. No one ever he was 19 and his father was 52. They claimed the marker, and she was unsure both were mustered as privates in where it belonged. Eventually, she took Company K of the 5th Kentucky Cavalry the headstone home with her in hopes of on March 31, 1862, at Gallatin, Tennessee, finding its rightful owner. Time passed, for a period of three years. James later and so did she, but the marker remained re-enlisted and was transferred to unclaimed. Company L of the 3rd Kentucky Cavalry. Fast forward 134 years, when Mrs. After the Civil War, James married Evans’ great-grandson, Joe Moody, Susan Frances Garmon, and the contacted me to attempt to find couple had two daughters, Mary out where the monument and Nancy. James died on July 1, belonged. I had set numerous 1869, at the young age of 27. military headstones in the area. After seeing that his original The government-issued headstone was in poor condition headstone reads: “J.R. Pitcock, and locating some of his Co. K, 5th KY CAV.” with raised descendants, I learned that his letters in a recessed shield. It is family wanted the military made of Vermont marble and headstone to finally be set in its was created on Aug. 21, 1888, by rightful place. Sheldon & Sons of West On May 7, 2022—almost 153 Rutland, Vermont, and shipped years after his death—a to Tompkinsville. I determined deserving veteran’s grave was this to be the headstone of finally marked with a military James R. Pitcock, who is buried marker, and a shipment seeking in the Old Mount Hermon Pictured are Chad Comer, who, along with his son, its destination for 134 years was Cemetery near Tompkinsville. John Morgan Comer, cleaned and set the headstone; finally delivered. With the help of Scott Fife, Max, Ned and Joe Moody, great-grandsons of We owe our freedom to Pitcock’s Civil War records and Postmistress Evans; and Charlotte Petett Arnett, a great-great-granddaughter of James R. Pitcock. America’s veterans. widow’s pension were obtained,
J
Memories of Bowlingtown I
’m from a little community called Bowlingtown. It is under Buckhorn Lake now. I’m 84 years old. The people of Bowlingtown had to give up their homes and property for Buckhorn Lake. The lodge is where my dad went to school. The grade school that I went to is underwater. I think all those people who had to give up their homes and property are gone now. They used to meet down there on Memorial Day weekend and hug each other and cry. A very sad situation. I have many great stories about Bowlingtown. I have lots of pictures of the people and some of the homes that were in in the town. The picnic area there is where the Bowlingtown Cemetery used to be. My older cousin said that the cemetery had few tombstones or
markers. They were supposed to take up the graves and move them to a different location. Our great-great-grandpa is still buried in the area because he had no gravestone. I know the area where he was buried. My mother refused to stay at the lodge. She called the lake “that old damn dam.” My dad was in World War II. He had two brothers and a brother-in-law in the war, too. They all came back. My dad was a carpenter after he came home from the war. He built us a nice home, but it was torn down for the lake. When the water is low, you can see some of our foundation rocks. Dad was my favorite person in the world. Best wishes and God bless your magazine. Esther Parton Indianapolis, Indiana
“Live every day as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.” Muhammad Ali
4 THE 48 THEKENTUCKY KENTUCKYEXPLORER EXPLORER Send memories to Deborah Kohl Kremer at deb@kentuckymonthly.com or mail to Kentucky Monthly, Attn: Deb Kremer, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602.
“I Remember” Send your memory in today!
By Our Readers
Laundry on the Line and a Creature on the Porch By Jan Dees Wade Lexington
machine with water, heating large containers of water on the kitchen stove, and filling a washtub with water for the rinse. The outside clothesline had to be wiped down before clean clothes could be hung on it, since birds had I am 74 and have lived, worked and had a family in a enjoyed perching there for the rest of the week. All of major metropolitan area. I have traveled all over the these steps were just the beginning of United States and Canada and to the process. other countries. I have seen and The cleanest and best clothes went experienced many things in my into the first load. After these had lifetime, but it’s the early things that agitated sufficiently, the clothes were shape us and that remain the most fished out of the wash water with a vivid. long wooden paddle and then fed into I was born at home in a farmhouse the wringer to squeeze out the soapy in Calvert City, the oldest child of water before they were dunked in the Fred and Lillian Dees. I had three rinse water. After the clothes were younger siblings—Gary Dees, who swished around in the rinse water, lives in Lexington; Marty Dees they were fed back through the Schuett, who lives in Gilbertsville; wringer into a clean white enamel and Mary Dees Sawchuck, who lives dishpan. Much later, when we were in Alexandria, Virginia. Our home old enough to help, we were was an old-fashioned foursquare reminded often to keep our white clapboard house with a hands away from the wringer broad porch that spanned the because our mother had a front. We had no running water, morbid fear of little hands being no indoor bathroom, and no crushed by the wringer. central heat. The water supply After the first load of clean came from a cistern inside a clothes was in the dishpan, the screened-in back porch. When it second load would be put into rained, my father would wait the same wash water that was until the rain had washed off the used for the first load. While the roof, and then he would redirect second batch was being churned the outside gutter into the around in the machine, the first cistern so the “clean” water load was taken outside to be would replenish the water shaken out and the clothes supply stored in the cistern. pinned onto the line. When that This was the water that we used Top, the Dees children, 1951; above, the four siblings was finished, it was time to go for drinking, cooking, laundry pictured in the porch swing mentioned in the story. back inside the back porch and and bathing. The water level Alas, there are no photos of the monkey. No one start the wringing and rinsing was watched carefully, since this thought to take one during the chaos of that day! process all over again. And so it was our only source of water. would go, until the last load was finished. Only then Laundry day was a brutal workday for our mother. The would a long hose be attached to the washer tub and the three younger siblings—a brother and twin sisters—were dirty water drained into the backyard. still in cloth diapers, and at age 3, I couldn’t help with I am sure that many of my contemporaries remember childcare or with chores. Doing the weekly wash fell on our mother’s shoulders. It meant drawing heavy buckets of days like these, but for younger readers, it is important to have a context for the next part of the story. With no water up out of the cistern, filling the wringer washing
Helen Thomas, a reporter and UPI journalist, was born in Winchester on Aug. 8, 1904.
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childcare, what did our mother do with four children under the age of 4? That was why the broad, deep, shaded front porch was so important. Railings and an improvised child gate in front of the stairs created a large playpen for the four of us. The twins were in an old-fashioned playpen in the middle of the space. At one end was a porch swing, and at the other end were two chairs and a small table. When a few toys were spread around and old quilts spread out on the floor, we were expected to be good and entertain ourselves while the laundry day progressed on the backside of the house. After I became a mother, I was amazed that all this had worked out, week after week. One memorable week, a novelty was introduced into our little world. Once again, context is important. We had no television, no picture books, and no concepts about the larger world outside our farm and family circle. So, when a creature scampered into our front porch playground, we did not recognize it. The furry little animal climbed up the corner porch pillar and sat watching the four children below. I don’t remember who was the first to scream, but soon, mass hysteria had broken out. Our mother came running to find four squalling children and one curious little animal watching the spectacle below. Mother grabbed up the twins first and took them inside the house. She was shouting at the animal, telling it to
shoo. She had never seen a live animal of this species before and wasn’t sure what it was capable of, but she was going to protect her children. She dragged the next two inside the house. A neighbor, who lived on the other side of our apple orchard, heard the noise and came running. His house was a considerable distance from ours, so I can’t imagine how loud we were for him to hear the noise. Later, he said that he had terrible thoughts about what was going on while he ran. After he made sure that all five of us were unharmed, he started to laugh. Our scary animal was a monkey. Our neighbor had already heard about a monkey that had arrived with a visitor to our community. The monkey had escaped and come to view the children in the front porch playpen. Much later, we learned that the curious monkey was a capuchin, which is associated with organ grinders and is often used in movies because these monkeys are considered intelligent and trainable. Today. any modern child would easily be able to identify the animal from picture books or visits to the zoo. But on our farm in rural western Kentucky, he was like an alien from outer space. I am sure that the cute little fellow wondered about all the noise as he watched and studied the human behavior below. Editors Note: Jan reports that her mother, Lillian, is 98 and lives in Benton. Happily, someone else now does her laundry.
