Paducah Life Magazine - Summer 2020

SUMMER 2020 • $ 2.95

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★ Cityine agaz

C’mon& Sit a Spell

~ SIN

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1990

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STYLISH SUMMER SPACES

Allison C. Rains, MD

Feel good about feeling good again.

AS A PHYSICIAN AT BAPTIST HEALTH PADUCAH, I want to assure you that we’ve taken extensive precautions to enhance safety at all of our facilities, from mandatory masking and screening to around-theclock deep cleaning and sterilization. So reschedule that procedure. Visit your family doctor again. And if you experience an emergency, don’t be afraid to seek help. We are here and ready to provide care – with safety centered on you. Learn about all the ways we are keeping you safe at BaptistHealth.com/StaySafe.

Corbin | Floyd | La Grange | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Paducah | Richmond

BaptistHealth.com

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5/28/20 6:31 PM

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contents 4o Library’s Summer Reading List

summer 2020 ★ from the editor page 4 ★ last word

6 24 28 30 32 35 46 48 54 58 66 68 71 76 80 82

C’mon In & Sit A Spell

La Petit Fleur Celebrates 50 Years

Meredith Durbin Relives Her Brush With World Series

page 84

A Modern Southern Belle

Tomi Blom Forages for Fungi

How Does Your Garden Grow Memory Painter Helen LaFrance A Hero by Any Other Name Our Amazing Architecture / Irvin Cobb Hotel The Tiny Trees of Jim Gould The Habacker Grocery Remembered Hayley Coble’s Plant Obsession House Plants Are Back Looking Back at Fancy Farm Picnics Kate Criner is US Presidential Scholar Lacy Boling Writes To Remember

3 6

Flag Maker Sara Smith Campbell

People + Plants: This Hobby Could Grow On You!

Visit us at paducahlife.com ★

2 • PADUCAH LIFE

SEE AND HEAR MORE OF THE FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE ON

VOLUME 30, EDITION 4 executive editor/ P U B L I S H E R Darlene M. Mazzone

associate E D I TO R / editorial P H OTO G R A P H Y J.T. Crawford

art D I R E C TO R Scott McWilliams

associate art D I R E C TO R Allison Wicker

marketing M A NAG E R Rachel Curry

cover P H OTO G R A P H Y J.T. Crawford

on the C OV E R The Historic Home of Karen Petter

Celebrating 100 years!

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5 1 5 0 H E A RT L A N D D R I V E

F RO M our E D I TO R

I

I LOVE HOUSES! I’ve always loved houses.

Even in a gravel driveway that lead up to an ancient little farmhouse where I grew up, I would make houses. In the reddish brown rocks that paved the way for our vehicles, I would sit cross-legged and smooth out a “foundation” for my construction. Then I would find small similarly sized rocks to map out the rooms— large, wonderful rooms with plenty of space to fill with furniture and fixtures. After the perimeter was laid, I would then begin my search for stones which emulated certain pieces of furniture; squarish ones for beds, rectangular ones for sofas, round ones for sinks and tables and so on.

At school the “houses” were constructed beneath the towering pines that lined the terraces leading up to the massive front doors of the Arlington Elementary School. At recess my friends and I would sweep piles of fallen pine needles into a broad circle around the trees. Here again we would lay out the “rooms” with pine-needle boundaries. No furniture here, just pure imagination as each of us described how our “house” was decorated and finished. Then, of course, we would act out some quickly divined slice of life for the people who inhabited our individualized abodes. Some were mothers and homemakers, some were country western singers, and others were fashion models. But each had their own special space indicative of their own unique persona.

Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, one of the founding fathers of the modern architectural movement, said, “God is in the details.” Making our imprint on LIFE implies that we seek to express our own inimitable style—that from an empty shell we can decorate and punctuate the space in a way that is illuminating about who we are authentically. This means of visual expression transcends our souls to the quarters we inhabit and tells those who enter a little something about our inner selves.

“The soap in the bathroom, the flowers in the garden, the book on the bedside table are all strong symbols of a life in progress,” notes writer and interior decorator Charlotte Moss in her book, A Passion for Detail. “You look at these details and a world unfolds.”

In our homes and gardens we recreate ourselves through the choices and selections we make to a adorn them or to simply make them comfortable. By paying attention to the details we make our imprint on a life we choose to lead. Houses, which reflect the souls of the inhabitants, are truly homes of great character.

Darlene M. Mazzone darlene@paducahlife.com

SUMMER 2020 • 5

the Porch / the Bocce

Court the Kitchen / the Pool / the Parisian Bedroom the Carriage House / the Library / the Bath

★

C’mon In& Sit a Spell!

S

by DARLENE M AZZONE

★

Images by J.T. C RAWFORD

o HOME is not only where the heart is, it’s literally where WE are these days.

We figured since our houses are the places we are spending much of our time this summer, why not take a look at some of the interesting spaces people have created so they can truly enjoy every aspect of their HOME. We’re grateful to this group of Paducah homeowners for these inspiring “tours” of some of their personal places where LIFE takes on its own unique abundance.

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PADUCAH LIFE

Porch the

T

HE SOFT WHIR FROM THE BLADES OF TWO fans extending from a stately second story balcony is a welcome respite to the sultry summer days that are upon us. But that’s nothing new to Karen Kathryn Jeansonne Petter, who grew up in the heavy-with-heat small town of Cottonport, Louisiana.

“I can remember my Daddy pouring concrete for our porch when I was a little girl,” recalls Karen. “And the next thing that went up was the fan and the swing. Summer in Louisiana requires all of the above!”

Karen has recreated that little bit of bayou in her new home on Forest Circle in the middle of one of Paducah’s historic neighborhoods. She has accented it with bursts of color from a plethora of pots and plants that line slate stone walkways and rim the wide back porch of her majestic 1939 maison. Cooling umbrella stands shade several garden nooks perfect for some mid-day merrymaking. Vintage birdhouses and a Mediterranean water feature are garden accents that both steal the scene and soothe the senses.

“The porch was actually a big draw to this house,” says Karen. “We fell in love with it, and immediately the girls (daughters Olivia and Meredith)

8 • PADUCAH LIFE

and I felt right at home."

Unquestionably the family has settled in and so have their happy troupe of cats, canines, and friends.

“The porch has really been our happy place this spring for me and my friends,” explains Meredith. “We even created our own ‘virtual’ CMA fest on the back porch when the event was cancelled. We just hung up a big sheet, set up our projector, pulled up some chairs, and had our own concert!”

Petter pups Boudreaux and Saint also love lolling about on the cool tile of the expansive exterior. Cats Wrangler the Strangler, Crazy Cosmo, and Little Kitty (real name changed to preserve dignity) lounge about when it suits them.

But this sprawling southern veranda’s primary purpose in LIFE is to serve as the summer residence of the home’s happy inhabitants.

It’s the perfect place to sip, sink into the cushiony chaises, read a ‘great magazine,’ cool off with a cocktail, do a crossword, or just live the languid life for a little while. A porch has no higher calling.

SUMMER 2020 • 9

J ULY / AUGUST 2020 • 9

BocceCourt the

B

OCCE, AN ANCIENT SPORT LITTLE KNOWN IN THE United States, has finally begun to take root in the American sports culture and that includes the Paducah backyard of John and Kristin Williams. Bocce ball was first documented in a 5200 B.C. painting of two boys playing, which was discovered by an English scientist, Sir Francis Petrial, in an Egyptian tomb.

As empires expanded and cultures melded, bocce was passed from the Egyptians to the Greeks to the Romans who are responsible for the bocce style we play today and for its name. Italy takes claim of bocce in its current form with Italian migrants populating countries throughout Europe, North and South America, and Australia, all sharing the game in their adopted countries. Now add Paducah into that mix!

Although the game has ancient origins, Italian Americans continue to be some of the best players and strongest advocates of the game. Bocce is currently the fastest growing ball sport in the world and the second most played ball sport behind soccer. WHO KNEW! OK, maybe the Williams?

“When we purchased our house on Jefferson, it came with a pool,” explains Kristin. “The pool was in the last legs of its life and was more than troubling. Think green. Huge frogs.

It became impossible to manage without a total redo of the backyard and driveway.” Enter the bocce ball court.

“With kids gone from the house and with said troublesome pool inhibiting the enjoyment of our beautiful backyard, we decided to toss out a different idea. We loved bocce and we still wanted a place we could have fun gathering with friends and family. We researched the specs and enlisted the help of Matt Runge of Shinyhead Curb Appeal. Matt helped us ‘drain the swamp’ and install a slate bocce court accented with a cozy fire pit. Now we can play bocce, have a glass of wine, and celebrate summer well into the night.”

“

Now we can play bocce, have a glass of wine, and celebrate summer well into the night.

”

Editor’s Note: Speaking of wine, PADUCAH LIFE Magazine featured the Williams’ wine cellar in our Spring 2009 edition.

SUMMER 2020 • 11

J ULY / AUGUST 2020 • 11

Kitchen the

W

HY DO WE ALWAYS WIND UP IN THE KITCHEN? That’s a question easily answered when you’ve created a kitchen like the one inhabited by the Chambers family—Joe, Erika, Sydney and McCall. “We love to cook, and we love to gather around that island, so the kitchen is really at the heart of our home,” says Erika Chambers, mom-in-charge and keeper of the kitchen. “I had so much fun working with Jill Durham and Gina Vannerson at Broadway Interiors when we decided to give the room a complete makeover.

Together we came up with some creative ideas to make the room gorgeous and to give us all the special effects we wanted to make it our own. You can sit at the counter, lean over and toss things in the trash, lean the other way and grab something out of the fridge, even pop something into the microwave beneath the counter, all the while watching TV! We really LOVE our new kitchen!”

The Chambers’ added almost eight more feet to their original kitchen allowing for a useful nook flanked by a banquette and a pedestal table, which are the perfect furnishings for homework, meal planning, or even a little online shopping! Erika loves symmetry so she worked to create a balanced design even though greatly varying items are concealed behind the matching cabinetry. The designing women spiced up a little unused storage space by adding, what else, a spice rack. And DJ Riley added her incomparable finishing touches to give the room the look Erika loves. Erika’s culinary craftsmanship required her input on everything from the placement of the appliances to the footprint of the total renovation to the arrangement of the pantry.

Good cooks know what they want and where they want it!

It was then Jill Durham’s mission to cook up some magic with unique materials like herringbone-laid porcelain floor tile, quartz countertops, and travertine subway backsplash tiles. The gleaming cabinetry was artistically rendered in a custom white with a pewter glaze.

Overseeing all of this kitchen collusion is an adorable little “puffin” in the fridge.

“Our daughter McCall came home with this little stuffed puffin from a trip to the zoo when she was probably five,” explains Erika. “Every time I’ve tried to take it out, she objects, so after 11 years, he’s STILL in there, calm, cool, and keeping an eye on everything!”

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SUMMER 2020 • 13

Pool the

I

T MAY NOT BE NANTUCKET, but the Milliano pool makes every effort to exude the natural beauty of this New England island getaway. “My family has been going to Nantucket my whole life. It’s always been a big part of our lives,” says Lucy Milliano, as her mind seems to drift to scenes of seashores and languid days in the sun. “The hydrangea is the island’s flower. It grows abundantly all over the place. So when we designed the pool, we decided to do a mosaic of a blue hydrangea on the bottom so we can be reminded of how much we love that special summer place.”

