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FA L L F E S T I VA L P R E V I E W

SEPTEMBER 2026

with Kentucky Explorer

100 YEARS OF

The Hot Brown THE LEXINGTON PHILHARMONIC’S PRESTONSBURG’S

Mountain Arts Center

Performing Arts Season Begins

Mélisse Brunet The Club at Olde Stone

N E E GR S N MEA ! O G

Go for the tastings. Go for the show. Go for award-winning spirits and unforgettable performances — where every experience deserves an encore.

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in this issue

O N T H E C OV E R The Kentucky Hot Brown

22 D E PA R T M E N T S 2 Kentucky Kwiz 3 Readers Write 4 Mag on the Move 6 Across Kentucky 8 Music 10 Cooking 15 Women Leading Kentucky 43 Kentucky Explorer 54 Off the Shelf 56 Past Tense/ Present Tense 58 Field Notes 60 Gardening 62 Calendar 63 Guested Interest 64 Vested Interest

SEPTEMBER FE AT URED 16 A Century of Delectability From late-night indulgence to Kentucky culinary icon, the Hot Brown turns 100

22 Fall Festival Fun As the temps cool, Kentucky towns invite all to celebrate the season change at a fall festival

26 In Perfect Harmony Conductor Mélisse Brunet is respected for her talents and connection with the Lexington Philharmonic musicians and the community

32 A Cultural Beacon The Mountain Arts Center marks 30 years as a performing arts venue in Eastern Kentucky

37 Lions and Patriots and Murders! Oh, My! Performing arts season begins

40 Building the Best Jim Scott pursued an ambitious dream that culminated in the creation of The Club at Olde Stone

This issue is dedicated to the memory of Margaret “Peggy” Kohl (1932-2026). k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 1

kentucky kwiz

1. Paducah is known as Quilt City, but did you know that it is the only Kentucky city recognized as: A. The top U.S. city without an NFL franchise? B. A Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts by UNESCO? C. The best retirement city by Newsweek?

6. The Kentucky Education Association, the largest professional group in the Commonwealth, was founded in what year? A. 1792 B. 1857 C. 1911 7. The first female president of the KEA was whom? A. Martha Layne Collins

A. Mutton

C. Cora Wilson Stewart

B. Lottie Depp

Stephen M. Vest Publisher + Editor-in-Chief

E D I TO R I A L Patricia Ranft Associate Editor Rebecca Redding Creative Director Ted Sloan Contributing Editor

S E N I O R K E N T R I B U TO R S Jackie Hollenkamp Bentley, Jack Brammer, Bill Ellis, Steve Flairty, Gary Garth, Kristy Robinson Horine, Kim Kobersmith, Abby Laub,

B. Chicken C. Pork 3. In 1988, when Curt Jones invented Dippin’ Dots, which are produced in Paducah, he was trying to create what? A. A colorful cereal to compete with Lucky Charms B. An ice cream delight for Dairy Queen C. An efficient fodder for farm animals 4. Bettiola Heloise Fortson (18901917), a poet, essayist and suffragist from Hopkinsville, is credited as one of the first Black Midwesterners to do what?

8. Joseph James Bullock, the first superintendent of public instruction in Kentucky, retired from that position in 1839 and, 40 years later, began serving in what post?

B. Represent the United States in the Olympics C. Drive a car cross-country 5. What is the largest high school by student population in Kentucky? A. Lafayette (Lexington) B. Ballard (Louisville) C. Madison Central (Richmond)

B. Provost of Transylvania University C. Chaplain of the United States Senate

SEPTEMBER 2026

Tracey Teo, Jarrett Van Meter, Janine Washle and Gary P. West

B U S I N E S S + C I R C U L AT I O N Barbara Kay Vest Business Manager

A DV E R T I S I N G Account Executives: Kelley Burchell Laura Ray • Teresa Revlett For advertising information, call 888.329.0053 or 502.227.0053

9. Dina Morehead (née Pritchett), the wife of Centre College President Milton Carl Moreland, was a professional player of what sport? A. Racquetball B. Basketball C. Pickleball 10. Jack Coleman Sr., the grandfather of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, was a player for two NBA championship teams—the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks and Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings)—but was an Associated Press Little College AllAmerican in which other sport? A. Racquetball

Kentucky Monthly (ISSN 1542-0507) is published 10 times per year (monthly with combined December/January and June/July issues) for $25 per year by Vested Interest Publications, Inc., 102 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Periodicals Postage Paid at Frankfort, KY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kentucky Monthly, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602-0559. Vested Interest Publications: Stephen M. Vest, president; Patricia Ranft, vice president; Barbara Kay Vest, secretary/ treasurer. Board of directors: James W. Adams Jr., Dr. Gene Burch, Gregory N. Carnes, Barbara and Pete Chiericozzi, Kellee Dicks, Maj. Jack E. Dixon, Mary and Michael Embry, Judy M. Harris, Jan and John Higginbotham, Frank Martin, Bill Noel, Kasia Pater, Dr. Mary Jo Ratliff, Randy and Rebecca Sandell, Kendall Carr Shelton and Ted M. Sloan. Kentucky Monthly invites queries but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material; submissions will not be returned.

B. Volleyball C. Football

For answers, see page 5.

Brigitte Prather, Walt Reichert,

A. Dean of Princeton University

A. Write and publish a book

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

NINE, ISSUE 7, SEPTEMBER 2026

Deborah Kohl Kremer Assistant Editor

2. Paducah hosts “BBQ on the River” in late September, featuring what variety of meat?

PUBLICATIONS VOLUME TWENTY-

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY. C O M

Counties mentioned in this issue...

Readers Write Kentucky Salad Staples I read your article “Classic Summer Salads” featuring recipes by Kay Vest, Mona Redding and Patricia Ranft (June/July issue, page 10) with a big grin on my face. My wife, formerly Lisa Warren, grew up in Western Kentucky. Many years ago, she asked members of her extended Kentucky family to send her their favorite recipes to be compiled in a family cookbook. She added some food-related quotations to the book to spice it up. After considering the variety of summer salads submitted, I—having grown up in the Midwest—teased her by offering my own quotation: “Without Cool Whip, Jello and pineapples, you’d have a hard time passing for a cook in Kentucky.” She included it in the cookbook, and no one in her family ever cried foul. Rick and Lisa Sinnott, Chugiak, Alaska

Lessons from the Coach I always enjoy Bill Ellis’ commentary in Kentucky Monthly, but his teaching and writing history that he revealed in the August issue was enjoyable on a personal level (page 56). He mentions his years as football coach at

Shelby County High School, when he tried to teach gridiron fundamentals to a willing group that included an overweight but under-talented tackle from Simpsonville, who covered Rocket sports for the local Shelby News. That happened to be me. There were good moments, such as the rare occasion that my postgame interview with him included praise for members of the offensive line. There also were the lessons in making the right choices, such as the time he called a rare Saturday morning practice (after a disastrous Friday night game) when my family had scheduled a weekend trip to Gatlinburg. I told him about my conflict, and he told me “do what you have to do.” I chose the trip and paid for it on Monday with a privately supervised session of postpractice gassers. It is ironic that he would go on to become a scholar and author, while I was fortunate enough to spend 20 years as an NFL administrator and college athletic director. While I was wrestling with agents and recruiting issues, he was writing books, all of which I read and greatly enjoyed. Keep up the good work! Jim Miller, Diamondhead, Mississippi

We Love to Hear from You! Kentucky Monthly welcomes letters from all readers. Email us your comments at editor@kentuckymonthly.com, send a letter through our website at kentuckymonthly.com, or message us on Facebook. Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.

THE KENTUCKY GIFT GUIDE Kentucky Monthly’s annual gift guide highlights some of the finest handcrafted gifts and treats our Commonwealth has to offer.

D R I N K LO C A L This handy guide to sipping in the Bluegrass State spotlights local breweries, wineries and, of course, distilleries. Discover unique ways to drink in Kentucky, creative cocktail recipes and more.

UNITING KENTUCKIANS EVERYWHERE. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 3

travel

M AG O N T H E M OV E Even when you’re far away, you can take the spirit of your Kentucky home with you. And when you do, we want to see it!

cleveland Friends Maureen Harrod and Ann Kute, both of Louisville, traveled to Cleveland, where they visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

venice Walton residents Randy and Denise Lawrence enjoyed a cruise celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary and Denise’s birthday. They are pictured in Piazza San Marco.

submit your photo Take a copy of the magazine with you and get snapping! Send your high-resolution photos (usually 1 MB or higher) to editor@kentuckymonthly.com or visit kentuckymonthly.com to submit your photo.

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

SEPTEMBER 2026

Years

kiawah island Dick Gose, formerly of West Liberty, visited Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

KWIZ ANSWERS: 1. B. Paducah is one of only a few United States cities to hold a UNESCO Creative Cities distinction; 2. C. Pork and sauces; 3. C. Jones specialized in cryogenics; 4. A. Fortson also published her poems through a weekly Chicago newspaper, which sent them to women’s clubs nationally; 5. A. Lafayette’s 2,370 students make it larger than the population of at least one Kentucky county; 6. B. Established before the Civil War, the group is open to all school employees; 7. C. Stewart also was credited with creating Moonlight Schools; 8. C. Bullock, whose first church was First Presbyterian in Frankfort, served as U.S. Senate chaplain from 1879-1883; 9. A. Dina played professionally and on the U.S. national team; 10. C. A four-year starter in basketball, Coleman was a third-team Little All-American in football in 1946. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 5

across kentucky

100 Years of Ale-8-One

uly 13 marked the 100th birthday of Kentucky’s Ale-8One, and what better way to celebrate than throwing a block party in the town where it all began? Hundreds showed up on Aug. 1 in downtown Winchester for Ale-8One Day and “Centenni-ale” hosted by the soft-drink maker. The party featured live music, food

trucks, vendors, family activities and a special Ale-8-One storefront. The event was capped by the unveiling of a Kentucky Historical Society Marker detailing the history of the soda and its creator, Winchester’s George Lee Wainscott. The company—now run by Wainscott’s great-great-nephew, Fielding Rogers—still produces Ale-

8-One in Winchester. The company’s website states that Rogers personally mixes each batch, following the secret handwritten recipe hanging on the wall in the “secret batching room.” For more information and online ordering, visit ale8one.com.

Stompin’ and Hollerin’

he inaugural Stomp and Holler Festival will take place Oct. 2-3 at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater Headliners include Blackberry Smoke, Ian Munsick, The War and Treaty and Priscilla Block. According to Heath Eric, CEO of The Eric Beaver Dam Amphitheater Group, which manages Beaver Dam Additional acts include Them Dirty Amphitheater and produces the Roses, The Wilder Blue, Tyler Booth, event, the weekend will include Nicholas Jamerson, Magnolia boutique folk, roots and country rock Boulevard, The Band Feel, Red music, along with camping, bourbon Voodoo, Rob Langdon, Madison tastings, craft beer, local foods and Hughes, CeCe, Boot Juice, Dalton artisan vendors. Davis, Hunter Flynn, Kat Luna, 6

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

SEPTEMBER 2026

Mary Kutter, Abby Callahan, Late Night Thoughts and Zoe Speaks. Proceeds will directly benefit the Beaver Dam Foundation and the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club, which supports youth mentorship, educational programs, safe spaces and community initiatives across Western Kentucky. The festival offers primitive and RV camping. Tickets and camping information can be found at beaverdamtourism. com/stomp-and-holler.

The Miracle Pig

e’s called Hayden the Miracle Pig, and, like a story from a beloved children’s book, he has captured the hearts of a community. So much so that his hometown of Olive Hill and the West Virginia state legislature have issued commendations for the potbellied pig. Owner Debbie Pack brought Hayden home—along with his sister, Harper—in April 2026. While Harper was healthy, Hayden was the runt of the litter, eventually needing extensive medical care for a rare congenital diaphragmatic hernia, where his liver developed in his chest cavity and severely restricted his lung function. Pack said he shouldn’t still be alive, but his will to live is strong. “We’ve got a pig. He was born special. What do we do now?” Pack said. “I decided, with his

determination and his will to want to live, we’ve got to show other people there is hope because Hayden’s got hope. We’re hoping that someone will be encouraged and inspired by him, and maybe we’d even save a life.” That story of hope led the West Virginia House of Delegates to issue a proclamation this summer honoring “Hayden the Miracle Pig,” plus a special recognition from the city of Olive Hill. “Our goal is to spread that message of hope, let people [with disabilities] know they’re not alone,” Pack said. “Everybody has a place in this world.”