Hang on! My grandfather, Baily Henry, drove this 1929 American Austin everywhere, including to work at the Corinth Theatre, where he was a projectionist. When my mom, Betty Ann Martin, was about 4 years old, they were driving near Mason (Magoffin County), Kentucky, when the passenger door of the car came open. She was hanging on to the door for dear life! Fortunately, the door then closed, and she was safe. Now you know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. We kids made it into the world by the grace of God. Thanks for hanging in there, Mom, literally. Every time I look at this photo and that passenger door, I can see Mom swinging in the breeze motoring down U.S. 25, gangster style—haha. Jerry Martin Corinth
Lost River Cave is home to the only underground boat tour in the state of Kentucky.
6 THE 50 THEKENTUCKY KENTUCKYEXPLORER EXPLORER
Finding Your Family in the 1950 Census By Cierra Earl, MA Kenton County Public Library, Covington Local History and Genealogy Department Library Professional
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s the United States entered the 1950s, “Goodnight, Irene” by the Weavers was a No. 1 song; Walt Disney released Cinderella, the animated movie that became the top-grossing film of the year; and Bette Davis and Marilyn Monroe lit up the silver screen in All About Eve. The country was entering a prosperous period as a result of the end of World War II and the implementation of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill, which provided millions of servicemen and servicewomen access to assistance, including housing, job counseling and tuition-free education. The result was a period in American history known for its economic boom, affordable housing boom and baby boom. This important point in history changed the lives of many of our ancestors, who took part in the 1950 United States Federal Census. In the spring of 1950, volunteer enumerators began going door to door collecting information about each household for the census. Conducted every 10 years, the census is an important tool for filling in genealogical gaps or answering questions about your family tree. The 1950 Census asked each household questions about their family makeup, education and employment status. Random census takers also may have answered questions about their military service. These questions are gold mines for genealogists who are looking to piece together their family histories and stories. Census records help establish where your ancestors lived, what type of industry they were employed in, the extent of their education, and their military service. These questions help provide context to what our ancestors were doing in 1950 and a snapshot of how they lived at the time. You may have photographs at home of your family during the 1950s. The 1950 Census may help you unlock some of the secrets in those family photographs. I looked for an example photograph in the Kenton County Public
Library’s Faces and Places database (facesandplaces. kentonlibrary. org). This free online database contains donations of photographs of families who lived in northern Kentucky and the surrounding areas. In the Nancy Bloemer Collection, there is a photograph Top, the Emark family attended the of the Emark 1951 Ketteler Due family reunion in family posing for Covington; above, the Emark family in the camera in 1951. Photos courtesy of the Nancy 1951. Using the Bloemer Collection. 1950 Census, we can add more genealogical details about the Emark family to the description. With census information, we can include full names, ages, where the family lived, and the occupations of the adults. If you need help researching the 1950 Census or are interested in researching your family history, the Kenton County Public Library in Covington is available to help. The library offers free one-hour one-on-one appointments to help you research your family history or break down your genealogy walls. To make an appointment, call 859.962.4070 or email history@kentonlibrary.org. Follow the Kenton County Public Library Local History and Genealogy Department on social media! Join the Facebook group “Kenton Library Archives” and follow them on Instagram @kentonlibraryarchives.
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (1908) by John Fox Jr. was the first novel to sell a million copies in the United States.
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‘I Probably Threw the Pitch’ By Steve Haley Springfield, Tennessee
After my high school graduation, I was in Gray’s Drug Store in my hometown of Guthrie (Todd County) when a former 1920s Major League Baseball pitcher for the Giants, Kent Greenfield, came in and sat at the opposite end of y senior year at Todd County Central in Elkton the soda fountain. His posture was straight as an arrow. started in the fall of 1976. Our advisors suggested With legs crossed and arms folded, he stared straight that all college-bound students take the research ahead. He still possessed the athletic build of a youthful class taught by Mrs. Ann Reeves in the fall semester and baseball player. He seemed deep in meditative thought. It advanced composition led by Ms. Carolyn Wells in the spring. Mrs. Reeves’ goal was to teach us to write a proper was like he was still staring at the catcher and contemplating the next pitch. Ruth’s mythical ocean home research paper using a minimum of three references or run came back to my mind. I quotes. She told us that, in the wondered if Mr. Greenfield could future, we would write a lot of deny or confirm the ocean shot. My research papers, and we needed to dad always discouraged me from be prepared. speaking to him about his baseball The first order of business was days. But, well, what could it hurt? selecting the topic. What would we “Mr. Kent,” I started, “I read a spend the next four weeks exploring? book on Babe Ruth.” There was no My experiences in reading had movement or acknowledgment. I mostly been biographies, and my plowed on. “Robert Creamer wrote favorite writer was Augusta that the players barnstormed before Stevenson. My adolescent analysis spring training.” had been to summarize what I read He had a slight smile as he in the encyclopedia. Mrs. Reeves did replied, “Yes, we did.” not consider this proper preparation “He also wrote that Ruth hit a for a senior research paper. ball so far one barnstorming game in On April 8, 1974, Henry “The 1919 that it went in the ocean,” I Hammer” Aaron broke the Major continued. “Do you know if that League Baseball home run record set happened, Mr. Greenfield?” by George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The Mr. Greenfield uncrossed his legs, gentlemen in Guthrie spent many unfolded his arms, and looked at me Saturdays discussing the legitimacy eye-to-eye. A large smile came on his of The Hammer’s achievement in our face as he said, “It very well may local businesses. They discounted it Kent Greenfield (July 1, 1902-March 14, have happened, and I probably threw because Aaron had used more at-bats 1978) was a pitcher in Major League the pitch.” than Ruth. They also believed that Baseball for six seasons, from 1924-29. After our short exchange, Mr. the Atlanta Braves had moved their Greenfield was born in Guthrie. Greenfield returned to his thoughts, fences closer to help Aaron reach, and I returned to my scoop of peach then break, the record. I saw Aaron ice cream. I wondered about which other baseball legends play several times on TV and a couple of times in person. he may played with and stories he could tell me about the Babe Ruth was a bit of an enigma to me, and I was golden days of baseball. I would have to leave those intrigued by his story. Sports Illustrated writer Robert Creamer wrote a book titled Babe: The Legend Comes to Life that memories for another day. I had confirmed my burning question for the moment. seemed to capture his larger-than-life persona. I decided to Mrs. Reeves, after researching further, I have an research Ruth and quickly dove into Creamer’s tome. addendum to my paper on Babe Ruth. I would like to cite One of the most interesting stories I read about Ruth’s Mr. Kent Greenfield as a source of validation. He was able colorful life dealt with a barnstorming tour before spring to confirm this footnote of Babe Ruth’s 594-foot home run training in 1919. All the players from various teams would in Tampa, Florida, that could have landed in the ocean. travel together to Florida for this rite of passage. They would play pick-up games at the train stops. Think of Robert Redford in The Natural. Steve Haley spent his childhood in Guthrie during the 1960s Once they arrived in Florida, they played as many pickand ’70s. He loves to recount the stories of his extraordinary up games as they could to supplement their pay. Creamer ordinary upbringing in a small Southern town with his many wrote an account of Ruth hitting a ball so far against the friends. If you have any comments or suggestions, you can New York Giants in Tampa Bay that it could have landed email him at Setsof4Haley@ATT.Net or call/text him at in the ocean. 615.483.2573.
