Lincoln County Living Magazine Summer 2024

New Listings

4555 State Highway 1194, Stanford, KY 40484

ABOUT THIS PROPERTY:

Welcome to your dream farm! Nestled within this picturesque landscape lies a charming 3-bedroom home awaiting your personal touch. This working 156 Acre farm offers a detached garage/workshop, a 13 stall horse barn with loft and 2 side sheds, an 8 bent livestock barn with drive through shed and 2 Automatic Waterers and three ponds. This farm currently has 35 acres already utilized for crops and the potential for up to 50 acres.

CONTACT DEONICA ASBERY FOR MORE INFORMATION BROKER | LICENSE ID: 213970 1(859) 329-8193

DEONICA@CORNERSTONEREALTYANDAUCTION.COM

66 Beth LN, Hustonville, KY 40437 ABOUT THIS PROPERTY:

NEW PRICE!** NEW CONSTRUCTION**

You won't find a new construction with the attention to detail that this one was given! At just over 1800 sq/ft this beautiful new construction boasts 3 large bedrooms, 2 full baths, a large 2 car garage, 3/4 acre lot, a large garden tub and stand up shower in the primary bathroom with a huge walk-in closet and seperate toilet room. It also features matching granite tops throughout with matching water proof laminate flooring and beautiful tile work in the bathrooms. The kitchen features a large island with overhang for counter height seating and an area for dining. Builder includes a one year warranty.

CONTACT MATT WOOD FOR MORE INFORMATION AGENT | LICENSE ID: 220346 1(859) 583-8220

MATT@CORNERSTONEREALTYANDAUCTION.COM TO

Table of Contents Karen Moses

606-524-0099

Phone karen@simcorpconsulting.com

Email

201-A East Main Street | Stanford Address

As the days grow warmer, the sun shines longer, and we spend more time outdoors, we know that Springtime is fading and it’s now time to enjoy Summer’s radiant beauty. What is Summer to you? For me, it’s cool Summer evenings sitting on the porch reading a good book.

I put together a list of some of my favorite moments as they are so ingrained in my brain that even a list like this brings back smells, flavors, and that ultimate “Summer’s finally here” feeling.

These are the perfect slow summer moments that I always look so forward to:

Red, ripe, sweet tomatoes with fresh basil, mozzarella, olive oil and sea salt for dinner

Sleeping next to open windows

Laying in a sun lounger in the shade and being immersed in a book for hours

Sitting on the porch, sipping hot coffee during the early morning hours while most of the world is still sleeping

Letting my hair air-dry

The cracking sound of cutting up watermelon

Spontaneous get-togethers with friends

A movie night outdoors

Iced coffee

An early evening neighborhood stroll walking my dogs

The smell the next morning after an overnight rain

Outdoor everything – lunch, coffees, happy hour

Watching a sunset by the lake or on your back porch

Eating fresh fruits instead of a proper lunch, because it’s all you crave on a hot, humid day

Enjoying a tall glass of fruit-infused water

The rainbow colors of a farmers market

Drinking sun tea

I sincerely hope you enjoy this issue of the Lincoln County Living Magazine I prepared it exclusively for you, the reader

Karen Moses

Lincoln County Living Magazine is the premier local publication, offering a rich blend of community news, insightful articles, and stunning photography that captures the heart of Lincoln County. With features on local events, businesses, and inspiring stories, it connects readers to their community like no other. Its commitment to quality journalism and supporting local culture makes it a must-read for anyone looking to stay informed and engaged with the vibrant life of Lincoln County.

Pages: 7,8,10,12,14

Lincoln County High School Graduate Pictures

Page: 15

Letter from Lincoln County Board of Education Superintendent, Bruce Smith

Page: 16

What’s Happen’ in Hustonville

Page: 17

What’s Happen’ in Crab Orchard, By Abigail Roberts, Contributing Writer

Page: 18

Cleanin’ Up the County, By Abigail Robert, Contributing Writer

Page: 19

Organ Donation, By Abigail Roberts, Contributing Writer

Page: 20

Stanford Drive in History, By Jonathan Smith, Historian

Page: 22

Sports Shorts, By Jonathan Smith, Contributing Writer

Page: 23

William Whitley “A Pioneer in Kentucky Horse Racing”, By Jonathan Smith, Historian

Pages: 24 & 25

Dr. Samuel Hooker “A Rex Ramsey Report” By Jonathan Smith, Author

WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN STANFORD?