READY-TO-DRINK

Refresher

ike tequila but with fruit flavor and fizz? Louisville’s BrownForman has added a new readyto-drink spritz to its long list of wine and spirits offerings. Its new el Jimador Tequila Spritz can be found on store shelves across the country. Company officials call it a fresh twist on the classic spritz. “As the latest addition to our growing portfolio in this incredibly fast-growing category, this barquality cocktail is the natural next

step in our RTD journey,” said Mary Beth O’Mara, USA&C brand director, Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Portfolio, Brown-Forman. “[The cocktail] delivers a light spritz drinking experience perfect for … every social gathering.” Made with 100 percent blanco tequila, the cocktail comes in three flavor profiles—mango, lime and orange. It’s sold in packs of four 12-ounce cans with a suggested retail price of $10.99 per pack.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 7

music B Y L AU R A YO U N K I N

Writing From the Heart

ary Kutter describes her personality as: “I will definitely say my noggin rarely stops; it goes 100 miles per hour all the time.” Kutter then went on to talk about Dairy Queen’s Fluffernutter Blizzard. “The point of bringing that up is it has a very distinctive flavor. You can take it or leave it. I am like that,” she said. It seems like more people are taking rather than leaving Kutter as she continues to build her career from her Nashville home. Her story started in her native Washington County. Kutter said she’d sing songs to her dog in the field. “Nashville seemed so exotic,” she said. She was a country music fan even as a child: “I did love the music videos. Every morning before school, it was CMT and Fruity Pebbles.” For her ninth birthday, she got a boombox. “I’d sit on my bedroom floor and listen to music for hours,” she said. Her favorite song to put on repeat was Faith Hill’s “Like We Never Loved at All.” She loved the drama and intense emotions. “I knew I loved music so much, but I don’t think I fully comprehended how it worked as a business,” Kutter said. Kutter started singing at jamborees in Central Kentucky and kept running into Roth Stratton, the owner and

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

manager of radio stations WBRT and WOKH. Stratton wanted to start a live variety music show and asked her to host it.

Even without radio experience, Kutter said yes. She said the show opened her world to opportunities she hadn’t had before. Musicians played music on the show, and then she’d interview them. “I started writing with some of the artists offair,” she said. It was her songwriting that took Kutter to Nashville. She was commuting from Springfield to Nashville twice a week, and she decided it would be easier to take the leap and move to Music City. “I’m glad I said yes to that radio show. I don’t know if I’d be in Nashville if I hadn’t,” she said. Kutter moved before the COVID19 pandemic and held writers rounds

SEPTEMBER 2026

for her new musician friends. She said it was like the radio show in that she began co-writing with a variety of people. She got a reputation for her ability to write story songs. “Whether up-tempo or ballad, it became my world, telling stories,” she said. That skill eventually got her a job songwriting for a publisher. Even though she’s in Tennessee now, Kutter is loyal to her home state. “I’m proud to be from Kentucky,” she said. “I’m proud of the roots, the grit. Life can hand you lots of things; sometimes it can be a tough situation. It seems like Kentuckians take that situation and do what they have to do. Maybe that’s why there’s so much art.” Kutter admires Loretta Lynn because she was willing to tell the truth, even if it was considered controversial or risque at the time. “You have to have the heart to make songs work. It’s not just rhyming and pretty melodies. It needs heart. That’s what sticks with people.” she said. Kutter believes that boldness is essential to good songwriting. Tyler Childers is another Kentucky musician on Kutter’s radar. “His writing is stellar, and he has an amazing voice. It seems like he’s built something very special, and he’s stayed true to who he is,” she said.

Kutter believes he can be a good role model for her. When Pulitzer Prize-winning Kentucky native Barbara Kingsolver started following Kutter on Instagram, the singer said she was surprised and excited. Silas House is another literary influence, and she recommends his book of poetry All These Ghosts. During the COVID lockdown, Kutter co-wrote with other songwriters via Zoom, but she also started singing her own songs and posting them on social media. Of her fellow Nashville artists, Kutter said, “White rice, vanilla ice cream—there’s something for everybody.” She doesn’t consider her own music that safe. “I find myself

intrigued by writing songs about things that aren’t always talked about,” she said. Her current single “Bed of Roses” is about an abused wife who finally has enough, kills her husband and plants him among the flowers in the backyard. The song is fast and upbeat and thematically reminiscent of the Chicks’ song “Goodbye, Earl.” She also co-wrote “The Devil Wore a Lab Coat” about the opiate crisis in small-town America. It’s a hardhitting song, and Kutter found out how much it means to some people. A woman came up to her at CMA Fest in Nashville this summer and brought a guitar with her. Kutter thought she wanted her to sign it. It turns out the woman had brought her son’s guitar.

He had died of a fentanyl overdose, and the mother wanted her son’s love of music to go on. She had been moved by “The Devil Wore a Lab Coat.” Kutter played that song on the son’s guitar at that night’s concert. Kutter believes it showed “the power of a mom’s love and the power of music.” Kutter recently signed a record deal, and she feels good about the future. “Just in June, I was in seven different states. I feel really, really blessed. There’s always a reason to complain about something … but a lot of my dreams are coming true,” she said. She has her eyes on a couple of big venues: “KFC Yum! Center and Rupp Arena, someday.”

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 9

cooking

10 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY SEPTEMBER 2 0 2 6

SERVES 4

KILLED GREENS SALAD 16 leaves of greens, such as lacinato kale (aka Tuscan or black kale), turnip greens or romaine lettuce

‘Big Flavors & Tall Tales’ Kentucky-born Sara Bradley, the owner and chef of Paducah’s acclaimed freight house restaurant, delves into her Southern and Jewish culinary roots in her debut cookbook, The Kitchen I Came Home To: Big Flavors and Tall Tales From My Corner of Kentucky, scheduled for release on Sept. 29. The book’s introduction reads like

2 cups packed baby spinach, sliced into ½-inch ribbons ½ cup thinly julienned red onion 4 button mushrooms, thinly sliced 3 hard-boiled eggs, quartered

1. Wash and spin-dry all of the greens. Remove the thick part of the rib or stem and very thinly slice the leaves. Arrange on a serving platter with the spinach. 2. Sprinkle the onion and mushrooms on top of the greens. Arrange the hardboiled eggs on top.

a memoir penned with Bradley’s folksy charm, a tone that continues in her descriptions and anecdotes accompanying each recipe.

DRESSING

Bradley is a two-time Top Chef finalist, winner of multiple

½ cup pepper jelly

Chopped tournaments, runner-up in Food Network’s Tournament

½ cup bacon grease

of Champions VI in 2025 and James Beard Award nominee for

¼ cup sherry vinegar

Best Chef: Southeast in 2025.

And now, she’s sharing many of her innovative and inspired recipes with us.

6 cloves roasted garlic, smashed 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1. In a small pot, combine the pepper jelly, bacon grease, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Reprinted with permission from The Kitchen I Came Home To: Big Flavors and Tall Tales from My Corner of Kentucky by Sara Bradley and Emily Timberlake, copyright © 2026. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Photographs copyright © 2026 by Ed Anderson.

2. As soon as it reaches a boil, pour the dressing all over the salad. Do not let the dressing cool off— serve immediately! Note: If you don’t eat all of the salad, save it for breakfast. Get a pan super hot and throw everything in just long enough to reheat. Serve with a fried egg and hot sauce.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 11

cooking

Note: I’ve never tried chunky peanut butter in this, but if you’re that kinda weirdo, it’s cool. Just don’t use the natural stuff that separates!

M A K E S O N E 9 - I N C H S Q U A R E PA N

RIVER BOTTOM PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE 3 cups powdered sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter (see note) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups packed dark brown sugar ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup whole milk

1. Grease a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle (or in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer), combine the powdered sugar, peanut butter and vanilla on medium speed. Set aside. 3. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool 2-3 minutes.

12 K E NT U C K Y M O NT H LY SEPTEMBER 2 0 2 6

4. Pour the brown sugar/butter/ milk mixture into the mixer bowl with the powdered sugar/peanut butter/vanilla mixture. Starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium, beat until the mixture is mostly combined and has the texture of soft cookie dough, about 3 minutes. 5. Scoop mixture into the prepared pan and use a silicone spatula to flatten out the fudge. Set aside while you make the chocolate ganache.

G A N AC H E 8 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, very finely chopped ½ cup heavy cream Pinch of Diamond Crystal kosher salt 1. Place the chopped chocolate into a medium heatproof (but microwave-safe) bowl. 2. In a small saucepan, warm

the heavy cream and salt over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer, about 3 minutes. Immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate, give the bowl a gentle shimmy to ensure that the chocolate is covered, then set aside for 3 minutes. Stir the mixture until smooth and creamy. If there are still a few pieces of unmelted chocolate left behind, microwave in 5-second intervals, stirring well each time, until fully melted. 3. Spread the ganache evenly on top of the peanut butter fudge. Refrigerate until completely set, about 2½ hours depending on the thickness of the fudge. 4. Use a small offset spatula or a sharp paring knife to cut around the edges of the fudge to release it from the cake pan. Carefully flip the fudge out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares. I like my fudge cold, so I store it in the fridge.

SERVES 3 OR 4

CURRIED SWEET POTATO LATKES 1 pound sweet potatoes 4 green onions, thinly sliced ½ cup all-purpose flour or matzo meal 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon curry powder 2 eggs, beaten Diamond Crystal kosher salt Neutral oil for frying Date apple butter, for serving (Sara includes a recipe for homemade date apple butter in the book, but you also can use store-bought apple butter.) Crème fraîche or sour cream for serving

1. Peel the sweet potatoes down to their bright orange flesh (make sure there’s none of the lighter part visible, since that’s what oxidizes) and grate them on the large holes of a box grater. 2. In a medium bowl, stir together the grated potatoes, green onions, flour or matzo meal, cinnamon, cumin and curry powder until well combined. 3. Add the eggs and 2½ teaspoons salt, and stir until everything is well coated. 4. Line a plate with paper towels and set near the stove. Pour ½ inch of oil into a large cast-iron skillet and heat over mediumhigh until the oil ripples or lightly smokes. 5. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, spoon out portions of latke mix the size of golf balls and, using your hands, lightly flatten each one. Don’t press them too flat, though; you want nice nooks and crannies when you fry them up.

6. Use a flat spatula (not slotted) to carefully transfer the latkes to the oil, using your fingers if needed to nudge it into the pan. If the latke loses its shape, no biggie; you can use the back of the spatula to reshape it.

once in the oil until golden brown on each side, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on the paper towels and sprinkle with salt. 8. Serve the latkes warm with date apple butter and crème fraîche on the side for spooning on top.

7. Cook the latkes, turning them k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 13

cooking SERVES 4

DOUBLE-CRUSTED BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

4. Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing any excess marinade to drip off, but don’t pat the chicken dry. That buttermilk is going to help the breading stick to the chicken. Dredge each thigh thoroughly in the seasoned flour, making sure to get in every nook and cranny. 5. Let the chicken thighs hang out in the flour for 5 minutes—this is going to give you the extra crispy bits. The breading will appear “cakey” or wet in some spots; that is perfect. Once the thighs have rested, toss them lightly in the flour again.

2 cups buttermilk ¼ cup hot sauce 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2½ pounds total), deboned 3 cups all-purpose flour Diamond Crystal kosher salt 1 tablespoon granulated garlic 1 tablespoon granulated onion 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Neutral oil, for frying

1. In a large bowl, mix together the buttermilk and hot sauce. Drop in the chicken thighs and make sure they are submerged, then 14 KE NT U C K Y M O NT HLY SEPTEMBER 2 0 2 6

cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. 2. When ready to cook, set up dredging and frying stations. In a 9- by 13-inch baking dish or extra-large bowl, mix together the flour, 2 tablespoons salt, granulated garlic, granulated onion, paprika and cayenne. 3. Place a wire rack in a baking sheet and set near the stove. Fill a large heavy-bottomed pot just under halfway (but with no less than 2 inches) with oil and make sure the pot is deep enough that the oil won’t bubble over when you add the chicken. Preheat the oil until it reaches 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer.

6. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, carefully add the thighs to the hot oil. Adjust the heat to try to keep the oil at 350 degrees—adding the chicken will cause the temperature to drop, which is why it’s preheated higher than the desired temperature (between 325 and 350 degrees). Cook the thighs until they’re a lovely golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees, 7-10 minutes. (There will be some carryover cooking after you take them out of the pot.) 7. Use tongs to transfer the chicken to the rack and season immediately with salt. Let the oil return to the correct temperature before frying the remaining thighs. 8. Serve hot, or cold, at a summer picnic, or in winter as a (admittedly treif) Hanukkah meal … There is literally no wrong way to enjoy fried chicken.