M
Kentucky’s population in the 2020 Census was approximately 4.5 million.
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THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER
The Paridos of Clark County Brothers represented opposing sides in the Civil War By Robert Morris, Blue Ash, Ohio and Lauren Morris, Milford, Ohio
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hree brothers fighting on two sides in a brutal war. Only one returned home. The Parido brothers of Winchester had firsthand experience with the cruel arithmetic of the Civil War. My mother, Etta Frances Riggs Morris, was born in Winchester in 1923. Her great-grandfather, Colby Parido, died two years before she was born, but as a child, she had heard the family account of how he had been in the Confederate Army. What she heard was sparse on details and could well have been unsubstantiated family lore. The story was shared with me when I was a young boy living in Louisville and Lexington. But it wasn’t until I became an adult that I began to seriously explore the family legend. It was then I learned that the story went well beyond my great-great-grandfather, expanding into a classic brother-against-brother tale of the Civil War. Colby Parido had an older brother, William. John, the youngest of the three, is believed to have been a brother, although definitive records to support their relationship have been lost. John and Colby were clearly close, joining the Confederate Army on the same day. Colby named a son John, who was born after the war in 1867. Neither William nor John was included in the family stories. For John, it is understandable because he died in 1864, and any record of his existence was likely lost in a courthouse fire in Winchester. William may have been estranged from his brothers and the rest of the family. He left Winchester in the 1850s and settled in Ohio. Leaving Winchester could have caused him to be lost to the family memory—or he could have been expunged from the family record because he ended up fighting for the Yankees. For Colby and John, it appears that becoming Confederate soldiers began with a barbecue. On Sept. 2, 1862, John Henry Jackson and his family hosted a barbecue to raise a Confederate company in Clark County. The company would be the first in Col. David Waller Chenault’s regiment. Colby and John Parido signed up and became charter members of Company A, 11th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA. Colby and John were local residents whose level of commitment to the Southern cause is undetermined. Perhaps they were bored and looking for adventure. Perhaps it was the peer pressure of seeing many of their friends and neighbors enlist. Perhaps they had indulged a bit too heavily at the barbecue and awoke the next day to discover they’d signed up to be Confederate soldiers. Perhaps they were drawn by the $50 bonus for recruits, which was never paid. Perhaps they were true believers in the Southern cause. Gordon C. Mullins was elected captain, and he was accompanied by four officers and 87 enlisted men. Colby and John were among 57 privates in the company. Neither
advanced beyond that rank during their tenure with Company A. The only known complete roster of the company was one prepared between Sept. 10 and Dec. 31, 1862. As part of Chenault’s regiment, Company A fell within Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s famous command. The level of drilling and training received by the 11th is uncertain, but the regiment had its first exposure to combat at Hartsville, Tennessee, on Dec. 7, 1862. The records are somewhat garbled, but Pvt. Colby Parido may have received a “slight wound” during the skirmish. Between December 1862 and June 1863, the 11th Kentucky participated in some seven engagements, including Morgan’s Christmas raid between Dec. 21, 1862, and Jan. 1, 1863. The regiment’s greatest adventure would start in early July, when it participated in Morgan’s fabled raid through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. The Parido brothers were part of the raid, and it was to become the climactic event of their brief military careers. Morgan’s 2,500-man force was organized into two brigades for the raid. Morgan’s brother-in-law, Col. Basil Duke, commanded one brigade. The other was commanded by Col. Adam Johnson and included the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and Company A. Beginning July 2 and lasting 25 days, the raid took Morgan’s men through Kentucky, southern Indiana, and across Ohio, covering some 1,000 miles and raiding nearly 50 towns. Just two days into the raid, Chenault was killed at the Battle of Green River Bridge. Lt. Col. Joseph Tucker then led the 11th Kentucky until he was captured following the Battle of Buffington Island on July 19. Colby and John Parido’s specific actions during the raid—like those of virtually all the common soldiers—are lost to history. I have a personal interest in their role in the raid that goes beyond our ancestral ties. I now live in Blue Ash, Ohio. The Hunt House, a local landmark from the period, is about a mile from where I live. It was at the Hunt House where fresh horses were acquired—or stolen—by the raiders. It is conceivable that my great-great-grandfather could have ridden through what is currently my yard. Colby and John were present at Morgan’s defeat at Buffington Island, Ohio, on July 19. John was captured there, while Colby eluded capture, moving north, and was among the last of the raiders to be taken prisoner a week later at Salineville, Ohio. The battle of Buffington Island was the last time Colby and John were to see one another. The combat careers of the Parido brothers ended at Buffington Island and Salineville, scarcely 10 months after they had begun. The brothers were about to enter the next phase of their military experience—as prisoners of war. John was taken from Buffington Island to Camp Morton in Indianapolis and by late August was transferred to Camp Douglas near Chicago. Colby was moved successively to Kemper and McClean Barracks in Cincinnati, and Camp
Chevrolet Corvettes are manufactured only in Bowling Green. 52 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 0
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Chase in Columbus, Ohio. He ultimately was taken to Rock Island Barracks in Illinois, in January 1864. “Morgan’s man” is the terse description of the charges against him on his Kemper Barracks paperwork. Camp Douglas was a major facility, housing some 18,000 Confederate prisoners during the war. As many as 12,000 prisoners were held in the camp at any given time. Onethird of those who entered Camp Douglas did not survive the experience, including at least seven members of Company A, 11th Kentucky Cavalry. Among them was Pvt. John Parido, who succumbed to dysentery in August 1864. He was buried at Chicago City Cemetery. It is unknown whether his name appeared on the grave or simply the number, 1305. Colby was more fortunate. He was repatriated and paroled from Rock Island in 1864. His reason for acceptance of the parole is recorded simply as “tired of the war.” After leaving Winchester, William Parido became a resident of Pleasant Township near Lancaster, Ohio. He married Mary Hart of Lancaster and was a farmer who must have had strong convictions for the Union cause. On Aug. 18, 1862, at the rather advanced age of 37, he joined the 126th regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, mustering in at Steubenville, Ohio. William was a private in I Company. Little is known of his activity from the time he volunteered until he was part of the 126th Regiment’s involvement in the Battle of the Wilderness. The Wilderness was the first step in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s overland campaign, intended to defeat Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The campaign began in May 1864 and culminated in the siege of Lee’s army at Petersburg and subsequent surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. The Battle of the Wilderness was a bloody engagement, but it represented only the start of the bloodiest series of battles of the entire war. William was an early casualty of the overland campaign. He was killed in action at the Wilderness on May 7, 1864. According to the Special Schedule prepared for Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, William was “shot dead” during the battle. The combined Civil War experience as soldiers for the Parido brothers was only a few months. Colby and John would see their time extended as POWs, but it was a brief period during which two of the three paid the ultimate price. None of the brothers rose above the rank of private— they were members of that nameless and faceless group that is essential to the execution of all wars. While the Parido brothers never directly opposed one another in combat, they did choose opposite sides in the war that would determine the direction of the country for generations. They represent a microcosm of many brother-versus-brother stories that continue to drive popular interest in the war after more than 150 years. Although William Parido did not survive the war, his son, Charles, went on to become a prominent member of the Lancaster, Ohio, community, serving as county recorder, justice of the peace, and mayor. Charles was mourned as an important contributor to Lancaster and the surrounding region upon his death in 1928. Pvt. Colby Parido returned to Clark County to his wife, Emerine, and family—what would ultimately be five
Detail of a Currier & Ives painting of the Battle of the Wilderness, fought on May 5-7, 1864. Library of Congress photo.