Unlike the raucous milieu that often surrounds the ambience of a pool at its most social, the serenity of this setting is the most noticeable effect upon entry. The family’s lot leads into a meandering meadow so the sounds of songbirds and the soft hum of crickets are a harmonious backdrop to this beautiful outdoor space.

“We added the pool after we had built the house and with the help of our fabulous landscape designer, Morgan Turner, we created a perfect place for the whole family to enjoy,” says Lucy. The cabana design includes twin facades, which flank an open view of the countryside. “We loved her idea of opening up that back wall so that we could see the

14 • PADUCAH LIFE

view beyond and it allowed for a nice breeze between the ‘rooms’ on each side,” adds Lucy.

The spaces craftily conceal a TV, a small kitchen, a washer/dryer, and room for storage!

Hand painted ceramic pots from Amalfi add a bit of the Italian coast to the décor and sentimental plaques from the St. Thomas More Rosary Garden are small blessings.

Now that the Milliano son and two daughters are out of the house and making their own way in the world, the world of the Milliano pool is a welcome respite for the two people who saw its potential from the very beginning. Ahhhh.

SUMMER 2020 • 15

ParisianBedroom the

C

HAQUE NUIT, JE VAIS À PARIS DANS MES RÊVES. Every night Ruby Stovesand goes to Paris in her dreams. Even though she’s only six, she and her mother vividly conjure up the Champs Elysees, see themselves beneath the shimmering lights of the Eiffel Tower, imagine driving beneath the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. These images are easily heightened because Ruby’s mom, interior designer Randi Stovesand, has created a sumptuously petit Parisian boudoir.

“Ruby is a true fashion queen,” says Randi. “She loves any and all accessories—jewelry, handbags, headbands, hats, and all things ‘extra.’ And even though she’s very young, she already adores Paris.

We ‘go’ there together so we can envision a day when we can truly go there together.”

Ruby also loves collections, so she’s starting with all things French. Et pourquoi pas? (And why not?) What better way to stimulate the imagination and learn about a magical place but by surrounding yourself with little bits and pieces that bring the grand adventure into view. Ruby can bounce into her be-draped bed beneath the soft folds of an F. Shumacher fabric called, what else, Chinois Palais. The blush linen features exotic birds and cherry blossoms. Neatly stacked on her shelves are pastel volumes with titles like This is Paris. A little gold necklace bears a delicate Eiffel Tower charm. Gently dangling from her doorknob is a pen and ink princess stating unequivocally that she has “gone to Paris.”

“I wanted to create something sophisticated but playful for Ruby’s room,” says Randi. “I wanted it to be a place that could grow with her—a space that she could transition into.” So Randi fashioned a subtle and sweet décor using warm tones of ‘almost pink.’ “We even transformed a chair that was once her dad’s from a boyish tweed to a blush velvet with a Greek key trim,” Randi adds. The Visual Comfort lighting casts a warm glow on a tonal rug by Stark.

Ruby may go to Paris in her dreams, but visions of the city of light are never far away when she simply opens the door of her very own room.

SUMMER 2020 • 17

the

CarriageHouse

A

CARRIAGE HOUSE HISTORICALLY MEANT the place where the steeds and their caretakers were housed when the grand dukes and duchesses were away from their livery.

Just off one of the lush fairways of the Country Club of Paducah lies a new sort of royal station where the obsession is still grand, but more aligned with the party aspect of the noblesse oblige.

Christy and Peter Locken’s garden parties find their origin inside this beautifully crafted cottage, then generously flow outward into the couple’s carefully curated gardens and seating areas.

“Peter and I love to entertain, and when we moved into this house, one of the first things we decided to create was a space where we could do that with ease,” says Christy Locken. “The addition of the carriage house and the design of the surrounding garden provides us with just this wonderful backdrop for all kinds of events and occasions.”

From the regal fireplace nestled beneath an intricately carved wooden panel, to the European tapestry framing an impressive array of libations, to the footed antique table and planked ceiling, this great room in the Locken’s lovely garden house imbues the venue with old world charm.

In the adjacent light-filled “solarium,” the space is filled to the brim with leafy greens and blossoms bursting with color. The room gives off a turn-of-the-century aura of days when ladies of the house spent time tending to a verdant explosion of botanicals.

In addition to Christy’s flora, there is also fauna in the midst of this stunning setting. “I have two birds that live in the carriage house,” Christy adds. “And Carlos and Peepers, our two Dachshunds, often take ownership of the sofa!”

The Lockens frequent estate sales to find vintage pieces to adorn their unique alfresco accommodations. “The statue of the lady holding the basket of fruit once graced the estate of Ted Turner,” Christy adds with a grin. She may have been a former southern belle, but she looks even better on bluegrass.

18 • PADUCAH LIFE

“

Ah, life is a gate, a way, a path to paradise anyway.

”

—Jack Kerouac

SUMMER 2020 • 19

J ULY / AUGUST 2020 • 19

Library the

I

N A SEA OF BRIGHT HUES AND GLEAMING glass, a bit of an oasis emerges in deep tones of rich cerulean inside the custom-crafted home of Blann and Mary Hunter Hancock. It’s in stark contrast to the sun drenched whites that surround this island of calm.

“This was meant as a space for dining of course,” says Mary Hunter. “But we had a strong preference for a library and if we really need it, we can put a large table in this room that can seat ten people.”

So instead of entrees, this delightfully designed room serves up a menu of literary fare that feeds all the senses. The main course is the floor to ceiling bookcase that offers up not only classic creativity, but also a soupcon of memorabilia ranging from cherished antiques to Hancock collectibles to treasures of travel. Brass lamps cast a golden glow on heirloom pieces from Lamon’s Antiques including two overstuffed chairs that are utter utopia for Duke, the family dog, according to perky 10-year-old Wells Hancock. “I never go in there,” Wells honestly admits. “But Duke loves it!”

A glistening crystal light fixture was an early acquisition.

“I knew when I saw that chandelier where I wanted it to go, “ adds Mary Hunter. A tufted leather couch and two vintage chests are perfect accents for this enduring atmosphere. A fun diversion is a striped zebra rug brought from Memphis.

Personal portraits and loved little pieces of life with two sons and a daughter hold places of honor like black and white photos of Russell, Wells, and Henry and a piece of pottery etched with Henry’s palm print.

No matter how individual family members view this special place, the stories it holds are ones that will continue to be told well into the future.

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SUMMER 2020 • 21

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Bath the

T “

O ME, WHEN IT COMES TO CLASSIC colors, it’s black and white,” says Randi Stovesand, design consultant for this timeless bath reinvention in a traditionally styled Paducah home. Outside, the towering white columns of this stately southern abode prove the point that what lies inside is just as classically elegant.

White marble flooring from Jeffrey Court paves the way to a lavish soaking tub that even Scarlett would have lusted after. The saturation of white on white is in dramatic contrast with the bold framework of black, which shows up in the demure accent chair and onyx mirror frames by Bunny Williams. The richness of gold is a gilded touch on his and hers floor length mirrors and also surrounds the geometric fashioning of the Visual Comfort chandelier.

“Upgrades to this sumptuous bath include a steam shower and custom vanities with a unique gray finish and marble accents,” adds Randi. Bright white shutters create privacy and subtle tonal sheers add warmth as a backdrop to the deep, freestading tub and gleaming nickel bath accouterments.

“We really loved how Randi envisioned our new bath,” comments the homeowner. “She created such a beautiful space that’s both inviting and functional at the same time. It’s always a pleasure to have someone interpret so perfectly what you saw in —Sylvia Plath your mind’s eye. Who wouldn’t love spending time in this great space!”

“

There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure but I don’t know many of them.”

”

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J ULY / AUGUST 2020 • 23

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Petite Fleur La

★

by R OSEMARIE S TEELE

Cultivating Friendships for Fifty Years

N 1965, PADUCAH native Lucinda Rudd and her friends were in their mid 20s.

They knew little or nothing about gardening. There were a few established garden clubs in Paducah, but none for young women. That’s when Lucinda’s mother, Charlotte Woodall, and her gardening friend Gerry Smith, decided to cultivate a plan that would enable the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Under their sponsorship, La Petite Fleur (French for “little flower”) garden club was formed. The objective was clear: to encourage interest in all phases of home gardening, promote better horticulture practices, civic beauty, and the conservation of natural resources.

The first meeting was held on July 20, 1965 at the home of Mrs. Richard Smith. “We tried to stay small enough to meet comfortably in the members’ homes,” said Carol Bright, the only local surviving charter/founding member.

By 1970, La Petite Fleur grew from nine to thirty members. The Club now boasts the maximum of 45 active members.

The commemorative Each year, members document the past while planting crystal bud vase and a seeds that move this colorful bouquet of women into the lovely rose compliment the table setting at future. Four to six members sign up to each take a meeting the 50th Anniversary month and choose the program, furnish a luncheon, and luncheon hosted by host or provide a location for the meeting. “The first few Nicole Turnbo. years we concentrated on programs that were learning experiences for all of us,” said Carol. Speakers have presented talks on perennials, wild flowers, roses, beekeeping, cooking with herbs, wreath making, flower arranging, bonsai, tree forestry, and much more.

When first established, La Petite Fleur answered the call for donations from the City Beautification Board and other civic groups by hosting a Christmas Bazaar. Workshops were held to make paper mache angels and wise men and

PHOTO COURTESY PHYLLIS RUSSELL

SUMMER 2020 • 25

LaPetiteFleur PHOTOS COURTESY PHYLLIS RUSSELL

elaborately decorated goose eggs.

“The first bazaar was a huge success, as was the second and last one. But the young women all had young children, so it was decided to raise the dues and not do any more timeconsuming bazaars,” said Carol.

One of La Petite Fleur’s early civic beauty projects was planting azaleas along Jefferson Street. There was no sprinkler system on Jefferson at that time. “We carted buckets of water in our cars to water the plants,” said Ann Denton who strived to maintain the azaleas with Beatrix Petter, Ginger Usher, and Martha Sanders.

The watering and weeding proved to be a huge effort. “After that experience, we were careful not to be caretakers. We planted flowers at Merryman House and Clemens Fine Arts Center, but were assured that they would be responsible for their own maintenance.”

La Petite Fleur historians have collected a treasure trove of vintage newspaper clippings touting Club news and photos from the society page, beautifully handwritten meeting notes, donation requests, and thank you letters from civic groups.

In addition to the memorabilia, a collection of annual programs shows just how much culture and technology have affected La Petite Fleur. Early programs were

26 • PADUCAH LIFE

CLOCKWISE: Ann Denton, Juliette Grumley, and Joy Lentz pause for a photo at the 50th Anniversary Christmas luncheon at the home of Nicole Turnbo.

Carol Bright’s beautifully handwritten notes from the 1970s document the story of the founding of La Petite Fleur Garden Club. Ann Denton and Carol Bright browse through the La Petite Fleur Garden Club scrapbook.

produced on a typewriter and members were identified as “Mrs. John Smith” as opposed to “Jane Smith.” Today, the programs are digitally produced and include e-mail addresses with glossy cover designs by award-winning photographer Phyllis Russell.

Though educational and creative programs are thoroughly enjoyed, field trips to local/regional gardens and historic American gardens win the blue ribbon as the most fun for these horticulturists. Morning mimosas, shopping adventures and lunch at unique cafes, complimented the bus trips to St. Louis to visit the Missouri Botanical Garden and the 50th anniversary trip in 2019 to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville.