WOMEN & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

A Different Mindset B Y J A N E T S T E E L E H O L LO WAY

hile having lunch with my friend Bobby Clark recently, we discussed an idea that was fairly new to me—one that, for all my years of working with businesses, had never occurred to me or sent me to the computer to look it up: entrepreneurial mindset. Like most people, I just assumed entrepreneurial thinking was an innate quality held by successful entrepreneurs—the ability to gauge problems and opportunities, determine what would work best for their situation, make good decisions, and move on. Bobby’s company, Sustainable Ventures, helps difficult-to-employ individuals create their own jobs through self-employment. A community entrepreneurial mindset could make a huge difference for individuals and small towns across the Commonwealth, I thought. He pointed out that, in every community, there is untapped entrepreneurial potential, especially in people and places that have been overlooked, underestimated or ignored. Unlocking that potential starts with a mindset shift, redefining entrepreneurship not as a business discipline but as an essential life skill rooted in agency, problem-solving and the ability to create value in any context. I’d just come across Gary Schoeniger’s book, The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage, which lays out the entire idea of entrepreneurial mindset and how communities can benefit from this focus. I couldn’t put it down. • • •

Let me go back and tell you about

an amazing female entrepreneur who has clientele all over Kentucky—in London, Danville, Nicholasville, Crab Orchard and Somerset. To hear her tell it, she is driven to build and create, to “shake things up,” as she calls it. She has a strong entrepreneurial mindset and considers problems an exciting challenge. Jodi Chmielewski has started and run several businesses over the years: Sterling Hot Yoga on Demand, Sterling Yoga Lexington and Sirena Sport—all under the name of Forty4, LLC. She has a strong sports background, especially women’s softball, and said, “Coaching and building sports teams is a great way to teach life skills.” Today, Jodi is the owner of two enterprises, JC Winters Fire Prevention and Gourd & Porch. “I love to learn new things and am not afraid of failing,” she said. “In fact, failing is just one step in building a strong business. In softball, you might lose seven out of 10 times at bat. It’s like life. You win some; you lose some. Figure it out and keep working at what you love. “I knew that managing business systems would be different from building sports teams, so I found a mentor and enrolled in several business courses. I had a lot to learn.” When asked how she promotes her two businesses, Jodi emphasizes being focused and personal. For Gourd & Porch, she leaves flyers on people’s doorknobs and drops by local shops unannounced. For JC Winters Fire Protection, she asks businesspeople about their fire protection, looks at expiration tags, and educates them about newer levels of protection. “I

almost always leave with a contract,” she said. “I think people are curious, too, that a female is actually selling fire protection and knows her business.” Jodi also relies on social media and technology to recruit clientele. Her birthday is just before Halloween, and she admits to having a lifelong interest in pumpkins and gourds. “It’s different, but I love it,” she said of her pumpkin delivery and styling service. “I show people photos of porch designs, and they select one, loving the fact that I offer concierge service by delivering and setting up the whole design.” Gourd & Porch is her newest enterprise, and she believes delivery services have a particular appeal. “People walk out their door and enjoy seeing their design in place,” Jodi said. It all sounds so easy when she talks about these two businesses, and it’s because she’s so passionate about both. Though the enterprises are small, Jodi has achieved her goal of doing business and having more family time with her husband and daughter. Just imagine an entire community that supports and celebrates this perspective! Tell me your story. I look forward to hearing from you. Janet Steele Holloway is the founder of Women Leading Kentucky and the former state director of the Kentucky Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). Readers can contact her at janet@ womenleadingkentucky.com.

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Make Your Own

For The Brown Hotel’s official Hot Brown recipe, go to brownhotel.com.

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

From late-night indulgence to Kentucky culinary icon, the Hot Brown turns 100

A Century of Delectability B Y PAT T I N I C K E L L

his year has proved to be a banner one for noteworthy anniversaries, with the most noteworthy, of course, being the 250th birthday of the United States of America. Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood in 2026, and America’s most fabled highway, Route 66, turns 100, as does Winchester based Ale-8-One. Fifty years ago, the Apple Computer Company was founded, and 10 years ago, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending a 108year championship drought. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has an extra special and delicious anniversary to celebrate in 2026—the 100th birthday of its most iconic dish, the Hot Brown. In 1926, the U.S. legally observed Prohibition and illegally manufactured “bathtub gin” and “white lightning” as quickly as it could. Meanwhile, at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, the Hot Brown, a culinary cousin of Britain’s Welsh rarebit and France’s Croque Monsieur, was born. Should you be one of the five people in the Commonwealth who has never taken a knife and fork to a Hot Brown, allow me to introduce you to the classic dish. It’s an open-faced sandwich made with sliced turkey, bacon, tomato and cheesy, creamy Mornay sauce atop toast points, preferably crustless. After it’s composed, it is then placed under a broiler until it bubbles with the intensity of yeast on its way to

becoming bourbon. Once it’s removed from the oven, it’s topped off with Pecorino Romano, paprika and parsley, and voilà, you have a dish that has diners licking their lips in such far-flung places as New York City, Chicago, Denver and Washington, D.C., according to the Food Network’s Layla Khoury-Hanold. But nowhere else is the Hot Brown done with the panache of the Blue Grass State. If The Brown Hotel is the mother of the Hot Brown, Fred K. Schmidt is the father. Schmidt was the Brown’s chef during the Roaring Twenties, when some 1,200 glamorous guests converged on the hotel nightly to dine and dance. Around midnight when the orchestra took a break, the dancers would retire to the restaurant for a standard late-night meal of ham and eggs. Schmidt, feeling that this was a bit too plebeian for the ritzy crowd, decided to offer them something more elevated. Scouring his kitchen for whatever ingredients he could find, he came up with an instant classic. During a typical week, the two eateries in The Brown—J. Graham’s Café and the Lobby Bar & Grill— will sell an average of 800 Hot Browns, with that number rising to 1,000 during the three-day Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend in May. While The Brown Hotel remains the place to go for the Commonwealth’s most celebrated dish, diners in other parts of the state need not fear going Hot Brown-less.

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I N LO U I SV I L L E

A SELECTION OF THE

Best of the Rest S H E L B Y C O U N T Y T O U R I S M , C H E R Y L VA N S T O C K U M P H O T O

O U TS I D E O F LO U I SV I L L E

ou might think that other restaurants in the same city where the Hot Brown phenomenon started might be too intimidated to compete, but apparently these spots didn’t get that memo. Rubbies Southside Grill & Bar often is described as the runner-up to The Brown Hotel for Louisville’s best Hot Brown. It could be the extra thick and creamy Mornay that gives it its edge. Across from Churchill Downs racetrack, Wagner’s Pharmacy offers a budget-friendly option, and others disguise the Hot Brown as something else—a Hot Brown Pizza at Lou Lou in Middletown; a Hot Brown Burger at Sidebar at Whiskey Row (it includes beer cheese in the mix); a Southwest Hot Brown at Noosh Nosh (this one has turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese and Bechamel sauce, and it adds sourdough, pico de gallo and queso); and even a Hotter Brown at the Village Anchor Pub in Anchorage. The latter substitutes roasted chicken for turkey, pairing it with candied bacon, grape tomatoes and cheddar-Parmesan Mornay sauce on French bread with a tomato bacon jam dipping sauce.

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

SHELBYVILLE

The Bell House

Cheese also apparently makes the difference for the rave reviews given to the Bell House’s Hot Brown. Executive Chef Brent Evans said that the Mornay sauce is made in-house from eight cheeses. While Chef Evans won’t give away his entire recipe, he said that two of the cheeses are imported Swiss and aged Parmesan imported from Italy. He added that the restaurant serves so many Hot Browns that the kitchen staff preps them before each shift. “And because we’re the Bell House,” he said, “the last ingredient is always the love we put into all our food.” FRANKFORT

Bourbon on Main

Kentucky legislators love their Hot Browns, too, so in the state capital, the place to go is Bourbon on Main. The usual ingredients are all there, but the presentation is quite unusual. At Bourbon on Main, you get a Hot Brown in the form of an egg roll.

SEPTEMBER 2026

GRAND RIVERS

Patti’s 1880s Settlement

N AT H A N B R A N D O N

In a town of 350 people in Western Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes region, Patti’s serves some 350,000 customers annually, with the Hot Brown being one of the most popular dishes. Made with Patti’s toasted homemade flower-pot bread, it’s layered with Black Forest ham, mesquite-smoked sliced turkey, tomatoes, homemade cheese sauce and applewood smoked bacon. Diners have the option of topping the dish with Patti’s homemade potato chips or enjoying the chips on the side.

VERSAILLES

Wallace Station Deli and Bakery

If you prefer to hold your Hot Brown in your hand, try Ouita Michel’s Inside Out Hot Brown, a sandwich-style version. Make sure to get a good grip on it, as your choice of white, wheat or rye bread, grilled with butter, is piled high with ham, turkey, bacon, tomato and a white cheddar Mornay sauce.

LEXINGTON

WINCHESTER

Winchell’s Restaurant and Bar

Hall’s on the River

This local favorite gets rave reviews for its Hot Brown and rightly so. According to diners and Winchell’s co-owner Abe Lansdale, consistency is the key to its success. Lansdale said it took a while to get the Mornay sauce the way they wanted it. “We started with cheddar, and when we began looking for a second cheese, we tried cream cheese and white cheddar, and neither was quite right,” he explained. So, what did he finally decide on? “You’re not going to believe it,” Lansdale said. “Velveeta.”

FORT MITCHELL

Greyhound Tavern

This Northern Kentucky outpost has served Southern comfort food for more than 100 years, so it’s not surprising that the Hot Brown is one of the tavern’s specialties. Its version offers a choice of ham or turkey accompanied by the usual bacon, tomato, cheddar cheese and Bechamel.

A mainstay of original Kentucky dishes, this rustic spot on the Kentucky River offers Commonwealth favorites from beer cheese tots to biscuits and gravy. Hall’s also has a popular variation of the Hot Brown. The Breakfast Hot Brown is an appetite-pleasing concoction of poached eggs, country ham, bacon, roasted turkey breast, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and creamy Mornay sauce served over tater tots in a hot skillet. If you don’t have the appetite of a lumberjack, Hall’s also offers a traditional Hot Brown with the addition of country ham to the recipe.

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BARDSTOWN

Old Talbott Tavern

Want a side of history with your Hot Brown? Then stop in for the dish at the oldest coaching inn west of the Allegheny Mountains, dating back to 1779. “What makes our Hot Brown different isn’t just the recipe. It’s the setting,” said Operations Director Tyler Vaughan. “Here, you can find nearly 250 years of Kentucky history served alongside every plate.” The tavern includes sugar-cured baked ham in its Hot Brown recipe.

• • •

Jamie Estes in Louisville has been The Brown Hotel’s publicist for 22 years. As such, she has had a frontrow seat to the evolution of the hotel’s signature dish over the past two decades. “Fred Schmidt may have created the Hot Brown 100 years ago,” she said, “but generations of talented chefs have transformed it into one of America’s most iconic dishes, each finding a new way to elevate, celebrate and preserve its legacy.” In 2005, Executive Chef Joe Castro 20

was at the helm of The Brown’s restaurants when Saveur magazine recognized the Hot Brown as one of the “100 Best Dishes in America.” Castro joined his brother, John, to challenge celebrity chef Bobby Flay to make the perfect Hot Brown on one of Flay’s Food Network shows. The Castro brothers won. Former ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer, a Louisville native, visited The Brown Hotel in September 2010 as part of the evening news’ “Going Home” series for a discussion with General Manager Brad Walker on the effect of the economic downturn on

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the hotel. A Hot Brown tasting was part of the visit. Executive Chef Laurent Géroli didn’t wait for the Hot Brown’s centennial to celebrate the dish. On its 85th anniversary in 2011, he created 85 unique Hot Brown variations. When the venerable dish turned 90, Executive Chef Joshua Bettis took innovation to the next level when he introduced the ultimate Hot Brown. Dubbed the “Haute Brown,” this indulgent, decadent creation featured foie gras and edible gold flakes and came with a $90 price tag. So, what will be in store for the centennial celebration? Estes said birthday plans for the Hot Brown’s 100th birthday haven’t been announced yet, but that current Chef de Cuisine Paul Crepey is preparing to debut a new collection of special Hot Brown creations this fall. Estes said this “will ensure that the next chapter of the legendary dish is every bit as memorable as the first 100 years.” Q

FOOTBALL IS BACK, EXPERIENCE EVERY GAME AT CIRCA SPORTS

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BY DEBORAH KOHL KREMER

EMINENCE NOVEMBER 6-8

FENRIR VIKING FESTIVAL Celebrating all things Viking, this festival will take place at the Renaissance Fairgrounds. Along with the live armored combat re-enactments and archery demonstrations, the festival offers live music, artisan booths and plenty of food options. KY R E N FA I R E .CO M

O D E S S A N Y X C A P T U R E D BY M E G A N B L A I R P H OTO G R A P H Y

FUN FA LL FEST I VA L As the leaves begin to turn and the temps begin to cool, towns in Kentucky roll out the welcome mat inviting all to celebrate the season change at a fall festival. These events offer entertainment, artisan creations and food. Plus, we love a good theme—apple festival, anyone? Here are some of the festivals taking place around the state this fall. 22

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PAINTSVILLE OCTOBER 1-3

PAINTSVILLE APPLE FESTIVAL Paintsville has celebrated the apple since 1963. Festival weekend will feature pageants, local crafts, live entertainment and a parade. Be sure to come hungry, because in addition to festival-style food, you’ll find vendors selling apple pies, apple jelly, caramel apples and more! KYA P P L E F E ST.O R G

SEPTEMBER 4-7

SEPTEMBER 12-13

SEPTEMBER 18-20

BREATHITT COUNTY HONEY FESTIVAL

TRAIL OF TEARS POW WOW

GASLIGHT FESTIVAL

JACKSON

HOPKINSVILLE

They say nothing is sweeter than honey, so check out this festival celebrating the hard work of all those bees! All kinds of food will be available, and the weekend includes a parade, car show, quilt show and fun for the kids.

