November 2021 | Kentucky Monthly Magazine by Kentucky Monthly Magazine

K E N T U C K Y F R O N T I E R S M A N S I M O N K E N TO N

NOVEMBER 2021

with Kentucky Explorer

FREDDIE JOHNSON

GIVING BACK:

LEGENDARY BUFFALO TRACE EMPLOYEE BOTTLES HOPE FOR CEMETERY'S FUTURE

TERRA C OT TAG E CERAMICS DA N C I N G WELL: THE SOLDIER PROJECT KENTUCKY REFUGEE MINISTRIES

11 Consecutive Appearances on Jay

6 Straight Years Advancing to the National

Mathews’ List of Top Performing Schools with Elite Students

Science Bowl Competition in Washington, D.C. 174 National Merit 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.

WEBSITE: wku.edu/academy / EMAIL: academy@wku.edu / PHONE: 270-745-6565

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@gattonacademy

CLASS OF 2024 ADMISSIONS DEADLINE February 1, 2022

O N T H E C OV E R Buffalo Trace’s Freddie Johnson. Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery.

in this issue

N OV E M B E R D E PA R T M E N T S 2 Kentucky Kwiz 3 Readers Write 4 Mag on the Move 8 Across Kentucky

14 A State of Giving Kentucky’s nonprofits improve the quality of life for thousands of people and animals across the Commonwealth

10 30 The Power of Dance A Louisville nonprofit assists troubled veterans through the therapeutic benefits of communal dance

9 Music 10 Cooking 47 Kentucky Explorer 58 Off the Shelf 60 Past Tense/ Present Tense 62 Field Notes 63 Calendar 64 Vested Interest

16 A Promise Kept From Buffalo Trace Distillery to Green Hill Cemetery, bourbon legend Freddie Johnson honors the past 24 The Poet and the Goddess Paducah welcomed Michael and Victoria Terra, and the proprietors of Terra Cottage Ceramics returned the favor

36 Shining Back on Me, From My Own Eyes, Too A Kentucky Refugee Ministries volunteer shares her experience with an immigrant from Afghanistan 40 Wilderness Odyssey: The Saga of Simon Kenton In part one of a series, the young Virginia native makes his way west into the frontier 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.

A Whole Lotta Shakin’ In 1811-12, a series of intense earthquakes occurred in the central United States and affected part of Kentucky. The following questions are related to these natural disasters.

1. Which U.S. river was severely affected as a result of the quakes?

6. The series of quakes created a new lake in which state? A. Tennessee

A. Ohio

B. Kentucky

B. Missouri

C. Ohio

C. Mississippi 2. How many major shocks occurred over the monthslong span of the quakes? A. Two B. Three C. Five

7. The first major shock hit on what date? A. Dec. 1 B. Dec. 16 C. Dec. 23 8. How far away did people feel that first major shock?

A. Middle America Zone

C. New York

B. California

B. New Missouri Zone

A. Lexington B. Frankfort C. Louisville

9. What is the purpose of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC)? A. Prepare for next quake B. Avoid quakes C. Predict quakes

Editorial Patricia Ranft Associate Editor Rebecca Redding Creative Director Deborah Kohl Kremer Assistant Editor

Cait A. Smith Copy Editor

Senior Kentributors Jackie Hollenkamp Bentley, Bill Ellis, Steve Flairty, Gary Garth, Janine Washle, Kim Kobersmith, Walt Reichert, Joel Sams, Tracey Teo and Gary P. West

Barbara Kay Vest Business Manager Jocelyn Roper Circulation Specialist

Advertising Lindsey Collins Account Executive and Coordinator For advertising information, call 888.329.0053 or 502.227.0053

KENTUCKY MONTHLY (ISSN 1542-0507) is published 10 times per year (monthly with combined December/ January and June/July issues) for $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, Kellee Dicks, Maj. Jack E. Dixon, Bruce and

10. Is Kentucky prone to earthquakes?

5. How many shocks in Kentucky did engineer Jared Brooks measure?

A. No, never

B. Constantly

A. 1,800

C. Rarely

B. 900 C. 750 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 O CTO BER 2 0 2 1

Stephen M. Vest Publisher + Editor-in-Chief

Business and Circulation

A. Wyoming

4. Which Kentucky city was seriously affected by the quakes?

Ted Sloan Contributing Editor

3. What is the quake-prone seismic area that includes part of Kentucky called?

C. New Madrid Zone

Celebrating the best of our Commonwealth

Peggy Dungan, Mary and Michael Embry, Thomas L. Hall, Judy M. Harris, Greg and Carrie Hawkins, Jan and John Higginbotham, Frank Martin, Bill Noel, Michelle Jenson McDonnell, Walter B. Norris, Kasia Pater, Dr. Mary Jo Ratliff, Barry A. Royalty, Randy and Rebecca Sandell, Kendall Carr Shelton and Ted M. Sloan. Kentucky Monthly invites queries but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material; submissions will not be returned.

kentuckymonthly.com

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Counties mentioned in this issue...

Readers Write Life in the Days

things as well but … I say, it’s not all about Just read Steve Vest’s the days in a life; it is also article, as I always do, about the life in the days. (“Days in a Life,” October Cherish each one. issue, page 80). He Thanks and keep up the mentioned that he had good work, never seen the world’s largest ball of twine in Larry Dunn, Madison, Cawker City, Kansas. Well, Indiana (formerly of Carroll I have, and it really isn’t all County, Kentucky) that impressive. And since he hasn’t seen the ball of P.S. I also have seen “Big twine, then he hasn’t seen Boy” in Wilson, Kansas. the Ball of Twine Inn across Now that was impressive. the street. It looks like a No, it’s not Kansas’ version Mexican saloon/motel in an of Big Foot. old western movie. I have seen the Big Boy world’s largest spool of thread in Hamilton, Missouri—much more impressive. It’s in the Quilt Capital of the World. The town is featured in the Country Magazine this month, and so is Horse Country in Inspirational Kentucky. Kentuckians In regards to “Days in a Bill Ellis’ September Life,” I will leave you with column in Kentucky Monthly this: As Mae West said, of one-of-a-kind “It’s not the man in my Kentuckians (page 58) life, but the life in my inspired “ah” and “awe.” man!” She said many other

That is, “ah” as in pleasure that he shared with his readers by writing about my friend, the inspirational Duanne Puckett of Shelbyville, and “awe” as in deep respect for all the people he mentioned. However, Bill did not boldface the name of one of the names who also is a one-of-a-kind Kentuckian. It was in italics in the byline.

The Kentucky Gift Guide Kentucky Monthly is thrilled to partner with Kentucky Proud, bringing to your attention some of the finest handcrafted gifts and treats our Commonwealth has to offer.

Jack Brammer, Shelbyville • • •

I would add Mary Breckinridge to Bill Ellis’ list of one-of-a-kind Kentuckians—a great nurse who rode her horse and attended to so many in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. What a great woman. And agree with Mr. Ellis that Abe Lincoln tops them all. What a great man.

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.

Carol Livingood, Danville, Indiana (formerly of Grant County)

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.

v Find more at kentuckymonthly.com. Use your phone to scan this QR code and visit our website.

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!

These photos pre-date the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and mask mandates. Kentucky Monthly supports all safe travel measures.

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.

Traveling Pals ITALY (above) Greg and Kathy MacGeorge and Steve and Joyce Medved, all of Louisville, ventured to the ruggedly beautiful island of Capri in Italy’s Bay of Naples.

Mike and Lisa Gardiner MEXICO (left) The Edgewood couple honeymooned south of the border in 2019, visiting Maroma Beach Riviera Maya.

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Melba and Charles Hay AUSTRALIA (left) The Hays, who live in Richmond, are pictured following a hike they described as “sweltering” on Komodo Island, Indonesia, during a cruise from Bali to Sydney, Australia.

Jerry and LaAnna Mraz WASHINGTON (right) The Elizabethtown couple traveled to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Experience the character and charm of historic Hermitage Farm Discover our farm-to-table dining and bourbon tastings at Barn8, stay with friends or family in our Main House, plan a tour of our horse operation, or enjoy an evening walk through our immersive art experience.

Relax and unwind on the farm.

Reservations: Barn8Restaurant.com

HermitageFarm.com

502.398.9289 k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 5

travel

Kentucky Favorites!

We can p and pu rint bli your bo sh ok, too!

Magoffin Co. Authors Howard and Lykins create legacies for posterity with their written words about small town, rural KY.

or 859.520.3757 Order today! or www.reformationpublishers.com

Cape Cod Crew MASSACHUSETTS Classmates and friends from Kentucky and Indiana toured Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Travelers from left, Paula Cardwell, Betty Lewis, Kenny Phillips, Rita Phillips (holding magazine), Debbie Russell,, Bobby Russell, Diann Phillips, Laura Phillips, Gary Cardwell, Carol Keel, Ron Cunningham, Margo Lees and Bill Eggen. NEW

260 Piece Puzzle

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Kentucky inspired gifts. from Kentucky Monthly SHOPKENTUCKYMONTHLY.COM

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The Oates Family LONDON Russell and Phyllis Oates of Madisonville, visited their son, Russ, and his wife, Adna, and grandsons Kenan and Danis in London, England. While there, they traveled to Canterbury and are pictured in front of the Cathedral, a World Heritage Site

Timeless Hospitality That Stirs the Spirit Dant Crossing is a one-of-a-kind destination for unforgettable weddings, memorable corporate events, day trips, and weekend getaways. The pastoral campus is anchored by Log Still Distillery and includes an amphitheater that seats 2,000, a 12-acre lake for fishing, and unique lodging options, creating an immersive experience that’s rooted in the community and culture of our little slice of Kentucky. More attractions will open soon at Dant Crossing, including our 21,000-square-foot distillery, which will have the ability to produce 15,000 barrels of spirits each year, a network of wooded walking trails, fully functional private train depot, farm-to-table restaurant, and The Legacy, a premier wedding and events venue. Whether you’re looking to host an event, book a stay, or reserve a tasting, we’re ready to welcome you.

NOW BOOKING MEMORABLE WEDDINGS AND CUSTOM CORPORATE EVENTS #DANTCROSSING

DantCrossing.com k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 7

across kentucky

B I R T H D AY S 3 Phil Simms (1954), sports commentator and former NFL quarterback, born in Lebanon and raised in Louisville 4 Jordon Smith (1993), Harlan County-raised winner of The Voice (2015) 6 Kelly Rutherford (1968), Elizabethtown-born actress best known for her roles on Melrose Place and Gossip Girl 7 Calvin “Bo’rail” Borel (1966), three-time Kentucky Derbywinning jockey

The Importance of Shoes University of the Cumberlands students participate in community service each term in accordance with the school’s mission of impacting others in positive ways. In an event organized by Appalachian Ministries, a children’s ministry run through the university, students and staff conducted the 10th annual Shoes 4 the Soul Program. Through the initiative, approximately 550 students across several elementary schools in eastern and southeastern Kentucky received shoes, socks, T-shirts and hygiene products this year. “Shoes 4 the Soul helps these children in a few different ways,” said Caitlyn Howell, director of Appalachian Ministries. “Shoes are a distinctive thing that builds confidence for the kids … We’re also meeting psychological needs.” The university goal is to support at least 500 students each year with shoes and other essential items. It costs $30 to provide a child with the Shoes 4 the Soul donations. To sponsor a child, visit ucumberlands.edu/shoes4soul/give. For more information on Cumberlands’ community service initiatives, visit ucumberlands.edu/community-service.

PRIMO HONOR Louisville Orchestra conductor Teddy Abrams has been named Musical America Awards Conductor of the Year for 2022 by, the longtime voice of the performing arts industry that recognizes classical music’s stellar performers. Now in his eighth season, Abrams been commended for his efforts to connect the orchestra with the community at large. “I’m incredibly grateful and overwhelmed to receive this award,” Abrams said. “The honor, however, should be shared by my extraordinary colleagues here in Louisville, both on- and offstage” Highlights of the orchestra’s diverse 2021-22 season include six world premieres; works by composers of color and women composers; Latin American music; and the first concert in a series exploring Black and Jewish music. For a season calendar and to purchase tickets, visit louisvilleorchestra.org.

P R O S O C C E R C O M E S TO L E X I N G TO N The United Soccer League will expand to Lexington in 2023. William “Bill” Shively, who owns the historic Dixiana Thoroughbred horse farm and two Tower Hill Sports complexes for youth and adult players, is the team’s owner. The club initially will play at a collegiate facility and plans to construct a soccer-specific venue adjacent to Rupp Arena and the Central Bank Center. 8 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 1

9 Frank Selvy (1932), basketball player known as the “Corbin Comet” who scored 100 points in a game for Furman University 12 Timothy C. Caboni 1970), 10th president of Western Kentucky University 12 Ernie Fletcher (1952), 60th governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 2003-07 15 Fred Cowgill (1957), Emmy Award-winning sportscaster at WLKY-32 in Louisville 16 Allison Anders (1954), Ashlandborn film director 16 Troy Seals (1938), Madison County-born singer-songwriter best known for “Lost in the Fifties Tonight” 21 Steven Curtis Chapman (1962), Paducah-born Grammy Awardwinning Christian musician with more than 55 Dove Awards 28 Ben Sollee (1983), Lexington cellist, singer-songwriter and composer 29 Andy Beshear (1977), 63rd governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 30 Joe B. Hall (1928), University of Kentucky basketball coach from 1972-1985, winning the NCAA crown in 1978 30 Robert Kirkman (1978), comic book writer and creator of the AMC series The Walking Dead

music by Laura Younkin

Back on the Road with Brewgrass

ary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers have hit a milestone that very few bands ever meet. During 2020, they reached their 40th anniversary in the music business, and Gary Brewer felt that was something to celebrate. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Brewer and the band had plans to tour America as well as Europe for their anniversary and to promote their 40th Anniversary Celebration CD. Brewer started in the business when he was 14, and he thought all that experience would help guide his thinking. “I think I get a little smart and know the business,” he said. “I thought 2020 would shut down the 40th reunion.” He was wrong. And he’s glad of it. Brewer and the Ramblers made the CD and released it during a time of no live music, but it caught on. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart for the bluegrass albums and has stayed in the top 5 for 65 weeks. “We’re blown away,” Brewer said. “The first week out is normally the biggest time for sales.” Part of the band’s success, Brewer believes, is because of his sons. They are sixth-generation musicians, and “they have propelled the record and are connecting with the youth,” he said. Son Wayne is 27 and plays bass, old-time fiddle, and about any other stringed instrument you hand him, according to his father. Mason is 21 and plays mandolin, bass and drums. Brewer is honored that his sons want to carry on the family tradition. “My grandfather worked with the Carter family in the 1920s,” he said. Brewer’s father also played in the band but died suddenly last year at 82.