children, including John, who was born soon after the war. Upon the passing of Emerine, Colby married Harriett Crowe, with whom he had four children: Stonewall Jackson (a name that reveals Colby’s sympathies), Elizabeth, Clifton and Rachel, who was known by her middle name, Shirley, within the family. Shirley married James Aldridge and was my mother’s grandmother. Colby lived to be 89, remaining a resident of Clark County until he died in 1921. He never forgot his 11th Kentucky experience, and despite his repatriation, never ceased being a Confederate. In his later years, Colby went blind, but family legend has it that he could still “smell a Yankee.” Colby, John and William Parido are representative of the thousands of young men on both sides who entered service during the Civil War. Most likely, they had little idea of what to expect, and their records are not distinguished. They did their job—like so many others—probably with only limited appreciation that they had participated in some of the most celebrated actions of the war. John and William died without glory—John dying in the squalid conditions of a 19th century prison camp and William perishing during a battle that was just the first in a series of increasingly bloody engagements. Colby survived to live a good, if unremarkable, life. To be able to claim a distinguished general as a Civil War ancestor would be a distinct honor. Yet in many respects, being related to the privates Parido is more rewarding. The activities and achievements of the senior officers are well documented. Their whereabouts—almost on a daily basis— are known through dispatches, diaries, biographies and history books. The common soldiers’ experiences are certainly less well known, but piecing their experiences together takes more imagination. Where were they on key dates? What part of the line did they occupy at places like Buffington Island or the Wilderness? Were they in the thick of the fight or in the rear holding horses? What we can assume with assurance is that they were men who joined something they probably did not fully understand. They took orders and followed the lead of their more illustrious officers. And, in the end, they gave everything they had.
High Bridge in Jessamine County was dedicated in 1879 and was the first cantilever bridge constructed in the U.S.
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THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER
Hadley Pottery Heirlooms By Gay Vekovius Nashville, Tennessee
T
he news of Hadley Pottery’s upcoming closure has devastated my siblings and me. I was born in 1943, only a few years after Mary Alice Hadley started her pottery business in Louisville. For my baby present, my aunt, Ada Gay—my namesake—commissioned a hand-painted bowl and mug. A note on the bottom of each piece indicates that this is a gift from Ada Gay, and each is signed by M.A. Hadley herself. The word “Success” is on the inside bottom of the bowl. My mother told me later that a child mental health professional had once informed Hadley that “Success” was not a good message to children about eating, so future bowls featured “All Gone” on the inside bottom. I don’t think I was scarred by the “Success” message. Both the bowl and mug are personalized with my name. My sibling and I have memories of many trips to the fascinating old building on Story Avenue in Louisville’s old “Butchertown” district. According to the Hadley website, “The building, constructed in 1848, has been home to many other businesses: a wool mill, a candle
factory, and a cordage mill.” The old building always felt quirky and piqued our curiosity. We never got to see the pottery production area or the storerooms, and we were curious about those areas too. Through the years, Hadley pieces have graced each of our homes. When my brother and his wife built a retreat in the Tennessee mountains, my sister-in-law made a special trip to Louisville to pick out pottery. It was a surprise to visit our New York cousin in her oceanfront home and see the familiar pottery everywhere. A neighbor in Nashville loves this pottery, too. I spotted a piece at her place, and that sparked a conversation about our mutual love of Hadley pottery. That has happened with other friends as well. A few years ago, my brother and his wife set up a corner cupboard in their mountain home, and it seemed a fitting place for some of our historical Hadley pieces. Many pieces are now displayed for the treasures that we already recognized they were. This certainly includes my cereal bowl and mug. Editor’s Note: Hadley Pottery has announced it will close permanently by the end of 2022. Visit hadleypottery.com for more information.
Today, Kentucky ranks fifth nationally in goat farming.