This event will celebrate Native American culture through dance, music, food, storytelling and traditional arts. The Pow Wow will take place on the site of the 1830s Cherokee encampment, which also is the burial site for two Cherokee chiefs.

C I T YO FJAC KS O N KY.O R G FAC E B O O K : B R E AT H I T T CO U N T Y H O N E Y F E ST I VA L

TRAILOFTEARSHOPKINSVILLE.ORG

SEPTEMBER 18-19

JESSAMINE FALL FESTIVAL NICHOLASVILLE Kicking off fall, festival goers will be treated to artists and vendors lining the streets, along with live music all day, food trucks and inflatables for the kids.

JEFFERSONTOWN J-town welcomes more than 200,000 visitors to its downtown festival each year. The weekend will feature vendor booths, live entertainment, a car show, a parade and a playground for the kids. J TOW N G AS L I G H T.CO M

SEPTEMBER 19

MOREHEAD ARTS & EATS FESTIVAL MOREHEAD Celebrating local talent and Appalachian pride, the city will welcome visitors downtown to enjoy live music while browsing booths filled with homegrown talent and the unique work of artists and artisans. M O R E H E A DA R TSA N D E ATS .CO M

J E SSA M I N E FA L L F E ST I VA L .CO M

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SEPTEMBER 10-13

KENTUCKY BOURBON FESTIVAL BARDSTOWN

Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, pays homage to America’s native spirit each year with a weekend full of talks, tastings and tantalizing cocktails. KY B O U R B O N F E ST I VA L .CO M

SEPTEMBER 26

BOWLING GREEN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

NOVEMBER 7-8

BOWLING GREEN

Circus Square Park is the site of this festival celebrating the beauty of diversity. The entire family can enjoy authentic music, dance and food, along with “edutainment” demonstrations to learn about other cultures.

BERNHEIM FOREST COLORFEST CLERMONT Bernheim Forest and Arboretum celebrates the magnificent changing leaves of autumn with its annual ColorFest. This family weekend will include pumpkin rolling and mud pie making, along with live music and hands-on nature activities. B E R N H E I M .O R G

B G I N T E R N AT I O N A L F E ST.CO M

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

SEPTEMBER 2026

GREENSBURG

LONDON

NEWPORT

SEPTEMBER 18-19

SEPTEMBER 25-28

OCTOBER 4

COW DAYS

WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL

MAMMOTH MUSIC + ARTS FESTIVAL

London has ties to both KFC and Lee’s Famous Recipe chicken. With a lineage like that, no other location is worthy of hosting the World Chicken Festival. It features music, carnival rides, craft vendors and the famous 700-pound skillet that will be used to fry up chicken dinners all weekend. Don’t miss the Colonel Harland Sanders Look-A-Like Contest.

Several streets in the river city will be closed to allow festival-goers to enjoy live music from stages placed a few blocks apart. There will be an area for kids, craftspeople offering handmade arts and crafts, and an array of local food, spirits and craft beer vendors.

The Greensburg Rotary Club has hosted the annual Cow Days celebration for decades. The family-friendly weekend will include live music, a car and tractor show, a 5K run and hundreds of booths for arts and crafts, antiques and agricultural displays. COW DAYS .O R G

M A M M OT H N E W P O R T.CO M

C H I C K E N F E ST I VA L .CO M

SEPTEMBER 25-27

MARION COUNTY COUNTRY HAM DAYS LEBANON This festival serves up more than 2,000 pounds of country ham each year and will include the Pokey Pig 5K Run/ Walk; a car, truck and motorcycle show; a hot-air balloon glow; and the iconic Pigasus Parade. Visitors will enjoy carnival games, arts and crafts vendors, and live entertainment! M A R I O N CO U N T Y KYC H A M B E R . CO M / H A M - DAYS

SEPTEMBER 26-27

HARVEST FESTIVAL AT SHAKER VILLAGE HARRODSBURG

Celebrate the harvest like the Shakers did by pressing apples for cider, enjoying a hayride, and spending time with farm animals. Visitors can shop the Harvest Market, enjoy treats from a variety of food trucks, and watch demonstrations such as sorghum processing. Live music rounds out the fun.

Park to see the collection of historic millstones on permanent display.

S H A K E RV I L L AG E KY.O R G

LAWRENCEBURG

OCTOBER 3

MILLSTONE FESTIVAL RICHMOND Main Street is the site of this annual festival that pays homage to Madison County’s long history in the milling industry. Enjoy live music, kids’ activities and craft vendors. While you are there, stroll through Millstone

V I S I T R I C H M O N D KY.CO M / M I L L STO N E

OCTOBER 16-18

ANDERSON COUNTY BURGOO FESTIVAL Burgoo—the hearty meat-andvegetable, slow-cooked stew that Kentuckians claim as our own—gets its own weekend in Lawrenceburg. Come for the food trucks, carnival rides for the kids, vendor booths filled with locally made treasures, and live music, but don’t leave without dining on a bowl (or two) of tasty burgoo. K E N T U C KY B U R G O O.CO M

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Conductor Mélisse Brunet is respected for her talents and connection with the Lexington Philharmonic musicians and the community

In Perfect Harmony B Y

he Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual Picnic with the Pops concert in August marked the beginning of music director and conductor Mélisse Brunet’s fifth season with the ensemble. With the orchestra celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2026-2027, the atmosphere is quite momentous for Brunet, a native of Paris, France, who is the first woman to be named music director and conductor in the history

TO M

M U S G R AV E

of the Lexington Philharmonic. But that almost didn’t happen. A VIBE WITH THE MUSICIANS The COVID-19 pandemic, which landed in Kentucky in March 2020, derailed the orchestra’s search for a new conductor, and when it resumed in the 2021-2022 season, the conductor candidate who was to direct the final concert that season dropped out of the running. Brunet was recommended by a member of the orchestra who had

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performed under her baton in West Virginia. She was called in as a substitute for the concert, which included a performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 5” on May 21, 2022. As she had been hired as a last-minute single-concert replacement for no-show candidate. Brunet was not being considered for the full-time role. “That decision changed after the second rehearsal, when I began receiving messages from musicians that she should be considered,” said Carol McLeod, the Lexington

M OT H W I N G P H OTO G R A P H Y

C O U R T E S Y O F T H E L E X I N G TO N P H I L H A R M O N I C

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M I C H A E L A B OW M A N

Philharmonic board chair. “When the musicians responded so strongly, we absolutely had to listen,” said Allison Kaiser, who retired in 2023 after 13 years as the orchestra’s executive director. She said Brunet brought an energy that resonated well with the orchestra’s musicians: “You could almost see the electricity crackling across the stage when she was working with them in rehearsals. It was phenomenal.” Brunet said she felt an equally positive vibe from the musicians. “It was my first time conducting the Prokofiev fifth, and I had very little time to prepare it,” Brunet said. “But the way we were making 28

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

music—it was so organic, so much joy and sharing and flexibility. That was really fun, like a great moment that was more than music. We reached the magic already there.” The feedback from the orchestra was impossible to ignore. The morning before the concert, McLeod, who is a Central Kentucky equine veterinarian, invited Brunet on a drive to a farm in Midway to visit a horse McLeod boards. During the 25-minute drive out Leestown Road into horse country, McLeod and Brunet chatted about music and life, getting to know each other. In the course of the conversation, McLeod was convinced Brunet was ready for the top job at

SEPTEMBER 2026

the Lexington Philharmonic. “When we arrived at the gate into the farm, I punched in the gate code and asked her if she would be interested in being considered for our music director position,” McLeod said. “She said, ‘Yes.’ The gates opened, and I said, ‘Let’s talk.’ ” RUNNING WITH THE BATON In the four years Brunet has led the Lexington Philharmonic, she has endeared herself to the Central Kentucky community. “Bonjour, y’all” was more than just a branding message the orchestra used to introduce her as the new conductor.

It embodied Brunet’s eagerness to immerse herself in Kentucky. Brooke Raby, who became the Lexington Philharmonic’s full-time executive director in 2024, said the desire to belong in the community is second nature to Brunet, who splits time between the Lexington Philharmonic and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in WilkesBarre. That can be challenging when Brunet makes the trip from her home in Pennsylvania for rehearsals and performances with the Lexington Philharmonic, but Raby said the conductor is always focused on Lexington community relations when she comes to town. “Even when she’s really, really tired, she’s game for that,” Raby said. “She wants to contribute to the holistic success of the organization, not just the performance. She also sees the bigger picture, and that’s really helpful.” Violinist Margie Karp—the Lexington Philharmonic’s acting concertmaster, who has been a member of the orchestra since 2005— said it’s common for conductors to have more than one orchestra, but when Brunet is rehearsing and performing in Lexington, she’s all about being in Kentucky. “The challenge is to find someone who can excite and engage the community while they are in town,” Karp said. “I think Mélisse does a great job with that.” A LOVE FOR THE JOB Brunet was one of five conductors featured in the documentary Maestra, directed by Maggie Contreras and produced by David Letterman and Melanie Miller, among others. The documentary followed Brunet and four other conductors in La Maestra, the only competition in the world for

female orchestra conductors. During the filming, Brunet very simply expressed her reason for being drawn to conducting. “I love the job,” she said in the film. Brunet elaborated on that before a recent Lexington Philharmonic 65th season kickoff celebration. “What I love the most is how complete it is and infinite. It’s endless,” Brunet said. “There are too many conductors who don’t like people. I love people. I love sharing my passion for music because it can take so many different forms. Without music, I would probably collapse. So, I need it.” The job she loves requires more than expertise at the podium with the baton. It asks community orchestra conductors to acquire skills they likely did not learn in conservatory. Brunet said she has an appetite for it. She thrives on multitasking. “I love every part of it, you know,” she said. “So, celebrating an anniversary like we are, or going to a fundraiser, or doing a clinic, or going to do an audition to hire new musicians, arriving at a rehearsal [at an outdoor venue] with a weather problem and having to change everything last minute—I like that urgency.” BEING THE FIRST As the first woman to lead the Lexington Philharmonic, Brunet is conscious of her role as a pioneer, but she hopes that doesn’t outshine her musical talent. “Personally, I can’t wait for the day that I’m not the first woman anymore as a conductor, because I’ve been a trailblazer so much and still am in many ways,” Brunet said. “And it’s really a lot on my shoulders, and I really hope that I can be considered just as a conductor at one point and not as a woman conductor.

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M I C H A E L A B OW M A N

PAT R I C K B R U M B AC K

“If I’m a model for other young women and young men who are going for a dream job that they are underrepresented in, hopefully I can help them to see that [they] can achieve it. I don’t feel any form of pressure otherwise, but I hope that one day [being the first woman] is not a thing anymore.” MAKING ORCHESTRA ‘COOL’ AGAIN Raby can attest to Brunet’s impact on the community. She said there has been a noticeable uptick in sales and concert subscriptions, attributable to Brunet’s growing popularity and the talent of the orchestra’s musicians. “I think she’s just kind of made it

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

cool to like live orchestral music again in Lexington,” Raby said. “She’s bringing something new to that experience.” Brunet has helped build relationships with other Central Kentucky performing arts groups, such as the Lexington Singers. Jefferson Johnson, the Lexington Singers music director, said he has enjoyed collaborating with Brunet, which has included the orchestra’s annual Cathedral Christmas concert and orchestral masterworks that require a chorus. “Mélisse is an extraordinary musician,” Johnson said. “She has perfect pitch and an uncanny mastery of solfège—skills that help make her immediately credible to the choir.