Summer is here and for the City of Stanford that means several sidewalk and road projects are underway!

Stanford Mayor Dalton Miller said after almost 12 years of effort, Foster Lane is finally getting new sidewalks.

“That’s the sidewalks project from the Safe Schools grant that was started back in 2012,” Miller said. “Me and the Judge-Executive have pushed and pushed and it has now come to fruition and they’re actually doing it.”

Main Street is also going to be milled and resurfaced by the state, Miller said.

“All of the blacktopping in the city should be done by June 30. We’ve got several roads to be blacktopped,” he said.

Several city streets are scheduled to be resurfaced including: Cut Off Street, Anderson Heights, Herndon Avenue, Spring Valley Drive, Harmon Heights, and Darst Street/Rosemont.

“One of the good things that’s happening in Stanford is a lot of housing construction,” Miller said. “We have a builder, Brian Holmes, putting four homes at the end of Powers Court and getting ready to do a project at the end of Betsy Lane with approximately seven homes.”

Stanford is also welcoming several new businesses this summer and fall including the Cumberland Family Medical Center located next to Walmart, which is expected to open in July.

Tractor Supply is also coming to Stanford and will be located on U.S. 150 where Bluegrass Mobile Homes used to be located.

“We have also broken ground on our Build-Ready sites at our Industrial Park. We got grant money for that and we’re moving forward with everything we’ve been promising was going to happen,” Miller said. “We’re actually able to move forward now that the state and federal government has freed up grant money that they promised.”

A brand new laundromat called laker Laundry has now opened at 108 Lily Street in Stanford. The laundromat offers self service as well as drop off service. They are open Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tanner Leigh, a Stanford native, has opened Central Kentucky Family Vision on Main Street for all of your optometry needs.

Miller said Leigh is a Stanford resident who went away to medical school and returned home to help his community. The office is located at 502 E. Main Street.

The 7th Annual Reenactment of the Siege of 1777 at Logan’s Fort was held in May and was well-attended, Miller said.

“We had a great turnout and are looking forward to next year,” he said. “Everybody needs to ride out and look at the new cabin that’s being built.”

There are three structures left to build to complete the Fort, including two block houses and Logan’s Cabin.

The City of Stanford is inviting the public to the Lincoln County Courthouse steps at 9 a.m. on July 4 for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence.

You can keep up with local events and public meetings by following the Stanford City Hall Facebook page and by grabbing a copy of each quarterly edition of Lincoln County Living Magazine ™