August 2022 55
Recalling How the Telephone Came to Wells Creek By Curt Davis Sandy Hook
I
n May 1897, my father, David Davis, decided to leave a business in Sandy Hook and move up on Wells Creek, a tributary of the Little Sandy River, to build and operate a general country store. He bought 65 acres at the forks of Wells Creek, 5 miles above Sandy Hook, to build a home and a store. There was not a store, post office or mail-carrier service on the creek at that time. People used Sandy Hook as their address or Loveland in Morgan County, which was 4 miles away. At the time, there was no phone service in Elliott County. He was aware of these handicaps and realized that most of his business would be in barter. My father knew that a daily newspaper was a necessity to keep up with the market on poultry, eggs, hides, roots, beeswax, etc. He preferred the Kentucky edition of the Cincinnati Times-Star. He applied to the U.S. Postal Service for a post office to be established in his store. Postal Service officials denied his request, stating that there would not be enough cancellation to warrant the office. He answered with an offer that he would personally pay a carrier for six months after he opened his store and asked if they would reconsider. They agreed. Father was not one to put all his eggs in one basket. He immediately went to all property owners between his store site and his father-in-law’s store in Sandy Hook and told them that he would build a party telephone line if they signed an easement giving him permission to cross their property with the line and access for construction and maintenance. For this, each affected property owner could hook on to the line at his own expense. There would be no service charge, and if they hooked on, they were instructed to call Dad, and he would assign an identification ring to them. Everyone was happy to sign it. Dad told the property owners that he wanted the lines built using chestnut poles, 7 to 8 inches in diameter at the base and 28 feet long, and then put in post holes 4 feet deep. He specified chestnut because the wood was plentiful and long-lasting, and the trees grew straight and tall. Many farmers helped in working and even furnished many of the poles. The line was completed in three weeks, bringing phone service to that part of Elliott County in 1898. Not long afterward, the Postal Service notified Dad of the approval of the post office to be in his store. They asked him to submit a name, and he chose BASCOM in honor of his father-in-law, Bascom Ward. The name was approved. Our identifying ring on the telephone was one short and two long rings. A short was one complete rotation of the crank on the side of the phone and a long was two or three rotations. About 10 years after the installation, two men came over from West Liberty. They told Dad that they had connected to a trunk line in Morehead and now had long-distance service. They asked him if he would be interested in selling his line, but he gave it to them so that every customer would then have long distance. When they offered to give
him free service for as long as he lived, he declined. “This line was built with help from the users in its construction and maintenance. I would not feel right to get free service while they get a monthly bill.” During World War II, I was in the South Pacific with a squadron of motor torpedo boats. When I arrived back in the States on Jan. 3, 1946, I rushed from the pier and instructed a taxi to take me to the nearest nice hotel. On arrival, I grabbed the telephone. The operator asked, “Number, please.” I replied, “Give me a short and two longs in Sandy Hook, Kentucky, please.” She hung up on me. The next operator did the same thing. On the third try, I said, “Please, operator, don’t hang up on me. I live in a small town in eastern Kentucky, and we have a party line. I have been in the South Pacific for a long time, and I have not heard from my folks for several weeks. If you will get in touch with any operator in Morehead, Kentucky, and ring one short and two longs in Sandy Hook, it will be fine.” She did as instructed and in one minute I heard Dad say hello. “Dad, I’m home,” I said. This is an excerpt of an article that originally was published in the May 1998 issue of Kentucky Explorer. 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
CLASSIFIED ADS WANTED TO BUY: All types of antiques and collectables. 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) BOOKS FOR SALE: In Subterfuge, Ernst searches for his missing father and the U-boat he commanded. Meanwhile, he and his aunt uncover family and government secrets. In Squat, set in small-town Kentucky, Bob becomes guardian to Squat, a mentally challenged man who helps Bob learn what is important in life. Available from ervkleinauthor@gmail. com for $15 plus shipping if bought separately; both for $25 plus shipping or call Erv Klein at 502.727.8030. (A) SELF-PUBLISHING: On-Demand Book Printing, Softcover, Hardcover, and Spiral Binding, Side-Sewing for Children’s Books, Kindle Books, Typesetting, Editing, Graphic Design, Amazon Listing, Bible-Rebinding, etc. Contact Reformation Publishers, Inc., DBA 24-Hour Books, DBA Williams Printing Co., 14 S. Queen Street, Mt. Sterling, KY 40353, Email: rpublisher@aol.com, 1.800.765.2464, telephone 859.520.3757, fax 859.520.3357, text 606.359.2064, www.reformationpublishers.com. (F-D)
Post-It Notes are made exclusively in Cynthiana.
off the shelf
(P)-Paperback (C)-Clothbound (H)-Hardback
Kentucky Kidnapping
A Family’s Struggle
New Beginnings
The 1934 kidnapping of a wealthy Louisville socialite, Alice Speed Stoll, is the subject of William E. Plunkett’s book, The G-Men and the Heiress. It is a story of greed, lies and crime, and it portrays a classic example of narcissistic behavior in the person of Thomas Robinson Jr., the kidnapper. Robinson received a $50,000 ransom, an enormous sum for the period, and “a newly-found companion lavished the money across the country.” Though they were captured, the narrative of Robinson and his enablers didn’t end, and there are plenty of meticulously drawn details in the 249-page book to demonstrate the totality of the story. The reaction by victim Stoll and her family, Robinson’s propensity to be disingenuous, and the sheer staying power of newspaper accounts are some of those details—not the least is that Robinson was followed by the FBI, then led by controversial director J. Edgar Hoover. Plunkett is a former special agent with the FBI and the author of two other books: The G-Man and the Diamond King and The G-Men and the Nurse.
Although many Americans may be familiar with the Japanese internment camps during World War II, they may not be aware that there were facilities for German Americans, too. In Our Midst is the story of a German immigrant family—Nina and Otto Aust and their sons—who run a neighborhood restaurant in the 1940s. The Austs are closely connected to the community, but as the war heightens, so does the suspicion that people from Germany must all be Nazis. Suddenly, they lose their loyal customers; Nina is seized by the FBI; and the restaurant is ransacked. They lose their home and business and are separated from family. Although this is a work of historical fiction, the characters and the story are believable, as it is a story many actually experienced. Author Nancy Jensen, a recipient of the Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council, also wrote bestselling novel The Sisters and Window: Stories and Essays. Jensen teaches in the Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.
When a book starts with a grisly killing, it might be surprising to expect anything sweet and kind as the narrative moves forward. But in Tim Callahan’s latest novel, Leah’s Path, the story of an eastern Kentucky woman in the 1930s striving to overcome her ill-advised teenage marriage to an abuser, there is plenty to uplift the reader, even among pathos. Leah heads westward to Lexington and starts a new life after telling people her husband “up an left me.” There, she meets Victoria, and their friendship blossoms, though each holds a deep secret from the other. They soon find work, move in together, and establish relationships with others. These developments bring elements of both sweetness and complication to the fore. Callahan’s compelling pageturner weaves a fabric of traditional values, Kentucky-style, meeting the changing values of a larger society. Realistically, it may require adjustments that prove uncomfortable. With that said, the author inspires us to pause with introspection and to wrestle with our cognitive dissonance. Might we take Leah’s path?
By Steve Flairty The G-Men and the Heiress: The 1934 Alice Speed Stoll FBI Kidnapping Case, by William E. Plunkett, Orange Frazer Press, $24.95 (H)
56 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
By Deborah Kohl Kremer In Our Midst, by Nancy Jensen, Dzanc Books, $26.95 (H)
By Steve Flairty Leah’s Path, by Tim Callahan, independently published, $15 (P)
Lexington’s Limón Named Poet Laureate
Murder Most Entertaining Author Keven McQueen acknowledges that his sense of humor “is as dark as the inside of a badger and that I find murder an irresistible subject matter.” He also recognizes that Kentucky “has long had a reputation for being a place where people settle disputes with violence.” Readers should keep that in mind while diving into Murder in Kentucky: True Crime Stories from the Bluegrass, which is an expanded and revised edition of the book originally published in 2005. Starting with the first chapter chronicling the 1825 “BeauchampSharp Affair” that was billed as a murder leaving longtime impressions on the public and literary artists, McQueen brings old and sordid stories to life based on his indefatigable research. Because of his descriptive detail, yet easily read prose, one might consider McQueen to have been an actual witness to the 25 crimes he presents. A bonus is the interesting historical perspective of Kentucky culture one gains from the stories, popularizing a narrative that sometimes is presented by others in a stale, lifeless style. The author should never be accused of lacking passion for his writing subject—nor his ability to entertain in the process. By Steve Flairty Murder in Old Kentucky: True Crime Stories from the Bluegrass, by Keven McQueen, Quarry Books, $19 (P)
Sketches Reimagined in Photographs Once a week for eight years, The Louisville Times included a pen-andink drawing by Walter H. Kiser on its editorial page. The sketches were of historic homes and buildings around Kentucky, such as the Benedict Spalding House in Lebanon, Adsmore in Princeton, and Cane Ridge Meeting House near Paris. From 1934-42, Kiser’s sketch, along with a short article introducing readers to the property, was shared in the newspaper. In 1939, the collection was featured in an exhibit at Louisville’s Speed Art Museum. Simpsonville author John David Myles is an attorney, former circuit judge and preservationist. He was fascinated with Kiser’s work, so he retraced the artist’s steps. Myles photographed all the buildings that are still around and updated the articles Kiser had written years ago. Each page of the book is dedicated to one of these historical properties. This 383-page coffee table book is fascinating reading and viewing. Although Kiser’s sketches were outstanding, they are even better when accompanied by Myles’ photographs. By Deborah Kohl Kremer
Photo by Lucas Marquardt
Lexington’s Ada Limón has been selected as the 24th U.S. poet laureate, officially called the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. The 46-year-old Limón’s 1-year term begins Sept. 29 with the traditional reading at the Library of Congress’ Coolidge Auditorium. Limón is an award-winning and unusually popular poet, with her acclaimed collection Bright Dead Things selling more than 40,000 copies. She has published six books of poetry, most recently The Hurting Kind, and hosts the podcast “The Slowdown.” Limón is the third Kentuckian to hold the title. Winchester-born Allen Tate served in 1943-44, and Guthrie’s Robert Penn Warren served in 1944-45 and again in 1986-87. “Ada Limón is a poet who connects,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. “Her accessible, engaging poems ground us and speak of intimate truths, of the beauty and heartbreak that is living.”