SEPTEMBER 2026

Personally, I learn something new every time I watch her work with the Singers. So, it’s rewarding for me, as well as for the choir.” Brunet is not finished building a relationship with Central Kentucky, a fact that was expressed tangibly when she accepted a four-year contract extension. “I don’t think I’m at the end of my work with the orchestra,” Brunet said. “I feel like there is still potential to go places and do things to explore and to develop. “Everybody goes through that effort of getting to know each other— knowing what works, what doesn’t work, finding boundaries and developing some things, and now we are on a roll. So, why stop it now?” Q

OCT. 3RD

h 6t ual n An

Presented by Dreaming Creek Brewery

11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC | FOOD | ARTS & CRAFTS | CAR CRUISE

VISITRICHMONDKY.COM/MILLSTONE

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6 0 6 . 8 8 6 . 2 6 2 3 M AC A R T S .C O M

W H EN YOU GO M OUN TA I N A RTS C EN T ER , 5 0 H A L R O G E R S D R I V E , P R E STO N S B U R G

Songwriter and musician Cory Asbury performs at the Mountain Arts Center.

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The Mountain Arts Center marks 30 years as a performing arts venue in Eastern Kentucky

A Cultural Beacon B Y

n the stage of the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, George Jones wailed what many consider to be the greatest country music song ever—“He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Loretta Lynn delivered in song what it was like to be a “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The Temptations crooned about “My Girl,” and Billy Ray Cyrus had young girls dancing in the aisles with his foot-tapping “Achy Breaky Heart,” which led the line dance into the national mainstream. Aside from bringing in flashy national headline acts over the years, the Eastern Kentucky entertainment

JAC K

B R A M M E R

venue became home to Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry, a live show featuring talented musicians, classic country, gospel, bluegrass tunes, family-friendly comedy and professional artistry. Maybe more importantly, it has nurtured the abilities of local artists and put them on the path to showcase their gifts in music meccas such as Nashville. Some doubted the MAC, sometimes called “a cultural beacon in Eastern Kentucky,” saying it would never be possible. Skeptics said it would not last. It has. Happy 30th birthday, Mountain Arts Center!

HOW IT STARTED The MAC was the brainchild of the late Billie Jean Osborne. A native of Betsy Layne in Floyd County, Osborne taught music and directed bands and choral groups in schools in Betsy Layne, Wheelwright and Wayland for 30 years. She often regretted that her students had to leave home to find a career in music. “Why did all the talent have to leave here?” Osborne asked in a 1994 Lexington Herald-Leader article. “We had all these talented people, from Flatwoods to Elkhorn City, but there was no place to ever perform in Eastern Kentucky but a gymnasium. It was terrible.” In 1990, five years after retiring, Osborne formed the Kentucky Opry, k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 33

an Eastern Kentucky performance group. She also set up a group to support the talent of young musicians. She started lobbying for money for a performing arts center in Eastern Kentucky, where area artists could pursue their careers close to home. “She was a persistent lobbyist,” said Greg Stumbo, a Floyd County native who was the Democratic floor leader in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1995. “She came to me, and I thought her plan would never work. I had seen other plans like this in the state, and they did not work out. I told her ‘no,’ that it would not pay for itself. “She got some federal dollars from Hal [Rogers, the area’s congressman 34

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in the U.S. House of Representatives].” The state eventually provided financial support. “After that,” Stumbo said, “every time Billie Jean saw me out in public, she would point at me and say, ‘There is the fellow who did not help us with the Mountain Arts Center. He would say it would never work.’ ” The $7.2 million facility, with a 1,044-seat theater, classrooms, practice rooms, art gallery, meeting rooms and a recording studio, opened in October 1996. It has worked, Stumbo said recently. “Billie Jean was a dynamo,” he said. “She is a credit to the music industry. The MAC not only holds musical shows but community events

SEPTEMBER 2026

like graduations for the community college in Prestonsburg [Big Sandy Community and Technical College].” A year after the MAC’s opening, Osborne told the Herald-Leader, “If I die today, I’ll know I went down swinging for the talented kids in Eastern Kentucky.” Osborne died in June 2014 at 82. Services for her were held in the Mountain Arts Center—with good music, of course. PROMINENT MAC ALUMNI Big names have performed at the MAC, but it prides itself on nurturing homegrown talent with Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry. Its prominent alumni in the Opry

are listed on the center’s website— macarts.com/bjos-kentucky-opry/ alumni. They include Josh Martin, Chase Lewis, Jesse Wells and Kory Caudill. Martin, from Eastern Kentucky, is an accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist. He blends the traditional bluegrass sounds of his Appalachian heritage with elements from rock, country and pop music. He is a member of the esteemed bluegrass group Wood Box Heroes. Based in Lexington, Lewis is a musician and keyboardist known for playing with Tyler Childers and The Food Stamps. He has worked as a guest entertainer and musician with Princess Cruises and Holland America Line cruises. Wells, a native of Redbush in Johnson County, is a traditional multi-instrumentalist, music educator and critically acclaimed folk/roots singer-songwriter. He studied music at Morehead State University and is a founding staff member and music archivist at the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State. Caudill, a Grammy-nominated pianist and composer who is among the most popular keyboard musicians in the country, has deep roots in the Mountain Arts Center. “I was with the Opry there at 4 or 5,” he said during a recent break while on tour in Chicago with Childers, a Lawrence County native and multiple Grammy Award nominee. “My mom was good friends with Billie Jean, and my dad helped launch the MAC.” Caudill’s mom, Kathi Caudill, is a retired teacher, and his dad, Keith Caudill, is a professional musician who has accompanied Kory on some of his work. The performance center “was like a playground to me,” said Kory Caudill, who now resides in Nashville with his wife, Amanda, and their three

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children. “It showed me that strong music with Joe Campbell folks is a service,” Caudill said. “It was unique to me because it taught me how to play a room. You must let a room breathe. You must be in it, enjoying it, to get the audience into it. “The MAC has done many things for many people, especially those in the mountains.” THE MAC TODAY Joe Campbell, who grew up in Prestonsburg, has been executive director of the MAC since July 2019. He started working there in 2016. His first venture to the site was to see a Christmas show when he was 16. When he talks about the music hall, Campbell likes to start with Osborne. “She had taken a trip to Myrtle Beach and saw an opry-like show there,” he said. “She told 36

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everyone around here that we could do it better. She held a fundraiser and started knocking on legislators’ doors. “She wanted a place with all local talent, all local music. She started about four to five variety shows a year, plus a Christmas special. She got some special grants. She got the place started. That is why we call the opry ‘Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry.’ ” Another reason for adding Osborne’s name to the shows, Campbell said, was to distinguish it from the Kentucky Opry in Benton in Western Kentucky’s Marshall County. It was started in 1988 by Clay and Barbie Campbell. The MAC is faring well on its 30th birthday, Campbell said. He reports its annual operating budget at about $1.3 million and that it is owned by the city of Prestonsburg. “I think we are going to be OK, bringing music to the mountains and showcasing its talent,” he said. Campbell mentioned that there is

SEPTEMBER 2026

no fee to enroll or be a participant in Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry or the Kentucky Opry Junior Pros program at the Mountain Arts Center. “Unlike traditional after-school programs or community theater workshops that charge seasonal tuition, the Kentucky Opry acts as a premier regional performance troupe. Members are chosen exclusively through a competitive audition process,” he said. “Rather than paying to participate, selected musicians, vocalists and comedians focus on performing in high-production summer and holiday showcase series.” While enrollment is free for the performers, there are fixed ticket prices for the public and families to watch the seasonal performances, Campbell said. Campbell is working out details for a 30th birthday celebration for the MAC on Saturday, Oct. 24. He said it will be “a mix of the Opry, special guests and archival footage.” Q

Lions and Patriots and Murders! Oh, My! NOV 12-29

B Y D E B O R A H KO H L K R E M E R

Disney’s The Lion King

here is nothing like experiencing a live show—a distinct thrill passes through performing arts lovers when the lights go down and the curtain goes up. September generally is the kickoff of performing arts season, and Kentucky offers everything from local community productions to full-scale touring Broadway shows. Whether you score tickets to one of the Commonwealth’s many intimate playhouses or to a grand historic venue, you can look forward to enjoying musicals, dramas and comedies across the state. Here are a few of our favorites.

Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Louisville 502.584.7777 // LOUISVILLE. BROADWAY.COM The family-friendly story of everyone’s favorite lion cub, Simba, takes the stage at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. The show is mesmerizing with colorful African art, life-sized puppetry and all those songs you know by heart.

SEPT 10-27

OCT 23-NOV 1

1776 Presented by The Footlighters

Carrie: The Musical

The Season for Giving

The Carnegie, Covington

Little Colonel Playhouse, Pewee Valley

Stained Glass Theatre, Newport

859.491.2030

502.241.9906

859.291.7464

THECARNEGIE.COM

LITTLECOLONEL.NET

FOOTLIGHTERS.ORG

Based on Stephen King’s novel, this is the frightening story of a bullied high school student and her terrifying prom night. This intense production includes music to portray terror, rage and revenge. Presented by the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Carnegie, this cult classic will stay with you even after you’ve left the building.

As a family prepares for all the holiday traditions of gift-giving, midnight Mass and Christmas dinner, Bob’s best-laid plans to pop the question to his beloved add chaos to the day. The Little Colonel Players present this heartwarming holiday show.

In honor of America’s 250th birthday, The Footlighters take the audience back to when it all began, following John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson through the debates, political dealings and personal tolls it took to achieve American independence.

DEC 5-14

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 37

JAN 29-FEB 7

Amadeus Shelby County Community Theatre, Shelbyville 502.633.0222

The Studio Players present this adaptation by playwright and screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher of Frederick Knott’s suspenseful thriller about infidelity and jealousy that leads to a murder plot.

SHELBYTHEATRE.ORG The theater presents a dramatic account of the life of brilliant composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It paints a portrait of pure genius and ambition, along with Mozart’s rivalry with Italian composer Antonio Salieri.

APRIL 6

Mark Twain Tonight! The Carson Center for the Performing Arts, Paducah 270.450.4444 THECARSONCENTER.ORG

FEB 25-MARCH 7

Disney’s Newsies JR. Market House Theatre, Paducah 270.444.6828 MARKETHOUSETHEATRE.ORG

MAY 14-29

Singin’ in the Rain Woodford Theatre, Versailles 859.873.0648

Based on the real-life newsboys’ strike of 1899, this is the youth edition of the Tony Award-winning musical Newsies. This family-friendly musical sends the message of strength in unity and that it is OK to fight for what’s right.

WOODFORDTHEATRE.COM Audiences have enjoyed the playful dancing-in-the-rain scene from this show for decades, and now it is your chance to see it live. This musical comedy is the story of Hollywood’s shift from silent films to “talkies.”

MARCH 18-APRIL 4 Dial M for Murder The Carriage House Theatre, Lexington 859.257.4929 STUDIOPLAYERS.ORG

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

Originally performed by Hal Holbrook on Broadway, this hilarious one-man show stars Richard Thomas, best known as John-Boy from The Waltons television series. The show features Twain presenting his classic satire, storytelling and humor.

JUNE 25-27

SIX Lexington Opera House, Lexington 859.233.4567 CENTRALBANKCENTER.COM Broadway Live in Lexington brings the Tony Award-winning musical about the six wives of Henry VIII to the stage. It is history with a modern twist of catchy songs and stunning costumes.

MORE KENTUCKY VENUES Appalachian Center for the Arts, Pikeville, theapparts.org Barn Lot Theater, Edmonton, barnlottheater.org Bluegrass Theatre Guild, Frankfort, bluegrasstheatreguild.org

grand

reopening

Central Kentucky Community Theatre, Springfield, centralkytheatre.com EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, ekucenter.com Flashback Theater Co., Somerset, flashbacktheater.co Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Madisonville, glemacenter.org Hardin County Playhouse, Elizabethtown, hardincountyplayhouse.com Leeds Center for the Arts, Winchester, leedscenter.org Louisville Palace Theatre, Louisville, livenation.com Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, Lexington, historiclyric.com Mercury Ballroom, Louisville, mercuryballroom.com Murray Playhouse in the Park, Murray, playhousemurray.org Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, nortoncenter.com Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, paramountashland.com Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, Mount Vernon, renfrovalley.com RiverPark Center, Owensboro, riverparkcenter.org Singletary Center for the Arts, Lexington, finearts.uky.edu SKyPAC, Bowling Green, theskypac.com

P H OTO S + T E X T B Y R E B E C CA R E D D I N G

hen my grandmother was young, her parents took her on Saturday mornings to The Grand Theatre, where the featured movie usually was a Western. With no TV at home, going to town to watch a movie was a special treat that she fondly remembers. Built in 1911, The Grand was one of five theaters operating in Frankfort from the mid-1800s to the 1970s, and it is the only one that remains. You can visit The Grand today for live shows, movies, events and local dance productions. After closing in mid-January for extensive renoations, The Grand reopened on August 1. The $1.5 million project included replacing the carpet, upgrading the lighting and audio, installing a new HVAC system, replacing the seats, and applying new paint. Historic preservation was a top priority during the renovation, and the decor was kept as close to the original as possible. Check out the custom carpet pattern. The renovation protected the historic charm of the theater, while providing modern amenities. An LED sign now marks the outside of the theater, and inside the front doors, visitors are met with an original brick wall, painted designs and a Shaker-built structure. Behind the curtain of the renovation and continued maintenance is Save The Grand Theatre, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Every show relies on volunteers and donor funds. Visit The Grand's website to learn more about how you can support it. Check out the theater's calendar and make plans to visit this year. There aren't any Saturday morning Westerns on the listing, but there are plenty of other options.