“One of the reasons I was drawn to this group was the

PHOTO COURTESY ROSEMARIE STEELE

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diverse ages of its members,” said current president Julie Turok.

“The older ones have a lot more wisdom and the young ones bring new ideas.” The camaraderie, the enjoyment of all things garden, and the desire to grow and learn resonates throughout the history of La Petite Fleur. Perhaps Vicki Hunkler says it best. “La Petite Fleur members have a common interest that brings them together, of course, but the club has flourished over the years because of the friendships forged during meetings, luncheons, and field trips. The meetings provide an opportunity to share home and garden ideas, to listen to local experts on what is trending and helpful, and to enjoy those friends who attend.”

S UMMER 2020 • 27

H

by J.T. Crawford

The

Business of

WINNING Meredith Durbin Finds Human Resources to be Exciting—Especially When the Job Comes With a World Series Championship Ring

S

SHE FIGURED IT WOULD WORK—AT LEAST SHE HOPED IT would. Like most Kentuckians, Meredith Durbin had grown up an avid sports fan. But after college, Meredith wanted to get closer to the sports world than an average fan. So she kept her eye open for opportunities to meld her career path with the sporting world.

She’d always loved the Washington D.C. area and set her sights on moving there. When she saw a job posting with the Washington Nationals baseball team, she didn’t hesitate a moment to apply.“I didn’t think I’d get lucky enough to get it,” she says.“Everyone told me you can’t get into sports unless you know somewhere you want to go or you interned there. But the job was exactly what I was already doing, so I was qualified and decided to give it a shot. And it worked out!

“I started in August of 2017, working with their Human Resources data,” Meredith explains.“It involves anything that goes into or out of Excel for MLB reporting, or organizational reporting, or other purposes. And last year, I added the payroll piece to it, too. That spans from seasonal staff to the players. From that point of view, players are employees, so you have to do everything like you would anywhere else. For the draft this year, for example, I had to get new players on-boarded into the system and get all their documents that we need to meet employer and MLB requirements. It’s been interesting seeing both sides of it. You go to a game, and you don’t think about all the moving parts behind it or even just the number of people it takes to operate a game. It’s a fast-paced environment. There’s a lot going on and even more when you accidentally win a World Series.”

Meredith is referring to the Nationals’ unlikely climb to become postseason

28 • PAD U CAH L I FE

champions in 2019. By the end of May last year, their record was an abysmal 1931. They had a 1.5 percent chance to win the World Series. “We had a bad record,” says Meredith. “It was down to the wire on whether or not we’d even make the wild card game at the beginning of the postseason. But they kept winning and taking out big contenders. It seemingly came out of nowhere.” Meredith felt privileged to be on the inside, attending many of the games and following the team from their home base.

“We knew we had a talented team with some really good guys,” adds Meredith. “They were having a lot of fun doing what they were doing. It was an underdog story the whole time. And I don’t know that I’ll ever have a crazier time in my life than I did in October of last year. It was a whirlwind. They were playing almost every day, and we’re trying to operate on the business side like normal as if we weren’t playing in the World Series. There were a lot of

long hours and little sleep, but it was worth it.”

Meredith organized the entire front office to attend game one of the series, getting 400 staff members to Houston.“It was one of the coolest days of my life,” says Meredith. “And a lot of those people work the games, so they aren’t able to experience it from a fan perspective. That was fun to watch.”

Additionally, Nationals employees received World Series Champions rings, something Meredith never imagined she’d own. For her, it was doubly rewarding as she was the person responsible for getting everyone’s information and securing the order for each.“I had to get sizes and name spellings right. You don’t want to get somebody’s name wrong on the ring,” she laughs.“It was a really special thing. Seeing all the happiness has been satisfying. I lucked out that it happened within a couple of years of me being there, but there are many who put in a lot more time and energy to get to that moment.”

With the Nationals, Meredith scaled the highest mountain in baseball. Now, she’s ready to tackle a new opportunity with the Nashville Predators.“That one came out of nowhere,” says Meredith. “I wasn’t looking to leave D.C., but I’m a big hockey fan and a Preds fan, so when it’s somewhat your home team that reaches out to you, it’s hard to not entertain the idea.” Meredith moved to Nashville back in July, doing mostly what she did with the Nationals but at a higher level.

“It’s a cool thing, if you are an avid sports fan, to be that close and to see the operations,” she adds. “I get to do my regular job in a field I am passionate about. It’s been a great ride so far. It’s tough to beat all I’ve experienced!”

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S UMMER 2020 • 29

Female Forager Hunts the Elusive Fungus Among Us H by Constance Alexander

W

hen glossy Garden & Gun

magazine was looking for a female mushroom forager to interview, they contacted Paducah’s freight house super-chef, Sara Bradley. In turn, Bradley led them to Tomi Blom, co-owner of The Grand Lodge on Fifth and caterer extraordinaire.

An avid morel hunter since childhood, Tomi inherited her passion from her grandfather. When she was growing up, he shared a lifetime of insights with her about ferreting out fungi. Patiently, he schooled his eager granddaughter to understand their symbiotic relationships with dying elms, tulip poplar, and apple trees.

“He was big-time into it,” she said.“If he went fishing and the fish weren’t biting, he’d come back with enough morels to cover the kitchen counter.”

Cooking them up was always a thrill. Tomi is partial to

30 • PAD U CAH L I FE

pan frying in a light cracker crumb batter with a dash of salt and pepper. Just as she had done as a child, her two sons always fidgeted impatiently, waiting to sample the delicacies.

“They watched like hungry puppies,” she recalled.

Despite its many rewards, foraging for morels is not for everyone. There is no glamour in trudging through the woods for hours, scrambling through bushes and brush, encountering snakes and ticks. The well-prepared hunter wears tall rubber boots and carries a wicker basket to keep the treasures intact, in transit. If the hunt goes beyond daylight, a headlamp comes in handy. Nevertheless, even the most seasoned forager can end a quest with an empty basket.

“Morels are exceptionally camouflaged,” Tomi Blom explained.“They are elusive, precious, and few, but if you stumble across an old abandoned apple orchard, you can usually find some.”

Unlike the cute button mushrooms purchased in the store, morels defy simple description. Shapes vary from oblong, to bulbous, or egg-shaped, with a network of ridges and ravines, reminiscent of a honeycomb.

In any setting, morels grow close to the ground. A sharpeyed forager observes undergrowth to discern patterns. Once identified, morels are cut off at the bottom of their stems.

The grittiness of the process has its own unique appeal when juxtaposed with the majesty of nature.

The way Tomi Blom describes it,“I look up as much as I look down.”

Unlike the cute button mushrooms purchased in the store, morels defy simple description. Shapes vary from oblong, to bulbous, or egg-shaped, with a network of ridges and ravines, reminiscent of a honeycomb. Colors range from blonde to gray or brown, and size might be fleeting as a fingertip or big as a hand.

As opposed to farmed mushrooms like portobello, morels are a rarity, highly sought after. Since they cannot be raised commercially, ninety-nine percent of those used in restau-

rants are harvested in nature by foragers like Tomi Blom.

“You either have to know someone or find them yourself,” she declared.

For rookies, distinguishing between edible and so-called false morels creates a challenge, but the consequences of consumption are not likely to be fatal, merely uncomfortable. Some experts advocate morel hunting as safe for beginners, but Blom’s advice is clear: “Very few mushrooms will kill you, but if I’m not one hundred percent sure that it is what I think it is, I throw it out.”

Over time, the joy of fungi foraging has not faded. Still captivated by the adventure of the search and the delicate, earthy flavor of morels, Tomi Blom likens each expedition to “a grown-up Easter egg hunt.”

Sheepishly she admits,“I still scream and jump up and down when I find them.”

S UMMER 2020 • 31

How Does Your

Garden

Grow?

H

by Amy Sullivan

T

HE RECENT PANDEMIC HAS KEPT MANY OF US AT HOME AND SPENDING MORE

time outdoors than ever before. Some have taken up new hobbies and pastimes. Growing gardens has become a popular thing to try, especially vegetable gardens.

If you are one of those who has recently taken up this horticultural hobby, the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Service offers guidance for gardeners throughout Kentucky. The Extension Service is McCracken County’s local connection to the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

The Extension Service offers plant disease diagnosis and recommendations for control and also the same for pests. Part of their outreach is the Extension Master Gardener program, where volunteers are trained in horticulture, then certified by the University of Kentucky.

Kathryn “Kathy” Wimberley, UK Extension Agent for horticulture education for McCracken County, recently offered information and gardening advice during her presentation, “Home Vegetable Gardens,” presented virtually through the McCracken County Public Library (MCLIB). This program was recorded and can be accessed on YouTube through the MCLIB TV channel. During this presentation, she expands on some key considerations when starting your garden: find a good location, determine your budget, check to see what grows best at the site, gather supplies, plant, maintain, and then enjoy your harvest.

32 • PAD U CAH L I FE

Steps To A Successful Garden R Plan your garden on paper before you begin R Select a good gardening site that is:

a) in full sun for at least six hours each day, b) relatively level, c) well drained, d) close to a water source, e) dries quickly from morning dew

R Prepare the soil properly, submit soil for a soil test, and add fertilizer and lime according to U.K. test result recommendations

R Plan only as large a garden as you can easily

maintain. Weeds and pests must be managed, water applied when needed, and harvesting done on time

R Grow vegetables that will produce the maximum amount of food in the space available

R Plant during the correct season for the crop R Choose varieties recommended for Kentucky Kathy has earned art education and horticulture degrees, and is now a lifetime master gardener. She stresses that there are several helpful online publications, linked directly to the Extension office’s website, that will assist beginning and advanced gardeners. These include “Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky,” which covers general gardening guidelines; recommended crops by season; preparing, planting, and caring for your garden; pest control, harvesting, and storing produce; and finally, what you should know “From Asparagus to Watermelon.”

R Harvest vegetables at their proper stage of maturity For information contact the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Office at www.mccraken.ca.uky.edu.

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★

by S USIE F ENWICK

Helen LaFrance

Memory Painter A CELEBRATED CENTENARIAN LEAVES A LEGACY OF SOUTHERN ART CRAFTED FROM BERRIES AND TWIGS

A

CENTURY AGO IN RURAL GRAVES COUNTY, A LAND SHE STILL CLAIMS AS HOME, Helen LaFrance was born to James Franklin Orr and his wife, Lillie May. She was named Helen by her father to offset what he considered the highfalutin name, LaFrance, chosen by his wife to commemorate the liberation of France at the end of WWI. Just one generation removed from slavery, the baby girl had skin colored the deep, rich shade of dark, fertile, bottom soil. Her hair coiled like a twist of Kentucky tobacco pulled from an old timer’s bib overall pocket.

The little child had soft brown eyes just waiting to blink scenes into memory and tuck them in her psyche for

SUMMER 2020 • 35

Helen LaFrance

safekeeping. Someday her little fingers would grow into dexterous digits channeling precious scenes overflowing from mind to canvas through paintbrushes. Helen LaFrance would make a name for herself artfully documenting scenes of a rural Kentucky countryside lost in the name of progress and a way of life remembered by few.