Aaliyah Racheal Durant

Abby Rose Marie Regan

Abigail Nicole Walls

Abigail Olivia Walls Adam Matthew Beckett

Adam Wright Spears

Addison Ryleigh Milby

Anna-Beth Lane Cook

Blake Adamsen Camel

Brittany Leann Miller

Carson Robert Greer

Alexis Bryann Vergara

Anthony James Tompkins Sousis

Blake Keaton Parker Folger

Brooklyn Ann Adams

Casey Wayne Strevels

Allyashia Maddenique Taylor

Ashley Grace Lewis

Bradlee David Young

Caden Michael Bastin

Chad Alexander Stephens

Amber Danielle Gooch

Ashley Jade Cole

Braelyn Olivia Johnson

Cadence Blade Nuckols

Charles Wesley Crawley

Angel Marie Denny

Ashton Lee Isham

Brandon Jacob Chase McKinney

Callie Ellanna Paige Manier

Christian Alexander Gibson

Anna Elizabeth Hurt

Ava Reese Moberly

Breanna Dawn Adams

Camron Charles Wayen Hale

Christina Marie Cameron

Christopher Joseph Pennington Clayton Dale Ray Whitaker

Conner Jackson Miller

Connor Cusick Davis

Dakota Bryan Phillips

Daniel Reese Story

David Kaden Dale Smith Destiny Atiana Davidson

Davanee Malakah Edwards

Devin Todd Morgan

Donovan James Lee Sanders

Dustin Nicholas Coppage

Eli Daniel Brummett Pleasants

Eliana Grace Baker

Elijah Scott Johnson

Elizabeth Renee Cornett

Ellyann Faith Sims

Emma Kate Foster

Emma Renee Lynn Vaught

Ethan Chase Allen

Evan Wade Estes

Evelyn Alana Rose Gosser

Garrett Adam Brown Gracie Caroline Gay

Gregory Addison Pike

Haley Nataly Gongalez

Haley Nicole McElroy

Hallie Suzanne Stafford

Hannah Marie Rogers

Hannah Nicole Sparks

Hayden Christopher Thomas Haylie Marie Carman

Hunter Blake Wine

Hunter Kasey Conley

Isabell Grace Miller

Jackson Dale Kirkpatrick

Jackson Daniel Withrow

Jacob Xander McFarland

Jacquilyn Sierra Lee Gregory

Jadyn Breanna Nicole Moore

Jalynn Nicole Asberry

James Eli Carrrier

Jason Bradley Petrey

Jaxson David Reynolds

Jayde Michelle Rothwell

Jayden Carsyn Unthank

Johnna Danielle Bedwell

Jolee Anne Hale

Jordan Caleb Walker Jordan Lee Mitchell King

Joseph Elan Lane

Kaden Makenzi Young

Kaitlyn Paige Hunt

Kalyn Ann Peek

Kara Elizabeth Kay New Kara Nicole Douglas

Kathryn Irene Charland

Kathryn Jean Brewer

Kayci Ann Witt

Kayla Danielle Demarse

Kaylee Marie Atkins Kayli Alexandria Cumbo

Kaymin William Ray Gifford

Keelee Marie Baker Keeley Shaye Diaz

Kelbi Lynn Kamille Ratliff

Kenley Nicole Toler Kennedy Cheyenne Ashley

Kinslee Elizabeth Jade Bustle

Kobe James Pruitt

Koral Jarnes Ranck

Kyla Donae Moore

Laken Nicole Johnson Landon Allen Day

Landon Joseph Phillips

Leann Nicole Mounce

Levi Mackenzie Wilder

Lexi Brooke Grubbs

Libby Ann Nicole McFerron Lily Danielle States

Lilyanne Olivia Neighbors

Logan Edward Lawson

Lucas Dale Scott Sallee

Luke Wade Saylor

Lyndsey Nicole Ross Macey Danielle Rice

Maddox Faith Leann Parker

Madeline Bray Funkhouser

Maecey Grace Kathleen Carrier

Maggie Grace Day

Makayla Faye Greer

Margaret Ann Bowman

Marrisa Ann Hodge

Maryiah Elizabeth Masterson

Mason Everett Waddell

Mason Keith Hamm

Mason Todd Smith Matthew Dalton Bowen

Matthew Peyton Johnson

McKenzie Faith Elliot

McKenzie Rae Messer

Molly Brooke Viands

Natalie Christa Corine Savage Nathan Alexander Burton

Nathan Ray Butler

Nathan Riley Scott Nevaeh Ashlynn Harlan

Paisley Danielle Gay

FAN PAGE

Parker Reid Grubbs Rachel McKenzie Gadberry

Rian Lake Warner

Richard Andrew Simmerman

Riley Addison Parker Riley Madison Creech

Robert Franklin Pike Roxy Maddox Duncan

Ruby Ann Bratcher

Samuel Ray Hutton

Sara Elizabeth Ryan

Sarah Ann Hull

Savannah Marie Lavering Sawyer Adams Horton

Seth Denton Horton

Shelby Ann Cole

Sierra Ann Hopkins Sierra Faith Smith

Tanyon Riley Sanford Taryn Alexandria Guinn

Taylor Blake Downs

Timothy Daniel Land

Trace Colton Bryant

Trevor Lee Miracle

Trevor Lee Rayborn

Trinity Elaine Young

Trinity Jayelynn Louise Franklin

Tristan Rae Tyner

Tyler Jayden Lane

Valedia Rodriguez

Victoria Wray Wilburn

William Austin Carberry

William Brent Wilson

William Shannon Bishop Xavier Josheph Paver

Graduating Class

Lincoln County High School

Not Pictured

Congratulations to each member of the graduating Class of 2024! You have achieved a lifelong goal that you have pursued for the past thirteen years. While graduation is one of life's great forward-looking ceremonies, it is also a time to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of your high school experience.