Village Players of Fort Thomas, Fort Thomas, villageplayers.org

Looking for more shows?

The Grand Theatre 308 St. Clair, Frankfort thegrandky.com

VISIT KENTUCKYMONTHLY.COM k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 39

Jim Scott pursued an ambitious dream that culminated in the creation of The Club at Olde Stone, one of Kentucky’s finest golf courses

Building the Best B Y G A R Y P. W E S T

n 2000, Jim Scott told a group of potential designers he wanted to build the finest golf course in all of Kentucky, an ultimate test for the best golfers in the world. Six years later, Scotty—as he is known to just about everyone who meets him—had reached his goal. The course, designed by prominent golf course architect Arthur Hills with assistance from associate architect Drew Rogers, was everything Scott had hoped it would be and more. The Zeon Zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens are among the features that have made the 7,333-yard course (from the back gold tees) at The Club at Olde Stone the talk of the South. To call Scott an entrepreneur might be a disservice to a man who has built a top-tier reputation by constructing 40

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interstates, roads, buildings and a world-class golf course. After searching near and far for the perfect spot for his dream course, he shelled out $1.23 million for 520 acres of rolling hills and a bluff here and there. He wanted more than 18 holes of luxury golf; he wanted a golf community. While 225 acres would accommodate the course, the remainder would be used for a clubhouse, homesites, a green space, a swimming pool and tennis courts. “I looked for two years before we got going,” Scott recalled. “I wanted something for our area that would be upscale and rival anything else around.” Building the kind of course Scott wanted on his land just off Old Scottsville Road on the outskirts of Bowling Green would require deep pockets. In the beginning, golf

Photos courtesy of The Club at Olde Stone

course experts estimated that building a course on par with Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville would conservatively require $18 million. But for the complete package, there was the issue of providing access to the golf complex from the four-lane Scottsville Road. Drakes Creek, a nearby waterway, needed a bridge, which was built before anything else. “Access was very important,” Scott said. “The back way, Old Scottsville Road, wouldn’t work due to the winding and narrow road. We also had to get zoned in the city so we could serve alcohol, since the county was dry.” • • •

Scott knew he had only one shot to make a first

impression with his golf course. That’s why he took his time selecting a designer. Toledo, Ohio-based Arthur Hills Designers, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer were three at the top of Scott’s list. Any of those three, he reasoned, would give his new course instant credibility and recognition. Hills had a good track record in Kentucky, with Fox Run Golf Course in Kenton County, Persimmon Ridge Golf Club in Shelby County, and The Champion Trace course at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville to his credit. “Hills didn’t want homes on the property,” Scott said. “But we reached an agreement. I told him I want the best golf course in this region of the country. ‘What’s your budget?’ he asked. ‘I don’t have one,’ I said.” Ground was broken in 2004, and The Club at Olde k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 41

Stone opened for play in 2006. Several celebrities from the Nashville area are members at Olde Stone, but none carry as much prestige as Kenny Perry, a resident of Franklin in Simpson County. The former PGA star—who has his own course in Franklin, Country Creek Golf Course—has become familiar with Olde Stone. “I was blown away when I first saw the course,” said Perry, who has played some of the best golf courses in the world. “It can compete with any of them. It’s a beautiful place to hang out for five hours.” Olde Stone’s course certainly has become one of the most distinctive layouts in the nation, drawing national tournaments over its 20-year history. • • •

Scott began his career working summers as a surveyor in Logan County for the Kentucky Department of Transportation. He attended the University of Kentucky, majoring in engineering. Once out of school, he continued with the KDOT for four years as part of his engineering program payback. “I worked for R.E. Gaddie Paving before going out on my own in 1972,” he said. 42

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

SEPTEMBER 2026

The result was Scotty’s Contracting and Stone. Looking back on the early stages of the Olde Stone’s development, Scott said he went about it the wrong way. “I had already bought the land before I decided I should do a feasibility study,” he recalled. “I had this lady with Harvard credentials come in. She spent two weeks … talked to everybody about golf, homes … everything. She gave me her report when it was complete. She said not to build this upscale course in Bowling Green. It was still a Walmart town, and I’d be lucky to get 125 members.” Scott built it anyway. What the study didn’t take into consideration was the interest from the surrounding communities. “I didn’t think about it either,” Scott said. “Today, we have 600 members and about 275 homes that have been built.” For a kid who grew up on a farm in Logan County, the now 89-year-old is quick to realize how far he has come in life. In July 2022, Olde Stone hosted the U.S. Girls’ Junior Golf Championship. “NBC was here televising it,” Scott said, “and I admit I got a little emotional when they talked to me … just thinking how far we have come.” Q

A section for Kentuckians everywhere … inside Kentucky Monthly.

The 1901 Kentucky Derby was the 27th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on April 29, 1901.

K ENTUCKY XPLORER E All About Kentucky

Volume 41, Number 7 – September 2026

Heaven Must Be a Kentucky Kind of Place … Heaven Hill Distillery, originally named Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, was established on Dec. 13, 1935, in Bardstown, just two years after the repeal of Prohibition. The distillery was founded by the Shapira family—brothers David, Ed, Gary, George and Mose—along with local investors. They hired Joseph L. Beam, a cousin of the renowned Jim Beam, to serve as the first master distiller.

Your Letters -- page 44 Appalachian Fields and Streams Surround Wallins Creek -- page 48 Remembering Miss Dynamite -- page 51

“I Remember” By Our Readers

and More!

Featuring Things Old & New About Kentucky

44 THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER

Kentucky Explorer a magazine published for Kentuckians everywhere Charles Hayes Jr. • Founder Stephen M. Vest • Publisher Deborah Kohl Kremer • Editor Rebecca Redding • Typographist

FOUNDED 1986, VOLUME 41, NO. 7 Kentucky Explorer appears inside each issue of Kentucky Monthly magazine. Subscriptions can be purchased online at shopkentuckymonthly.com or by calling 1.888.329.0053.

One-Year Subscription to Kentucky Monthly: $25

In memory of Donna Jean Hayes, 1948-2019

Letters to the Kentucky Explorer Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.

Birthday Wishes Happy 102nd Birthday to Margie Kinslow of Barren County. Margie has been a faithful reader and frequent contributor to Kentucky Monthly and Kentucky Explorer for many years! We love you, Margie!

Untangling the “Once Removed” Mystery Despite many years of family-tree work and exposure to relationships, I have never completely understood the “once removed” and “twice removed” details. Below is an article written by Microsoft Copilot AI that explains it well. Cousin relationships are based on how far back two people share a common ancestor and whether they belong to the same generation. First cousins share grandparents, second cousins share greatgrandparents, and so on, with the number simply marking the distance to that shared ancestor. The term “removed” indicates a difference in generational level rather than family distance. “Once removed” means the two individuals are one generation apart, and “twice removed” means two generations apart. For example, a person’s first cousin’s child is a first cousin once removed, and a parent’s first cousin is also a first cousin once removed. The cousin level stays the same because the shared ancestor stays the same. Only the generational position shifts. Harold Brown, Indianapolis and Leesburg, Florida

A Mission Trip to Harlan Before our mission trip, I did my research and found out that Harlan has a dramatic history. The town was settled in 1796 and was first called Mount Pleasant. After the railroad arrived in 1911, Harlan became a center for shipping coal and lumber. Later, conflicts between coal miners and mine owners became so serious that the area earned the nickname “Bloody Harlan.”

When our mission group visited Harlan this summer, however, we did not find a lot of coal mines. We were greeted by a nice mountain house, friendly people and chances to serve. Before we arrived in Harlan, our driver drove us across the mountain so that we could see some of the older homes. One house was built with cardboard, and another was built out of bricks, but it was destroyed. Seeing it reminded me of how much I take for granted. Our first project was at a local house. The owner of this house was an adult in his 40s. His old wooden ramp and stairs were rotting, so our leader divided us into teams. Some of us tore apart the stairs, some removed shutters, and others painted or pressure-washed the back wall. Then, we built a path and reattached the new painted shutters. After we finished working, the homeowner shared his testimony about how Jesus turned his life around. His story showed me that a person’s past does not have to decide his future. During the next few days, we rebuilt the stairs, burned the rotten wood, and made a new walkway from the garage to the porch. We also helped at a community giveaway. We passed out bookmarks and restocked supplies for people who needed help getting back on their feet. Even our trip home became an adventure. Our vehicle got stuck in the mud, and we had to push it free. Then, our pastor, Kirt, took us to KFC to eat. Later, we took a picture with a wax statue of Colonel Sanders and stopped at Buc-ee’s. This trip taught me that serving others can also change us. I learned more about Jesus, gratitude, teamwork and the people of Harlan. I hope I can return next year. Ian Wu, seventh-grade student from Lexington

Buried in Frankfort, legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone died on Sept. 28, 1820.

September 2026 Page 45

Kentucky history captured in documents and photos are available at the Kentucky State Digital Archives in Frankfort. Kentucky Explorer has partnered with the KSDA to share a piece of this history each month.

The Kentucky State Digital Archives Pattison Brothers Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Company, Response Letter to State Auditor, Jan. 14, 1920 Did you know that the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts formerly handled taxation on distilleries in the state? The Kentucky State Digital Archives offers the scanned 19061920 Distilled Spirits Tax Book, a record of each distillery and its yearly taxes. Included in the book is this letter from the Pattison Brothers notifying the auditor that they could not pay taxes because the company had closed. Visit the KSDA at kdla.access. preservica.com/portal/en-US.

The Kentucky State Digital Archives is a free online service operated by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and features more than 130,000 documents, photographs and A/V materials of government records. For questions, visit kdla.access.preservica.com/portal/en-US or email electronic.records@ky.gov.

In 1842, Boyle County was formed from southern Mercer County and northern Lincoln County.

4 THE 46 THEKENTUCKY KENTUCKYEXPLORER EXPLORER Send memories to Deborah Kohl Kremer at deb@kentuckymonthly.com or mail to Kentucky Monthly, Attn: Deb Kremer, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602.

“I Remember” Send in your memory today! Memories of My Grandmother By Jeanne Greiser, Alexandria I remember my grandmother, Catherine Frances. As a widow, she moved from the country to Bellevue, and I lived in Highland Heights. To get to her house, I took the city bus and then followed my nose to her back door. My grandmother could bake! Her mother and father had emigrated from Europe, and she grew up on a farm in Twelve Mile (Campbell County). She attended a rural school, knew German and taught us grandchildren “danke,” “auf wiedersehen” and other words. She was a wiz at making a flaky German stollen, and her homemade noodles were a wonderful addition to her soups. She rolled the noodle dough paper thin and laid it on the sideboard to dry. I would sneak a bit of dough, and she’s say that my stomach was going to stick together if I ate too much raw dough! I can still smell her breads baking. I have one of her aprons and, just for luck, I wear it when I prepare a new recipe. She knew all the sayings: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” or “drop a spoon, company’s coming.” She had one for every situation, “Better late than never” or “A stitch in time saves nine.” My grandmother crocheted using fine stitches, like a

Tobacco-Cutting Time By Eloise Cooksey Layman, Mankato, Minnesota The book Marce Catlett: The Force of a Story by Wendell Berry brought back many memories of growing up on a tobacco and cattle farm in Willisburg in Washington County. One of my fondest memories is that of cutting tobacco. My dad hired several hands to help with this hard job. After cutting the tobacco, the workers left many choice leaves near the ground. We called these leaves “ground leaves” or “ground trash.” They went to waste if not saved. Picking up those leaves was a way for farm kids to make their own spending money. I enjoyed doing this every year, and my dad got them to market. He even had me open my own bank account, where I deposited very small checks. I didn’t realize at the time that I was getting an education in financial management.

