Paint the Town Red

Paint the town

April 24, 2018 The Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum, Guthrie Presented by Kentucky Humanities

Guthrie, Kentucky was decorated with red banners and window dressings in preparation for Kentucky Humanities’ announcement of Kentucky Reads, and Robert Penn Warren’s birthday!

The event was held at the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum, located at 122 Cherry Street in Guthrie. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and contains artifacts from Warren’s life and career.

Just over 40 people joined us on the lawn and in the street in front of the house for our big announcement!

Kentucky Humanities board members Dr. Aris CedeĂąo, Dr. Judith Rhoads, and Judge Charles Boteler were on hand for the festivities, as well as State Representative Jason Petrie.

Carrie Cantarelli, director of the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum, and Guthrie Mayor Scott Marshall were in attendance. Members of The Committee For the Preservation of The Robert Penn Warren Birthplace In Todd County came as well.

The morning began with music from the Todd County Central High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jeff Williams. Following “My Old Kentucky Home,” there were remarks from Mayor Scott Marshall and Kentucky Humanities Director Bill Goodman announced the Kentucky Reads: All the King’s Men project and unveiled the project logo and schedule.

Kentucky Humanities project manager Brooke Raby recognized the Bookmark Contest winners. Mona Frederick, director of the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities at Vanderbilt, spoke on Warren’s life and career, and closed the event with a reading of a section of Warren’s poem,“Tell Me a Story.”

Attendees then followed the Jazz Band to the Guthrie Transportation Museum patio, where they enjoyed more music, cupcakes, and punch, and sang “Happy Birthday� to Robert Penn Warren!

Bill Goodman met our Bookmark Contest winners, Aimee Vass (left) and Gracie Langley (right). Their designs were chosen from over 200 submissions and made into a bookmark distributed to attendees!

• The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation • The Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum • MainStreet Guthrie • Hon. Scott Marshall, Mayor • Guthrie Police Department • Guthrie Transportation Museum • North Todd Elementary • Todd County Middle School • Todd County Central High School Jazz Band • Mona Frederick • Carrie Cantarelli • Tracy Robinson • Tabitha Nolan • Dwight Good • AVT of Lexington