I met her in a nursing home in Mayfield where she has been living for a number of years. A shadow of the woman

36 • PADUCAH LIFE

she once was, resting in bed, and staring at the wall; Helen LaFrance was a little fidgety. She didn’t know what to do with now idle hands that had occupied the better part of her life by farming, working in hospitals, tobacco warehouses, ceramic factories painting whiskey bottles, and marrying five times to three different men, as well as minding the children of others.

Recognizing me only as a stranger in her room, she homed in with an artist’s eye to a feature catching her fancy; my teeth. She liked them.

Asked how she remembered scenes vividly enough to make them come alive on canvas years later, Ms. LaFrance said, “I canned my memories like other folks canned beans and peas.”

Always a noticer, the beloved southern painter recollected scenes from girlhood; looking around and committing to memory all she hoped to preserve through painting. Helen seemed to have a premonition that someday, in the cold dark days of old age, she would savor those memories like others would relish the taste of a harvest’s bounty in the long barren stretches of winter.

With no formal training and existing outside the cultural mainstream, she was considered an outsider in the art world but was acknowledged as a memory painter. The folk artist followed her mother’s advice, “paint what you know.”

Showing an interest in art at an early age, LaFrance’s mother schooled Helen in painting by guiding her tiny hands as she sketched familiar scenes on the back of old wallpaper or any other scrap of paper. Her art supplies consisted of paint her mother made from laundry blueing and berry juices and twigs for paintbrushes.

It wasn’t until she was in her 40’s that life afforded her the quiet time and resources needed to focus on painting seriously. She took up residence in an old abandoned school bus for her studio. The peak of her artistic career was in her late 80’s. Not limited to two-dimensional media, LaFrance was an exceptional quilt maker, wood carver, and doll maker who dressed her articulated creations in handmade textiles.

Besides painting folk art, the self-taught artist painted a series of biblical interpretations, which were described by Dave Perkins, Associate Director of Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

“These works have a life force, the effect of which is that they are not mere renderings of biblical events or memories of personal visions or revelations, but something alive. The works are the visions. The paintings are a mode of doing theology,” he wrote.

Still her memory paintings conjure the strongest feelings of a shared common experience.

Her art is included in over 100 private collections and she has shared her western Kentucky countryside through art with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Bryant Gumbel, and contemporary artist Red Grooms who all include her paintings in their collections. Hundreds of her paintings have

SUMMER 2020 • 37

Helen LaFrance

been sold around the world spreading her memories of a bygone Her art supplies rural Kentucky globally. Her art has been exhibited widely consisted of the backs across Kentucky and the rest of the United States and of wallpaper, paint her also in European Galleries. Exhibited in the Van mother made from Nelle Collection of tobacco art in Amsterdam laundry blueing and and purchased on a visit to the tobacco barn berry juices, and twigs where Helen LaFrance worked is her depiction for paintbrushes. of workers rolling cut tobacco.

Helen LaFrance is lovingly documented in the musical play by Marilyn Jaye Lewis, “Tell My Bones: The Helen LaFrance Story,” and also in a Kentucky Educational Television documentary. Accolades include the prestigious Folk Heritage Award for 2011, the Kentucky Arts Council’s Governor’s Award in Arts, and inclusion by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights in the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians for her art despite growing up under oppressive Jim Crow laws with basically no formal education.

38 • PADUCAH LIFE

Helen LaFrance's 100th birthday was celebrated in November 2019 and was covered by the New York Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald, and the Philadelphia Inquirer among other publications.

Helen LaFrance didn’t produce art to become famous but she did become famous. She painted most of her life out of a desire for other people to see things the way she saw them. She painted to share a world where things were neat and lines true and people well groomed. She captured a vanishing world of church picnics, river baptisms, general stores, farmers in plowed fields, and country homes with quilts on clotheslines waving in the breeze.

LaFrance has been quoted modestly saying, “I just do what I do. I thought if I kept doing it, one day I’d do something worthwhile.” And that she did.

S UMMER 2020 • 39

A

Modern Southern

Belle

Preservationists Melinda and Cary Winchester Bring the Belle Louise Historic Guest House Back to Life

F

★

by A MY S ULLIVAN

OR JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, Melinda Winchester, historic preservation specialist, and her husband Cary, have endeavored to complete a full-scale restoration of a genuine gem. Located at 304 N. 6th Street in historic downtown Paducah, the Belle Louise Historic Guest House has been transformed to its former glory; saved from its downhill demise.

The home was built in 1879 by Daniel J. Fraser and experienced several ownerships and renovations throughout the decades. Sold to a funeral home beginning in 1921, the site is well-known as the location of former Vice President Alben Barkley’s 1956 visitation, when hundreds of mourners, including President Harry Truman, passed through its doorways to pay their respects. In 1985 it was purchased by the late Howard and Louise Randle, the namesake of the Belle Louise.

The Randles owned the home for almost 30 years, converting the funeral home back into a

40 • PADUCAH LIFE

SUMMER 2020 • 41

SouthernBelle residence, determined to be faithful to the period the house represented.

The two Civil War buffs enjoyed participating in reenactments and showcasing their artifacts and hand-sewn period costumes annually at holiday open houses to raise funds for the restoration of the Tilghman Military History Center. {PADUCAH LIFE Magazine featured Louise Randle’s period costumes in a 2001 edition.} By 2016, after the passing of Louise and several new owner exchanges, the home fell into dire disrepair, neglected and suffering from many issues, including extensive water damage. The home exchanged hands again, and eventually, in 2019, the Winchesters were given the opportunity to purchase and revitalize the Belle Louise.

Melinda and Cary are devoted to preserving the home’s original character, history, and reflections of days gone by. The authentic trim, gorgeous wood

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floors, brick kitchen entryway, two fireplace mantles from Germany, several now functional transoms, and most of the original doors preserve the place’s personality. “We found seven doors inside the walls that had been covered up!” Melinda exclaimed. They even discovered and restored two steeple hinges, their gorgeous designs buried below five different layers of paint. A quick crockpot cooking revealed their clandestine character and now they embellish two second-floor doors.

But some of the most beautiful pieces hover above, reflecting not only the home’s history, but also pretty pieces from Paducah’s past. A pair of matching chandeliers, originally purchased by the late George Katterjohn from Governor Winthrop Rockefeller of Arkansas, still grace the Belle Louise’s first-floor entry hall and dining room. An early 19th century combination electric and gas light fixture from Paducah’s old Sinnott Hotel greets guests upstairs. “Local donors have also generously contributed furniture, antiques, and other pieces to add to the look of the original home,” Melinda gratefully mentioned.

The Winchesters have taken on the role of general contractor for this project in order to actively oversee the progress. John Moore has been the master historic carpenter for the project, along with multiple local subcontractors.

All of the original windows were saved, and one of the parlor’s windows reveals a hidden treasure. When building nineteenth century homes, it was not uncommon for initials to be etched into the glass. In a corner of a front-facing window, the letters “AF” are faintly inscribed.

Melinda says these initials represent (Sallie) Abigail Fraser, wife of former owner Daniel Fraser, who purchased the home in 1879 and enlarged it into an Italianate mansion with a central tower. The Sallie Abigail room honors this former owner.

The Winchesters realized they had truly saved the Belle at an unexpected

SLIM’S

Frenchtown Mercantile So happy to see our friends again! moment when removing damaged ceilings on the second level directly under the tower’s supporting wall. They luckily discovered a critical beam that had been hidden for decades. It revealed a design flaw in the roof that had been pushing water into the tower for years, causing continued damage. “It was a hidden time bomb,” Melinda said. “The house probably had a year at the most left before she came down.”

After thoughtful consideration, Melinda has creatively and uniquely dubbed each room in the house. The Queen Bee on the second floor, complete with gorgeous original poplar floors, is named for the giant beehive wedged in one of the front porch columns that the neighbors told the Winchesters about. A local beekeeper relocated about 30,000 honeybees to a farm in McCracken County. The Winchesters were later rewarded with two gallons of what is now named Belle honey, one of the items that will be served and sold at Belle Louise.

The honey will complement delicious Kirchoff’s pastries that house guests will enjoy for breakfast. “I always support local,” Melinda

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SouthernBelle emphasized. “We are also partnering with Aw Shucks Popcorn who has created a special blueberry and vanilla mix with our own label, Belle Berry.” Other local partnerships include John’s Pass Carriage Service, who will pick up Belle boarders right outside the home for a lovely downtown horse-drawn carriage ride. Sarah Martin of Martin Farm Soap is producing the Belle’s private label hand soaps and lotions.

Hooper’s Outdoor Center is working with Melinda on offering bike rack rentals.

Melinda formerly served as Paducah Main Street Director and Downtown Development Specialist, helping revitalize the community through creative funding resources and by utilizing historic tax credit incentives.

“This restoration would not have been possible without the state and federal historic tax credits,” Melinda emphasized. “Tax credits have proven to be one of the nation’s most successful and costeffective community revitalization tools—creating jobs, leveraging private investment, enhancing property values. These incentives are instrumental in preserving the historic places that give our cities and communities their special character. In order to utilize the federal tax credits, our project brought on a tax credit investor and the property will remain in an LLC for five years. At the end of that period, we will purchase the property back into our ownership solely. The Belle Louise project is a perfect example of economic and neighborhood revitalization and how important it is to put together the right partners within a community to save our historic buildings through this program.”

As a member of the Lower Town Neighborhood Association, Melinda hopes to bring back the holiday home tours originally begun by the Randles in the 1990s possibly as part of the “Dickens of a Christmas” downtown event. “We already have three homes committed to starting this back up again, and are hoping for five,” she optimistically commented.

For information or reservations call 270-210-2553 or email bellelouisepaducah@gmail.com. Follow the Belle Louise Historic Guest House on Facebook.

44 • PADUCAH LIFE

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S UMMER 2020 • 45

A

Hero

by Any Other NAME A clerical error changed the name of Harry Loe on the “USS Lowe,” which was named for his WWII heroism.

Harry’s ultimate sacrifice, however, will forever be memorialized at Grace Episcopal Church with a plaque bearing the name he bore as a young seafaring youth on the shores of the Ohio River.

H

by J.T. Crawford

Y

OUNG HARRY LOE’S IMAGINATION was no doubt ignited every time he visited the foot of Broadway in Paducah. The sight of the Ohio River, at its full breadth, must have made him pause as glints of sunlight flared from peaks of water formed by the wind. His imagination probably raced with the current, following down the Ohio to the Mississippi to the Gulf to the oceans beyond. There, his soaring dreams found room to roost.

Harry’s youth spanned the 1920s and 1930s. And during that time, something launched his ambitions toward the seas.

He imagined himself on the crests of the ocean. As he grew into a teenager, he set his sights on joining the Navy. He was so eager, he headed for the recruiter’s office at the first moment of eligibility. His father had to sign and give permission.

After graduation from high school in 1940, he was off to see the world.

By December 7, 1941, Harry had found his way to paradise.

46 • PAD U CAH L I FE

The USS San Francisco (center) moments after it was hit by a Japanese plane.

He was aboard the USS San Francisco, which was waiting to dock in Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor. As many of the men relaxed onboard, Japanese planes split the sky and began bombing Battleship Row. The USS San Francisco sent out an alert, the first ship to do so. Men scrambled to the guns. Others jumped over to the USS New Orleans to man that ship’s guns. The San Francisco, and the ships around, went unscathed as they fought against the attack. Harry’s naval service was suddenly thrust into wartime. The navy assigned Harry to a battle station aboard the ship, and he even sent photos to his parents, showing them where he would be if they came under attack.

