Eugene and Jamie Bush discuss growing up in Ravenna, Estill County, Kentucky. The interview includes discussions about Ravenna businesses and entertainment, Estill County industry, including railroads and oil boom years, the county education system, school discipline, and churches and church history.
Sonja Estes discusses her experiences while growing up, first, in Estill County and, later, in Fayette County. Estes spends a great deal of time commenting on her family life and upbringing. The remainder of the interview details relevant changes in Estill County's industry, farming practices, and, healthcare and education systems.
Dr. William Wise discusses Estill County, the Kentucky River, the railroad systems that were at one time the lifeblood of the area, and other related historical topics. Other interview topics include lengthy discussions over various industries and economic trends, such as oil and timber booms, agriculture, and raising livestock. Generally speaking,…
W.C. Thompson discusses the role that railroads played in Ravenna KY through time. He shares his memories of growing up in a town with 17,600, a number that declined as the railroads were replaced by automobiles. Thompson also comments on political trends, such as good and bad Mayors and wet/dry local option votes.
F. M. Burke is a Pike County, KY native. He attended Eastern State Teachers College and Normal School. In this interview, Burke, gives detailed information about his family history, growing up on a farm and his father's timber business. After being rejected for not meeting the requirements for admission to Eastern, he boarded a train and headed to…
Evelyn Young, a Hickman County native and assistant to Hickman County Judge Executive Stanley Hopkins, discusses her education, political interests and experiences in this interview. She comments extensively on the Judicial Referendum, Judge Hopkins, Hickman County roads, ambulance and hospital services, senior citizen programs and other county…
In this interview, James Caudill, a Knott County native, discusses his family history and education, and his Letcher County achievements as County Judge, which included a new health department, courthouse, library, and other important county services. Other interview topics include discussions over welfare, food stamps and other government…
Richard Ousley, a Greenup County native, details his family history and his political career in this interview. He was the last county judge under the old system and the first elected Judge Executive since the Judicial Referendum, which took effect in 1977. Ousley discusses, amongst other topics, the difficulties of long hours under the old system,…
Delbert Binder is a native of Laurel County, KY and one of the first generation descendants of the original Swiss settlers into the county. In this interview, Binder, discusses the history of the settlers and the differences between the area and Switzerland.
Raymond Alford is a retired station master of the former Union Station in Lexington, KY. In this interview, Alford, describes Union Station; the number of trains in and out of the station, the fares, and it being torn down.
Charles Hacker is a retired signal foreman for the L & N Railroad. In this interview, Hacker, discusses his duties as signal foreman, the old signals, and the L & N strike in 1955.
Dennis Quillen is a Geography professor at Eastern KY University. In this interview, Quillen, discusses his interest in railroads and railroading. He describes the different railroad systems and different railroad accidents.
Arthur Bryson, Jr., is a retired lawyer from Boyd County, KY. In this interview, Bryson, discusses his interest in railroads and railroading since his childhood. He describes the different types of railroad systems and the different railroad cars.
Interview Audio Damaged--Albert Rice is a Stanton, KY native and a retired L&N railroad worker. In this interview, Rice, discusses the different jobs it took to build railroad tunnels and the upkeep of those tunnels. He also describes how the railroad operated and the different equipment it needed.
Audio Quality Degrades After Minute 27:00--Linnie Martin is a retired teacher and Powell County, KY native. In this interview, Martin, discusses her father's occupation with the railroad and how her father was killed in a railroad accident. She describes the end of the railway service and the present highway system.
Audio Degrades after Minute 40:00--Maud Harris is a retired teacher and looks back on her career with satisfaction. In this interview, Harris, discusses taking trips with her father on the train. Her father was the area doctor. She describes the train and how she felt when it was closed down.