Brewer worked with his father from the beginning. “Now, my sons have taken up my dad’s songs,” Brewer said. The anniversary CD includes guest vocalists such as Dale Ann Bradley, Sam Bush and Ralph Stanley II, and Brewer thinks part of its success is due to matching songs he wrote specifically for the artists. Stanley recently had lost his own father, so Brewer thought his friend could bring special nuance about that loss to “Home Ain’t the Way It Used to Be.” Because Brewer has been in the music business since his teens, he has known many of his musical guests for decades. “It feels so great, with the success of the new record, to still feel relevant after all these years,” he said. That relevancy and success continue. Even though the group’s European tour has been delayed another year—until 2022—the shows already are sold out, Brewer said. The success also has the band making more plans for the future. Brewer couldn’t provide specifics but promised: “It’ll be one for the record books.” Now that they’re playing live shows again, the crowds are bigger than ever. Brewer suspects part of the enthusiasm might be relief that people feel because they can hear live music again. “Music is medicine,” he said. “People need it. People need that, and we need that as artists.” Although the band is grabbing a great deal media attention, including an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Brewer appreciates his down time back home in West Point. His heart belongs to Kentucky. “It’s the greatest place to live, and everyone needs to come to Kentucky at least one time in their life,” he said. To find out more about Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers’ blend of bluegrass, vintage country, American and mountain music— which they dubbed “brewgrass”— plus the group’s tour schedule, visit brewgrass.com.

Proud to call Kentucky home.

Creating a Culture of Impact

Educating Nursing Leaders to Have a Greater Impact on Diverse, Rural and Underserved Communities Specialties Offered: • Certified Nurse-Midwife • Family Nurse Practitioner • Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Frontier.edu/KyMonthly k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 9

cooking Recipes provided, prepared and photographed by Janine Washle of Cloverfields Farm & Kitchen and K’s Café & Catering in Clarkson.

New Twists on Old Favorites 10 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 1

By Janine Washle This is a special time of year, when friends and family gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. For many of us, this holiday may seem different this year—perhaps we will gather in smaller groups or stay closer to home. The Thanksgiving meal may be just the common denominator to bring a sense of stability and tradition to your table. The following recipes use traditional ingredients, with a new take on some favorites. They can be made ahead, are simple to put together, and can be scaled up or down, depending on the size of your gathering.

Maple Cranberry Sweet and Baklava Sour Brussels Sprouts SERVES 18-20

4 cups pecan pieces

SERVES 6 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, washed and trimmed 3 tablespoons olive oil ½ teaspoon sea salt Sweet and sour sauce, recipe follows ½ cup pomegranate arils 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine sprouts, olive oil and salt on a foil-lined baking sheet. 2. Bake in preheated oven 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Combine sprouts and sweet and sour sauce. Scatter pomegranate arils over the top and serve immediately. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. S W E E T A N D S O U R S AU C E ½ cup balsamic vinegar ¼ cup sugar Stir vinegar and sugar together until sugar is moistened. Boil until syrupy, 8-10 minutes.

1 cup dried cranberries ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup maple syrup ³ cup water

2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 1-pound package phyllo dough 3 sticks (1½ cups) unsalted butter, melted Cooking spray 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13- by 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. 2. Pulse pecans, cranberries and cinnamon in a food processor until finely ground. 3. In a medium pan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, maple syrup, water and lemon juice. Cook until mixture boils. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. 4. Unroll pack of phyllo dough. Place a phyllo sheet in baking dish and brush with melted butter. Continue with nine more sheets, brushing each sheet with butter. 5. Spread top with ¾ cup of nut mixture. Layer five sheets, spreading butter between each sheet. Add ¾ cup nut mixture over top sheet. Repeat this step three more times, spreading nut mixture over every five layers. Place the remaining sheets over the top, buttering between each sheet. 6. Score the top layer with a sharp knife by cutting lengthwise strips. Then cut across strips diagonally to create a diamond cut. 7. Bake for 50-70 minutes or until the top is a rich golden brown. Remove dish from oven. Drizzle cooled syrup over top. Let set for 4-6 hours to allow syrup to soak in. Cover and store at room temperature. Can be kept for about a week.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 11

cooking

Roasted Butternut Squash Thanksgiving Lasagna SERVES 12-14 2 butternut squash, halved, with seeds removed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, diced 1 roll turkey sausage, crumbled 4 cups chopped fresh kale 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning ½ teaspoon granulated garlic Water ¼ cup cornstarch 2 cups vegetable broth

½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Cooking spray 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce 1 9-ounce box oven-ready lasagna sheets (no boil) Shredded mozzarella for sprinkling on top

1. Roast butternut squash at 425 degrees until partially cooked, about 30 minutes. Cool, then slice lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add onions and turkey sausage. Cook until turkey is no longer pink in the middle. Add kale in batches until wilted. Stir in poultry seasoning and garlic. Add a little water, about ½ cup. Stir to combine. Cook for 15 minutes, or until water has evaporated. 3. In another pot, whisk together cornstarch and vegetable broth. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in salt and nutmeg. Stir mozzarella into mixture in several batches, letting each batch melt before adding the next. Stir in ricotta then Parmesan. 4. Spray a 13- by 9-inch glass dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the dish. Cover with lasagna sheets, then cover lasagna sheets with a layer of butternut squash. Cover squash with one-third of the cheese sauce, then add a layer of lasagna noodles, a layer of butternut squash, and another third of cheese sauce. Spread the kale and sausage mixture. Add another layer of lasagna sheets over top of the mixture, followed by a butternut squash layer, and spread the remainder of the cheese sauce over the squash. Pour the remainder of the marinara sauce over the top. 5. Place a piece of parchment paper over the marinara sauce, then cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes. Remove foil and paper after an hour. Continue to bake until the center is puffed. 6. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over top to cover, according to taste. Let lasagna rest for 10 minutes before cutting. 12 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 1

Gluten-free

Traditional Sage Stuffing SERVES 6-8 1 15-ounce loaf country white gluten-free bread, cubed and dried out for a few hours or overnight until hard* 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup diced celery 2 cups veggie crumbles ¼ cup vegetable broth or water ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning ¼ teaspoon rubbed sage ¼ teaspoon salt Cooking spray 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and spray 8- by 8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil, then add onion and celery and cook until translucent. Add veggie crumbles, vegetable broth or water, poultry seasoning, sage and salt. Stir in cubed bread and turn out into prepared dish. 3. Cover dish and bake 40-50 minutes, uncovering before the last 10 minutes. Center should be puffed, and edges get crispy. *Tested with Canyon Bakehouse brand bread.

Tip: Remove from freezer 20 minutes before serving.

NOV 12–13 Mt. Sterling Merchants Christmas Open House NOV 26 Historic S. Maysville Christmas Market

Creamy Cranberry Jam Ice Cream SERVES 6 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin ¼ cup boiling water 14 ounces whole-berry cranberry sauce 1 large egg white 1½ cups whole milk 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 cup heavy cream Cranberry jam, recipe follows 1. Pour boiling water into a small bowl, then sprinkle gelatin over the surface. Bloom gelatin for about 5 minutes, then scrape into a large bowl. 2. Whisk gelatin together with cranberry sauce and egg white until frothy. Stir in milk, lemon juice and heavy cream. Whisk in cooled jam. 3. Freeze in a gallon freezer according to manufacturer’s instructions. Store covered in freezer. C R A N B E R R Y JA M 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries, rinsed and sorted 1 cup water ½ cup granulated sugar Combine cranberries, water and sugar in a large saucepan. Cook over mediumhigh heat, stirring occasionally until thickened to a jam-like consistency, about 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

NOV 27 Shop Small Business Saturday DEC 3 Christmas Tree Lighting at Main Street Park DEC 4 Polar Express at the Arts Center DEC 4 Downtown Christmas Parade DEC 4 Christmas in the Park at Easy Walker Park DEC 5 34 th Annual Advent Musicale

A State of Giving Q

On the following pages, we present Kentucky-based feature stories that pertain to local and international nonprofits and charitable organizations such as the Green Hill Cemetery restoration project of the Social Good Fund, Doctors Without Borders, Dancing Well: The Soldier Project and Kentucky Refugee Ministries.

To learn more about nonprofit organizations in the state, visit greatnonprofits. org/state/Kentucky.

Kentucky’s nonprofits improve the quality of life for thousands of people and animals across the Commonwealth

onprofit organizations—those defined as focusing on furthering a social cause or a shared mission without the goal of earning a profit—are abundant in Kentucky. According to the IRS, as of 2019 (the last year that data was available), Kentucky was home to 20,467 nonprofits. Categories of nonprofits run the gamut, with the largest being human services, religion, education and the arts. In 2019, Kentucky nonprofits brought in $30.2 billion in revenue, but 75 percent have an annual operating budget of less than $500,000 per year. While they may be small in size, they are worth their weight in gold to those they help. COVID-19 has brought its share of challenges to the nonprofit sector. According to the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, donations in 2020 were down, but expenses were up. The areas where need increased the most were food insecurity, housing assistance, mental health, utilities and employment. Organizations that focused on human services were forced to pivot to offering online programs, providing grab-and-go meals, and FaceTiming home visits, while receiving less in donations, resulting in furloughed staff, shortened hours and salary reductions. Here is a small sampling Kentucky’s nonprofits and their variety of goals. Covington’s Life Learning Center helps adults who are considered at risk achieve their highest potential. It offers a free 12-week program aimed at reducing physical, financial and emotional barriers that people with addiction, incarceration and childhood poverty face. More than 1,300 people have been served since its inception in 2006. lifelearningcenter.us LexArts helps fund arts organizations and provides project grants to more than 40 artists and organizations in central B Y D E B O R A H KO H L K R E M E R

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Kentucky. Its goal is to provide a wide range of programs to integrate the arts into the daily lives of all citizens. Its programs include the LexArts Gallery Hop, the Lexington Youth Arts Council and a weekly email calendar of arts events. lexarts.org Warrior Battalion in Mount Washington seeks to end suicides by military veterans. It provides veterans and their families the healing programs that will help them fight post-traumatic stress disorder. warriorbattalion.org

Located in Leitchfield, the Arabian Rescue Mission rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes Arabian horses. In its 17 years, the mission has helped more than 2,000 horses. arabianrescuemission.org The Kentuckiana Stroke Association focuses on the dangers of a stroke, which includes educating people about prevention and recovery. With speakers, resource materials and seminars, the association has aided more than 20,000 people since 1999. strokekyin.org The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, a philanthropic organization that gives away millions of dollars each year, has been around since the early 1800s. The lifetime title of Kentucky Colonel is bestowed by the governor on those who show outstanding service. Membership includes invitations to social events, but the real legacy of the Colonels is in their charitable giving. This wing of the organization is called the Good Works Program and is supported by donations from the 30,000 active Colonels worldwide. They help Kentucky nonprofit organizations from wide-reaching sectors, such as education, historic preservation, youth and veterans, as well as community needs and crisis situations such as homelessness. More than $2 million in grants touched 3.9 million people last year alone. kycolonels.org

Thomas More University provides students with something much more than job training. Our graduates are prepared for any career, but they leave here prepared for much more. They are exposed to the very best thought, literature, art, and music. They learn to harness the power of human reason to solve problems and discover truth. Most importantly, they have the chance to begin to become the person they were created to be. This is the power of the liberal arts in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition at Thomas More University. Our students come here looking for more. And that’s exactly what we offer. Here our students take that opportunity and Make It More.

@ThomasMoreKY Just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Schedule your visit today! Visit thomasmore.edu/visit or call 859-344-3332.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 15

“Freddie is not like anyone else. I think bourbon is the vehicle through which he connects with people, but I think his purpose is bigger than bourbon, because he cares about people as individuals, and he wants people’s lives to be better.” — philanthropist Noah McMahon

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F B U F FA L O T R A C E D I S T I L L E R Y

16 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

A Promise Kept

BY JOEL SAMS

From Buffalo Trace Distillery to Green Hill Cemetery, bourbon legend Freddie Johnson honors the past

entury-old headstones cast long shadows by the time Freddie Johnson’s Ford Ranger pulled into the Green Hill Cemetery in Frankfort. He had driven straight from work at Buffalo Trace Distillery, where his extensive bourbon expertise and passion for history have earned him legendary status as one of the distillery’s most sought-after tour guides. It’s been a long week, and an even longer Friday, with a record-setting number of guests at the distillery. That’s why he was late, Freddie said, but he wasn’t flustered. He looked at ease, glad to be there among the headstones, the sunken graves and the unkempt grass on a late September afternoon. He was there to meet Nick Laracuente, an archaeologist who advises on the upkeep and restoration of the cemetery, which was established in 1865. Like many small cemeteries scattered throughout small-town America, Green Hill is desperately underfunded and undermaintained. The $10,000 it receives from the city this year, Freddie said, will barely keep the grass cut. The issue is personal for Freddie, as members of his family are buried at Green Hill. But it’s not just family interest that drives him. Preserving Green Hill Cemetery is about respect for the past and honoring those who came before—all of them, including Kentucky Civil War veterans of the United States Colored Troops, who are honored with a 10-foot-tall monument, the only monument of its kind. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 17

To make an individual contribution to the Green Hill Cemetery restoration project, send a check payable to Social Good Fund, Memo: Freddie’s Historical Site Restoration Project, to the Social Good Fund, 12651 San Pablo Avenue, Unit 5473, Richmond, CA 94805-4021.