Walter H. Kiser’s Neighborhood Sketches Revisited, by John David Myles; introduction by Dr. Daniel J. Vivian, Wild Holly Studio, $75 (C)
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 57
past tense/present tense by Bill Ellis
Musical Memories
M
y mother played the piano. My wife is a musician, and my children are musicians also. Alas, I am primarily a listener. I do chime in on a familiar hymn in church, and I sing “My Funny Valentine” to my wife, Charlotte, on Valentine’s Day and “September Song” on occasion. I was born on Jan. 1, 1940. Later that year, Walt Disney Studios released Fantasia, the first full-length animated movie. It featured classical music. I have no idea when I first saw this film, which I have enjoyed all my life. Remember Mickey Mouse being chased by cascading waves of water in the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment? The “Rites of Spring” and “Night on Bald Mountain” also were standouts. I am sure the animation and music must have been a bit scary to a little kid. The 1957 Looney Tunes version of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen with Elmer Fudd chasing the indomitable Bugs Bunny may have seemed like mockery (“Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit”), but it was interesting to a small-town kid like me. Around the same time, my mother collected some classical records as some sort of grocery store premium, and I played them on a cheap record player. So, I knew something of classical music as a kid. From my earliest childhood, we listened to the Sunday Morning 58 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY AUGUST 2022
Gatherin’ from Renfro Valley on the radio before going to church. I still like country music and some of its derivations, including bluegrass. I’ve always had a secret desire to play the banjo. I still count Tupelo, Mississippi, as the second-most-important birthplace in history, next to Bethlehem, of course. I was a big Elvis fan as a youngster, bought 45s (not the calibers) from Randy’s Record Shop by mail, and listened to rock ’n’ roll on WAKY radio in Louisville. Somehow, though, I have never been able to watch an Elvis movie in its entirety. Anything sung by Nat King Cole is great, and I enjoyed his television show. Al Hibbler’s recording of “Unchained Melody” was, I think, one of the best love songs of all time. “Oh, my love, my darling; I hunger for your touch; a long lonely time …” Wow! • • •
As I got older, I never got into The Beatles. As a young high school football coach in the mid-1960s, I did my best to keep the guys from growing their hair too long like they did. Speaking of football: Among the greatest things about televised college football in the old days were the halftime band presentations. One band used to march in formation displaying the halftime score. I think that was The Ohio State University band. Now, I have to endure two or
three retired coaches, along with some ex-players and other “experts,” who dissect the first half of play. What a bore! Please bring back the bands at halftime. I like some of the later pop music but not the hard-rock versions from groups with unusual names, many of whom are nearing my age if not dead already. I really liked The Carpenters, Rosemary Clooney and a few others but never bought their recordings. I can sing “I keep my eyes wide open all the time” from “I Walk the Line” with a near-perfect Johnny Cash drone. Just kidding. I liked his music as well as that of Hank Williams and others. As much as I love early rock ’n’ roll as well as rhythm and blues, the only live rock performance I ever attended was a Ricky Nelson concert at Tombstone Junction in McCreary County long after his stardom had lost its luster and just weeks before his death in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1985. “I went to a garden party / to reminisce with my old friends.” Remember that one? • • •
Truth be told, I collect classical music recordings. I listen in the car or on a player at home. I always watch classical presentations on KET. Charlotte and I have attended classical concerts in Lexington; Louisville; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Philadelphia; London, England;
Daytona Beach; Washington, D.C.; Vienna, Austria (with an orchestra in period costume); and other sites. I used to burn the midnight oil listening to Music ’Til Dawn on WLW radio from my freshman year in college in 1958 while studying. Host Pete Matthews played mostly popular classical music pieces, both orchestral and opera, with commentary in between. In my teaching days at Eastern Kentucky University, I spent many a Sunday afternoon in my office listening to classical music while grading papers. I enjoyed the commentary of Karl Hass on Adventures in Good Music, and P.D.Q. Bach, aka Peter Schickele, on WEKU radio. I have even attended opera a few times, liking the music more than the singing. If pressed, I can do a middling Andy Griffith impression mimicking the opera where a lady lies on a couch about to die only to rise to sing a bit more before returning to the couch, and then rising to sing again. She, of course, eventually dies. “Music hath charms to soothe a savage beast,” according to a misquotation of William Congreve from a play. It continues: “to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” I won’t go that far, but I must admit Madame Butterfly nearly brings me to tears. On a bus tour of Scandinavia a few years ago, the guide played a tape of “Finlandia” just as we crossed the Arctic Circle headed north. What a moving experience, second only to hearing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” I no longer tear up when I sing “My Old Kentucky Home,” but, as a bona fide born-again Baptist, the lyrics of “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” and “I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger” have a great meaning to me at the ripe old age of 82. What is your favorite music? Do you play and sing? Readers may contact Bill Ellis at editor@kentuckymonthly.com
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k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 59
gardening by Walt Reichert
Q&A Time
them before fully red, yellow, purple or orange—imminent frost or vacation, for example—store them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. It is a myth that they will ripen best on a sunny windowsill. Q: IS IT TOO LATE TO PLANT GREEN BEANS AND CORN?