Throughout 1942, Harry and the USS San Francisco were pressed into action. The ship faced several major battles. There were raids on Japanese installations. There were attacks from Japanese bombers. There were operations to cover American forces moving into the area. In mid-November, the ship headed to Guadalcanal to cover troop movements. On the afternoon of November 12, 21 Japanese planes descended upon the USS San Francisco and other navy ships in the area. The Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” Bombers set about to drop torpedoes to penetrate the ships’ hulls. Loe, who had recently been promoted, manned an anti-aircraft gun. At the height of the battle, Harry trained his sights on an incoming plane. He unloaded as many rounds as he could into the oncoming aircraft. The plane dropped a torpedo. It sped for the ship but missed. The plane,

The USS Lowe served the Navy for 25 years, bearing the name of the Paducah hero.

however, remained on a direct path for Harry’s station.

Despite the impending danger, Harry remained steelyeyed, sending red-hot cartridges into the fuselage. It began to drop from the sky—but not enough to avoid collision with the San Francisco. Sadly, it crashed headlong into Harry’s post.

Shipmate Elmer Quertermous, who was from Smithland, later confirmed Harry’s cool determination for taking that plane down. Elmer and Harry had formed a kinship, often discussing life back home in western Kentucky. “He was a real likable kind of guy,” recalled Elmer in a later Paducah Sun article. “We’d sit around and talk about things back home.” Harry was remembered as a kid who was always laughing. He was 20. He was buried at sea.

The military awarded Harry a Navy Cross, the second-highest honor earned in battle. In June the following year, the Navy contacted Harry’s parents to let them know a new destroyer escort vessel would bear Harry’s name. At the end of July, Celia and Harry, Sr., christened the ship in Orange, Texas. But something made them pause. On the side of the vessel was the name USS Lowe with the family’s name misspelled. Celia and Harry didn’t say anything. And thus the name remained the same.

The USS Lowe made 12 Atlantic crossings through the remainder of the war and destroyed a German submarine in 1945. During the ‘50s, it served as a weather ship, and during the Vietnam War, she prevented seaborne infiltration off the

coast of Vietnam. The Lowe was decommissioned in 1968.

The reason for the misspelling was the result of an early clerical error. Friend Elmer Quertermous stated that he had worked in the pay office before the war, and he recalled seeing Harry’s name spelled as Lowe. Papers had reported his name as Loe until the time of death when, presumably using Navy press releases, they began using Lowe. Harry, in history, would forever be known as Harry Lowe.

In the early 1980s, some of Harry’s family, led by nephew Glenn Loe, set about to have the records corrected.

But nothing happened. Glenn also pressed for Harry to be recognized in Paducah. Again, no results. Then Glenn met Rev. Kempton Baldridge of the Seaman’s Church Institute.

Together, they made plans for a proper marker in Paducah to honor Harry. In February of this year, the Loe family, along with the Seaman’s Church Institute, held a memorial ceremony at Grace Episcopal where Harry was a member.

They also unveiled a plaque in the memorial garden.

To most of the world, Harry will always be a Lowe.

The error, however, never diminished his sacrifice. From his childhood in Paducah, he’d been single-purposed of mind.

His destiny reposed within the cradle of the sea winds. In the South Pacific, his dream brushed up against divine will.

Harry gave his life, saving his ship and many others aboard.

Such solitary sacrifices, multiplied upon themselves, defeated tyranny. It is for this that we will remember Harry Loe.

S UMME R 2020 • 47

Our amazing

Architecture

A

The Irvin Cobb Hotel

T THE HEIGHT OF THE ROARING TWENTIES, PADUCAH capitalist Adolph Weil envisioned a grand hotel at the center of the Paducah business district. He enlisted the skills of Chicago architect Walter W. Ahlschlager who had designed the Sheridan Plaza Hotel in Chicago, the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, and the Roxy Theatre in New York. Weil named the hotel after Paducah author and humorist Irvin Cobb who was approaching the height of his national popularity as a writer and actor. Opened on May 1, 1929, the hotel became the center of the city for civic and cultural activity and stands today as one of the most notable landmarks in western Kentucky.

1

2

3

Circular chimney pots and articulated parapet walls accentuate the building’s signature roofline.

Projections of stuccoed brick and wood timber are Tudor Revival in style and provide a unique architectural style to the hotel.

Recent rehabilitation work included roof replacement and roof structure repair, exterior brick restoration, and window replacement. All apartment units and public spaces were also renovated.

4

5

A silhouette of the building’s namesake, Irvin. S. Cobb, sits on the corner of the historic building. Cobb was a Paducah native and famed writer, journalist, and humorist.

The first two floors are faced with Kentucky oolitic limestone. Above the staggered border of the limestone is a brown brick veneer.

6 A bronze Art Deco hood denotes the main entrance on Broadway.

A matching hood is also located at the South 6th Street entrance.

COMPILED BY JEFF CANTER, ARCHITECT AND PRINCIPAL AT PFGW ARCHITECTS.

48 • PADUCAH LIFE

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3

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SUMMER 2020 • 49

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50 • PAD U CAH L I FE

Summer READING LIST for 2o2o The Library’s COOL

List compiled by DANA D ONNER

★

THIS YEAR’S SUMMER READING

Program’s theme is “Imagine Your Story,” aimed to not only encourage life-long reading habits, but to help you tell the story that is uniquely you. Reading logs, missions, writing prompts, crafts, and virtual programs are available for the following ages: babies/toddlers, children, teens, and adults. Are you ready to read and tell some stories? Visit mclib.net for more information and download the free ReadSquared app to begin. Make sure to also follow the McCracken County Public Library on social media for up-to-date information about Summer Reading and links to the library's many virtual programs.

J ULYSUMMER / AUGUST 2020 2020 •• 51 51

All Adults Here

by EMMA STRAUB

Wisdom, humor, and insight about adult siblings and aging parents, and all the other things that follow us into adulthood.

If I Had Your Face

by FRANCES CHA

Eight Perfect Murders by PETER SWANSON A bookseller finds himself in the middle of an FBI investigation due to a killer using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders

Boys of Alabama

These Women by IVY POCHODA

Debut novel about a German immigrant and a boy “witch,” both wrestling with their feelings for men.

The community of Jefferson Park in Los Angeles must come to grips with a serial killer whose first murder took place 15 years ago, and now it seems he may have murdered another woman.

by GENEVIEVE HUDSON

52 • PADUCAH LIFE

Four young women in Seoul, Korea, try to make their way in a world defined by impossible standards of beauty

Kept Animals

by KATE MILLIKEN A car accident forever changes the lives of four California families, centering on three teenage girls and a horse ranch.

Daughter of the Boycott: Carrying on a Montgomery Family’s Civil Rights Legacy

by KAREN GREAY HOUSTON

A reporter examines her past through how the Montgomery bus boycott changed the nation.

Hollywood Park by MIKEL JOLLETT A memoir from the frontman of the indie rock band The Airborne Toxic Event, detailing his escape from a cult and subsequent upbringing that ultimately leads him to an impressive career in music and writing

The Complete Summer Cookbook published

by AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN

A collection of 500 summer-inspired recipes,from 30-minute meals to backyard barbeques to cooking designed to keep you and your kitchen cool.

Redhead by the Side of the Road by ANNE TYLER Micha Mortimer, 43, never-married computer consultant and building super, has his routine life upturned by a woman friend’s eviction and a teenager claiming to be his son.

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SUMMER 2020 • 53

The

tiny Raising a bonsai fosters a deep connection with a living thing

H

by J.T. Crawford

Accents on

BROADWAY

D DR. JIM GOULD SPENDS

his time among the trees— but he doesn’t have to trek into the forest.

He doesn’t even have to leave his house. Dr. Gould experiments with woodlands in miniature, tiny trees that he shapes and styles, some of which are just as much at home on a shelf as they would have been in the wild.

Dr. Gould is a bonsai artist, continuing an ancient Japanese practice that has its roots in penjing, the Chinese garden art of arranging miniature trees. When he was in college, he noticed small trees growing in an old stone quarry cliff that was behind his dorm. They had found just enough soil and space to grow, yet they didn’t have enough root space to jut up into full-size trees. He dug one up and potted it.

That was 46 years ago.

Now he has a collection of bonsai, the oldest of which he started from an acorn in 1983. Each has a story, which is just as important as the plant itself.“It’s about where they came from and how they behave as much as anything,” says Dr. Gould as he tours some of the bonsai displayed in his back yard.

“That one there is an olive tree I got from an elderly lady here in Paducah 25 years ago,” he says. “Over here is a live oak like you’ll see in Mississippi, the ones with Spanish moss. Over here are some Japanese maples and different varieties of maples.”

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Dr. Jim Gould

56 • PAD U CAH L I FE

Dr. Gould explains that bonsai is not a particular species of tree but rather a description of how a tree or shrub has been raised into a dwarf version. It can be done with nearly any variety, and any bonsai, if planted in the ground, could grow into the full-size version of itself. “That live oak, for example,” says Dr. Gould,“could have been 50 or 60 feet tall.”

Bonsai, literally translated, means “tree in pot,” or “planted in container.”

“The characteristics of a good bonsai are a large trunk, a little shape, and relatively small leaves,” says Dr. Gould. “It will look like an older plant. And you can do it from about anything. I have bald cypress and redwood.” Part of the art is guiding the trees into pleasing shapes. It takes patience, planning, and pruning. Wire is often used to help guide limb direction. Growth is also controlled by the use of shallow pots. Some of his bonsai live outdoors, some indoors, depending on the variety of tree.

“This one over here is 39 years old,” says Dr. Gould. “It was a seedling in Houston when I dug it up. You can see some brown leaves, which is a reflection that there have been a couple of limbs that were fractured. I have an area over here that I’ve repaired, and I am hoping to get some good growth because I like the shape of it. And every one has a front and a back. And there is a decision process that comes with every one.”

Bonsai need to be fed and watered regularly because of the shallow pots, so they do need attention. For the beginner, Dr. Gould recommends starting with an indoor variety, which are typically tropical species, as they only need water every three to seven days.

Dr. Gould’s love for bonsai has taken him to symposiums around the world including Japan where he has encountered specimen bonsai, trees of advanced age that, if sold, would be valued in the thousands. “When I was in Japan, I had a question about one of the trees at a place I went. I approached this old guy who was sitting on a bench. I presumed he was the owner. He pointed me over to someone else. So when I approached the other guy, I asked who the older fellow was. He said, ‘He was the prior owner, and now I am the owner. It is my duty in life to take care of these trees.’ It had become his mantra, to continue to curate those trees.”

Raising a bonsai fosters a deep connection with a living thing, which can last a lifetime. One develops an intimate knowledge of each plant. Daily or near-daily nurturing is required. An eye for subtle changes and corrections is required. It becomes a relationship. “The art of it, for me, is to just pick something, whatever I can find, and turn it into something nice,” adds Dr. Gould. “It’s a joy to watch them grow over time.”

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S UMMER 2020 • 57

H

by J.T. Crawford

Corner Stores,

Cornerstones, and

Community

W

HAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY? THE ANSWERS are as varied as its people. It is a path that has to be discovered, forged in real-time.