Challenges at the cemetery run wider and deeper than landscaping. Take the pauper’s field, for instance. A swath of green space is riddled with the unmarked graves of the poor. The only sign of their final resting place may be a dip in the grass where a grave has collapsed. Even marked graves are at risk. Headstones sink over time; vandals and errant lawnmowers knock them over. When Buffalo Trace approached Freddie about rebranding its line of soft drinks with his name, he struck a deal to donate a portion of the proceeds to benefit the upkeep of the cemetery. On Aug. 17, the company presented him with a check representing the first of those earnings—nearly $12,000. But the Freddie’s Old Fashioned Soda line is “just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. Freddie’s greater dream is to secure enough donations so that he can endow a fund to restore and maintain the cemetery in perpetuity. Just a few days before he met with Nick, I asked Freddie what connected his worlds—what is the common thread binding together his love of bourbon heritage, his passion to preserve local history, and his deep respect for those who have gone before? “There’s a passage in the Bible that haunts me,” he told me after

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one of his tours at Buffalo Trace. “It says, ‘Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.’ That’s what this is all about.” • • •

Laracuente, an archaeologist and historic preservationist, became an adviser for the Green Hill project while he was working for the state historic preservation office. (He now works as an archivist at Buffalo Trace.) Nick got to know Freddie through his side job in bourbon archaeology and through the 2018 bourbon documentary Neat. Through his state job, Nick became an expert on historic cemeteries. As he bonded with Freddie over bourbon, he also became a go-to resource for advice. “Before I knew it, I became a regular call for him,” Nick told me. “He’d text me at all hours of the day whenever a new thing popped up.” Nick’s role is primarily that of an adviser, and he’s helped create a strategy for the long-term preservation of Green Hill Cemetery. Some of the funds earned from Freddie’s Old Fashioned Soda will be spent— likely before the end of the year— on a ground-penetrating radar survey to analyze a swath of blank space that hides unmarked graves. “Where we’re coming at it from is that, before you can do long-term

management of the cemetery, you need a map of the cemetery, and you need to know what’s there and what isn’t,” Nick said. A passion to preserve history drives Freddie’s work at Green Hill, where he serves as co-chair of the cemetery’s board of trustees. But phrases like “preserving history” don’t capture the immediacy of his mission. He’s driven by a sense of duty, an obligation to do right by the past. “It’s honoring those that came before us, celebrating their achievements, not letting stories be forgotten or brushed under the rug,” Nick said. “That drives him in bourbon; it drives him in the cemetery project.” Jeanette Walker, chair of the cemetery’s board of trustees, has collaborated with Freddie for about 15 years. She said Freddie’s dedication is, at least in part, a product of how they both were brought up. “We were raised to listen to the old stories, the history of Frankfort and the history of the cemetery,” she said. “When we were growing up, some things they put in your head they expected us to do—to be a leader in the community, somewhere, somehow.” • • •

As a tour guide, Freddie’s enthusiasm and authenticity are palpable. It’s one reason distillery guests love him, according to Matt

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F B U F FA L O T R A C E D I S T I L L E R Y

Higgins, Freddie’s supervisor at Buffalo Trace. “He’s very humble, he’s genuine, he cares deeply about what he does and the people he’s doing it for, whether that’s giving tours or taking care of Green Hill Cemetery,” Matt said. “He’s all in.” Noah McMahon, a Californiabased philanthropist who met Freddie during a tour, helped create a fund to house charitable donations to support Green Hill Cemetery. Noah said Freddie’s enthusiasm and passion for the project made it irresistible. “Freddie is not like anyone else,”

he told me over the phone. “I think bourbon is the vehicle through which he connects with people, but I think his purpose is bigger than bourbon, because he cares about people as individuals, and he wants people’s lives to be better.” During his tours at Buffalo Trace, Freddie asks guests to “look beyond the obvious.” He loves to point out details like the practical differences between white oak (barrel staves) and red oak (rickhouse framing). He gets excited when talking about the distillers of the Kentucky frontier—

they were “arborists, engineers; they understood the rotation of the earth.” He points out the date on the barrels (they were all filled on Jan. 5, 2007), but the colors change from top to bottom. He speaks reverentially about “the old whiskey guys” like Elmer T. Lee, Lincoln Henderson and Jimmy Russell. “You would never know who they were, because they didn’t boast about it,” he told a tour group. “They just blended into the background.” In other words, you had to look beyond the obvious. What would it mean to look beyond the obvious when looking at Freddie? Seventy-five-year-old Freddie Johnson is a Frankfort native, a third-generation distillery employee, and a 2018 Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee. His compelling family story and deep Frankfort roots have made him a legend in the bourbon world. He often speaks of his grandfather, Jimmy Johnson Sr., and his father, Jimmy Johnson Jr., who preceded him at the distillery. A keystone of Freddie’s story is what he calls “a promise made, a promise kept.” As a young man, he moved away from Frankfort to work for AT&T, exhibiting early talent he’d shown in electronics. He was part of a management development program that moved him and his family from city to city every few years, including New York, Newark and Atlanta. Early in his career, his father called him with a request. Jimmy Johnson Jr. wanted Freddie to promise that, if he ever got the chance, Freddie would become the third generation of the Johnson

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 19

P H OTO S B Y R E B E C CA S A M S

family to work at the distillery. The second part of the promise was more somber. “He said, ‘Oh, and by the way, since you’re coming back, should anything happen to me, would you be my caregiver?’ ” Freddie said. “That’s when I understood. He was saying, ‘When I call you, I want you to come home.’ ” When the call came, almost 20 years ago, Freddie answered. He took early retirement to care for his father as well as his brother, who both were terminally ill. He also 20 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

started working at Buffalo Trace in 2002, just as he’d promised. “Sometimes you do things not because you have to, but because it’s the right thing to do,” he said, his eyes above his mask welling with tears. The stresses of caregiving played a role in ending Freddie’s marriage, which already had been strained by years of constantly moving for work. But his promise made and his promise kept have indelibly formed the way Freddie sees himself. They are key to understanding how he sees the world. “That promise, coming back, the three generations of Johnson family working here—it’s cumulative,” Nick said. “There’s nobody quite like him. It was a pivotal moment, that promise.” • • •

At the cemetery, I watched as Freddie brushed yellowed grass clippings off the top of a grave marker. “Allan should be here somewhere,” he said, squinting at

the emerging letters. “Yeah, I think he’s here.” Allan was Freddie’s half-brother, who died of a disease—Freddie thinks it might have been cholera— at just 4 months old. Before Freddie cleared it, the grave marker was so caked with grass that a visitor might have missed it entirely. “You can see what we’re up against,” he said, straightening his back. Green Hill Cemetery is the problem of history in miniature— not here, not there but perched precariously between this world and the next; a final holdout in the losing game of memory. I’m reminded of a line from Wendell Berry’s poem “The Record”: “I know the panic of that wish to save the vital knowledge of the old times […].” Freddie, too, knows the wish to save, but I don’t think he’s panicked. He shouldn’t be. For more than two decades, he’s done his part. Every time he tells a story at the distillery, makes a connection with a guest, or identifies a forgotten grave, he saves knowledge by sharing it. Freddie Johnson has dreamed dreams. It’s up to us to see the vision. Q

Because a Colonel Gave... …from Ashland to Paducah, 3.9 million Kentuckians benefit from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels’ Good Works Program. Children, veterans, people with disabilities, the hungry, and the homeless all find help through the services of 275 nonprofits receiving grants from us this year. A commission as a Kentucky Colonel is the highest civilian honor a Kentucky governor can bestow. And many Colonels consider annual or monthly contributions to the Honorable Order to be a continuation of the altruistic activity that earned them that commission. If you are a Kentucky Colonel, please consider a contribution to the Good Works Program. Call us, or visit KyColonels.org, today.

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ince 1964, Children Incorporated has provided essential resources to impoverished children around the world through both our sponsorship program and our special funds. “When you look at the reasons that children living in poverty tend to stay in poverty, often times it is because they lack the educational opportunities that can help break that cycle,” says Children Incorporated’s Director of Development, Shelley Callahan. “Our organization is able to fill in the gaps that keep children from going to school. We provide them with food, warm clothes, shoes, hygiene items, school supplies, and other basic necessities that help them overcome barriers and give them hope for a brighter future.” Currently, Children Incorporated works in 21 countries across five continents, including the United States. We partner with 300 affiliated projects, such as schools,

community centers, and orphanages, to ensure that children living in poverty are getting the support they desperately need through our sponsorship program. What exactly is child sponsorship? “ Child sponsorship is a partnering of an individual, referred to as a sponsor, with a child in need which helps that vulnerable child develop to their full potential — physically, emotionally and socially,” explains Callahan. “Our policy is to consider the needs of each sponsored child on an individual basis. Our volunteer coordinators at each of our affiliated projects personally shop for the children enrolled in our program, as they are familiar with each individual child’s circumstances and needs.” In addition to sponsorship, donations to ChildrenI ncorporated’s special funds support feeding programs, income-generating projects, skills training programs, as well as school expansions, medical clinic repairs and housing improvements.

“Our organization's work in Kentucky has been among our longest and most meaningful. Today, Children Incorporated is affiliated with 95 schools in eastern Kentucky, thanks to our valued partnership with the state’s Family Resource Youth Services Centers (FRYSC). The resources provided by our sponsors and donors support FRYSC's goals of school-based family support that serves the whole child and strives to remove non-academic barriers to learning,” said Callahan. “Our sponsors truly provide lifechanging support for the children in our program — for a child living in poverty, knowing that someone cares for them and their well-being is incredibly valuable. Currently, we have hundreds of children in our sponsorship program waiting for a sponsor just like you.” To make a donation to Children Incorporated or become a sponsor of a child in need, visit www.childrenincorporated.org today.

C H I L D R E N I N C O R P O R AT E D info@childrenincorporated.org | P.O. Box 72848 North Chester field, VA 23235 | 800.538-5381 k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 35

SHINING BACK ON ME, FROM MY OWN EYES, TOO Rebecca Hassett, a Kentucky Refugee Ministries volunteer, shares her experience with an immigrant from Afghanistan

as she knew it was hard for women to he last time I saw Zareen, she lifted up her pants legs to show get jobs in Afghanistan, her home country. She had arrived in Kentucky me her ankles. We were all as a refugee less than a year before barefoot because we had left and was overjoyed when she got her our shoes at the door, and it was driver’s license. “Women don’t drive summertime. “I get a new job,” she in Afghanistan,” she said. said. “I have an interview, but I’m still looking, just in case.” Her ankles were swollen, but her feet were sturdy. “My ankles swell up from that job,” she explained. “I can’t work that job anymore.” She had told me before that the job involved walking all day at the hospital and that she liked her supervisor. She was, at first, an assistant for patient transportation, but she thought she wanted to Zareen and her son, Hamza become a nurse or a surgeon Her supervisor noticed her work someday. She transported patients on ethic and asked if she would like a stretchers inside the hospital. One promotion transporting bodies inside day, a patient arrived at the hospital the hospital’s morgue. Her supervisor in handcuffs from the prison. She wanted to make sure before she thought his handcuffs looked too promoted her that Zareen could tight and asked if they could loosen handle the job description, working them, but she was told, “No.” with the dead. Zareen responded with She arrived at the hospital at 4 a careful look in her eye. “It’s OK,” she a.m. every workday, always on time, said. “My whole country is a morgue.” and did all that was asked of her. Her She easily opened up to me about cheerful spirit glowed from her eyes,

her life in Afghanistan. I was told by the volunteer coordinator that most refugees from Afghanistan do not choose to share their stories. Zareen must have felt the need to share, even if risks were involved. The Taliban threatened her in Afghanistan because she had chosen to work for the United States Army. “I love to work for the U.S. Army,” she said cheerfully. Taliban officials warned her with guns and death threats, but Zareen confidently explained that she didn’t care. “When you’re dead, you die in an instant,” she said. They tried to take her young son, Hamza, away from his preschool, but the teachers wouldn’t allow it. “Women are the champions,” she said, as she worked, cooked, cleaned and took care of her son. • • •

In 2002, when Zareen was just 17, she was one of the first Afghan women to work for the U.S. Army. She said she wanted to work for the Army “because the U.S. Army travels

A resident in the Louisville Teacher Residency Program who teaches ESL (English as a Second Language) at Jefferson County’s Waggener High School, Rebecca Hassett volunteered at Kentucky Refugee Ministries for more than a year. Her experience as a volunteer with KRM affected her viewpoint of her own life. A version of this story first appeared on the Kentucky Refugee Ministries website, http://kyrm.org/wp-content/ uploads/2020/01/Shining-Back-On-Me-From-My-Own-Eyes-Too.pdf.