During your high school years, you have made friends for a lifetime who not only helped you along the way but contributed to the person you have become, so, stay close to them. Each of you have been influenced by teachers and staff who had tremendous impact on your lives. You need to reflect often on the lessons they taught you. Parents and family members have supported you through challenges you have encountered and always be thankful for them.

Whenever you hear “the class of ” , you think about a vision. For you, the Class of 2024, I hope for a keen vision as you look to your future Each of you need to clearly see that one thing you love to do and are good at and make it intersect as your career. Life is not easy. You need to bring into focus what your place in the world will be because this world needs you. Each of you has much to contribute to our world. I want each of you to find your career, your personal element and be successful. I hope you never confuse life and work because your work is what you do, and your life is who you are.

You need to envision how you can help make our world a better place. I hope you envision a world where we not only tolerate one another's differences, but truly embrace the diversity. Hopefully you will see early on that real happiness comes from helping others. In fact, I have found that one of life's greatest lessons is that selflessness is really the best thing you can do for yourself.

One final thing, as you shake hands; look others in the eye as they tell you how proud they are of you and you enjoy the rite of passage that goes along with this milestone achievement, I say best of luck to each of you on behalf of all who care about and believe in you!

Bruce Smith Superintendent Lincoln County Board of Education

WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN HUSTONVILLE

The City of Hustonville is gearing up for a summer of fun! Kicking off that fun is the annual Heritage Days Festival which will be held on June 28 and 29th.

The event will include games, live music, local vendors and lots of food.

Heritage Days has something for everyone, especially the kids. Games include several contests such as a frogjumping contest, a hula-hoop contest, hay bale throwing, nail driving, a cornhole tournament, egg races and a big wheel race.

There will be live music throughout the day and into the night. For more information you can check out the Hustonville Heritage Days Festival page on Facebook.

“We have lots of cool things happening around Hustonville this summer,” said City Clerk Robin Sullivan.

The City of Hustonville will be hosting its first Duck Race on July 14. People will be able to purchase a rubber duck for $5 or six for $25.

“All proceeds will go towards the park,” Sullivan said.

The event will take place at the creek in the park at 1 p.m.

Sullivan said a new shop has opened up in Hustonville called Far Beyond Rubies. The owner, Carrie Davis, offers hosted events for 25 people or less.

“She does art camps for children and also paint parties,” Sullivan said. “She has a Facebook page Far Beyond rubies that people can book events on.”

Hustonville will also have a Farmers Market this year. The market will be in the park on the second Sunday and last Friday of every month until October.

“We are all really excited with the upcoming events and bringing the community closer together,” Sullivan said.

WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN CRAB ORCHARD?

It’s almost summertime and that means one thing for the City of Crab Orchard – gearing up for the annual Independence Day celebration.

This year’s Fourth of July event will be held on July 5 and 6. The theme is “Salute to America.”

The annual event draws a big crowd and hosts two days of food vendors, games, contests, live music and more.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff planned and it should be fun,” said Crab Orchard Mayor Jesse Harris.

Crab Orchard is known for having the longest-running Fourth of July parade in the state of Kentucky. The parade features fire, police and EMS trucks, classic cars, tractors, horses, four-wheelers and more.

Harris said the city has been working hard to clean up dilapidated structures and will soon have those properties open for bids.

“We just got done blacktopping all the way from Main Street to Redi Mart and it really looks good,” he said.

Crab Orchard has also officially bid the storm water project and anticipates that work to begin soon.

“We’re still working on our annexation. They are surveying right now,” he said. “That will move three different boundaries of our city.”

The annexation is expected to include the William Whitley House, a bed and breakfast near Cedar Creek Lake and a bait shop into city limits, as well as an area on Ky. Hwy. 39 south for a total of about eight miles.

Harris said the gas pipeline project is also moving forward and is coming right through town.

In Nov. 2023, the City of Crab Orchard ended prohibition and voted to allow the sale of alcohol within city limits.

“We have three places right now that we believe will be selling,” Harris said.

The D&M Food Mart has already started selling package alcohol, he said. A liquor store on Main Street is expected to open soon and the Family Dollar Tree will also be selling alcohol in the future.

“I hope we get enough income out of that to take care of our police department,” Harris said.

Harris said he’s excited about the progress in Crab Orchard.

“We’re excited. We’re going to try to make our little town better. We’re excited about a lot of things we’re hearing and doing,” he said. “We’re working hard here.”