It is a striving for the intangibles of LIFE both personally and communally. When one makes such their pursuit, regardless of their socioeconomic status, they begin to affect those around them. Their lives may seem very ordinary in many ways, yet they achieve the title of “beloved.” One such example from Paducah’s past is Lyle Habacker.

58 • PAD U CAH L I FE

For decades in Paducah, you’d be hard-pressed to pick up a local newspaper and NOT find Lyle’s name somewhere on its pages. It began in the early 1920s when Lyle helped usher the Tilghman Tornado football team into a new golden age of victory.

Lyle was the team captain his senior year and the team’s first fullback. With Joe Clifton as quarterback, the duo became an unstoppable force on the field, which helped rally the community around the newly opened Augusta Tilghman High School.

“He was most proud that they beat Mayfield his last year,” laughs Lyle’s son, Dr. Lynn Habacker. Lyle also served as treasurer and later president for the school’s Boys Club to raise funds for school improvements, including an athletics trophy case.“He went on to UK to play football. But he didn’t get to play,” adds Lynn.

“That happens sometimes. So he came home after a year.

He got a job at Piggly Wiggly on Broadway. He must have liked it because it wasn’t too long before he decided to go into business for himself.”

Lyle worked his way up quickly and eventually became manager of a Piggly Wiggly at the corner of 17th and Jefferson. Lyle, with J.H. Tartt, then opened the Broadway Market in 1927. Lyle was only 22. He managed the store while J.H., an experienced butcher, managed the meat department. An article said that Tartt was “one of the best novelty meat cutters in the city” and was “also experienced in handling fancy salads and other delicatessen products.”

A few years later, Lyle opened a new store at 16th and Madison.

It was an age of true, neighborhood grocers. And Lyle took to it at the onset of the Great Depression. It was common, at that time, for customers to make purchases on cred-

Joe Clifton catches up with friend Lyle Habacker at Lyle’s store.

it and then pay their tabs when they could. During the 1930s, that business model was essential for the survival of the community. Lyle would not deny those who came into his store what they needed to get by, regardless of their ability to pay. “It wasn’t so bad,” Lyle once recounted.“I believe that most people eventually paid what they owed.

I’ve found that folks are generally dependable.” He also recalled that most people only wanted the necessities—the bare essentials to sustain life. Later, as the economy improved, and especially on into the 1950s, grocery lists expanded.

Lyle sourced as local as he could, going to the Market House early in the mornings when farmers had crops. There, he found an abundance and was especially impressed by a constant stock of fresh rabbits.

“He always left the house early,” says Lynn. “He was up and going by 6 AM, going to the market downtown. He’d come back home for breakfast and then went to the store. He’d get home in the evening, have supper, read the paper, talk to us for a while, and go to bed around 9:30 PM. He did that every day.”

The most difficult period Habacker Grocery faced was during the ’37 flood. The store was engulfed. He had to rely on credit from wholesalers after he reopened, and he said it took almost eight years to fully recover. But he was

S UMM ER 2020 • 59

HACKBACKER STORE also proud that he was one of the first grocers to reopen after the flood, helping to restore the city to normality. He did this by going to the store everyday as waters receded in order to push the mud back to the street.

Habacker Grocery thrived on basic principles that put the customer first, stocking items upon request from customers. And while many grocers offered delivery when Lyle started, he kept his delivery service going even as other stores eliminated theirs. “I started helping him when I was about six,” says Lynn. “I had a bicycle with a basket on the front. I delivered groceries around the neighborhood. I did that all the way up until I was in high

Habacker Grocery thrived on basic principles that put the customer first, stocking items upon request from customers.

school. I went to college, and then I’d work with him during the summers.

We also had delivery trucks with several helpers. I started in the truck when I was about 14. Everyone who worked for him always appreciated him. I got to know a lot of people in the neighborhoods, too.”

Genie Drossos, Lyle’s niece, recalls the charm of the neighborhood store.

“Growing up in the ’50s, I would go

60 • PAD U CAH L I FE

to the grocery with my mom,” she says. “She bought all of her meat and fresh vegetables at Habacker’s. The double filet mignon were the very best. Even after I married in 1971, when I came home from Cincinnati to visit, my mom always had some of those delicious steaks for me to take home. I do remember my Uncle Lyle sending me to the back to get a dill pickle or sauerkraut out of the barrels he had there. Many people enjoyed having their groceries delivered from Habacker’s. I think my mom liked to pick out her own groceries.”

Phillip Morris, in the You Know You’re From Paducah KY When… Facebook group said, “I lived 2 blocks away on Jefferson and made about a zillion trips to this store during the 1950s. The owner, Lyle Habacker, made the best hand-carved, ham sandwiches. He was also a five-star butcher that ran a great meat counter. The

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one check lane was run by a fellow named Rudy. The store was a true asset for the local neighborhood.”

Habacker’s enjoyed years of success—47 of them. In 1974, Lyle was ready to hang it up. He’d been a staple of the Paducah landscape for so long. He wrote: “The lasting friendships made over these 47 years are priceless, and many made in the early days of my business survive today. I am retiring. This means, however, that only the business relationships with you will be broken. The friendships established over the years will remain. I still will be your neighbor and friend.”

And a true friendship, developed with a community over time, made the real difference. It’s what set the locally owned stores such as Habacker’s apart from the box stores that were to come. Lyle, later recalling his relationship with those who supported him, said, “I spoiled my customers. But then they were the best people in the world.”

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62 • PADUCAH LIFE

Grow

H by J.T. Crawford

This Hobby Could

on you!

The world of houseplants is as varied as the people who love them. Each person discovers varieties that just grow on them! Here are a few local enthusiasts and the plants they can’t live without.

HOUSEPLANTS

Rebecca Smith

I have always been attracted to nature and plants but this is only my second year having house plants of my own. I want more and more but am running out of room in my one-bedroom apartment! I have an ongoing wish list saved in my phone.

Favorite Indoor Plant Can I say all of them? They are all unique in their own way, but if I had to choose it would be Pilea peperomioides because they are quirky, grow fast, and are easy to propagate.

Mine is happy with a little water and a relatively bright spot on my coffee table.

Favorite Outdoor Plant I have always loved ferns because there are so many varieties, and they add a pretty green background for your flowers.

Secret to Green Thumb Underwater, underwater, underwater! But seriously, we tend to love our plants too much sometimes. Also, always keep an eye on their leaves. I find it helpful to take pictures often so you can see how much they’ve grown. Plants teach us excellent observation skills and lessons on patience.

64 • PAD U CAH LIFE

Katie Cronin

Prior to around three years ago, all I had ever owned as far as plants went was a fern and a peony. I killed both.

My mom’s green thumb finally rubbed off on me, and now I have a cutting flower garden, vegetable garden, and over 45 plants/flowers (mostly outdoor, but also a handful inside). And most all of them live these days.

Favorite Indoor Plant Any version of a Calathea and Callisia Repens (often called Bolivian Jew or turtle vine). The Callisia Repens is low maintenance and looks great anywhere you decide to put it—trailing over a container pot or in a hanging basket. It can live inside all year long or outside in the warmer months. It multiples easily making it fast-growing, and it is perfect for propagating.

Favorite Outdoor Plant Peony and Hosta

Secret to Green Thumb Find the right plants to suit your lifestyle. If you aren’t home much, try a plant that requires less water and attention.

Breanna Clayton

I don’t have a long growing history. I am a beginner plant enthusiast!

Favorite Indoor Plant I love the String of Pearls because they are unique and rarely seen. They radiate class just from their name, not to mention the tiny family of beads that overflow the edge of the pot. Just so cute!

Favorite Outdoor Plant That would be hydrangeas because they remind me of my grandfather and of my childhood home. The colors and bushels of flowers are just so sweet and mesmerizing.

Secret to Green Thumb Get to know your plants!

They communicate what they need without having to use words.

Blaine Hebert

I have been growing house plants and outdoor plants for many years. It has always been a hobby of mine. I have always enjoyed taking care of living things.

Favorite Indoor Plant The favorite one that I have is my Ficus tree—mainly because I have had it for around twenty years, and it’s been driven across the country two times. This time of the year, it enjoys a spot in the back until I bring it back indoors.

Favorite Outdoor Plant Right now, it’s my White Sage. It’s a beautiful plant and smells amazing. In the winter it also becomes another house plant.

Secret to Green Thumb That’s a hard one. I think it has a lot to do with just learning about plants, taking time to listen and understand what different plants want. There are some plants that I can’t keep alive and some that just grow very well for me.

S UM M ER 2020 • 65

Nurtured in

NATURE Hayley Coble Brings the Outside In

by J.T. Crawford

66 • PAD U CAH L I FE

“I

T STEMS FROM MY FAMILY,” SAYS

Hayley Coble as she discusses her love for indoor plants. “My mom always had plants around the house—a ton of plants.”

Like Hayley, you probably remember a time when houseplants were exceedingly prevalent. Many households sheltered plants throughout. Then, their presence began to dwindle. From the late 80s and into the 2000s, what was once common in nearly every home was a rarity. But by the time the mid-2010s rolled around, millennials were taking to decorating with plants, pushing their popularity upward at a rapid rate. And like Hayley, it was a simple return to what was once a staple of life.

“It’s a way to bring the outdoors in,” she says as she lists her reasons for being a collector. “It’s taking care of something. There are air purifying qualities in a lot of plants.

It’s the perfect decor piece because who doesn’t love living decor? It’s the perfect gift. Everyone knows they will get a plant from me. They are just perfect.”

As Hayley begins to discuss her plants individually, she sounds like many of the other enthusiasts we’ve talked to.

Their words ring with pride, just like that of a parent. “I take care of them like they are my children,” Hayley says as she smiles demurely. “I especially love my cacti and succulents. They are low maintenance and tolerate low light.” In that, Hayley shatters one of the myths of being a houseplant owner—that it is a lot of work. Hayley says you can love the plants but also love to not work at it a lot.

“I like low-maintenance and those that take care of themselves,” says Hayley. “A lot of these plants, you water once a month, and they are taken care of.” Hayley’s collection started small when Hayley and husband Justin lived in an apartment. She had succulents and cacti in a single terrarium.

Now that they are in a home with lots of natural light, Hayley has been able to expand her assortment.“I have people see what I have, and they wonder how I manage it since it looks like a jungle in here.

But people don’t realize how easy they are. My most needy plant needs water once a week. That’s it.”

Hayley’s current abode is mid-century modern both in construction and decor. Large windows adjacent to her

living room and kitchen jut up to vaulted ceilings, allowing for natural light to pour in. The clean, simple lines that run throughout the home are framed by green at nearly every turn.

Many of the plants were gifts to Hayley, and they serve a perpetual reminder of each giver. “Justin used to send me flowers like on my birthday or Valentine’s Day,” says Hayley.

“It was very nice, but I was like yeah, they are going to die soon, though.”

“I learned quickly that the thing to get were plants,” laughs Justin. “I would call Flower + Furbish and let Sara know I needed something for Hayley. I don’t know a lot of the varieties, but Sara does.”

Hayley pauses and surveys the room. “Your mom got me that one,” she says as she and Justin reminisce. “And you got me that one. The note you put on that one was the sweetest.” Many of the plants also serve as a reminder of Hayley’s father who passed away a couple of years ago.“He built plant stands for me. I saw stands I liked, but they were super expensive. I’d rather have spent the money on plants. I asked, and at first, he grumbled about it, saying that he didn’t think he could do that. But then he did! He took part in my addiction as well.”