36 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

to help us, so why can’t I help them?” Her family members and neighbors tried to stop her from working for the U.S., but she persisted, performing various jobs—from computer operator to finance manager. She also liked helping Army members buy things in town. “When they need to buy something, I think it is too dangerous for them, so I go and I bring it to them,” she said. Her supervisor from the Army, James Robert Smith of Covington, along with the U.S. Embassy, helped Zareen and her family relocate to Louisville in 2018. Smith and his wife, Melinda, met her family at the airport when they arrived in Louisville from Afghanistan, after more than 20 hours on an airplane. The Smiths helped them with their transition to living in the States. My daughter and I arrived at their apartment as volunteers for Kentucky Refugee Ministries to teach English as a Second Language to Hamza, but Zareen and I always talked, too. There was plenty to discuss about navigating the public school system, which I knew something about, as my daughter also attended public school. Zareen and her son both knew English rather well, but her husband, Homayoon, was still learning. My daughter worked with Hamza on reading and writing as I learned more about Zareen’s life in Afghanistan. Three months after I met Zareen, she informed me that she got a new job as a patient care assistant at the same hospital where she had been working. She told me that her new supervisor saw her working in her old position and told her, “I see you working hard all of the time. I have an open position. You come work for me.” She took patients’ blood pressure and other vital signs prior to surgery. She loved her new job and the people with whom she worked, and it inspired her to become a nurse. When I spoke to Zareen in September, she and her family had moved to Las Vegas, where she attends nursing school. They think it is too hot in Las Vegas and may move back to Kentucky or to California, where they have family. Now in her mid-30s, Zareen is

successful as a wife, mother and student. She and her family should be eligible to apply for citizenship in 2023. • • •

MY EYES

I am learning to be kinder to myself in the small voices in my head. To clear away the weeds and vines and find myself in the clearing of a field, like an animal on the land without the chatter of human stories. I see myself in the sunshine and know that I exist, like the other animals in the field. None of us needs to blame each other for being in the field. I am finding peace with myself, my ideas and my disposition. I don’t look at celebrities or gorgeous people and wish I could be them. I can only imagine being myself. My only wish is that my circumstances had been different—a loving childhood, with loving parents and loving grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles. We didn’t live near any family. It was just our parents, who couldn’t stand each other and later divorced and didn’t seem to love us too much, either. But of course, you find out later that they did love you, in their own way, in the way that suited them. It wasn’t about us; it was about them. Childhood sadness takes so long to go away. When I met Zareen, I saw that she worked daily to change her circumstances. She already has. As I encourage her, I can’t help but encourage myself. For it is only circumstances that have shaped us so greatly. But what I admire more deeply than these circumstances is the inner core that shines through and reveals our souls when we connect with others honestly. The intimacy of truth in our characters can shine through at any moment, despite our circumstances. It reminds me that: So what if I wish my circumstances were different? So many people do. All I can do is be encouraging, and somehow, I feel some of those rays of sunshine, shining back on me, from my own eyes, too. Q

MAKING KENTUCKY HOME FOR REFUGEES Kentucky Refugee Ministries is a nonprofit agency providing initial resettlement support, long-term integration services, and immigration legal services. KRM has offices in Louisville, Lexington, and a new office opening in Covington Nov. 15. Together as a community, the agency resettles refugees and welcomes immigrants. Through KRM, volunteers encourage hope, advocate for newcomers, and transform the lives of those seeking safety. Throughout the pandemic, refugee and immigrant families have continued to arrive in Kentucky. They often work in essential industries. KRM welcomes people from all anywhere. This year, the largest populations of people are coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cuba. KRM welcomes refugees from Afghanistan who are arriving through the humanitarian evacuee program. Here are some of the ways you can get involved with Kentucky Refugee Ministries: VO L U N T E E R

Help drive food to families’ homes through a monthly food pantry, support English learners in virtual classrooms, tutor a child in grade school, and more. JOIN A TEAM

Co-Sponsor and Welcome Teams offer community groups the opportunity to welcome and support a family new to Kentucky. D O N AT E G O O D S

Furniture, household items and winter coats are vital needs. MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION

Directly support a family and/or support KRM’s services. H E L P W I T H E M P LOY M E N T O R R E N TA L H O U S I N G

Hire a refugee or rent a home to a family. For more information or to become involved, visit kyrm.org or contact info@kyrm.org.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 37

“

We want all students to know that at Cumberlands there is a clear and affordable path to a college degree. That’s the Cumberlands Commitment.” -President Larry L. Cockrum

UCUMBERLANDS.EDU/GIVE

THE

CUMBERLANDS COMMITMENT

First four graduates from The Williamsburg Institute.

This wasn’t just any meeting. In 1887, a few men representing 18 churches came together and committed to do something once and for all to help provide higher education throughout the struggling Appalachian area. By the end of the following year, they had successfully pooled their ideas and resources and founded a new college called the Williamsburg Institute. For the first time, the region’s youth wouldn’t have to travel far away for a higher education and, more often than not, never return to Appalachia. Instead, they would have a college right in their backyard. What better way to encourage young people to invest their new knowledge and skills in the region that needed it most? What better way to help generations of Appalachians make better lives for themselves and their families?

That was the notion, and time proved it true. The first four graduates became a doctor, an attorney, an educator, and a minister, spending the rest of their lives meeting the needs of people in their communities physically, legally, educationally, and spiritually. Generation after generation graduated from the school and – like those first four graduates – were better prepared for lives of leadership and service in their respective regions and around the world. Over time, that small college in Kentucky grew and thrived. Students from other regions began attending because of the promise it offered. Eventually, it became a four-year college, and then began offering postgraduate and even online programs. Its name changed too; today, it’s known as University of the Cumberlands – one of the largest private universities in Kentucky. The driving purpose of education is community enrichment. Since its beginning, Cumberlands has poured into students so students can in turn pour into their families, careers and communities. Today, the graduating classes are a bit bigger than four people. The campus looks different too - and we’ve cut tuition by 57 percent and given free textbooks to on-campus students. But the heart of the university rests on its original founding purpose: to provide a first-class education at rates within the means of the region’s young people. In other words, offering promising students of all backgrounds a well-rounded academic experience enriched with Christian values so they have what it takes to strive for excellence, lead with kindness, and give through service.

That’s what we do. That’s the Cumberlands Commitment.

Graduates from the Class of 2021.

100% Affordable With your commitment, Cumberlands students will be able to graduate with zero to little debt.

Student-Centered With your commitment, the focus of Cumberlands will continue to be enriching the lives of its students.

Quality Education With your commitment, students from all backgrounds will receive a well-rounded education, enriched with Christian values.

Make your Cumberlands Commitment To arrange a campus visit with us, or arrange a charitable gift, please call: 606.539.3571 or email plannedgifts@ucumberlands.edu

In part one of a three-part series, the young Virginia native makes his way west into the frontier

Wilderness Odyssey: T H E S AG A O F S I M O N K E N TO N B Y R O N S O O D A LT E R

40 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

Painting by Steve White

t a time in our nation’s history when the lands to what then was referred to as the West were ablaze with conflict between Anglo and Indian, Simon Kenton—frontiersman, scout, military general—achieved fame as what one writer described as “the frontier equivalent of a modernday super-hero.” His deeds and accomplishments rivaled those of his contemporary and close friend, Daniel Boone, whose life he once saved during an Indian attack. Fame, however, is fickle and often passes over the most deserving. While Boone became the subject of books, movies and a successful television series, little has been written about Kenton, and few, aside from a handful of descendants and period historians, are familiar with his name.

ON THE RUN

Kenton was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, in April 1755, on rented land known as the Carter

Grant. As a youth, he had no formal education. The boy worked the family tobacco farm only sporadically, preferring to spend his time roaming the surrounding woods. By the time he reached his teenage years, he was, according to biographer and descendant Edna Kenton, “a tall, lithe, straight, auburn-haired, blueeyed idler.” The transition from aimless youth to noted frontiersman, soldier, scout, Indian fighter, explorer and adopted Shawnee brave began when Kenton was nearly 16—as the result of a mistake. Apparently, he had become smitten with a local belle, and when she became engaged to another, the jilted teen challenged his successful rival to a fight, which the headstrong Kenton lost. Several months later, he braced his foe for a second time. During this contest, Kenton, who had developed into a well-muscled 6-footer (an 1830 document describes him as a “giant of a man,” at a time when the average height for men was 5

feet, 8 inches), delivered a blow that left his opponent stretched unmoving on the ground. Believing he had killed his adversary and fearing the gallows, Kenton immediately fled Virginia for the frontier West, taking nothing with him but the bloodstained clothes he wore. Haste was essential. Although the country itself was vast, the population was relatively small, and people generally knew, or knew of, one another. Kenton was keenly aware of the need to outrun the news of what he believed was a hanging offense. Now on his own and on the run, the teenager lacked both a rifle and the wherewithal to purchase or trade for one. In exchange for food and lodging, he performed brief odd jobs for the settlers whose homesteads he encountered in his flight. He would adopt the family name of each of the various settlers whom he visited, claiming a distant kinship in order to endear himself. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 41

Painting by Steve White

After journeying some 100 miles on foot, Kenton arrived in the settlement of Warm Springs. There, he introduced himself as Simon Butler at the home of widower and affluent miller Jacob Butler. Several decades later, Kenton’s son William related, “Butler was pleased with his newly found ‘relative,’ kept him some time, [and] employed him to work on his mill dam and farm.” For his part, Kenton grew increasingly devoted to his host and employer. When the youth eventually decided to continue on his fugitive path, the miller presented him with his personal long rifle as a parting gift. It was a fine weapon—one that Kenton christened “Jacob” in honor of the older man. Kenton kept the surname of his friend, and for the next several years, he would be widely known to both Indians and Whites on the frontier as Simon Butler, until an ironic turn of events allowed him to reclaim his family name. 42 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

The youth eventually arrived at a settlement near the recently built Fort Pitt at the source of the Ohio River. There, he fell in with two hunters who were planning to follow the Ohio to the wilderness variously known as Cantuckey, Kaintuck and Kan-tuk-ee. It also was referred to as the Middle Ground, and—more ominously—the Dark and Bloody Ground. As biographer Edna Kenton noted, Kentucky was a “breeding spot for legend and myth”; and legends flourished about the region’s so-called “Canelands.” These Canelands reputedly stretched for untold miles and contained seemingly endless tracts of fertile land, rich with game. As it turned out, fields of river cane—a species of bamboo—were, in fact, common in Kentucky. The older of Kenton’s two companions, Jacob Yaeger, had been a captive of the Indians for years as a child, spoke several native languages, and had traveled with his captors into Kentucky. Yaeger, who went by

the sobriquet “The Long Dutchman,” described the numberless herds of buffalo, elk and deer of the region. It was, he averred, teeming with game and rich in arable land for those who were bold enough to claim it. In company with the two hunters, with rifle and traps in hand and a newly fashioned canoe packed with winter provisions, 16-year-old “Simon Butler” set off down the Ohio River, resolved to start life afresh in this wilderness Eden. The new land, however, was not without its perils. In addition to its natural bounties, this wild country was home to the powerful Shawnee tribe, which was violently opposed to Anglo intrusion. For decades since the late 1600s, westering settlers had driven this tribe of the Algonquin nation from place to place, from their homeland in the Southern Great Lakes region to Pennsylvania and, finally, into Kentucky and Ohio. Here, along with other tribes, they dug in, resolved not to be moved again.

INTO THE WILDERNESS

Kenton and his two companions paddled for weeks, driving ever deeper into the new country. They did not find the fabled Canelands, which would elude Kenton for the next few years, but Kentucky itself more than met Yaeger’s description. The three adventurers built a snug, three-sided shelter against a huge fallen tree at a salt lick near the mouth of the Elk River, and they spent the next two years there. They hunted and trapped and at the end of each season bartered their furs with a trader on the Ohio River for food, clothing, lead and powder. Yaeger proved a good teacher in the ways of woods lore and survival, and Kenton was an apt and avid learner. Interaction with the natives, however, was inevitable. To certain tribes, as biographer Thomas D. Clark observed, “Every trespasser was an enemy … Too well the Indians knew what the appearance of the white man … meant.” On a cold, rainy day in March 1773, as the three nearly naked hunters sat about the fire waiting for their sodden clothing to dry, the camp was attacked by a party of Indians. Yaeger was either captured or killed—he was never heard from again—while Kenton and his companion escaped, with neither guns nor provisions and wearing only their shirts. After five days— cold, starving, exhausted, badly raked by thorns and briars, and with the skin of their bare feet in shreds— they came upon a lone cabin. The inhabitants, a man and his wife, fed and clothed the two and provided them shelter while they regained their strength. Meanwhile, a growing number of adventurers, traders, land speculators and settlers made their way into Kentucky, where land was free for the taking, requiring only a series of personalized notches cut into tree trunks—“tomahawk improvements,” as they were called. At least for the moment, these were sufficient to mark a person’s property. Soon, cabins and seminal communities began to sprout up, and Kenton, whose prized rifle had been among his possessions lost in the attack, agreed to provide game for a small

settlement on the Little Kanawha in exchange for provisions and a new weapon. Once he was armed and re-supplied, the 18-year-old woodsman became a one-man welcoming committee for the increasing number of parties entering Kentucky. He would greet the keelboats, hunt and guide for the newly arrived, and help to protect them from Indian attacks. One writer has posited that it was Kenton’s way of making amends for the supposed murder of his rival back in Virginia. Although young, Kenton possessed more first-hand experience and knowledge of the region than most, and his kindness toward newcomers did not go unremarked. Soon, the name Simon Butler became well known among the immigrants, who called him their “savior” and sought him out for guidance and protection. The Shawnees, however, who pronounced his adopted name “Bahdler,” came to refer to him as “Man Whose Gun Is Never Empty.” Considering that the firearms of the day were all single-shot weapons, with several steps involved in the loading process, this was a grudging acknowledgment of Kenton’s uncanny ability to swiftly reload his rifle, whether standing or on the run. THE DARK AND B LO O DY G R O U N D

Every settler or land agent who carved out a piece of the wilderness for a home or for gain inevitably pushed the native population ever farther to the south and west. Further exacerbating the situation, unscrupulous groups of Whites staged several unprovoked, murderous attacks against peaceful tribes, culminating in the April 30, 1774, descent upon the defenseless Mingo village of Chief Logan, who always had been friendly toward the Whites. The chief’s entire family was slaughtered in what is known as the Yellow Creek Massacre. Not surprisingly, the Indians responded in kind; scalps were taken by both sides, and Logan himself became an implacable foe of the interlopers, killing a number of colonists. “There runs not a drop of my blood,” he later said, “in the veins

of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many.” By the following month, hostilities had reached a fever pitch. John Murray, Lord Dunmore—Virginia’s colonial governor—took advantage of the situation. He mustered two “militias” of frontiersmen at Fort Pitt—one under Col. Andrew Lewis and the other under himself—and declared open war against the Shawnees, Mingoes and various other tribes. Dunmore’s motive was plain: to remove all native obstacles to Anglo expansion into the West. As Edna Kenton writes, “Doubtless an Indian war was inevitable, but if ever an Indian war was provoked by the whites, Lord Dunmore’s was.” Tribes throughout the region rose to meet the new threat. Entire settlements emptied as the residents left their cabins and crops to seek the relative safety of Fort Pitt. Kenton made his way to the fort as well, where he met the two men who would remain his most steadfast lifelong friends. There were not two more disparate characters on the frontier. Six-foot, redheaded George Rogers Clark soon would become a legendary military leader during the looming American Revolution, while the short, swarthy Simon Girty would become known across the frontier as a bloodthirsty renegade and traitor. Writes Edna Kenton of her ancestor, “His range of affection was wide to have included in it the greatest general and the most famous renegade of the West.” Both men were destined to play vital roles in saving Kenton’s life. Kenton’s reputation as an expert woodsman had preceded him to Fort Pitt. After swearing an oath of loyalty to King George prior to receiving an assignment, as he later recalled, “[Fellow frontiersman] Jacob Drennan and I were asked to raise a company. We did so, but afterwards acted as spies.” At the time, the term “spy” referred to a man who served as a military scout, guide and messenger. It was a role that suited Kenton well. As “spies,” the two placed themselves in imminent danger from both sides. While silently making their way through hostile territory, as author Clark points out, “the

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 43

C O M I N G I N PA R T T W O :

Kenton is discharged from military service in 1775 and returns to Kentucky, still believing that a murder charge awaits him back in Virginia. He finally finds the rich, elusive Canelands, where he claims and clears a small parcel of land for himself. Native resistance continues for years throughout the Middle Ground, and Kenton’s reputation as an Indian fighter grows. As chief scout and hunter for Boonesborough, Daniel Boone’s forted settlement, Kenton helps to fight off an Indian attack, in the course of which he dramatically saves Boone’s life. On one occasion, Kenton is captured, finding himself facing torture and a terrible death at the hands of the Shawnees. With the American Revolution in full swing, and despite his earlier oath of allegiance to King George, Kenton must choose a side. And back in Fauquier County, Virginia, a lifechanging surprise awaits him.