Jailer Griffin Harness brings back inmate work program

By Abigail Roberts`

If you’ve noticed the sides of the roads in Lincoln County are a little bit cleaner, you can thank the inmate work program for a lot of it.

Lincoln County Jailer Griffin Harness has brought back the program which puts inmates to work on various community-oriented jobs, at no cost to taxpayers.

Harness said even though Lincoln County no longer has a jail, the inmates who work in the program are state inmates and come from the jails that Lincoln has contracts with such as Casey County and Pulaski County.

Since implementing the program, Harness said inmates have done lots of trash clean-up and other projects.

“We’ve been doing trash clean up, they have painted some fire stations, they have done some courthouse maintenance, mowed county properties, cemeteries, stuff like that,” he said.

The guards who oversee the inmates while they work are 100% volunteer, Harness said, making the program truly no-cost.

“It’s pretty much 100% free to taxpayers, other than the gas for the van and the van that he’s using, it’s not costing the county a dime,” he said. “When you see those guards on the side of the road, that’s 100% tax-free for them sitting there working.”

The program kicked off on April 15 and during the month inmates cleaned nine miles of roadway within the county, gathered 200 55-gallon bags of trash and provided inmates for six days at the courthouse doing county maintenance.

Inmates have even washed fire trucks and police vehicles for local agencies.

“Everybody is benefitting. We’ve taken them to Hustonville and they dedicated a whole day to just Hustonville city limits. We took them to Crab Orchard and they dedicated a whole day to Crab Orchard city limits,” he said.

Harness said he’s hoping the program continues to grow.

“It has been really good for this county,” Harness said. “The state road department has 100% backed us and helped us pick the trash up after we bag it and the county road department has let us use dump trucks so it’s a group effort. It takes teamwork and it’s been really good.”

Photos Submitted By Abigail Roberts

ORGAN DONATION GIVES 3 SIBLINGS QUALITY OF LIFE

By Abigail Roberts

Dan Gutenson and his two siblings, Chuck Gutenson and Sandy Davenport, were all diagnosed with a genetic kidney disease that threatened their quality of life.

But thanks to the gift of organ donation, all three of them are now able to live normal, healthy lives.

All three siblings, their mother, their grandmother, and their uncle all suffered from Polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PDK causes numerous fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys that can reduce kidney function and lead to kidney failure.

Most people don’t develop symptoms until they are 30 to 40 years old, which was the case for Gutenson's mother.

“Thank God for kidney transplants,” he said. “My brother got one 26 years ago. I got one 14 years ago and my twin sister got one about a year ago. The technology that they’ve made and the strides that they’ve made over the years – I’ve got quantity and quality of life, quality for sure.”

Gutenson’s mother was the first to receive a kidney transplant at the age of 60-61. The siblings received kidneys in various ways.

“It’s kind of amazing because my brother got his from a deceased donor, I got one from a living donor and my sister got a kidney from what they call a paired living donor,” he said. “A lady in Williamsburg wanted to donate to her but didn’t match so they put you in the system now where they put both the donor and the recipient on a list. So she got her kidney out of Florida and the woman who wanted to donate hers sent hers down to Florida. So we’ve kind of run the gamut.”

Gutenson said his daughter, Hannah, also has the same disease.

It’s because of organ donation that Gutenson and his family are able to lead active lives and it’s for that reason he spends much of his time telling their story and promoting organ donation.

The siblings are planning to attend the annual Transplant Games of America held in Birmingham, Alabama in July.

The event celebrates those who have given the gift of life and aims to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation.

Gutenson, who has participated several times in the past, said he is looking forward to attending this year’s games with his brother and sister.

THEATER STANFORD DRIVEIN

BY JONATHAN SMITH, HISTORIAN

The first drive-in movie theater in the world opened in New Jersy in 1933. Less than twenty years later, Lincoln County got its own modern outdoor movie theater when the Davis Drive-In opened on Tuesday night, May 27, 1952, to a packed house of 250 cars. The first movie shown was “Magic Carpet”, starring Lucille Ball and John Ager. Admission was 45 cents for adults, with children 12 and under admitted free.

Stanford businessman Henry C. Davis developed the theater on 4.8 acres of farmland adjoining his home on Highway 78, known then as Hustonville Road. Other than serving in WWI, Davis spent his whole life in Stanford where he was a former schoolteacher, banker, Ford automobile dealer, and land developer. He died in 1977 at the age of 84.