W
hen I worked for the Cooperative Extension Service, August always brought a slew of gardening questions with the heat. Most were related to the vegetable garden, some to perennial beds, and a few about trees and shrubs. Q: I WAS TOLD TOMATOES WILL RIPEN AFTER THEY’RE PICKED, AND IT’S BEST TO HARVEST THEM WHEN THEY’RE STILL A LITTLE GREEN. TRUE? A : Not really. Tomatoes do, in fact, ripen some after picking, but they obtain the best flavor and texture if allowed to ripen on the vine (hence the common boast “vine-ripened” tomatoes). If you do need to pick 60 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
A : Corn, yes. Beans, maybe. Some beans will mature in as little as 50 days, so theoretically— assuming you plant the first of August— they will be ready to pick by midSeptember, probably beating any early frost. However, as the day length shortens, plants take longer to mature, and a plant that would mature in 50 days if planted in June may take as long as 65 or 70 days if planted in August. So, you’re bumping right up to early frost time. I’d say that, if you have the space and bean seeds, go for it! Q: I LOVE GREENS AND WANT TO PLANT SOME KALE, BEETS AND TURNIPS FOR FALL, BUT IT’S HOT. CAN I PLANT THEM NOW OR SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL COOLER TEMPERATURES? A : I like to wait until early September, but even then, those guys can be hard to germinate. The trick is to keep the seeds moist after planting, and rains aren’t guaranteed. You can sprinkle the planting with water every couple of days or so, or
you can water the row once and place a board over the row to keep the moisture in. Just be sure to lift the board every couple of days to check for germination. Forget that chore, and you’ll squash them to death. Q: I WAS TOLD THAT MID-AUGUST THROUGH MID-SEPTEMBER IS THE BEST TIME TO ESTABLISH A LAWN, BUT IT’S USUALLY HOT AND DRY THEN. WHAT CAN I DO TO ENSURE A GOOD START FOR THE GRASS? A : It’s true that our lawn grasses do not like the hot and dry conditions common in August and early September. I’ve always recommended waiting until mid-September to sow a new lawn or renovate an old one. It’s still early enough for the grasses to establish before frosts and freezes but late enough to take advantage of some cooler temperatures (we hope) in late September/early October. Whenever you sow grass seed, the secret is to keep the grass moist once it germinates. If you let the grass dry out even for a day or so, you’ll lose most of the seedlings. So, that means watering nearly every day, especially if the temperatures are high. By the way, turf-type fall fescue grasses make the best lawns in Kentucky. Q: MY IRISES BLOOMED BEAUTIFULLY THIS YEAR, BUT NOW THEY’RE FULL OF BERMUDA AND OTHER GRASSES, AND THERE IS NO WAY OF WEEDING OUT THE GRASSES WITHOUT DAMAGING THE RHIZOMES. WHAT SHOULD I DO? A : You have two options. One is to use an herbicide that contains the active ingredient sethoxydim, commonly sold as “grass beater.” The herbicide can be sprayed over the top, and it will kill the grasses
without killing the irises. As always, read the label before applying any herbicide. The other option is to dig up the rhizomes and put them in a new bed, one that has been rendered weed free. Dig up the rhizomes and remove any that show signs of disease or insect damage; be sure to toss any pieces of grass. Work the soil in the new bed at least 6 inches deep and place the rhizomes 6 to 8 inches apart. Don’t bury the rhizomes; they should sit in the bed with the roots in the soil and the tops of the rhizomes partially exposed like ducks on a pond. August is a good time of year to do this chore. Q: I JUST CUT BACK MY FORSYTHIA BUSH BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND COVERING UP THE WINDOWS. I CUT IT ALMOST IN HALF. WAS THAT TOO MUCH? A : Oops. Cutting the bush back by half probably won’t harm it, but if you pruned it this late, you likely cut off the blooms you had hoped to see in late winter 2023. Remember that shrubs that bloom early—forsythia, lilac, viburnum, etc.—should be pruned within 30 days of when they bloom. Otherwise, you’re chopping off next year’s flowers. The good news is that the shrub will probably survive; you just won’t have flowers next year. And you’ll never do that again, will you? Q: I JUST PLANTED A RED MAPLE TREE IN THE SPRING. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO KEEP WATERING IT THROUGH DRY SPELLS? A : Trees planted in the spring or fall of last year ideally should receive at least an inch of water per week for the first three years of their lives. Unless you’re an inveterate record keeper, you probably have lost track of how long ago the tree was planted. So, at a minimum, keep newly planted trees watered for the first year of their life to give their roots a chance to develop fully. Mulching helps retain moisture, and using soaker hoses to water trees makes the job less tedious.
Let the fun begin in Grant County!
visitgrantky.com 800-382-7117
Readers may contact Walt Reichert at editor@kentuckymonthly.com k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 61
field notes by Gary Garth
Fun Run
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the Big Four. From there, the y wife and I have foot tour will pass through two daughters, who Louisville’s Butchertown were born four neighborhood and near minutes apart. Almost from Beargrass Creek and along the moment we left the River Road. delivery room, more than The daughters live in three decades ago, rarely different time zones, so have one or both ceased to aside from working via surprise me. coordinating phone calls, Like a few months ago, they are not training when I learned they were together. But they are planning to run a half training. That’s where I marathon. “A half marathon?” come in. I said when daughter Sarah I’m not a distance runner, announced the news via a nor am I likely going to FaceTime chat. “Wow.” become one. But I do bike “Yeah. Rebecca’s going to occasionally (primarily for do it, too. We just decided. editorial projects). A couple It’ll be fun.” of months ago, Rebecca, who The daughters are fit, lives nearby, reached a point active and healthy but had in her training program never displayed a strong requiring a boost in her interest in running— running distances. She especially the 13 miles, 192.5 decided to move that part of yards that a half marathon her training outside and requires. Marathon training: Author Gary Garth with his invited her mom and me to “When is this marathon?” daughter, Rebecca, after cycling and running. bike along with her. We “It’s a half marathon, Dad. were happy to do so. It’s in October, I think.” Online registration for the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon Unfortunately, that was “Isn’t a half marathon is open through Oct. 6. For a complete course map about the same time the about 12 or 13 miles? That’s a and to sign up, visit urbanbourbonhalf.com. summer’s heat arrived with long way.” blast-furnace intensity. On “It’s 13.1 miles. And it’s the first Saturday, we agreed to start at 7 a.m. not that far.” “We’re only going 8 miles today,” Rebecca explained For those of you who do most of your running in the when I suggested that 6 a.m. might be a more woods, that’s roughly the same distance as the Moonbow temperature-friendly starting time. She then smiled and Trail near Cumberland Falls State Resort Park or about added brightly, “We’re doing 12 miles next week.” six times around the Hematite Lake Trail at Land This training activity is taking place on a local college Between the Lakes. campus, which—thanks to the summer schedule—is Some online research revealed that the upcoming run is the Louisville Urban Bourbon Half Marathon presented mostly devoid of students and traffic. It is eerily quiet at first light. by Jim Beam and scheduled for Oct. 8. The Running in I occasionally bass fish at night to escape the the USA website calls it “a 13.1-mile experiential sweltering summer heat, but something evil happens to destination event that celebrates and promotes 200 years my casting after dark, so I’ve moved most summer bass of Louisville and Kentucky distilling history, combined pursuits to the first hour or two around sunrise. I was with a two-state half marathon route that celebrates surprised to discover about the same number of sunrise Louisville’s river heritage and provides a distinct runners on campus as sunrise anglers on the water. downtown running experience.” Both are small but devoted fraternities. Due to the booze sponsorship, runners are required to Rebecca finished the first 12-mile Saturday with a be 21 or older by race day. measure of exhausted elation. “I never really thought I The race will begin and end somewhere on Main was a runner,” she said between swigs of water, “but I Street, and the route includes a trot across the Big Four guess I am.” Pedestrian Bridge into Jeffersonville, Indiana, then a mile Yes, I guess you are. Another surprise. or so along the Ohio River to Clarksville, then back across Readers may contact Gary Garth at editor@kentuckymonthly.com 62 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY AUGUST 2 0 2 2