Engraving by R.W. Dodson from portrait of Simon Kenton by L.W. Morgan

snapping of a single twig would bring a hail of bullets … [And] as they got nearer [their own lines,] there was danger that they would be mistaken for Indians by the quickshooting pickets.” Kenton and Drennan were directed to scout for Col. Angus McDonald, whose mission was to destroy the Shawnee village of Wapatomica as well as the other Indian villages along Ohio’s Muskingum River. The 400man force first traveled by boat on the Ohio River and then marched some 90 miles through uncharted forest, led by the two scouts. Each man was an experienced woodsman and carried a rifle, knife and tomahawk as well as seven days’ provisions in his knapsack. When the party came within a few miles of their first objective, they were ambushed by around 50 Shawnee warriors, suffering one man killed and another wounded. Shortly 44 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

thereafter, the Indians sent emissaries professing to seek a peace negotiation—a ruse that Kenton immediately saw through. He and Drennan convinced McDonald that the Indians were laying a trap. They scouted the now-deserted village and found where the Indians had crossed a nearby stream and lay in wait. They relayed the intelligence back to the frontiersmen and participated in a rout of the Indians and the destruction of Wapatomica. They then went on to burn four more villages along the river before turning for home. Kenton continued “spying,” and when Lord Dunmore mandated that the 1,100-man militia under Lewis meet him, combine their forces, and attack the Shawnee towns on the Scioto River, he chose Kenton and two others to deliver the vital orders to Lewis. After an Indian attack separated the three messengers, two

turned back, while Kenton went on alone to deliver the orders. On Oct. 10, before Lewis could join up with Lord Dunmore, Shawnee Chief Cornstalk and a combined Shawnee/Mingo force of some 1,000 warriors attacked him at Point Pleasant, Virginia (now West Virginia). The bloody battle that followed, which raged throughout the day, was largely fought hand to hand, ending in a decisive victory for the colonists, with the Indians driven north of the Ohio River. Lord Dunmore followed them with his own force, and while he sat in the midst of peace negotiations with Cornstalk, Lewis and a militia detachment destroyed several Shawnee villages in the area. The stunned Shawnees capitulated, agreeing to abandon all their land south and east of the Ohio River and to no longer attack settlers traveling on the river. Lord Dunmore’s War was over. Q

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 45

KENTUCKY GATEWAY MUSEUM CENTER 215 Sutton Street Maysville, Kentucky 41056 606-564-5865 www.kygmc.org Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm The Old Pogue Experience located in the limestone building on the corner of sutton & west 2nd Streets kygmc campus

four historic collections, one dynamic place

46 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

A section for Kentuckians everywhere … inside Kentucky Monthly.

K ENTUCKY XPLORER E

All About Kentucky

Volume 36, Number 9 – November 2021

Taken July, 22, 1927, this photo shows Southern Railway 0-6-0 #6019 in the Lexington Yard. On the upper right of the engine is sub lettering CNO&TP, which stands for Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific, a subsidiary of Southern. The building in the background is the Southern Railway Passenger Depot. Photo courtesy of the David Morse Collection.

Your Letters -- page 48 Kentucky Veterans -- page 52 James Harrod and Daniel Boone -- page 54

“I Remember” By Our Readers

and More!

Featuring Things Old & New About Kentucky

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 36, NO. 9

Letters to Kentucky Explorer Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.

Treasured Family Memories

Celebrated Nov. 11, Veterans Day is a federal holiday that allows us to have a day off work and school and, for some reason, inspires sales at furniture stores. I used to get it mixed up with Memorial Day, so it never hurts to remind everyone: Memorial Day honors those who died while in service to our country, while Veterans Day pays tribute to everyone—past and present—who has served or serves in the military. In this issue, we have two stories of Kentuckians who served. One is about a World War II pilot, and the other was written by my grandpa, Chester Geaslen. He was a railroad engineerturned-reporter-turned northern Kentucky historian and author, but first, he was a Marine in World War I. He has been gone since 1986. When I was a child, he would try to tell me stories of historical significance, and, unfortunately, I was immature and didn’t care. Oh, how I wish we could talk now, but luckily, I have his scrapbooks, published works and files. While looking through one of his books recently, I was happily surprised to find the story about an exciting day in Paris that appears on page 53. Send me your photos and recollections. I would love to share them with our readers. 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.

I have enjoyed Kentucky Monthly and have been a subscriber for several years. My father passed a couple of years ago, after my mother had passed in 2015, and being an only child and grandchild on my mother’s side, I had the dubious task of going through my parents’ belongings. Of course, I sold much, donated much, auctioned some, trashed much and kept much for my family. My grandparents were George M. Morton and Fannie D. Morton. My papaw (grandfather) opened an auto repair shop around 1934. A country store called Geo. M. Morton General Store soon evolved from that business. It was located in the fork of State Route 15 and South Fork Road in Powell County, about 2 miles from Bowen, as one would travel toward Natural Bridge State Park. My grandfather also carried the mail, from the late 1920s to the early ’30s, first on horseback for a 14-mile round trip up South Fork Road and High Rock Road. He did move on to a motor vehicle in his later years. My grandmother would run the general store while he was carrying the mail.

— DEB ORAH KOHL KREMER In memory of Donna Jean Hayes, 1948-2019 Kentucky Explorer appears inside each issue of Kentucky Monthly magazine. Subscriptions can be purchased online at shopkentuckymonthly.com or by calling 1.888.329.0053.

The Geo. M. Morton General Store; top, Morton in front of his store. Both images date from around 1940.

“Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.” O. Henry

November 2021 49

Left, the author’s mother with her dogs in the late 1930s or early ’40s. Note the Tiolene sign behind her. This photo was taken beside the store, and the sign is now on display in the Red River Historical Museum in Clay City. The author donated the sign to the museum in November 2019; center, engagement photo of George Morton and Fannie Daniels; right, the author’s grandfather’s tobacco barn, built around 1941. It still stands about one-quarter mile from where the store was located. The barn’s quilt square is a copy from a quilt created by the grandmother, who was known throughout the area for her excellent quilting.

The store did well and was a popular gathering place, as my grandparents had one of the few radios in the county and close-by friends and neighbors would come to listen for news on the war, etc. They had the store up until the mid-1970s, when it closed. One of the things that caught my eye in their things was a letter from Wrigley Chewing Gum. It was a form letter but historic, nonetheless. Of course, being thrifty and resourceful, my mother, Juanita Morton Rogers—who was 16 years old at that time and a sophomore at Powell County High School—used the back of that letter as scrap paper for a home economics project. By the way, she went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in home

economics and a master’s degree from Morehead State University while teaching. She taught 30 ½ years at Powell County High, Fairview High and Ashland’s Paul G. Blazer High. I thought Kentucky Monthly readers might like to see these photos. Phillip Rogers Peachtree City, Georgia philliprogers304@yahoo.com

The Wrigley letter with home economics notes on the reverse side.

Please send letters to Editor Deborah Kohl Kremer at deb@kentuckymonthly.com or mail to Deb Kremer, Kentucky Monthly, PO Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602.

The largest wild turkey on record was 37.6 lbs. in Lyon County on April 21, 2015. National Wild Turkey Federation

4 THETHE KENTUCKY EXPLORER 50 KENTUCKY 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!

This is more of a “Do You Remember?” than an “I Remember” piece. Do any of these historical photos look familiar to you? Hopefully, we can help John DeChristopher solve his mystery. I have lived in this house on East Walnut Street in Mount Olivet, right beside the Robertson County Court House, for three years. Our stone house was built in the 1920s and was

By Our Readers

once owned by Gendora Myers. Behind it is a small building that was constructed around 1880. I have been told that this building supplied ice to the neighborhood. Inside the old building is a fireplace, and, when we purchased the home, we found photos nailed to the floor in front of it. I’m looking for information about my house, the small building out back, and about these photos that were in the building. Please contact me if you can help. John DeChristopher 513.544.8652 john45205@yahoo.com

Kentucky has about 175 tree species that grow wild across the state.

November 2021 51

Kentucky Family Farm: A Frog Hunt

darkness accentuated by the overhanging brush along the creek’s bank prompted an immediacy of surprise. With the alarm given, my response was to This is inspired by personal move quite hurriedly from the memories of my grandparents’ farm in creek. the 1950s. To this day, my skin cringes with the memory of the My grandparents, Lawrence uncertain proximity of the snake. and Zorado Skees, sold their I’m not sure if Uncle Al had seen Glendale (Hardin County) farm a snake or merely wanted to take in 1966. The experiences of my advantage of the haunting youth during the 1950s invoke darkness and the thought of a fond memories of time spent on snake nearby. the family farm. I was a young We accumulated a mess of boy of 13 and was excited with frogs and cleaned them by the prospect of adventure. Drawing of the Skees Home in Glendale peeling their skin and removing One memorable occasion was their legs. The frog legs were an evening when my Uncle Al took me on a hunt for frogs placed in chilly water with a little salt. The next morning, in the creek. We hunted the creek with a bright flashlight the frog legs were battered with flour and egg and then and a .22 rifle. The creek was at a distance from the fried for breakfast. farmhouse such that there was no illumination from the Frogs that were fresh and then fried would react to the home. The moon was not full, and it was dark along the grease and the heat of the skillet. The frog tendons would creek. Uncle Al was in possession of the single flashlight we had brought. It was a wonderful night, slightly cool for tighten like rubber bands in the hot grease and would move, appearing ready to jump from the skillet. On this mid-summer. While walking the creek, I could feel a sense of mystery memorable occasion, Aunt Helen was cooking frog legs while telling an imagined story about cleaning and and intrigue. It was easier to trudge through the creek cooking frog’s legs, explaining that they would seemingly than walk along the creek’s bank. The creek was not much be alive. Of course, as a young boy, I was captivated by more than a rapidly moving few inches of water with an her story. occasional pool having a few feet of water. There were a Suddenly, at the moment the tendons were flexing from few pools that were too deep to walk through. Quietly their reaction to the hot skillet grease, Aunt Helen flipped walking through or along the creek, fearing not to a frog from the skillet using her spatula. It appeared that announce our presence, the night was deafeningly quiet. the frogs, although dressed and cleaned, really were still On this occasion, in the wistful quietness of thought, alive. Yes, I must admit that I reacted with surprise. I just Uncle Al suddenly yelled, “Snake!” Having no idea of the knew that the frogs had come alive. location of the snake, I was alarmed. The light from the Louis Girten flashlight was dim, and there was a considerable amount Clarksville, Indiana of brush hanging in and near the creek. Not knowing the kymemories50@yahoo.com proximity of the snake and already feeling the eerie

Happy 103rd Birthday to Willie! William “Willie” Earl Martin was born Oct. 11, 1918 to Sol Dodge Martin and Della Gayheart Martin, and grew up on Goose Creek in Floyd County. He was born during the Spanish Flu pandemic and celebrated his 103rd birthday during the ongoing COVID19 Pandemic. Willie was drafted into the United States Army in 1942 and assigned to the Medical Training Unit at Camp Barkley near Abilene, Texas. He was

sent overseas and served in the 239th General Hospital Unit, where he helped set up a hospital in a chateau in France. Later, he drove supply and ambulance trucks to the front lines. He fought in two major battles—the Rhineland Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge under the leadership of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Gen. George S. Patton. His duties took

him to France, Belgium and Germany. He received orders to go to Japan, but the war ended, and Willie got to return home to Floyd County. After the war, Willie worked in a coal tipple and then as a mechanic for Columbia Gas Company. He is twicewidowed and has a daughter, son, two stepdaughters and four grandchildren. He lives in the house that he built in the town of Printer.

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” Eleanor Roosevelt

6 THETHE KENTUCKY EXPLORER 52 KENTUCKY EXPLORER

Kentucky Veterans A veteran is an individual who served in the armed forces and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable Veterans Day is November 11 Hysterical Joy Abounded: “Fini la Guerre” Was Paris Cry By Chester Geaslen At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, the “fini la guerre” cry of the French populace was the most beautiful sound on Earth. To the Americans, it meant the termination of 19 months of warfare in another world, a broad ocean away from loved ones and home firesides. To the French, it meant the end of four long years of a “hell on earth” in their very homeland. “What a glorious day, praise be to God. World War has at last come to an end,” was the common bond of sentiment. Shortly after sunrise on this momentous day, a detachment of General Staff officers of the German Army approached, under flag of truce, the private railroad car of Field Marshall Ferdinand Foch, generalissimo of all Allied Forces. The railroad car stood in the little Belgian province of Spa in the Compiegne Forest. The Germans had come to accept the terms of the armistice levied against their defeated armies, bringing to a halt a gigantic conflict that sprang from the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, on June 28, 1914, and which in four years’ time had engulfed the armies of 23 nations of the world. At 5:40 a.m., all signatures had been affixed to the document, which called for the surrender of all German forces, including their confederates, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. The cessation of hostilities became effective at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918. Although rumors of a surrender had been running rampant for a week or more, the continued flow of casualities streaming back from the front to the medical stations offered little credence to these hopes. But on this eventful morning of Nov. 11, 1918, there was something different about the sound of

cannon firing … whistles blowing, church bells ringing, Frenchmen screaming and flags flying that could be construed as meaning but one thing. “The war … she is finished.” Words are an inadequate means of describing the hysterical joy of a war-weary people. They gave themselves up entirely and unreservedly to their emotional feelings. Prayer was undoubtedly the first impulse, but they were powerless to do other than to look heavenward and scream out their unbelievable happiness while tears flowed in rivulets down their cheeks. All war plants, offices, factories and stores emptied of people. Mademoiselles, in traditional affection, kissed French soldiers and countrymen on their cheeks à la the custom. But when they encountered one of Uncle Sam’s doughboys, they were sure to get kissed right back, and smack dab on the lips, à la the American custom. And nothing could have pleased them more. In Paris, dark for four years, lights blazed brilliantly in the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs Elysees. The Cafe de la Paix and The American Bar reverberated to the sounds of “La Marseillaise,” “God Save the King,” “My Country ’Tis of Thee,” “Beautiful K-Katie,” “Till We Meet Again,” “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” … and the dozens of verses of “Mademoiselle of Armentieres.” Financial ruin would have faced the tavern keepers offering drinks on the house, but they may well have done so. For the drinks never stopped flowing. Age-old bottles were brought up from cob-webbed cellars with glasses tinkling and the celebrants singing and swaying. The cash registers were as silent as the dead. Yes, on this day, the torch of Peace and Liberty was again passed down to mankind. About the Author Chester Geaslen (1896-1986) of Covington joined the United States Marine Corps on June 8, 1917. He fought in the Battles of Verdun and Toulon. He reached the rank of corporal by the time of his discharge on June 5, 1919, and he was one of the thousands of celebrants in Paris on that November day in 1918. This article is an excerpt from his book, Strolling Along Memory Lane.