There have been a handful of Drive-In owners over the past seventy-two years, but the Downs (Bill and Linda) and Spangler (Danny and Carolyn) families were the longest serving. They operated the business from the early 1970s until 2010 and added the flea market to the back of the property, giving the business a daytime use.

The current owners, Denver and Jodie Coulter, have added an event center to the property, continuing the spirit of innovation that the Downs and Spanglers used to keep the drive-in thriving. Kudos to Stanford Drive-In Theater, one of the oldest continuously operated businesses in Lincoln County.

LINCOLN COUNTY CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

ANNUAL

IGHT AWA INN

The Lincoln County Chamber celebrated their annual dinner and awards night on May 7th, 2024 at the Historical Acardia Farms.

AWARD RECIPENTS

CHRIS WOOLUMS BIG APPLE AWARD

TAMMY TODD PATRIOT PETALS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

LUCINDA MULLINS COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

DALTON MILLER STANFORD MAYOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

STANLEY BURRIS FARMER OF THE YEAR

ANDREA MILLER LINCOLN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTOR

“WE HAD ANOTHER GREAT YEAR! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND SPONSORED THIS GREAT EVENT!”

William Whitley: A Pioneer in Kentucky Horse Racing

Written by: Jonathan Smith, Historian

Annually, the Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The origins of modern-day horse racing, including the Derby, started here in Lincoln County at Sportsman’s Hill.

William Whitley’s brick house in Lincoln County is credited as being the first one west of the Allegheny mountains, but his racetrack at Sportsman’s Hill is even more noteworthy. While Mystik Dan won this year’s running in the 150th Derby, William Whitley was racing horses at his track as early as 1788, long before the first official Derby in 1875.

Whitley had fought for freedom from King George in the Revolutionary War, and his dislike of the British was so intense that he didn’t want to hold horse races in the same way that the British raced them. The British raced on turf, so he raced on clay; they raced clockwise, so he raced counterclockwise. Ever since then, thoroughbred horse racing has been run the same way in this country. Just consider the impact of Whitley’s counterclockwise decision, as not only horse races, but track and field foot races, and even car races are competed counterclockwise in the United States.

Whitley’s racetrack was laid out near his iconic brick home around a small, flat-top hill so spectators could view the races from this raised infield atop the hill, seeing the races all the way around the track. The Sportsman’s Hill track was considered so important in early Kentucky history, that the Lincoln County Court approved funds for finding the most convenient road from the courthouse in Stanford to Sportsman’s Hill near Crab Orchard.

A race meet and grand barbecue was held every year, with a who’s-who of early Kentucky settlers attending. Sounds like today’s Derby. When you see and hear about the Derby every May, remember it all started with our very own William Whitley, right here in Lincoln County!

Photos submitted by: Peggy Denham

Editor’s Note: This series by historian Jonathan L. Smith involves a fictitious reporter covering real-life news stores. The details of the people and facts are real, as they were reported at the time. The reporter’s conversations are fictitious but are based on true facts. Any named person other than the reporter is an actual person who was involved in this matter.

Dr. Samuel Hocker (A Rex Ramsey Report)

After a while, it is hard to shock a seasoned newspaper reporter Especially one like me, who covers all the hard news in a time and place where there is plenty of hard news.

I’m Rex Ramsey, technically my given name is John Robert Ramsey. My mother still calls me John Robert but most everyone else calls me Rex. I got that moniker by reporting on train wrecks, and the homonym nickname stuck to me like the wallpaper on my rented Myers House room.

I come from a long line of Rockcastle County blacksmiths. I am built like them, with broad shoulders, thick arms, and a lean physique. They ply their trade with fire, hammers, and iron I use words and an inquisitive nature to make a living

I certainly swung my fair share of hammers and stoked many a hot forge as a boy, but my mother saw a different future for me and convinced my father to send me to school in Stanford.

The reputation of Stanford Academy was such that upon graduation I was admitted to Centre College without examination. After four years there, I considered being a high school professor or reading the law, but a chance meeting with William P. Walton, publisher and editor of the Interior Journal newspaper, led me to a career in journalism.