By Our Readers

spider’s web, to create a doily or a dresser scarf. She soaked the doilies in sugar water, dried and separated the layers to create a cloud-like design. Her embroidery work on handkerchiefs and washcloths was meticulous. She sewed using a small Singer that sat on top of a vintage sewing machine cabinet. Grandma watched her favorite TV show, Bonanza, on a tiny black-and-white television screen, often declaring Ben Cartwright was her boyfriend. Once, a bat flew down from her attic, and as my dad chased it around with a broom, Grandma keep screaming, “Don’t let it get in your hair.’ I hunkered down on the staircase to the attic and read from her selection of Zane Grey books, safe from the bat. While in her 70s, my grandmother fell and could no longer climb stairs. We had an upstairs at our house, and I tried to talk her into trying the steps so she could see what it looked like. She eventually moved to a one-floor apartment that shared a wall with an active, vocal church. After Sunday dinner at our house, we took her home and listened through the wall to the joyful sounds. After an injury, my grandmother passed away in 1963. I’d like to think she then found a way to see our upstairs. I have a few mementos from my grandmother, and I’m grateful to have my memories. The hired hands knew they were going to be treated to a delicious dinner served by my mom. Her meal consisted of fried chicken, country ham, hot biscuits and a variety of fresh vegetables from her garden. She was not only a good cook but also a good gardener. She grew corn, peas, lima beans, green beans, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and many other vegetables. She even had planted our own apple tree. When I was old enough to help, my job was to make apple pies for the workers’ dinners. I also made many chocolate cakes with fudge frosting and blackberry cobblers. When I reflect on those times, I realize that the women were an important part of tobacco cutting. Dinner preparation was only a part of providing the dinner. My mom had her own chickens, grew the vegetables, picked the blackberries, and even churned butter. I knew she was appreciated, and that was enough thanks for her.

During the U.S. Civil War, Union Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant seized Paducah on Sept. 6, 1861.

September 2026 Page 47

The Day a Shot Was Heard on Snow Hill By Bill Ellis, Lexington I grew up on Snow Hill, just outside Shelbyville on U.S. 55, a busy highway that led to Eminence and on into Indiana. We had to be careful in backing an auto onto the busy highway from our house, because it was difficult to see oncoming traffic. We went by sound much of the time. I survived the crossing on foot, on a scooter, on a bicycle and, finally, in a car—my vaunted 1949 Oldsmobile. I also survived local childhood enmities. For some reason, a local boy a few years older than I was developed a dislike for me. He lived a short distance away, down an old-fashioned alleyway. Being somewhat larger, at least for a few years, he liked to rough me up. I reckon that is the best way to say it. I recall that he once pinned me against the wall of the neighbor’s house, threw a couple of punches to little effect, and was about to deliver the coup de grâce, when I moved my head and his fist struck the siding of the house. I think in the boxing lexicon, I had tricked him with a “feint.”Well, of course, that made him madder than ever. He yelled in pain, words that I still recall: “You little bastard! I’m gonna kill you.” Being only 11 at the time, I did not know what a bastard was. He went home crying. Mom, who was busy canning vegetables, asked innocently, “Was that so-and-so?” I said, “Yes, he decided to go home.” And that was the end of that episode. A few weeks later, the village ruffian appeared one day

when an older cousin of mine and I were playing in our backyard. I think “visiting” would be a better word than “playing.” The Snow Hill thug arrived in our backyard with thoughts of challenging my cousin. The brief encounter ended with the villain having his nose rubbed into the dirt. The villain ran off yelling, “I’ll get you for this!” I joined my cousin in laughter, well aware that the villain might be true to his word. Weeks went by after that incident. One Saturday morning in late August, I had eaten my morning cereal and was lying on the living room couch reading a comic book (I don’t recall which one) wearing only a T-shirt and underwear, when suddenly the front living room window shattered with a crash. I must have frozen as Mom came running into the room. I still had the comic book in front of me but glass shards covered my lower body. And between my legs (I kid you not) was a spent bullet. Mother, as all good mothers woud, screamed, “BILLY! BILLY!” She immediately called the sheriff, while I cleared the glass shards from my person. I was stunned. A deputy sheriff appeared, inspected the scene, took the spent shell of a .22 caliber into evidence, and left. Nothing more was heard of the incident. I did not see the alleged culprit except at school functions, where he pretended to ignore me. I think I know what happened. My father either visited or called the alleged culprit’s father, and the incident was never heard of again (UNTIL NOW—75 years later).

Revolutionary Resemblence

with snow-white hair, and asked if she knew who she looked like. She said she didn’t. By Edwin Hall, Cumming, Georgia “Well,” I said, “you look just like George Washington.” On a warm summer day in 1950, I was 8 years old and To say she was surprised would be an understatement. walking hand-in-hand with my maternal grandmother “Why do you say that?’ she asked. down River Road, in Cumberland “Because of your pretty white hair, of (Harlan County). course” was my reply. She chuckled in My grandparents lived in the last good-natured amusement. house on River Road, with the In my eyes, she was just as famous and swinging bridge across the Cumberland important as Washington, whose whiteRiver to Sand Hill Bottom close by. The topped likeness I had seen many times. paved road ended shortly before their She told me that no one had ever driveway began, and I called the compared her to the Father of Our unpaved section “Footprint Road” Country before, but my opinion was OK because the sand was covered with with her. footprints from fellow travelers. My Young boys do not stay 8 years old grandmother’s name was Epsia Alice forever, and as I matured into a grown Schubert, but all her grandchildren man, Mom Mom occasionally asked me called her Mom Mom. during our visits if I remembered telling As we were walking, I looked up at her she looked like George Washington, Mom Mom’s doppelgänger Mom Mom, a tall attractive woman and I always did. Laurel River is noted for dense laurel thickets along its banks, the namesake of the river and of Laurel County.

6 THE 48 THEKENTUCKY KENTUCKYEXPLORER EXPLORER

Appalachian Fields and Streams Surround Wallins Creek By Benjamin Jones, Vandalia, Ohio, originally from Wallins Creek in Harlan County

xploring the Appalachian Mountains and playing along the cool streams was my favorite pastime as a boy. There was Wallins Creek, which also was the name of a town. Little Creek and Jones Creek were in the same valley. No matter which mountain we went up—and we had them all around us—you had to cross a creek, and there were favorite places to cross. My favorite was the swinging bridge that took me up to Joe Love Mountain. If you go far enough toward the source of the creeks, you can find spots to easily jump across. The creek that ran through Wallins held so many treasures. I loved the creek because it was always such an adventure, but it was beginning to become polluted when I was young. There were a few sewer lines, and several outdoor toilets dumped into the creek. The creek was cleaner closer to its source, which is where I spent most of my time. There were times of the year when it got nasty, such as in the dog days of summer in late August, when it gets so hot. The water level went down, and you could see various pools. There was a lot of movement in the creek. Upstream, we dammed certain parts to make swimming holes deep enough to swim. There were plenty of bass, sunfish, hog suckers and lots of minnows, plus crawdads and grampuses. And then there were a few catfish. The creek also had its share of frogs and snakes. I caught a lot of fish from the creek and always took them home to clean. Mom fixed the bass and sunfish but would not let us eat the catfish or hog suckers. She called them bottom feeders. I loved going up on what was called Daniel Mountain because it was one of those mountains you climb up and then it flattened out at the top. You could go on and on and just discover all kinds of Appalachian wonders. I found places that I don’t think anybody else really ever bothered to check out, or if they ever did, they never really explored them with any great energy the way I did. I knew where all the best nut trees were. I knew where you could go get beechnuts, where you could gather wormfree shag hickory nuts and good black walnuts—all those types of nuts that you could take home, trade for marbles or comic books, or give to neighbors.

I sat out on the steps for hours with a hammer and cracked the nuts and “outen” the meats with a hair pin. I enjoyed that process because I knew Mom would make the most wonderful cakes, pies and candy with the nuts. They say my mother was the only woman in Wallins Creek who sprinkled nuts on top of her fruit pies and cakes. She put nuts in the cake batter and then sprinkled them on top of delicious icings that she made from scratch. Mom also made special candy with the nuts. My favorite was peanut butter roll. The best was when she sprinkled hickory or walnut crumbles on the outside. Her fudge also was a special treat. Whether it was chocolate or peanut butter fudge, she always sprinkled in hickory nuts, walnuts or beechnuts. She always appreciated the nuts I brought home because that was something she did not need to tend to. Lord knows she had enough on her hands. I knew the best times of year to go into the mountains to gather the nuts. This is something I learned on my own. And my gathering was not limited to nuts. I knew the best times and places to gather wild berries, pawpaws, persimmons, mushrooms, poke salad, sassafras root and a few other choice wild edibles. Aside from knowing where and when to pick these mountain treasures, the real secret to getting the best was to go inside the bush, tree or grove. I had to lift up the branches and leaves and push away the brush to reveal the best because they were often hidden from the naked eye. There are a couple of mountain experiences of which I have vivid memories. I always liked being up there alone because I rarely followed the trails. I liked going into the

Wigwam Village No. 2, with units in the shape of teepees, was built by Frank A. Redford in Cave City in 1937.

September 2026 Page 49

out-of-the-way places and followed my instincts. Once, I followed a game path I had never taken before and found a small hidden cave. It turned out to be an interesting cave that was very cool inside. About 20 feet back from the entrance was a small pool of water. I tried finding the water source, because it was standing and not draining off anyplace. After some poking around and digging, I discovered a trickle coming from between two layers of rock and a pebble patch that drained it. Each time I visited this cave, the water was crystal clear and so cold and refreshing. Rarely did I ever see anything in the cave but a few small animal tracks, so the cave became my main water source. There were no signs that people had been in it before. I found no artifacts or any such thing, but it was quite exciting to be in the cave. The entrance was well hidden off to the side of an overhanging rock that wasn’t easily noticeable because it was hidden by lots of brush and brambles. I ended up storing stuff there, such as a cache of wood for small fires, a jar of peanut butter and a couple other jars filled with beechnuts, along with a few packs of grape Kool-Aid. It was one of my “secret” places I never told anyone about. Mom knew I was always looking for jars with lids, so she saved the ones she did not need for me. Somehow, I am sure she knew what I used them for. You might say I was a collector. I built five or six grass huts up on James L. Howard Mountain. I stashed jars of carbide, nuts, flints, marbles, berries, water, Kool-Aid and various other “stuff” in those huts. I made them just big enough that I could crawl in through a small opening in the front. They sort of looked like igloos. Sometimes, I just crawled in one and took a nap. It was always fun to spend time in those mountains. I did not mind taking someone with me. Occasionally, I invited a cousin or somebody who might be visiting us to go along. I was 12 when mother decided to move us to Ohio. We moved in July 1955, and I had my 13th birthday the next month. I became a teenager in Ohio. I will never forget the day I learned we were leaving Wallins Creek and the Appalachian Mountains. I thought about running away and becoming one of those boys who are raised by animals and discovered by explorers. I was memorizing the smell of damp laurel and the way the creek sounded like low laughter over the sandstone rocks. To me, the mountains weren’t just scenery; they were more like a cathedral. Instead of running away, I decided to take one last trip up to my secret cave and retrieve some of my trinkets— particularly the brightly colored sandstone that I always

held in both hands when praying and wishing for something. Mother knew I spent the morning saying goodbye to the mountains and the ancient, moss-covered shores of Wallins and Little creeks. It was worse than leaving my friends. “It’s better in Ohio,” she said and then listed the reasons on her worn fingers. “We’ll have a house with indoor plumbing and running water. No more chopping kindling and carrying coal. You’ll get a better education. You’ll still play sports and make new friends.” “I don’t want any of that stuff,” I said. “I prefer the mountains. I want the wind. I want the smells. If I leave, the mountains won’t know me if I ever come back”. “The mountains don’t forget their own,” she promised, though her eyes were wet. Mom, my kid brother, two sisters and I gathered up our stuff and crammed it in my older brother’s new Chevrolet van, then we started the long trip to Kettering, Ohio. I watched out the window as we left the protective canopy of the Appalachian Mountains. Within seven hours, we crossed the Ohio River, and Kentucky gave way to the flat, gray horizons of industrialized Ohio. When we reached Kettering, the air smelled of grease, oil and burning rubber instead of the pine and woodsmoke that permeated Wallins Creek. That night, lying on a thin mattress in a small crowded room of my brother’s large house, I closed my eyes, reached into my bag, and pulled out a smooth, creek-worn stone I had found in the creek I spent so much time exploring. I squeezed it tightly, feeling the warm heart of the Appalachian Mountains in my palm, and dreamed about the day I could follow the birds back home to Appalachia. I dreamed about the great mountains and how they gave us so many opportunities to explore and experience nature. We all have an innate need to commune with the earth, the skies and the water. The place we left in the Appalachian Mountains was the best there ever was. This year, I will be 84, living proof that people born in the Appalachia, Mountains never ever forget who they are or where they come from. I have traveled all over the world, lived in New York City, served three tours in Southeast Asia, went to college, played basketball and baseball, started and sold three businesses, written several books, married a wonderful Northern farm girl, have two great children and five incredible grandchildren. Every day, as much as I missed living in the great Appalachia Mountains, I am thankful and grateful for my mother’s wisdom. So, wherever you live and whatever your age, it is always a good time to visit a mountain. I thank God for letting me spend as much time as I did in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky.

Thomas Alva Edison introduced the first electric light bulb at the Southern Exposition in Louisville in 1883.