Hayley loves being surrounded by life and growing together with her greenery. “A cool quality of this is watching them develop,” she says. “When you get them, you see what they look like when you first bring them home. But when they grow, they turn into something else.” Hayley is a natural at nurturing. And such a connection with her houseplants means they will be a part of her world for years to come. As she watches them thrive, they too will bear witness to the changes in Hayley’s life. From that little terrarium in her first apartment, as she and Justin established lives together as a young couple, to her new home that offers more space for a growing family (they are expecting a baby boy in September), life will flourish all around them, a constant reminder of the enchantment and mystery of existence.

S UM M ER 2020 • 67

A

Sanctuary in Green

by J.T. Crawford

The Revival of the Humble Houseplant

T

Sara Falder

THERE’S THE MONSTERA, THE FIDDLE-LEAF, THE STRING OF DOLPHINS, THE MOTHER-IN-LAW’S tongue, and the peperomia. Strange names, but once you get to know them, you might find a budding new love. Many others have as houseplant ownership has been trending upward over the last few years. It is more than just a trend, however. It is a return to what had been, for generations, commonplace.

Social media has helped fuel the growth in the indoor plant marketplace. Photos of the multitude of varieties provide a fascinating view of the wonders of nature. Each plant is a living work of art, a perfect piece of decor for any home. And the addiction is real. The hashtag #crazyplantlady has been used over a million times on Instagram.

“Sales in the market over the last few years are up $1.7 billion,” says Sara Falder, owner of Flower + Furbish. Sara’s in the thick of the uptick. Her flower shop floor space has an ever-growing footprint devoted to selling houseplants.

“They are so good for you to have in your life,” she says.“They purify the air. They are so pretty to look at. The variety is so cool. There’s just everything to love about them.”

Sara’s unsure of why there wasn’t such love for houseplants for a while, but she certainly hopes it wasn’t because people thought they were too hard to maintain.“I have heard people say, ‘Oh, I don’t have a green thumb. I can’t keep plants alive.’

But there’s no such thing as a green thumb. It does take some care, but it’s nowhere near as difficult as some think.”

Sara says the amount of information and access via the Internet is making it a lot easier. There’s no blanket instruction for all plants, so Sara strives to provide each customer with directions appropriate for their purchases. And she can also point them toward resources that help them be successful.“And the plants will communicate to you their needs,” she says.“We just have to listen.” Some plants, for example, will simply start to droop when they need water. Others may send out blooming shoots when they need a drink. For many, the biggest threat is overwatering, not underwatering. And even if a person makes a mistake, a lot of plants bounce back.

68 • PAD U CAH L I FE

“I don’t want anyone to think I am perfect at it,” says Sara.“We’ve gone way beyond the basic few plants that were available years ago. So when I find something new I like, I have to get it in the shop and experiment with it some before I can tell others what to do.”

In addition to buying houseplants, collectors are returning to the way their ancestors shared them—propagation. Plant parents can produce offspring from many varieties of plants by simply taking a cutting and allowing it to root in new soil.“I still have plants from cuttings from my great-grandma’s pothos,” says Sara.

“You’ll see that in a lot of households.

Someone will say something like this is from my great-great Aunt Betty’s plant. It was something she had clipped and shared a long time ago, and it’s still around. How cool is that?”

Also making a return—macramé plant hangers. “My mom just rolls her eyes at that,” laughs Sara. “She says I used to make those all the time in college. So the decor of plants is coming back, too.”

Sara says that if you are interested in getting started in the world of houseplants but are still a bit nervous to stop by for some guidance.“I like to talk about their houses, things like how much light they get inside, etc. I want to know what a person is looking for in a houseplant and pair them with what works. If they want easy, that can be done. Some people may want something a little more funky and fun. There are so many options!”

life life ahah @p aducuc pad @

FOLLOW us on

Connect to Flower + Furbish flowerandfurbish.com There is also a local, online community where you can ask questions and share your love for houseplants. Go to Facebook, and search for the group Propagate Paducah.

S UMMER 2020 • 69

Attor neys a t L aw Rooted in tradition.

Prepared for the future.

Gary B. Houston / E. Frederick Straub, Jr. R. Christion Hutson / C. Thomas Miller James R. Coltharp, Jr. / Sharlott K. Higdon Nicholas M. Holland / Elizabeth A. Wieneke Ryan T. Polczynski / Eric C. Straub Matthew S. Eddy Of Counsel, Richard C. Roberts

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by

B I L LA N

M G O OvD of e Director Executi y Humanities Kentuck

★

★

Former veteran KET broadcaster Bill Goodman, provides a few go od words and PADUCAH LIFE M agazine provides a few hi storic photos as we present your virtual Fancy Farm Picnic 2020

In The Time of The Pandemic 71

★ FA N C Y FA RM

WHAT DO TAYLOR SWIFT’S “LOVER’S TOUR,” the summer Olympics, and Fancy Farm have in common? They’ve all been canceled by the “no picnic this year” pandemic.

With health organizations and most government officials strongly deterring large public gatherings, the organizers of the world’s largest one-day political picnic have decided to cancel the 2020 annual event.

So where are you going to get your barbecue and roasting ears? Can you still get a ticket for the big truck raffle? How can you make it through the fall without all that hootin’, hollerin’, and name callin’ from the stage?

Sit tight. (Heard that before?) All may not be lost.

72 •• PAD PADUCAH LIFE 72 U CAH L I FE

Fancy Farm won’t feature political speeches from the stage this year because of the pandemic.

Picnic organizers are working on a plan to sell barbecue pork and mutton drivethrough style and there will be some sort of online auction to raise funds for the parish. Picnic Chairman Daniel Burgess says fundraising for the St. Jerome Catholic Church Parish will most likely suffer.

As someone who attended numerous ★ Fancy Farm political events over the FANCY years while at Kentucky Educational FAR M Television, I couldn’t envision how the 2020 version might unfold. While in discussion about this year’s event, organizers thought they might have speeches from the stage and no audience to speak too. Last year, I was honored to serve as the master of ceremonies or, as I said at the time, the official referee of the event. Standing on stage staring into the faces and signs of several thousand screaming partisans was scary enough; can you conceive of delivering remarks to a dozen dispassionate members of the media glaring back at you? That’s even scarier!

Fancy Farm on the first Saturday of August has always been loud and boisterous. Maybe it is a good thing that the event this year won’t feature speeches without the crowd. It would have been eerie to have actually heard what the politicians were saying.

It has been said over the years that a candidate cannot win a race at Fancy Farm, but you can lose it there with just the right misstep or poor performance.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been coming to Fancy Farm since 1984, has always said anyone with political aspirations in Kentucky has to show up. “The chance of making a significant impression is low, but it still matters to show up.”

So, friends, what do we have to lose this year with no Fancy Farm political picnic?

With all due respect and reverence to the needs of the St. Jerome Parish, here’s a small list of what you’ll miss: heat, sweat, bad speeches, terrible jokes, and thank the Lord, poetry.

Editor’s Note: Emcee Bill Goodman wrote and delivered a poem at the 2019 event!

74 • PADUCAH LIFE

Old Time Reunion Mike Myers has been attending the Fancy Farm picnic for over half a century. His wife grew up in the community and went to school adjacent to the picnic grounds.

For them, the draw is the reunion of those who have deep ties to the community.

“I keep coming back because you see people you haven’t seen in a while,” says Mike. “We’re all getting older, so each year, it means more and more to get together and socialize. I’m done with the political aspect. In years past, yeah, I’d be over here waving a sign or something. If someone came in and made sense, you’d remember that name when you go to vote and pull that lever. What I’ve discovered when it comes to the political speeches here is that you just need to come in with an open mind, ready to learn something. It may not be what you expect, but at least you’re learning something.”

H

Kate Criner Named US

Presidential Scholar “It’s easy to believe that success comes to those who work harder than everyone else and place work above friendships, but it’s truly just the opposite. My friends give me the strength and support to be better.”

W

by Shelby Durham

WHILE PADUCAH’S QUAINT RIVER-FRONT community is known to be a creative powerhouse by Kentuckians state-wide, it is not every day that the residents of Paducah are recognized in the White House. Between Spanish lattes from ETC and yoga sessions at True North, Kate Criner spends her time building up her non-profit organization and serving the Paducah community through volunteer efforts and representation initiatives. Kate’s bold advocacy for mental health and constant participation in countless other community programs has led her to become Paducah Tilghman High School’s first ever US Presidential Scholar— a title that holds just as much weight as Kate’s impact upon Paducah.

The US Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president in order to recognize and honor America’s most accomplished and distinguished high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students nation-wide are selected as US Presidential Scholars, and Kate Criner was one of two US Presidential Scholars chosen from Kentucky. This distinguished title was given to Kate based upon her passion for representation

76 • PAD U CAH L I FE

and her strong academic excellence. Among her long list of achievements, Kate was the valedictorian of the Paducah Tilghman class of 2020 and the captain of Tilghman’s speech and debate team. But what is it that truly makes Kate stand out among her peers?

Kate’s most outstanding achievement thus far is her founding of Loqui, a youth-led group focused upon creating conversations to decrease the stigma surrounding discussing mental health. Kate noticed that inherent power biases discouraged teens from seeking traditional therapy.

She decided that the best way for her to tackle this issue was to create a group that was led entirely by her and her peers. “Even when opportunities to improve mental health are available, many teens don’t take advantage of them because of the stigma surrounding it. They don’t want to feel weak or isolated,” Kate commented. “The purpose of the program is not to give advice to weigh in on anyone else’s situation; it is simply to speak on what holds us back.” After receiving a Kentucky Youth Empowerment Systems Grant in April of 2019, Kate’s vision of minimizing stigma for teens became a reality, and Loqui was officially formed.

Recently, Kate’s non-profit has been expanding and focusing on creating a session that focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement. This expansion includes brainstorming ideas on how students can communicate and collaborate with teachers and city officials to minimize the stigma specific to Black American groups.

“There is a huge disparity in the aid provided amongst communities of color. Loqui exists to provide a system to support people of all backgrounds and to create an environment that is comfortable and free from judgment,” she comments. Kate has extended her program to communities outside of Paducah and has partnered with the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team to promote her program across the state. “I think that far too often we feel like our voices aren’t heard because we’re young,” Kate adds. “Having this support network helps us to gain the confidence to fight back against the cruel injustices that Black Americans are facing.”

“

Loqui exists to provide a system to support people of all backgrounds and to create an environment that is comfortable and free from judgment

Say HELLO to Shelby!

MY NAME IS SHELBY DURHAM

and I am currently a sophomore at Indi-

ana University in Bloomington, Indiana. I am currently majoring in Political Science with minors in French and History. After graduation, I hope to attend law school or potentially work for a news outlet. I am passionate about people and coffee!

I love learning about different stories and cultures and discussing ways in which we

This fall, Kate will attend the University of Louisville as a neuroscience major with a minor in psychology, choosing a pre-med track in order to become a psychiatrist. Psychiatry seems a natural choice for Kate, given her passion for access to outstanding mental health resources and her love of STEM based classes.