Stanford had become a boom town after the arrival of the L&N railroad in 1866 and shortly after that the Interior Journal became an important news source, covering the news in Stanford but also the rest of the interior of the state.

I came about twenty years after that, while the town was still hustling and bustling. My work took me into the city council meetings, the courthouse hearings, and sometimes the jail cells.

Mr Walton was an editor who liked the facts fairly reported and plainly presented for a readership that was spread across the spectrum of literacy. I made it a point to know the elected officials and the businessmen.

Sam Hocker was both. He was a well-known merchant. Well-known and well-liked. He was called “Dr. Hocker” due to his profession as a druggist.

He was so well-liked that the people of Stanford elected him their mayor in the 1893 election, defeating Henry Farris by five votes, 68 to 63, He and the six councilmen were sworn into office on January 1, 1894. My boss editorialized after the election that Dr. Hocker could be counted on to do what’s best for the town and would protect the town treasury

I made it a point after that to drop into Dr Hocker’s Main Street drug store at least once a week, not on official business but to nurture our relationship. I usually purchased some sundry items while there. I genuinely liked the man.

The new council was against the sale of liquor and planned on stopping it in Stanford, even though the issue was not one campaigned on or mandated by the electorate.

The council refused to renew some liquor licenses when they came due causing conflicts among the citizenry.

Dr Hocker, as Mayor, was for the sale of liquor, especially in light of it still being sold in Rowland He had pointed out that if Stanford had to deal with the evil of liquor all around us that we should benefit from it financially

Dr. Samuel Hocker

As Mayor, he was only allowed to cast a vote in the event of a deadlocked council. His role was mainly administrative, while the council members’ role was making policy legislating in a way. Thus, the sale of liquor really was not his decision

Except in his drug store About fifteen months after he became Mayor, Sam Hocker was arrested and charged with selling liquor in his business

A local Constable, at the suggestion of some unknown persons who thought Dr. Hocker was constantly violating the liquor laws, sent a man in to Hocker’s store with a marked bottle to get it filled. The man came out with whiskey and said he paid Dr. Hocker the amount called for.

I covered that hearing. It was not a violation of the liquor laws to give away liquor. Dr. Hocker was charged with selling it. The man who got the bottle of whiskey filled by him also owed Dr. Hocker money on account.

Dr Hocker testified that he gave the man the whiskey, without charge, and applied the money he paid to the man’s account, and that no charge was added to the account for the liquor. Case dismissed. About six weeks later, May 8, 1895, to be exact. I was in the newspaper office early that Wednesday morning working on the “Farm and Trade” items for the Friday edition when Editor Walton burst through the door and told me to go immediately to Dr. Hocker’s home on Lancaster Street.

The rumor mill was saying Dr. Hocker was found dead. I was headed for the street before Mr. Walton finished talking.

The first person I saw at the house was Dr W B O’Bannon, a town physician and residential neighbor of Dr Hocker

“Doc, what’s going on?”, I asked His eyes were sad, and his posture showed defeat.

“I came as soon as Mrs. Hocker sent for me. There was still life in Sam’s body, and I did all I could all any man could do to resuscitate him. He wanted to die, and he is dead.”

Wanted to die? That did not sound right. What could that mean?

I saw Tom Raney, manager of the Louisville Store, another Main Street merchant Tom saw me and he wanted to talk

He closed the distance between us and said, “Rex, Sam told me just yesterday that he had lost confidence in mankind. I was busy with work, and we didn’t talk any more about it but why did it come to this?”

After that I got all the facts. It was not fun. It still haunts me. Dr. Hocker had hanged himself in his smoke house. The rope was either too long or too elastic, and his feet could touch the ground after he jumped off the barrel where he stood.

His neck did not break and he somehow willed himself to hold his legs up while he died a slow strangulation.

Sam left letters behind, in his own handwriting He claimed some imagined family trouble, but no one close to the family knew anything about it

One of the letters he left was addressed to Mr. Walton and we printed the letter in its entirety. In addition to the unknown “domestic troubles”, he also mentioned in that letter that his enemies had set up a regular system of persecution.

To answer Tom Raney’s question why it came to this, I think at the end of the day, the mixture of politics and business created a life that Dr. Sam Hocker no longer wanted to live.

Yet, a druggist with access to fatal, painless poisons died a painfully slow self-inflicted death Some things can never be fully understood This is one of those things for me