“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause.” Abraham Lincoln

November 2021 53

Francis Gary Powers

The High-Flying Kentuckian By Larry Spencer Peoria, Arizona spensant@hotmail.com During my U-2 days at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, I met Francis Gary Powers. In 1968, one of our U-2s had just landed on its return from depot at Lockheed in California. I sat in the debrief going over all the aircraft systems with the civilian pilot. I thought the civilian pilot looked familiar as he sat drinking his Coors. The pilot signed the aircraft forms after the debrief and got up and walked out. I turned the forms around and looked. They were signed “FG Powers Civ.” Then, I knew why he looked so familiar. Powers was born in Jenkins in Letcher County on Aug. 17, 1929. Powers’ father was a coal miner who said he wanted more than coal mining for his son. Powers went to college and graduated from Milligan College in east Tennessee in 1950. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed pilot training school. He flew combat missions in the Korean War, and in 1956, he was promoted to captain in the Air Force and “sheep dipped” into the CIA U-2 program. Sheep dipped meant you resigned your military commission from the Air Force until your tour in the CIA was completed, and then you would be reinstated into the Air Force. Only the best pilots could fly the U-2. Powers was one of the best. On May 1, 1960, Powers took off from Peshawar, Pakistan. He was to fly over Russia and land at Boda, Norway. The U-2 pilots were trained for 6 to 12 hours in a small cockpit. He climbed the U-2 above 80,000 feet into the

stratosphere. The weather was clear. This was his 28th mission over the Soviet Union. He clicked his radio to let the ground know all was well. He had been warm in his NASA allweather full-pressure spacesuit on the ground, but up there, the air was cold, and the spacesuit felt good. Powers had the U-2 in auto pilot, and it had a celestial navigation sextant in the nose. The plane was navigating by the stars. When Powers reached a designated area, his systems on the plane would be operated from the ground, or he would operate the huge Hycon HR-732 camera in the Q bay behind the cockpit. Three hours in and flying at more than 400 miles per hour, the autopilot failed. That meant Powers would have to fly the U-2 manually. The U-2 was unstable above 100,000 feet in manual flight, and Powers had to decrease his altitude. He heard a bang, and the U-2 shook. Then another bang and the plane started coming apart. He was thrown forward in the cockpit, and he tried to reach for the destruct switch to destroy all the classified systems on the U-2, but the G forces pushed him away. One of the long wings came off, and the aircraft started to roll. He thought about ejecting, but if he did—because of his forward position in the cockpit—the forward canopy would cut off his legs. He blew the top canopy and tried to climb out and was caught on his cockpit seat lines, hanging outside the cockpit along the side of the plane. The face plate on his astronaut suit frosted up, and he could not see. Finally, he was falling freely, his parachute opened, and he drifted down. Powers was alive in Russia, and the Russians had a crashed U-2. The CIA was not happy. Powers had failed his mission. He hadn’t destroyed the classified systems on the U-2, and he hadn’t killed himself. The Russians found the tiny saxitoxin-impregnated needle hidden inside a fake silver dollar on Powers. He was supposed to use it to kill himself to keep from being captured alive. After 21 months in a Soviet prison, Powers was exchanged for Russian spy Col. Rudolf Abel on Feb. 10, 1962. Powers was the only sheep-dipped pilot not allowed to return to the Air Force. He went to work as a U-2 pilot for Lockheed from 1963-70. In 1970, he wrote a book titled Operation Overflight. Powers was killed in 1977 while working as a helicopter traffic reporter in California. In 1965, he was awarded the CIA intelligence Star for Valor. The U.S. Air Force posthumously awarded the Powers family the Prisoner of War Medal and Powers’ overdue Distinguished Flying Cross in 1998. Powers, the high-flying Kentuckian, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Roughly 47 percent of Kentucky’s land area is forested—approximately 12-million acres.

THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER

James Harrod and Daniel Boone: Early Frontiersmen With the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of Harrodsburg in 2024, the author hopes to raise the profile of James Harrod. He was the founder of the oldest European heritage town west of the Allegheny Mountains, the birthplace of Kentucky. By Bobbi Dawn Rightmyer

ost people are familiar with the frontiersman Daniel Boone, but many do not recognize the name James Harrod. While Boone is famous for settling land in Kentucky during the mid- to late 1700s and founding Fort Boonesborough, Harrod was the founder of Harrodsburg, the oldest permanent European heritage settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. Establishing Harrodsburg was a symbolic act declaring the Kentucky frontier open for settlement. These lands were no longer the exclusive hunting ground of the Native Americans nor the unexplored wilderness of early pioneers. It is hard to discuss early pioneer life without mentioning Boone, but Harrod opened Kentucky for many new settlers and their families. While Boone is famous and has had numerous narratives published of his early experiences, Harrod, with little fanfare, was just as important in the early settlement process. Harrod was essential in early land surveys, the emerging court system, and leading Kentucky on to statehood. Boone was born on Oct. 22, 1734, but historians debate the birth year of Harrod. The closest guess is between 1742 and 1746, with the latter being the date used by most historians, making an approximate 12-year age difference between Boone and Harrod. Harrod was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. One historical source states that he was 12 when his father died in 1754, but other historians state he was not quite 10. Kentucky historian James Klotter recorded that Harrod was around 14 when he fought in several battles of the French and Indian War before it ended in 1763. Klotter also noted that when Harrod volunteered as one of Capt. Gavin Cochran’s recruits in June 1760, he listed his age at 16 and his height at 5 feet, 2 ½ inches. This discrepancy from his adult height of more than 6 feet may show that he lied on his recruitment records. Boone was known for extensive hunting excursions during the 1760s and ’70s. At one time, he went for nearly two years without seeing another White person except for his brother. He spent the winter of 1769-70 in a small cave at Shawnee Springs in Kentucky, about 3 miles from the future Harrod’s Town settlement. Beginning in the late 1760s, Harrod made short hunting and surveying excursions into Kentucky. It was on a surveying expedition in 1773 when Harrod first discovered the “Great Meadow,” the Native Americans’ name for the Bluegrass region. Harrod returned to Kentucky in 1774 and

established Harrod’s Town. This first stay was brief, due in part to the Battle of Point Pleasant and numerous Native American attacks. Harrod returned to Kentucky to stay in 1775. As Harrod built his new town in Kentucky, a fresh American nation emerged. The country wanted a hero who represented the “common man,” and Boone became the symbol, standing for those who had risked their lives to settle in Kentucky. In this way, his fame extended to all of them. John Filson told Boone’s story in the first book written about Kentucky: The Discovery, Settlement, and Present State James Harrod of Kentucke (1784). It made Boone world famous, while leaders such as Harrod, Simon Kenton and Benjamin Logan received little attention. Later, people used Filson’s book to write their own accounts of Boone’s life, and much later, motion pictures and a television series added to his fame. According to Filson, Boone was born into a Quaker family in Pennsylvania. Although the Quakers believed people should live in peace, Boone would end up playing a big part in a violent time in history. He never went to school, but his son said Boone could “read, spell and write a little.” He was well versed in the lessons of the woods. When Boone was 21, he married 17-year-old Rebecca Bryan. No likenesses of her exist, but people described her as tall and buxom, with jet-black hair and dark eyes. She had four children by the age of 20 and 10 overall. When Boone left on his long hunting trips, Rebecca tended the crops and kept the family going. She probably never learned to read or write. Her efforts allowed Boone to travel to Kentucky to hunt and procure furs. He wore his long hair in American Indian-style braids and dressed much like the Native Americans did. Once, in the 1760s, he spent months alone in Kentucky, perhaps the only person of European descent in the whole area. When a friend asked him if he had ever gotten lost, Boone answered that he had not but admitted that he had once been “pretty confused” for several days. Another time, some so-called long hunters in search of furs heard a strange sound and, when they investigated, found Boone lying on his back in the middle of a field, singing loudly. Boone loved nature and the openness of Kentucky. By 1754, Harrod, already a skilled woodsman, was adept at hunting, trapping and fishing. His skill with a rifle was particularly noteworthy. He began his long military career by serving as a ranger and guard and then as a commissioned officer. Harrod was an excellent

Half of the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were Kentuckians or had Kentucky ties. 54 K E NT U C K Y M O NT H LY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 0

November 2021 55

marksman and had a love for hunting. He also had a reputation as a great backwoodsman and frontiersman. In mid-February 1778, Harrod married the widow Ann Coburn McDaniel and became the stepfather of 2-year-old James McDaniel. Unlike Rebecca Boone, Ann was seemingly too cultured to fit into the rough environment in which she lived. She was dainty, beautiful and educated. She came to Kentucky in 1776 with her first husband, James McDaniel, who was killed by Indians the same year at Drennon’s Lick. In late 1777, Ann’s father, with whom she lived at Logan’s Station, also was killed and scalped by natives while picking corn between Logan’s and Harrod’s forts. Boone and Harrod both started forts in Kentucky in 1775. Each originally chose building sites that were inadequate and had to choose different sites for their forts. Harrod’s original site in 1774 was not technically a fort and was built within yards of the Big Spring. When his company returned in 1775 after Dunmore’s War, the huts and land had been flooded. Harrod chose a new site on higher ground that would become known as Old Fort Hill. Harrod’s first building site in 1774 was only five or six log huts built below the Big Spring and enclosed with large “hoop poles” or sapling trees. They were sharpened at the top, and the base was firmly set in a trench that was opened around the cabins. The poles were securely fastened together with hickory bark woven between the poles, making a stockade 7-8 feet high. This frail protection afforded the men minimal security against prowling bears and Native Americans. When Harrod’s company returned in 1775, they built more cabins about 285 feet from the Big Spring on present-day East Street in Harrodsburg, where they lived while the fort was built. Boone and his men reached the banks of the Kentucky River on April 1, 1775, and lost no time in clearing the land in anticipation of erecting a fort. It would be only 22 miles from Harrod’s Town, as the crow flies. Boone built his cabin on the west bank of a little stream that flows into the Kentucky about a half-mile below Otter Creek. However, Boone’s partner, Richard Henderson, found this site undefendable, and they decided to build a fort farther to the east, some 300 yards away. By April 22, the fort was under way, and building lots had been laid off for the men. Boone decided to build the town in the narrow valley that lay along the banks of the Kentucky River. On the north side ran the narrow current of the stream, which had high cliff palisades on the northern banks. Settlers soon realized that from these summits, a rifleman could control any point in the valley across the river. Both banks of the river were thickly screened by trees, and these were never cut, even though they provided an easy approach to the fort. On the south side, lofty hills ascended close to the fort, making for a security risk. On all sides, the fort lay exposed to any enemy of determination and skill. Both Boone and Harrod spent time among the natives, but there was a big difference. Boone was held prisoner by them several different times, and, although he grew to know his captors and become accepted as a friend, he was still a captive. Harrod, on the other hand, showed kindness and was helpful to the Native Americans. He

freely spent time with them, learning their customs and becoming their friend. In 1772, during his earlier incursions into the new frontier, Harrod followed the north bank of the Ohio River and became acquainted with the Delaware. He shared their huts and food when on hunting trips into Kentucky. Boone was wounded sometime after the siege of Boonesborough in 1778 and captured by Chief Blackfish. He survived his wounds, and later, the Shawnee chief would adopt Boone as a son. Harrod never had a serious injury from a Native American attack, but he suffered broken legs at two separate times, attributed to the fact he liked to hunt on horseback. One of the saddest comparisons between Harrod and Boone is their children. While Boone had many children, Harrod had only one daughter and a stepson whom he loved as his own. Boone lost a son, Jamie, to a Native American attack when the boy was in his late teens. Harrod lost his stepson, James, to an Indian attack. The boy was only 12 when the natives burned him alive near Harrod’s Station at Boiling Springs. One of the most controversial comparisons between Harrod and Boone also concerns their children. There have been questions about the paternity of Margaret Harrod, James Harrod’s only biological child. Some believed she was not his child. The manager of Harrod’s Station often was seen around the cabin. The man’s name was Mahon, and he had red hair, just like Margaret. Harrod’s hair was black. One pioneer, Col. Nathaniel Hart, said Ann had acknowledged to him that James was not Margaret’s father. However, Harrod never made mention of this. He was as devoted to her as he was to his stepson. Robert Morgan’s biography of Boone states that, according to legend, Boone was away from home for two years, and during that time, Rebecca gave birth to a daughter, Jemima. Historian Lyman Draper said that Rebecca, “believing Boone was dead, had a relationship with his brother, Edward ‘Ned’ Boone, and her husband accepted the daughter as if she were his.” In February 1792, Harrod mysteriously disappeared while on a hunting trip. He was declared dead after a year, and his will probated in favor of his widow and daughter. Although there are several theories as to Harrod’s disappearance, we will never know with 100 percent certainty. The most common theory is that Harrod was killed by his hunting mate, a man named Bridges, who was facing a lawsuit, with Harrod as his opponent. Not long after Harrod vanished, Boone left Kentucky for the frontier of Missouri. He continued to be an American frontiersman for almost 30 years after Harrod’s death. He was a legend in his own lifetime. After his death, Boone frequently was the subject of heroic folklore and works of fiction. His adventures, both real and legendary, were influential in creating the archetypal frontier hero of American mythology. In popular culture, he is remembered as one of the foremost early frontiersmen. Comparing the available historical data on Harrod and Boone, it is easy to see all of their accomplishments. The problem is that there is so much more written about Boone and little emphasis on Harrod. I hope that will change.