As Kate navigates the larger scholastic community, she knows that she will carry bits of Paducah with her. She draws a lot of inspiration from her mother who serves as the Executive Director at Child Watch Counseling and Advocacy Center. From watching her mother work with Paducah community members to protect the vulnerable, Kate has learned the importance of remaining committed to helping her community, wherever that may be.

Kate has also learned a big lesson from attending Paducah Tilghman High School. She has learned that it is always okay to ask for help.“It’s easy to believe that success comes to those who work harder than everyone else and place work above friendships, but it’s truly just the opposite. My friends give me the strength and support to be better,” Kate reflects. Kate embodies that humble yet empowered spirit that the Paducah community so often fosters.

can make society ever better. Naturally, I have always had a deep love and appreciation for writing.

During my senior year of high school, I was the Editor-in-Chief of Paducah Tilghman’s school newspaper, The Tilghman Bell. I loved everything about the process of producing informative and interesting content. PADUCAH LIFE Magazine has always been a publication I have deeply admired, so it is such an amazing opportunity to publish my own work in this edition! Growing up in Paducah has taught me so much about kindness and the importance of community. I know and love every hidden gem of this artsy little town. I am so excited to add to the stories on the pages of PADUCAH LIFE.

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Looking BACK at

LIFE We The People, 1994

by Darlene M. Mazzone

P

270.908.0006 | freighthousefood.com 78 • PAD U CAH L I FE

ADUCAH LIFE Magazine is proudly celebrating 30 years of being Paducah’s city magazine.

Since the winter of 1990, writers, designers, photographers, illustrators, advertisers, and READERS have been the force propelling us forward through THOUSANDS of pages chronicling the LIFE of Paducah/McCracken County. We’ve witnessed adventures in the Amazon, Brazil, England, Scotland, Russia, and the Arctic.

We’ve covered quilts, canoers, computer geeks, and concerts.

We’ve profiled astronauts, composers, barbecuers, country singers, goose hunters, tennis pros, and cake bakers. We’ve interviewed botanists, blacksmiths, and broom makers.

We’ve investigated the lives of

everyone from Alben Barkley to Allan Rhodes.

Many years ago when I was researching some historical story at the Market House Museum, Charles Manchester pulled open a file drawer and there were rows and rows of PADUCAH LIFE Magazines. I was astounded.“Why are you surprised,” he said to me.“This is a history of what life was like in Paducah for those who come after us.” That statement STILL rocks my world a little. Day by day, page by page, we have told the stories of the people who have populated this place we call home. It doesn’t often occur to me that we’ve been writing history along the way.

In the summer of 1994, Paducah Life Magazine published a combination profile of the community and Chamber of Commerce Directory. In this special edition, the magazine celebrated “We The People” of Paducah/ McCracken County by shining a light on the many individuals and businesses that were a part of a creative, collaborative community.

On the cover were Joe Framptom, Zana Renfro, Erna Boykin and the late Marshall Nemer. Inside were features on West Kentucky State Technical School, a new soccer league, veteran broadcaster Tom Butler, Bonnie Schrock’s humanitarian trip to Russia, the Anne Washington Leslie House, the chest pain center at Lourdes Hospital, Ro Morse’s new cookbook, the NEW Cynthia’s Ristorante, Jeremiah’s frog legs, a “really big shoe” at the former Runge’s Shoe Store, and the new Hooper’s Store with its own canine mascot, plus much more.There was lots going on in our lively hometown in 1994 and as always, PADUCAH LIFE Magazine was there to chronicle its ever-developing character.

LIKE us on And get MORE out of LIFE!

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Put it inWriting

L

ACY BOLING IS THE DISTRICT MANAGER of Retail and Pharmacy Operations for Southwest Kentucky at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. She’s the wife of Jason, and the mother of Madelyn (11), and Miles, (8.) She is a deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church and Clark Elementary PTO president. She is also a writer. “As with most people perhaps, writing is a form of therapy for me,” says Lacy. “When I write things down I can sort them out and look for their meaning in the larger scope of my life.

I’ve loved to write since elementary school when my 5th grade teacher, Rhea Carter, told me I had a knack for it.

Writing, for me, is also a way to connect with those around me. It allows me to share my story like I remember my grandmother doing. She was always on the phone talking about this or that. Storytelling is so impactful. People who think they’re different can find common ground through storytelling. I believe we can discover unique things about each other, and in that discovery, we can celebrate our lives by sharing our stories and journeys.”

Lacy was recently asked to complete a work survey, which lead her to conjure up some thoughts about her LIFE on and off the job. PADUCAH LIFE saw an excerpt on Instagram and, like Lacy’s 5th grade teacher, we realized she had a knack for writing. That’s why we wanted to share her thoughts with you.

What is your biggest inspiration?

In my life, my biggest inspiration has always been my past. I keep memories that have molded me tucked into my personality. These memories serve as inspiration, motivation, and ultimately determination that drive me at work every day.

In particular, I think about my mother who worked several jobs as a single parent to keep us taken care of. At the time of her retirement, she had worked at her primary

★

by DARLENE M AZZONE

employer approximately thirty years. Always in the same role and no significant pay raises, she was never stimulated, never inspired, and never allowed to grow professionally. This required her to work at several places in order to make ends meet, keeping her away from home. I remember her path when I consider that my purpose is to inspire future leaders that are able, in turn, to provide for those they care for in their personal lives.

How do you advocate for yourself?

Maya Angelou once said, “You are free when you realize you belong no place—you belong every place—no place at all.” Both personally and professionally, I have found this

The photo above from 1983 is Lacy and her mom, Phyllis Tabor, at her beloved grandmother’s house. “My grandmother’s name was Ruby Farmer, and she always told me stories of her life. She loved to write postcards and letters to her family and friends. She loved sharing and connecting with others by telling about her day-to-day life. I think that’s where I got some of my desire to share as well.”

80 • PADUCAH LIFE

to be true for myself and others I have gotten to know. All too often, we believe we cannot speak our truth or share our voice because it is not our “role” or our “lane.”

All too often, we think we do not belong but the reality is the person next to you likely feels the same.

Therefore, I advocate for myself by being comfortable and confident in any room I enter because I treat it as my own and theirs at the same time.

Specifically, I advocate for myself by understanding my strengths and weaknesses. I believe that being an advocate for oneself is about being direct but also thoughtful and compassionate. Personal advocacy means being bold in spirit when necessary, but also vulnerable enough to alter course when required.

How has mentorship played a role in your career?

After a graduate internship interview, a member of the panel approached me several weeks later and said, “I wanted to work with you.” Dr. Bonnie Higginson became my mentor in all things, by instilling confidence in me personally and my presence.

That sentence started a relationship that helped me understand my purpose and my presence as well.

Quick with feedback throughout the years, my mentor taught me how to use my presence deliberately for personal advocacy but the greater good as well. She taught me that it is okay to go “all in” but also how to be reserved and support others. Mentorship is about finding someone who understands your strengths and weaknesses.

Mentorship is about trusting someone to help you navigate those strengths and weaknesses to become the best you possible.

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S UMM ER 2020 • 81

Poet, writer, and civic leader.

Sara Smith Campbell lavished her favored city with both words and deeds ★

by DARLENE M AZZONE Without the diligence of Paducah writer and socialite Sarah Smith Campbell, it might have been years before Paducah’s flag was born. The following excerpt from a Paducah Sun Democrat article, penned by Weldon Grimsley more than 60 years ago, sheds much light on this fine lady’s singular mission to see that an appropriate flag flew over her favored city.

P W

ADUCAH’S NEW CITY FLAG HAS ARRIVED, BUT AS YET it has not officially been presented to the city.

The new flag, designed and purchased for the city by Mrs. Sara Smith Campbell is red on the ends with white in the center. On the field of white is a picture of Chief Paduke, surrounded by 15 stars in honor of Kentucky being the 15th state to enter the union and under the bust of the Indian chief is the date Paducah was named, 1827.

The designer of the flag, sometimes called a modern day Betsy Ross, got the project underway early in the spring of 1960, and has carried the project through.

A writer, listed in Who’s Who, Mrs. Campbell has long been interested in the color history adds to a community, especially Southern history and wondered why Paducah didn’t have its own flag. Four other Kentucky cities do.

82 • PADUCAH LIFE

So, she drew up plans for the flag and submitted them to the city commission. The proposal was adopted and all that’s officially left to do now is make the presentation to the city. No date has been set for this ceremony.

“We want this to be everybody’s flag,” she said, “so Chief Paduke was selected as the person to be honored on the banner. He, of all the famous persons connected with Paducah, really belongs to all Paducahans.”

Flag makers at first suggested that a standard picture of an Indian be used as a symbol of Chief Paduke, thus saving several dollars on the cost of the flag.

But, wanting the flag to be perfect down to the last detail, Mrs. Campbell balked at this idea and went to great lengths to have a picture made of Chief Paduke from the statue on Jefferson Street, from which the drawing on the flag was made.

With the center around the chief of the Padukes, earlier dwellers on the land which is now Paducah, a colorful day in history is revived.

It was reported back in 1827 when the Paduke chief, long since moved from this area with his people, returned in his older years to pay a last visit to General William Clark. He died of fever in the swamps before he could see Clark, who, at the time, was away on a trip.

Clark returned a few months later, history says and decided to start his own town. He called it Paducah in honor of his deceased friend.

The body of the honored chief now rests in an unmarked grave on Third Street Mrs. Campbell said.

mountain

woman

THIS SUBMISSION BY SARA SMITH CAMPBELL WAS PRINTED IN THE 1951 EDITION OF THE SPECTATOR.

Editor’s Note: A great deal of poetry is submitted to the editorial desk of The Spectator. Much of it is mediocre, some of it tripe, some is good sentiment and poor poetry, a small portion is good, a minute portion very good. Were it otherwise we’d have too much good poetry. This poem by Sara Smith Campbell stood out like a pine tree in a wheat field. We liked it immensely—for its imagery, its choice of words, its sentiment, its technical excellence. It is a cameo much like the old mountain woman whom it etches.

I saw her standing in her cabin door, Gaunt and erect, though she was growing old.

Inside the black sunbonnet that she wore, Her leathery face held eyes untamed and bold As eagles’, and as distant in their sweep.

Between her gums a pipe of elder stem Smoked slowly, while a lone grandchild would peep From where he hid behind her skirt’s wide hem.

I thought I saw her standing there a bride, And then a widow with a half-strayed brood, Counting the crosses on the mountainside That marked the milestones of a stubborn feud.

She seemed so much a part of this grim place, The mountain’s very soul looked from her face.

Now More Than Ever!

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S UMMER 2020 • 83

LastWord the

★

“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.”— JOHN LOCKE

Paducah artist NANCY CALCUTT, originally from Massachusetts, moved to Paducah in 2003 as part of Paducah’s Artist Relocation Program. Calcutt creates lively, colorful, mixed media paintings of people and animals. The Book of Knowledge is a painting from her Pandemic Series.

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PADUCAH LIFE

84 • PAD U CAH L I FE

Live Happily Ever After Memorable moments are almost always grounded in the place where you spend most of your time—your home.

From baking cookies in the kitchen, to reading bedtime stories, to backyard barbecues, every moment in the place you call home becomes a treasured piece of the life you’re building together. Live happily ever after with the right realtor.

SUZY GILLAND REALTOR

270.556.3697 suzygilland@gmail.com 3225 Coleman Road • Paducah, KY 42001

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