Living and Working on the Kentucky River
Identifier
0001-006-114
Description
This project documents the economic and social conditions of people who have lived or worked on the Kentucky River.
Workers talk about several industries and occupations associated with the river: coal mining, locks and lock repair, logging, rafting logs downriver, sawmills, farming, fishing, oil drilling, and bootlegging. Many of the interviewees worked for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Several types of boats are discussed: showboats, steamboats, pleasure boats, ferry boats, barges, and various other kinds of commercial boats.
Narrators recall floods along the river, especially those in 1933, 1937, 1962, and 1978, and the ice tide during the winter of 1917--1918. Other topics are the droughts of 1930 and 1936; boat wrecks, drownings, and other river accidents; environmental concerns such as pollution of the river, dredging, and the ecology of the river basin; the history, including the geological history, of the Kentucky River and the Kentucky River Basin; the impact of the Great Depression and World War II on the area; social life and recreation; the river as depicted in fiction and poetry; and Paul Sawyier and his paintings.
Communities along the river that are discussed include Valley View, High Bridge, Shakertown, Boonesborough, and Oregon. Thomas D. Clark, Wendell E. Berry, and Thomas Fitzgerald are among those interviewed.
Workers talk about several industries and occupations associated with the river: coal mining, locks and lock repair, logging, rafting logs downriver, sawmills, farming, fishing, oil drilling, and bootlegging. Many of the interviewees worked for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Several types of boats are discussed: showboats, steamboats, pleasure boats, ferry boats, barges, and various other kinds of commercial boats.
Narrators recall floods along the river, especially those in 1933, 1937, 1962, and 1978, and the ice tide during the winter of 1917--1918. Other topics are the droughts of 1930 and 1936; boat wrecks, drownings, and other river accidents; environmental concerns such as pollution of the river, dredging, and the ecology of the river basin; the history, including the geological history, of the Kentucky River and the Kentucky River Basin; the impact of the Great Depression and World War II on the area; social life and recreation; the river as depicted in fiction and poetry; and Paul Sawyier and his paintings.
Communities along the river that are discussed include Valley View, High Bridge, Shakertown, Boonesborough, and Oregon. Thomas D. Clark, Wendell E. Berry, and Thomas Fitzgerald are among those interviewed.
Title
Living and Working on the Kentucky River
Project Interviews
Interview with Jerry Raisor
Curator, Kentucky River Museum
Interview with Helen Witt
Witt reminiscences of growing up at the Mowbray & Robinson sawmill in West Irvine, Kentucky in the 1920's and 1930's.
Interview with Glynn Welsh
Welsh tells of long life on the Kentucky River in Estill County.
Interview with Eddie Smith
Smith speaks of civil engineer work for the Park Service Commission on High Bridge.
Interview with W.M. Fint
Fint speaks of work as a fisherman and boat operator.
Interview with Benny Powell
Retired military man speaks of childhood adventures on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Patrick C. and William J. Lynch
The Lynch brothers discuss their time and work on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Russell Dees
Retiree from the Corps of Engineers discusses work on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Jessie B. Newby, Eunice Perkins, Elizabeth Saylor and Eva Sams
Four ladies speak of day to day life on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Oliver Franklin "Butch" Shearer
Riverboat Captain
Interview with Andy Mead
Reporter, Lexington Herald Leader
Interview with Thomas J. Fitzgerald
Director of Kentucky Resources Council
Interview with Ed Combs
Combs reminiscences about rafting on Troublesome Creek and the Northfolk of the Kentucky River.
Interview with Homer Allen
Allen speaks of experiences over the years along the Kentucky River.
Interview with O.H. Gullette
Lock worker talks about recent work and repairs done on certain locks on the Kentucky River.
Interview with James Young
Young discusses personal and family experiences on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Zelphia Kearns
Kearns discusses life in the community of Doylesville in Madison County, near the Kentucky River.
Interview with Sidney R. Clements & F.E. Webster
Clements and Webster tell of family and personal history along the Kentucky River.
Interview with Mayme Seale
Seale speaks of living for 90 years in Booneville, Kentucky.
Interview with Garland Dever, Jr.
Geologist with the Federal government shares information on work with Kentucky minerals.
Interview with William H. Martin
Commissioner, Kentucky Department Natural Resources and Director, Natural Areas, Eastern Kentucky University
Interview with Thomas M. Durman
Chairman of the Kentucky River Authority
Interview with James Tuttle
Tuttle tells of growing up on the Kentucky River and his father's work as a toll keeper.
Interview with Gene D. Tindall
Tindall talks about the Kentucky River and the people he encountered.
Interview with Stanley Taulbee
Taulbee reminiscences about the flood of Frozen Creek in Breathitt County in July of 1939.
Interview with Aileen Suter
Postmistress tells of life and work at Perry Park on the Kentucky River for nearly forty five years.
Interview with Ruby Stewart
Wife of commercial fisherman tells of life near Gratz, Kentucky.
Interview with Charles Stevens
Stevens tells of early years of his life spent in Estill County at the Mawbray & Robinson Sawmill where his father worked.
Interview with James Roberts
Roberts speaks of growing up in the area around the Kentucky River at Drennon between Locks #1 and #2.
Interview with Susie Lair
Lair speaks of first eleven years of life on the Kentucky River at Valley View.
Interview with Avery Imel
Imel tells of life near the Kentucky River near the community of Perry Park.
Interview with Charles Gibson
Gibson speaks of spending thirty years on the Kentucky River as a commercial fisherman.
Interview with William Garrett
Garrett reminiscences about growing up in Jackson, Kentucky on the North Fork of the Kentucky River in the 1920's and 1930's.
Interview with Sallie Fullen
Fullen reminiscences about growing up at Tyrone on the Kentucky River up through the 1920's.
Interview with Maurice Flynn
Flynn speaks of family history at Boonesborough and along the Kentucky River.
Interview with James Floyd, Jr.
Retired Teacher and EKU alumnus speaks of growing up along Lock #1 and Lock #6.
Interview with Zelda Filson
Retired teacher tells of life in Henry County, Kentucky.
Interview with Lonnie Atha
Life long resident of Owen County tells of life growing up on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Everett Byrd
Byrd speaks of working for several years on the Kentucky River.
Interview with William Hall
Hall discusses the Kentucky River and memories of connections with the River.
Interview with Edward Campbell
Retired teacher recalls life on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Scott Barbour
Barber discusses the Kentucky River.
Interview with William Yount
Yount discusses memories of the Kentucky River.
Interview with Margaret Embry
Embry speaks of growing up at the Mowbray and Robison sawmill in Estill County, Kentucky.
Interview with Walker Wilson
Retired carpenter and painter recalls memories of growing up on the Kentucky River.
Interview with Myrtle Carter
Carter discusses family's experiences on the Kentucky River.