The largest-known Sassafras tree in the world is in Owensboro. It is more thn 100 feet tall and 21 feet in circumference.

THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER

Genealogy Kentucky families, their history, and tracing their lineages

John Scott, Kentucky Pioneer

Georgetown. Hannah’s brother was killed. John and Hannah Scott were held captive for a time. In 1795, 35 members of the Baptist church at Great Descendants became notable residents Crossings left to establish the McConnell’s Run Church of Central Kentucky with Elijah Craig as the first minister. John and Hannah were charter members, and some of the first meetings By Frieda Curtis-Wheatley were held in their home. The new meeting house was Louisville completed in 1796. Even though there is no description of this particular church, the typical building of the time Thomas Scott I was born in Scotland and immigrated to was usually a crude log structure about 20 by 30 feet, England around 1620. His son, John, was born in England often with split-log benches with or without backs. A and was the immigrant ancestor of the Scott family in stick-and-mud fireplace, when packed with seasoned logs, America. John Scott settled with his son, Thomas Scott II, provided heat. in the colony of Virginia. In 1796, John Scott attended a meeting held by Brother Thomas II settled in Culpeper County, Virginia, which Hickman and invited Hickman to come to the became a part of Madison County around 1715. He married neighborhood to preach. Hickman came and remained for Betty Coleman, and the couple had four sons: Thomas III, 10 years. Hannah Scott died in 1828. John and Hannah are James, George and John Scott. buried on their farm. John Scott was born in Madison County, Virginia, on Children of John and Hannah Early Scott were June 26, 1748. He married Hannah Early, daughter of Elizabeth, Early, Mary, Eleanor, Thomas, Joel, Ezekiel, Joshua (Earle) Early from Culpepper County, on Oct. 25, John Jr. and Sarah Scott. 1770. John Scott served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary Early Scott married Susanna Sinclair, the daughter of War at the battle of Kings Mountain, was present at the Robert and Sarah Morehead Sinclair. In 1799, Early lived capture of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, and served in on Cane Run in Scott County. Early and Susanna were other engagements of the war. baptized into the Stamping Ground Baptist Church in 1801. John and Hannah Early Scott came to the District of On April 16, 1818, Early was granted a permit to erect a Kentucky in the fall of 1785, bringing their seven children. mill on Lytle’s Fork of Eagle Creek. He owned the land on The family chose a large area of land in what is now Scott either side of the creek bed. Early and his brother-in-law, County near McConnell’s Run, one of eight tributaries Elias Sinclair, ran the sawmill. Early was deceased by Aug. emptying into the principal 7, 1875, when his property was stream of North Elkhorn appraised and sold. Susanna Creek. John Scott built a Sinclair Scott was deceased by stone and mud house 1846. about four miles below Big Mary Scott wed Zachariah Crossings, where herds of Herndon in 1771 in Orange nomadic buffalo crossed County, Virginia. The the creek while traveling Herndons are mentioned in through central Kentucky. the John Scott Will listed in The Scott farm was carved Scott County Deed Book B. from the forest and Joel Scott was born Nov. canebrakes into a fertile, 15, 1771, near Abington, prosperous land. Virginia. At 14, he moved to American Indian raids Kentucky with his parents. On occurred frequently in the Dec. 24, 1805, Joel married area. In 1790, John, his wife Rebecca R. Wilmot, the and her brother were daughter of Col. Robert captured by natives on Wilmot of Bourbon County. Lane’s Run, east of Scotland mansion, which was built by Robert Wilmot Scott Joel owned a fulling mill

Seventy-nine Kentucky counties are in the Eastern Time Zone.

November 2021 57

Descendants of Jesse Roberts Follow the family tree that begins with Jesse Roberts, who was born in 1763 in the part of Halifax County, Virginia, that became Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1776. He died prior to 1823 in Clay County, Kentucky. Jesse is the progenitor of the vast Roberts family of Clay County, that spreads across all of America. Jesse Roberts: DNA Secrets is a 100-page hardcover book written and researched by Deena Leigh Hatton Pace, who originally was from Manchester. “This is not just a routine genealogical recitation but a volume of historical importance covering several important areas, telling a wonderful story with results proven by DNA,” Pace said. The book is available for $25 (includes shipping) from the author: Deena Leigh Hatton Pace 1481 West Gail Drive Chandler, AZ 85224 deenapace@cox.net

on Elkhorn Creek, near Stamping Ground, where he wove broadcloth and other costly fabrics. He also invented a steam-powered 16-parallel blade saw to cut the rough stone (Kentucky marble) for the third state house in Frankfort. Rebecca died in April 1820, and on Oct. 24, 1821, Joel married Deborah Gano, the widow of Gen. Richard M. Gano of Scott County. In 1825, Joel took over the management of the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Frankfort, the first penitentiary west of the Allegheny Mountains. Feeling confident that he had the ability to manage men, he planned to run the establishment as a profit-making enterprise. His ideas were met with skepticism, and the job was offered with hesitation, but, under his management. a reformation was accomplished. Joel held the office of prison keeper until 1834, when he resigned due to ill health. Joel moved to the Duckers area and served as a trustee of Georgetown College. In 1832, he deeded land to the Harmony Presbyterian Church. Joel Scott died June 28, 1860, at age 78. Joel and Rebecca’s son, Robert Wilmot Scott, born in 1808, became the first school commissioner appointed under the common score system. In 1841, he erected upon his own land—located about five miles from Frankfort—the first public school building in the state. From 1845-47, he built an impressive manor house, known as Scotland, east of Frankfort. Ezekiel Scott, son of John and Hannah, served as a deacon in the Stamping Ground Baptist Church from 1832-33. He and his wife, Dorothy, were dismissed in September 1833 to go to Missouri. Information for this article was obtained from History of the Orphan Brigade by Ed Porter Thompson, Forks of the Elkhorn Church by Ermina Jett Darnell, and A History of the Baptist Church at the Stamping Ground, Ky., 1795 by J.W. Singer.

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: Collector buying antique radios, working or not. Also, tubes and radio-related parts. I will come to you with cash and pick up from attics, barns or whatever. Call 859. 396.6095. WANTED: Want to buy Kentucky license plates, 1960 and older. Contact: Ray Mauer, 3193 High Ridge Drive, Taylor Mill, KY 41015; 859.363.8880 or rmlm@fuse.net. 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. CAUDILL BOOK FOR SALE: The Caudills: An Etymological, Ethnological, and Genealogical Study, by award-winning historian Lochlainn Seabrook (a Kentucky Caudill descendant).Visit our webstore: www.SeaRavenPress.com 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.

Forty-one Kentucky counties are in the Central Time Zone.

off the shelf

(P)-Paperback (C)-Clothbound (H)-Hardback

Bluegrass Bucket List

Gritty Girty

Out of the Shadows

Even longtime Lexingtonians might have missed doing a few of the items that 100 Things to Do in Lexington Before You Die suggests. In this bucket-list book, author Audra Meighan breaks down the “tasks” into chapters—Food and Drink, Shopping, History and Culture, Sports and Recreation, and Music and Entertainment. Each recommendation is summed up with a one-page description that informs the reader the gist of the thing to do, along with contact information. Some pages include insider’s tips such as where to park, which places require reservations, or where to go if you want more information. This 145-page book would make a great gift for a newcomer to the area but also would be helpful for anyone who is in or near Lexington and might be trying to decide what to do for a weekend. Originally from central Kentucky, Meighan lives in downtown Lexington. She is a Realtor by day and penned this book because she wanted to share all the great things her city has to offer.

University Press of Kentucky has reissued former Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor’s Girty, previously published by Turtle Island Books (1977) Gnomon Press (1979, 1990) and Wind Publications (2006). In his flowing, lyrical style, Taylor uses a collage of passages from diaries, travel records and biographies to relate the historical account of Simon Girty (1741-1818), one whose “bloody exploits and legend made him hated and feared in Kentucky” yet admired by others for his “convictions, principles, and bravery.” The author takes on the voice of Girty through the mode of interior monologues using both verse and prose. Taylor craftily and powerfully contrasts descriptions of violent bloodshed to passages celebrating the beauty of wildlife and nature. Though Girty certainly is not portrayed as a saint in Taylor’s work, one might sympathetically discern glimpses of humanity and residue of a horrific childhood that brought him to such a place. Taylor’s 149-page Girty includes an introduction by Ted Franklin Belue, first added in the Wind Publications edition. Belue is a historian specializing in America’s Western frontier and editor of The Life of Daniel Boone.

Kentucky has its share of proverbial skeletons in its closet. Political scandals have been a part of the Bluegrass State—and likely every state—since prior to 1792, when statehood was achieved. Early on, there were problems with land grants, land laws and people giving away land that did not belong to them. Then there was corruption at the polls, duels and a governor pardoning his own son. In 1900, Gov. William Goebel was shot on the Capitol grounds and died three days later. He remains United States’ lone assassinated governor. Authors Robert Schrage and John Schaaf have thoroughly researched these incidents and carefully explain the details of each scandal. History lovers from any state would enjoy reading this book. Schrage has written several books on northern Kentucky history, including Lost Northern Kentucky and Legendary Locals of Covington. He serves on the board of several historical societies. Schaaf is the retired executive director of the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky and a law degree from the University of Louisville. This is his first book.

By Deborah Kohl Kremer 100 Things to Do in Lexington Before You Die, by Audra Meighan, Reedy Press, $16 (P)

By Steve Flairty Girty, by Richard Taylor, University Press of Kentucky, $19.95 (P)

58 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 1

By Deborah Kohl Kremer Hidden History of Kentucky Political Scandals, by Robert Schrage and John Schaaf, The History Press, $21.99 (P)

Heartfelt Connection Two strangers sit on shiny black benches in the town square of Bowling Green. One is a retired doctor, dapperly dressed and with a dignified demeanor. The other, a teenage girl who wears dirty and ragged clothes. The man’s attempt at friendly conversation is rudely rebuffed, but he persists. That persistence makes all the difference. In The Girl on the Bench, novelist Larry B. Gildersleeve wants to spread awareness of human trafficking, which basically is a modern form of slavery for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation. In The Girl on the Bench, he spins a narrative that brings a connection of the real victims of this despicable scourge on society with those who desire to reach out in a significantly caring way. The novel revolves around the emerging relationship between “Doc” McGinley and Lisa Marie. It’s about what Doc teachers her; and it’s about what Lisa Marie teaches him. She carries a nearly overwhelming amount of emotional baggage, but he, likewise, is not without burden. He has lost his wife and navigating a rocky relationship with his daughter. Gildersleeve engages each of us to look outward to others but implores us to reflect inward to teach us how.

kentucky monthly’s annual writers’ showcase

PENNED

SUBMIT AT KENTUCKYMONTHLY.COM

attention, writers... We are seeking submissions for the literary section in our February 2022 issue. Entries will be accepted in the following categories: Poetry, Fiction and Creative Nonfiction.

Submission Deadline DECEMBER 10

By Steve Flairty The Girl on the Bench, By Larry B. Gildersleeve, Booklocker.com, $16.95 (P)

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 59

past tense/present tense by Bill Ellis

Can You Put Up With Historian Bill a While Longer?

wenty years ago this month, Kentucky Monthly published my first article in my soon-to-be-named column “Past Tense/Present Tense.” In the piece titled “History Lessons,” I tried to answer the question: “Do we learn from history?” Over the years, I have wrestled with that question. At the time, we were recovering from the nightmare of the 9/11 attacks. I say “recovering” because we have never fully recovered from that trauma. Many American families have suffered with deaths and injuries of servicemen and servicewomen over the past two decades. The attacks were followed by a sweeping, victorious invasion of Iraq and troop deployments to Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries. At the time, Americans were united against what had been surprise attacks against the American epicenter, New York City and Washington, D.C. Information was slow in coming that day. Four commercial jets were highjacked by terrorists, two bringing down the World Trade Center towers in New York, one damaging the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and another crashing in a field in rural Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. The plane was en route to the White House. My mother, Carolyn Elliott Stratton Ellis, had terminal cancer and would live only another month. I was at a heart-rehab facility in Richmond that morning following heart-bypass surgery. My aunt, Mary McCarty, often stayed with my mother during those last days, and I would go down to Mom’s home in Shelbyville often, as I did that day. When I got there, Mother and I embraced. I said something about how catastrophic this appeared to be. “Honey, things much worse than this will happen someday!” she said. 60 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY NOV EMBER 2021

I don’t recall if I replied or not, but I remember that we remained glued to the television screen as reporters, police officials, military leaders, politicians, President George W. Bush and others tried to make sense of what had happened. Conventional wisdom at the time held that Arab terrorists, the majority from Saudi Arabia, followed a plan crafted by Osama bin Laden to attack our country. Since then, American troops have been deployed into numerous hot spots in the Middle East. Bin Laden was killed by a group of Navy Seals in May 2011. This time—unlike the abortive rescue of Americans imprisoned in Tehran, Iran, on April 24, 1980—thankfully, there was an extra helicopter in reserve.* • • •

As I age (my 82nd birthday is Jan. 1, 2022), I fear divisiveness may be making the United States weaker as a leader of the Free World. I hope I am wrong. Many of my columns have been concerned with what appears unusual as well as commonplace in the Commonwealth. I have written about my own family from time to time—my father’s service in World War II, my Grandmother Stratton’s loss of her brother probably due to murder, taking our college-age granddaughters to England, and other many relatable stories. I have written about food, my preference for sweet iced tea, and humor as well as articles on Kentuckians—famous, infamous and just plain, everyday citizens like me. When I write about the Kentucky political atmosphere, I always recall the prescience of Judge James H. Mulligan in his immortal 1902 poem “In Kentucky.” After he praised the virtues and greatness of Kentucky and Kentuckians, he concluded his poem

with “and politics—the damnedest in Kentucky.” I have written often about Kentucky native Abraham Lincoln, to the point that I received blowback from some readers, one of whom wrote me that he celebrates John Wilkes Booth’s birthday each year. I revere Lincoln’s political acumen, sagacity and sacrifice above all other Americans. Just as Henry Clay was Lincoln’s beau ideal of a politician and public citizen in his formative years, John Sherman Cooper was mine. Historian Thomas D. Clark was one of my most revered mentors, and I will continue to draw upon his wisdom in later columns. I hope that my columns have revived interest in important but nearly forgotten Kentuckians such as Lilley Cornett, Irvin S. Cobb, Ted Poston, Col. George Chinn and the Kentucky Confederados, who settled in Brazil after the Civil War. Sometimes, I get an idea in my head or an itch that must be scratched. • • •