calendar
AUGUST 2022 Butterflies n’ Blooms, Louisville Zoo
SUNDAY Ongoing Butterflies n’ Blooms, Louisville Zoo, through Sept. 18, 502.459.2181
7
Flea in the Fort, Fort Thomas Tower Park, Fort Thomas, 859.572.1209
21
Burlington Antique Show, Boone County Fair Grounds, Burlington, 513.922.6847
1
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, presented by WoodSongs, Lyric Theater, Lexington, 859.280.2201
8
Moonlight Canoe and Kayak, Pennyrile Forest, State Resort Park, Dawson Springs, 270.797.3421
15
Lecture: Life Behind the Veil,
TUESDAY
2
WEDNESDAY
3
Anastasia, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Louisville, through Aug. 7, 502.584.7777
THURSDAY
6
Crawford Museum, Covington, also Aug. 11 and 18, 859.491.4003
The Barnyard Entertainment Venue, Sharpsburg, 606.709.2276
History Museum, Louisville, 502.753.5663
12
13
9
18
16
17
The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, 502.635.5083
PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation, Newport, 614.461.5483
22
23
The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, 502.635.5083
31
Kentucky State Fair,
Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, through Aug. 28, 502.367.5000
24
100 Years of Landmark Architecture,
Larry the Cable Guy,
Hank Williams Jr. and The Kentucky Headhunters,
Waterfront Gardens, Louisville, 502.635.5083
25
Greensky Bluegrass in Concert, PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation, Newport, 614.461.5483
The Lumineers in Concert, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, 502.690.9000
<<<
SATURDAY
5
Music@BCM Series, Behringer-
Notable Louisville Neighborhoods: Butchertown,
Wilco in Concert,
FRIDAY
4
<<<
14
MONDAY
Ongoing Summer Concert Series, Kentucky Dam Village, Gilbertsville, through Sept. 9, 1.800.325.0146
Beaver Dam Amphitheater, 270.298.0036
19
Chrome & Cruise Car Show, Lewis and Clark Pavilion, Maysville, through Aug. 20, 606.563.2596
Summer Beer Fest, Frazier
Concert Series, Smith-Berry Winery, New Castle, also Aug. 27, 502.845.7091
20
Hairspray, Carson Center, Paducah, 270.908.2037
26
27
The Amp at Dant Crossing, Gethsemane, 502.917.0710
downtown, Danville, 859.236.7794
Justin Moore in Concert,
Ongoing Forgotten Foundations: Louisville’s Lost Architecture, Filson Historical Society, Louisville, through Sept. 23, 502.635.5083
Soul of 2nd Street Festival,
Ongoing Oldham County Farm Tours, various locations in Oldham County, through Oct. 1, 502.222.0056
a guide to Kentucky’s most interesting events For a more extensive listing of events, visit kentuckymonthly.com. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 63
vested interest
Molly Is M-m-married
Y
es, we have emerged on the other side of the Molly and Mitchell Wedding more prosperous for the experience. As Molly said, “It was everything and more than I could have ever expected.” Regular readers of this space know that Molly is my middle daughter, the schoolteacher. She and “My Mitchell,” as she calls him, were married June 25 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Frankfort, with a reception following at the Berry Hill Mansion. The after-parties at the Capital Plaza Hotel are of legend, or so I’ve been told. The noise of laughter and merriment still echoes, two weeks later, off the limestone Frankfort palisades from Benson Creek to the mighty Elkhorn. As the father of the bride, I had three tasks: 1) I was to arrive early at the church for a “first glance” photo. 2) I would walk Molly down the aisle without tripping. I wanted to explain to the gathering just how special my daughter is. She teaches children, many with special needs, a job perfectly suited to someone who has overcome many of the challenges her students now face. Knowing better than to “wing it,” I wrote my brief comments and the short prayer on note cards. Molly was born nearly three months premature and didn’t walk or talk until she was 3. I figured I would start with that. Simple enough, right? Well, as it turns out, when you’re squeezed into your new Tommy Hilfiger suit with a sporty purple tie in front of a few hundred people (half of them strangers), and you look down at your crumpled notes and see, “Molly was born nearly three months premature,” what comes out when you begin speaking is, “M-mmo-lllly was (awk, awk) bu-orrnn (awk, awk, gasp).” You get the idea. When I reached the line where 7-year-old Molly asked, “Dad, aren’t you glad I didn’t die when I was STEPHEN M. VEST born?” I was speaking nothing but Publisher + Editor-in-Chief gibberish, and Molly’s professional makeup was being quality tested. Older sister Katy, the flower girl, was holding back tears, and younger sister Sydney wasn’t making eye contact with
Photo by Rebecca Redding
3) I was asked to give a brief prayer.
anyone. While it didn’t really happen, in my altered memory, Tally, the maid of honor, turned and ran out of the church, bawling. “Awww, Dad,” said Molly. When I was done (two or 12 minutes later), Deacon Mike Lynch said it was beautiful. My son, Christopher, said he could hear and see Granddad (my dad) as I spoke. Someone else said it was tear-jerking. Longtime friend Ron Smith said it was unfortunate that my allergies arrived right in the middle of my “little speech.” I recovered. We all survived. Toby, our dog, was thrilled when the last guests pulled out of our driveway the following Sunday afternoon. Still, my prayer remains for Molly and Mitchell and all of the couples beginning their journeys together, “Lord, show them your will and light well their path (awk, gasp). Amen.”
Kwiz Answers: 1. A. During the Great Depression, the Pack Horse Library Project provided jobs, especially for women, and opportunities for many with limited resources; 2. C. In the Appalachian region, many communities had limited or no access to newspapers, magazines and books; 3. C. Old photos show the librarians on their horses and mules, wearing warm hats, coats and sturdy shoes, ready to enrich the lives of thousands on their routes; 4. A. As part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s efforts at national recovery from one of the worst times in United States history, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped implement the program; 5. B. Aside from creating jobs for the unemployed, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) also assisted in establishing literacy programs; 6. A. Often known as Book Women or Book Ladies, these primarily female librarians faced difficult traveling conditions to serve their patrons; 7. C. With coal mines closed, income limited and few resources, rural Kentuckians greatly benefited from the Pack Horse Library Project; 8. B. Loaded on their mounts with reading materials, the librarians tackled mud, floods and more to make their rounds; 9. C. Although the WPA paid the librarians’ salaries, the reading materials usually were provided by donations; 10. A. On their allotted salaries, the librarians paid their own expenses, including feed for their animals; 11. C. The librarians read to some patrons, gave reading lessons, and likely were the residents’ only source of world news; 12. B. When the WPA ceased to provide funding, the Pack Horse Library Project ended. 64 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY AUGUST 2022
11 Consecutive Appearances on Jay Mathews’ List of Top Performing Schools with Elite Students 249 National Merit Semi-Finalists
We come from all across Kentucky to The Gatton Academy on the campus of Western Kentucky University. As juniors and seniors in high school, we enroll in WKU courses, conduct research with WKU professors, and study abroad. While we are challenged academically, we thrive in a supportive environment designed just for us and make lifelong friends. Best yet, our tuition, meals, housing, and fees are all paid for by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You, too, can have a future filled with infinite possibilities.
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Class of 2025 Admissions Deadline:
February 1, 2023