After reading This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Harvard history professor and former President Drew Gilpin Faust, I became fascinated by the color portrait in the book of Milton E. Wallen lying in a hospital bed. Wallen was a native of Clinton County who joined a Union cavalry regiment commanded by Col. Frank Wolford. The portrait shows that Wallen’s right arm was amputated above the elbow and cankered with gangrene, which usually meant death. Searching Kentucky Civil War information; records at the University of Texas, Austin; and other archives and census data, I found out that he did not die as stated in Faust’s book. Medical personnel at the Navy Hospital at Annapolis, Maryland, probably administered carbolic acid to eat away

the gangrene, and he underwent further amputation to save his life. Wallen and his wife followed a family member to the panhandle of Texas, where he died in 1908. When I informed Faust of my research, she sent me a nice brief note. Wallen’s plight should remind us all of not only the tenacity of life but the long-lasting pain and suffering of the veterans of all our wars, continuing to the present day. My father served in the Philippines in the latter days of World War II, and his service wounds were not visible. When he came home, he and Mom bought a little house on Snow Hill outside Shelbyville. Until he expanded it a few years after we moved in, the house consisted of “three rooms and a path,” if you know what I mean. I slept on a rollaway bed in my parents’ bedroom. I vividly recall my father’s bouts of malaria that would return periodically. He had terrible nightmares. “King, King!” he would shout, as he relived the death of his mate on a 30-caliber machine gun. My mother would console him. “Willie, Willie, honey,” she would say over and over until he relaxed and went back to sleep. And how can one ever forget the importance—and divisiveness—of the Civil War in Kentucky, much of which exists in the present as we argue about where monuments should or should not be placed? Even though twice as many Kentuckians fought for the Union as for the Confederacy, there are few monuments to the Yankee dead. Indeed, as has been well described by historians, Kentucky became more of a Southern state after the Civil War, as ex-Confederates won most political offices and Kentucky trade shifted more and more southward. • • •

There is so much to write about Kentucky topics. I have certain gaps in my knowledge of the Bluegrass State. I know what bourbon tastes like and vividly recall the last time I rode a horse—I was a teenager, but other than that, I leave these subjects of great importance to the Commonwealth’s real experts.

Grant County presents . . .

A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

Sat.,(home Dec. 4 - Downtown Williamstown, Ky. of the Ark Encounter - minutes from I-75) 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join us for an evening of family fun including: • Live nativity • Parade • Tree lighting ceremony • Magic show • Wagon rides • Giant Snow Globe • Carrousel • Pancake supper with Santa • Bucking Reindeer • Vendors/merchant open houses • Ugly Christmas sweater contest Sponsored by Grant County Chamber

of Commerce & Grant County Tourism

www.visitgrantky.com 800-382-7117

k r a P e h t Deck at Madisonville City Park Thanksgiving through New Year's Day 5-9 PM NIGHTLY 755 Park Ave Madisonville, KY 42431

LiquidFireworks!® by Waltzing Waters® Mr. & Mrs. Claus at the Santa House Drive through light features and a walking trail

www.visitmadisonvilleky.com

Readers may contact Bill Ellis 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

CWD Encroaching on Kentucky

or 20 years, Kentucky wildlife officials have waged an aggressive and successful campaign to protect the state’s whitetail deer and elk herds from chronic wasting disease. Those efforts were accelerated after an infected 3½-yearold whitetail was discovered in September in Henry County, Tennessee, less than 8 miles from the Kentucky state line. Tennessee wildlife officials quickly confirmed the Henry County chronic wasting disease case, although CWD had been confirmed in Tennessee prior to the Henry County discovery. This was of particular concern to Kentucky game managers as whitetail deer move freely and are notorious for ignoring state boundaries. A little background: Chronic wasting disease affects deer, elk and other cervids. It is always fatal. In its chronic wasting response program, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources describes the dreaded disease this way: “CWD is a degenerative neurological disease characterized by behavioral changes and progressive loss of body condition that invariably leads to the death of affected animals. It is believed to be transmitted from animal to animal via direct contact and contamination of feed or water sources with saliva, urine, and feces. Case studies suggest that the period of time between exposure and onset of clinical signs may be several years, allowing apparently healthy infected animals to move or be transported long distances, unknowingly spreading the disease to new areas. The disease can be spread across the landscape either directly through the natural movement of infected free-ranging cervids or the interstate movement of infected captive cervids. It can also be transmitted indirectly through the movement of infected carcasses and parts from hunter-harvested cervids, as well as contaminated soil and water sources.” There is some good news: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been no known cases of CWD infecting humans. However, the threat of CWD infecting Kentucky’s prize deer herd is alarming, and discovery of an infected deer in Henry County, Tennessee, triggered the fish and wildlife agency to activate its CWD Response Plan. Five western Kentucky counties—Calloway, Marshall, Graves, Fulton and Hickman—have been designated a CWD Surveillance Zone. This will have a direct effect on deer hunters in those whitetail-rich counties. Kentucky’s deer season has been open since Sept. 4, which marked the beginning of archery season. The modern firearm season opens Nov. 13. Most deer killed in Kentucky are tagged during the modern gun hunt. All five counties in Kentucky’s CWD Surveillance Zone are managed for deer hunting as Zone 1, which means they have the most liberal bag limits. Zone 1 hunters can, per

statewide regulations, take one antlered deer, but there is no limit in Zone 1 on antlerless deer. However, the following special regulations in the CWD Surveillance Zone do apply: All deer taken during the 2021 modern gun and muzzleloader seasons in Calloway, Marshall, Graves, Fulton and Hickman counties must be checked at an in-person check station. The KDFWR has set up check stations at 17 locations within the five-county area, including five in Calloway, two in Fulton, six in Graves, one in Hickman and three in Marshall. Check stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily during the modern gun and late muzzleloader seasons and from 8 a.m. until noon the day following the close of modern gun season (Nov. 29) and late muzzleloader season (Dec. 20). Game officials say CWD Surveillance Zone hunters also should telecheck their deer, preferably prior to arriving at a check station. Baiting for deer is not permitted within the CWD Surveillance Zone. Normal agricultural practices, including food plots for wildlife, are permitted. Hunters also can use products not eaten by deer, which include scent attractors and urine-based products. Carcass tags are required to move a deer within the CWD Surveillance Zone. Hunters transporting any cervid (deer, elk, moose, caribou) carcass, including de-boned meat, through the five-county zone must have a carcass tag, regardless of where the animal was taken. Hunters can make their own tag or download one at fw.ky.gov/ cwd. The tag must include the name of the hunter or the person in possession of the animal; that person’s telephone number with area code; species and sex of the animal; the county and state in which it was killed; and how the carcass was obtained. Only de-boned meat, antlers, antlers attached to a clean skull plate, a clean skull, clean teeth, hides and finished taxidermy products may be taken out of the CWD Surveillance Zone. Deer or elk taken anywhere else in the state may be brought into the Surveillance Zone, but a carcass tag is required. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Rich Storm acknowledged that Kentucky’s work to remain CWD free has become more challenging. “While the disease has not been detected in Kentucky, it’s all but surrounding us now,” Storm said following a special commission meeting in September after the Tennessee, discovery. “My actions are guided by the sound science reflected in our response plan and align with the agency’s mission. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is meeting this challenge head-on.” For more information, visit fw.ky.gov/cwd or contact the state wildlife agency at 1.800.858.1549. To report a sick deer, call the agency or email info.center@ky.gov.

Readers may contact Gary Garth at editor@kentuckymonthly.com 62 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 1

calendar Due to COVID-19, please visit the event’s website or call the contact number prior to attending to ensure that it is taking place.

NOVEMBER 2021 From the Education of Desire exhibit

SUNDAY

Gateway Museum Center, Maysville, through Dec. 31, 606.564.5865

Artwork of Charles H. Forrester,

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, through Nov. 9, 270.791.7973

Downing Museum, Bowling Green, through Nov. 12, 270.842.7415

<<<

Ongoing Scaled to Perfection: Encore! Kentucky

MONDAY

THURSDAY

Vets ’N Vettes, presented by Mobil1, National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, through Nov. 6, 270.467.8804

11 Veterans Day

FRIDAY

Center, through Nov. 7, see page on Facebook

Gallery, Louisville, exhibit through Nov. 30, 502.333.4355

Keepsake Christmas Craft Show, Edgewood

Sam Bush in Concert, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Owensboro, 270.926.7891

Chicago in Concert,

Louisville Palace, 502.583.4555

For King & Country and A Drummer Boy Christmas,

Southern Lights, Friends! The Musical Kentucky Horse Parody, Park, Lexington, through Dec. 31, 859.255.5727

RiverPark Center, Owensboro, 270.687.2770

SATURDAY

Education of Desire Exhibit Opening, Kore

Tipsy Town Tails, Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Frankfort, 502.564.1792

Festival of Trees and Trains,

Bourbon and Boots, The Barn

Galt House, Louisville, 502.589.5200

Center for the Performing Arts, Louisville, through Nov. 20, 502.583.3100

Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, through Nov. 28, 606.324.0007

at McCall Springs, Lawrenceburg, 502.598.3127

Bourbon Dinner: An Evening with Heaven Hill,

Festival of Faiths, Kentucky

Starset in Concert,

Thanksgiving

Pavilion at Ovation, Newport, 614.461.5483

< < < Ongoing

The Other South: Photographs by Laura Lee Brown, 21C

KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, 502.690.9000

Museum Hotel, Louisville, 502.217.6300

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

Gigging gig e·con·o·my, noun 1. a labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs: “working in the gig economy means constantly being subjected to last-minute scheduling.”

y eldest daughter, Katy, who lives in Chicago, was an early adopter of the “gig economy.” She is an actress, singer, comedian, costume and props designer, scenic artist and stylist. From her professional start at Danville’s Pioneer Playhouse, she’s been a seamstress in Creed, Colorado, and a wardrobe assistant at Actors Theatre of Louisville for such plays as Dracula and A Christmas Carol. Before COVID-19 struck, her costume designs for Voice of Good Hope, based on the life of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, drew praise from The Chicago Sun-Times. She’s also worked as a stage manager, event coordinator and figure model. She’s sold flowers out of a truck and painted faces on the Navy Pier. She still finds time to bartend at Larry’s, which is located in an Art Deco apartment building named The Lawrence, and the Beauty Bar, a 1960s vintage dance club. “They warned me at Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky that this would be the way things would be,” Katy said. “I pooh-poohed that. I thought I’d be working one job in one place, but that’s never been the case.” A growing number of people I know have gigs. I have my day job as editor and publisher of Kentucky Monthly. I also am the editor of the national magazine for the Louisvilleheadquartered National Society Sons of the American Revolution. When not busy with one of those, I teach communications, media ethics and public speaking at Campbellsville University and feature writing and storytelling at STEPHEN M. VEST Eastern Kentucky University. I do Publisher + Editor-in-Chief some other freelance work and cut my share of grass. These gigs keep me hopping. When you add the demands of being a father, grandfather, husband, an elder at my church, an alumnus volunteer for my college fraternity, and president of SAR’s Colonel Daniel Boone Chapter (Katy designed my militiaman-style outfit, and I got the Daddy discount), you can see how I run up the miles on my car, which soon will qualify for historic status. A few months ago during one 3-hour span, I had to

Nick Clooney was inducted into the National Society Sons of the American Revolution based on descent from Capt. Thomas Shores of the Louden County (Virginia Militia). Shores died in 1795 in Fayette County, Kentucky. Attending the induction were Nina, Clooney’s wife of 62 years; Phil Bloyd of Louisville; National SAR President Davis Lee Wright of Delaware; and past National SAR President Joseph W. Dooley of Virginia.

make a half-dozen stops in and around Louisville, and I posted on Facebook that I now knew what it felt like to be an Uber driver. Responses flooded in. “I knew times were tough.” “It was only a matter of time.” “Your mom would be so disappointed.” Seriously? I think Mom would be proud that I’ve kept a roof over my family’s head, and I’m certainly not above Ubering people around. The challenge has been keeping my life compartmentalized and meeting myriad deadlines that sometimes conflict. Life is best when my Kentucky Monthly work lends itself to lessons I’m teaching at EKU or Campbellsville or when my SAR work bleeds over into Kentucky Monthly. That happened recently when Nick Clooney, a longtime supporter of Kentucky Monthly, joined the SAR. His induction was held at the Beehive Augusta Tavern (a loyal Kentucky Monthly advertiser). One of Clooney’s favorites, the tavern is situated on the Ohio River a few blocks from his home. Nick and I talked about Kentucky history, writing and storytelling. We debated the importance of our kinsman Simon Kenton as compared to the highly publicized Dan’l Boone. “Simon was taller, that’s for certain.”

Kwiz Answers: 1. C. Although bourbon and Ale-8-One are practically synonymous with Kentucky, this healthy drink was named the state beverage in 2005; 2. C. Of course, bluegrass music reigns supreme in the Bluegrass State; 3. B. The image on the state flag depicts a frontiersman and a well-dressed gentleman shaking hands; 4. C. No wonder allergies seem to be a problem in the Bluegrass State; 5. A. And the state insect is the honeybee; 6. B. Although squirrels are the state’s animal, wildcats are especially popular in Lexington; 7. A. Brachiopods live in the sea, so the presence of brachiopod fossils are evidence that Kentucky once was covered by oceans; 8. C. And the Appalachian dulcimer is the state’s musical instrument; 9. B. Ample parks and wilderness trails offer endless woodland adventures in Kentucky; 10. A. “Unbridled” reminds us of Kentucky’s claim as the Horse Capital of the World; 11. C. Produced only in Bowling Green, the Corvette is a classic; 12. B. Kentucky farms produce plenty of other choices as well. 64 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY NOV EMBER 2021

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