50 THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER

Owning the Taylorcraft of His Dreams

By Dennis Williams, Franklin, Tennessee

y dad, Robert “Bob” M. Williams, took his first airplane ride in the late 1920s, when he lived in Central City (Muhlenburg County). Bob’s flight was in a biplane owned by an old barnstormer pilot. His flight was magical. He promised himself one day he’d get a pilot’s license and own an airplane. After high school, Bob worked on an Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) track crew to earn money for college. His father was superintendent of track for the ICRR and had moved the family to Princeton in Caldwell County. After a couple of years, he had earned enough money to enter Centre College in Danville. During Bob’s sophomore year, he was in a terrible car wreck near Sullivan (Union County) that partially crushed his left leg. A crusty old doctor at the ICRR Hospital in Paducah told Bob that he had to remove his leg. Bob adamantly declined this. The doctor said that if he kept the leg, he wouldn’t live more than 20 years. After graduating from Centre, Bob and my mother, Jean, eloped. She had just graduated from the University of Kentucky. They went to live on Jean’s family farm, Dean Hill, located 9 miles north of Princeton. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bob tried to enlist in every service to fly but was turned down because of his bad leg. After the war, he took every opportunity to fly in Ralph Griffin’s Luscombe 8, an aluminum-covered airplane. Ralph lived down the road in the Crider community and had been a glider pilot during D-Day. He gave Bob his first flying lessons. Later, Bob earned his student pilot’s license. Bob ached to own his own plane, but cash was not plentiful. In Princeton, Bob found another student pilot, Glenn Strong, who also was interested in owning a plane. They pooled their money to get $400. They found an old fabric-covered airplane, a Taylorcraft, in St. Charles, Missouri, within their budget and purchased it. Using a road map, my dad followed highways and flew the Taylorcraft to Dean Hill Farm. In order to land on the landing strip Bob had mowed, he had to buzz the field to run the cattle off. The Taylorcraft wasn’t much to look at. It had holes in the fabric that needed replacing and painting. The engine needed overhauling, and the plane needed new doors. Bob could do much of what he wanted once he put his

Above, Bob with his beloved Taylorcraft; right, a portrait of the author’s father.

mind to it. He stripped the plane of its fabric covering, removed the engine, and took off the doors. He began the process of recovering the plane, applying new fabric and many coats of a pungent airplane shellac. He painted it. Bob had the engine overhauled and had Steger Lumber Company build new doors. The Taylorcraft was ready to fly except for the doors, which took time to reconstruct. He couldn’t wait for their completion. The Federal Aviation Administration likely would have frowned upon his flying without doors, but he did anyway. My best memory with my dad was the day he told me to get off the school bus at the airstrip next to Ky. 91. He had the plane waiting at the end of the runway with the engine running. Kids checked out his plane as I crawled in. We took off with our seat belts as the only thing keeping us from falling out. When he turned the plane, we had a modern-day skydiver’s view. Another time, we landed in Charlie Brockmeyer’s field several miles from Dean Hill. Charlie had been a reconnaissance pilot during World War II in France. Bob and Charlie naturally talked about airplanes. Bob took great pleasure in flying that old plane. It provided him with an escape from the farm and his personal difficulties with his leg. He died in 1958 at 46—24 years from the date of his car wreck—seemingly fulfilling the ICRR doctor’s prophecy. Although he flew an unconventional airplane, he had lived his dream of owning and flying his Taylorcraft.

The town of Taylorsville is named for President Zachary Taylor’s father, Richard Taylor, who … 50 K E NT U C K Y M O NT H LY NOV EMBER 2 0 2 0

September 2026 Page 51

Remembering Miss Dynamite Scottsville’s national celebrity By Telia Butler, Bowling Green, and Jay Holland, Scottsville

efore social media influencers, viral videos and pets with millions of online followers, Kentucky had its very own celebrity dog in the 1950s. Named Miss Dynamite, she was a mix of chihuahua and toy fox terrier. This famous pup from Scottsville (Allen County) became one of the most talked-about dogs in America. Presidents and astronauts knew Miss Dynamite. She owned her own property and signed checks from her own bank account. Miss Dynamite’s owner was Fred Hale, a soft drink executive turned shopping center owner, who had a knack for publicity. Somewhere along the way, Hale decided his beloved dog deserved recognition. What began as a fun local story quickly grew into something bigger. Miss Dynamite wasn’t just a family pet. She could do 32 tricks, among which were smoking a corncob pipe, opening her own Coke bottle, dancing and buying hotels. She received fan mail from television stars, NASA astronaut John Glenn, Lawrence Welk and even a marriage proposal from the famous Lassie. As her fame spread, newspapers picked up the story. Hale proudly referred to her as “Kentucky’s canine celebrity,” and people couldn’t get enough of the unusual tale. She became something of a goodwill ambassador for Scottsville. At a time when communities relied on newspapers, postcards and word of mouth to share their stories, this lovable dog helped put Allen County on the map in a way nobody could have imagined. Her popularity lasted for years. When she passed away in 1973, her death was treated with the same affection and attention that had followed her throughout her life. Records of Miss Dynamite’s funeral, publicity materials, newspaper clippings and even a bank check signed with her paw print survive today in the archives at Western Kentucky University. Her remains were frozen and entombed under the shopping-center sign bearing her name. It may sound a little silly by today’s standards, but that’s part of what makes the story so charming. Miss Dynamite reminds us that communities have always loved a good story—and sometimes, the stories that endure aren’t about politicians, famous athletes or even human celebrities. Sometimes, they’re about a dog. And in Scottsville, that dog became a legend. … in 1799 donated 60 acres of his own land for creation of the town.

52 THE KENTUCKY EXPLORER

The Shack By Mattie Cooksey Fair, Willisburg

former country store on our property in Willisburg in Washington County became a community gathering place that we lovingly called The Shack. Edith and Charles Noel had stoked fires in the old stove for at least 20 years. Charles suffered from emphysema and various other ailments, but he loved going to the shack on a nightly basis. After 60-plus years of marriage, he died in October 1999. I often saw Edith stringing beans at the tables and Charles dealing cards for the latest Rook game. The Rook players occupied two tables that were castoffs from assorted local kitchens. Others sat on overstuffed couches and chairs that no one wanted in their homes. Sometimes, when I stopped at The Shack for a visit, l’d be greeted warmly by those on the furniture, but the Rook players barely muttered a hello. They were too busy deciding what to bid or how to outfox the other players. A Rook game must be seen through from start to finish. This was a small Baptist community, and while gambling was not entertained, Rook games still held weight with this crowd. The Shack holds an assortment of memories for me. Once, our 8-year-old daughter, Molly, dressed in her best polyester pantsuit from the 1970s, sidled up to the stove to get warm. Much to her dismay, the stove melted a hole on the backside of her pants. Thank goodness for the cotton panties she wore next to her skin, and the good sense of humor she acquired from the experience. We laughed a lot at The Shack, with each other, and at ourselves. My late husband, Charlie, loved going there with my dad, Mellwood. Mellwood owned the property The Shack sat on. It was a nightly ritual for him to say, “Let’s go to The Shack and get the news.” Charlie especially liked going there to discuss politics. He was so well read that Dad would say, “That Charlie sure is smart.” In the state of Kentucky, one can prove one’s knowledge in two ways: politics and basketball. If you can articulate on either subject, you can function in practically any social circle. Charlie always seemed impressed that the men never talked dirty or told raunchy jokes, like you might expect. The closest it ever came was when my Uncle Birchell heard someone discussing “nookie,” and he didn’t know what it meant. Dad said, “Birchell, you mean you don’t know what ‘nookie’ is?” Laughter exploded, and Dad loved to tell that story. Even Mom, who never went to The Shack, laughed at that one. Mom thought The Shack was a waste of time. She’d say, “Why do you go to that dirty old store when you’ve got a nice, clean home?” Mom preferred staying at home and

doing constructive things like reading or quilting. How did this country store transform into The Shack? My first recollection was the winter of 1950. School was closed for three weeks because of the heavy snow and impassable country roads. The only place that had the basic supplies of milk, bologna, cheese and bread was the country store owned by an old man whose name was Katie Carrier. Katie was unmarried and slept in a single bed in the corner of the store. Neighbors had built the outhouse that stands to this day (a place still frequented under desperation). After the building was no longer being used as a store, the neighborhood residents, who already were used to it being a gathering spot, continued to go there, even though there were no groceries. Sometimes, my dad invited musicians—especially fiddlers. Fiddling was part of my dad’s livelihood, next to farming. He enjoyed having others come to share their gifts and showcase their talents. It became evident that The Shack was not “all talk.” After my parents’ untimely death one day apart, I inherited the homeplace where The Shack had stood all those years. Yet The Shack never felt like mine. The community had built the fires, chopped the wood, swept the floor, oiled the floor, and paid the monthly light bill. The lights are now disconnected. The door is locked, and the place where a generation of people who had survived the Great Depression and World War II and had lived a simpler way of life had gathered is slowly disappearing. This group of people will always hold a spot in my heart that is irreplaceable. When my husband, Charlie, died in 1996, the ribbon on a wreath of flowers simply read, “Your friends from The Shack.” Who knows what the future holds? Recently, I called my brother and suggested we paint the shack and clean it up. Without hesitation he said, “Sure, I’d love it if you give me a key.” I sensed that he, too, was unwilling to let go of the place that had nurtured so many childhood memories. Perhaps the next Cooksey family reunion might be held at The Shack with a new generation of children. Sometimes, I ask myself, “Does the land hold us, or do we hold the land?” I have learned the answer, and it is nice to be held.

“Write something to suit yourself, and many people will like it …

September 2026 Page 53

Cows Pull Their Weight

Kentucky Explorer reader Josh Hughes is looking for information about the above photos. If any readers have any information, please email him at Joshmhughes159@gmail.com. This is what Josh tells us: “Seen in these photos, William A. Roberts 12/04/1867 – 10/13/1937, lived with my great grandparents, C.T. Hughes and Pearl Bryant Hughes. They lived in Beartrack, which is close to Beattyville. “C.T. was the postmaster for a short time and ran the Beattyville post office from their home.”

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BOOK FOR SALE — A Time for Every Season by Paul David Combs is available on Amazon. My greatgrandfather, Rebel Shade Combs, tells his epic Appalachian Civil War-era story with passion and a bit of humor. BOOK FOR SALE — Highlighting rural Kentucky events from 1865, this adventurous story by C.W. Shumate waited 160 years to be shared. Butler Books novel available at cwshumate.com. BOOK FOR SALE — Reflections of a Scared Soldier Boy in Vietnam: God, Redlegs and Blueboys by Robert Adams. My combat tour with the First Air Cav Division 1967-68. 859.806.5199.

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… write something to suit everybody, and scarcely anyone will care for it.” — Jesse Stuart

off the shelf

Stories of Infamy Kentucky has dealt with its share of people behaving badly. Wes Swietek, managing editor of the Daily News in Bowling Green, noted that the period of 1965-1975 was “especially fertile ground for sensational crimes, from Bowling Green to Newport, Lexington, Lewisburg (in Western Kentucky) and all points in-between.” In When the Bluegrass Ran Red, Swietek chronicles a sizable number of those crimes during and outside of those years, while including well-researched details using a compelling writing style. Noting that Bowling Green was once called “Little Chicago,” the author traces a slew of bombings related to bootlegging, and in covering the formerly named “Sin City” of Newport, he shares the story of George Ratterman, who was elected sheriff of Campbell County to clean up the town’s mess. Swietek concludes with an optimistic tone, noting that modern-day Bowling Green and Newport are now attractive towns that overcame those difficult times to thrive today. By Steve Flairty When the Bluegrass Ran Red, by Wes Swietek, Acclaim Press, $26.95 (H)

54 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

(P)-Paperback (C)-Clothbound (H)-Hardback

The Family That Works Together …

On a Mission

A Lexington-based, familyowned chain of discount department stores is at the heart of Returns and Exchanges, the latest book by Mount Sterling native Kayla Rae Whitaker. Owned by Fred and Fran Taylor, Baker-Taylor’s stores are a substantial part of the Taylor family’s lives. The couple’s children practically grow up in them. Fred and Fran start with one store before opening several BakerTaylor’s in Lexington. Then, they branch out to Louisville and to other states. Throughout the 1980s, the chain grows, only to be threatened by the success of another discount chain, one based in Arkansas and referred to as “The Beast.” Whitaker thoroughly develops the novel’s characters, with long passages devoted to the couple and each of the Taylors’ four children. Returns and Exchanges brims with family love and support—along with disfunction, discord, prejudices and betrayal. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Whitaker lives in Queens, New York. Returns and Exchanges is her second novel.

When Elena Bradford’s father dies, Elena, her mother and her younger sister are left in dire financial difficulties. Panicking, the mother concocts a risky plan. She arranges to take the family’s sparse remaining funds and visit a prestigious resort in Graham Springs, Kentucky. The mission: to find Elena a wealthy husband who would save the Bradfords from ruin. While at Graham Springs, Elena, albeit cautiously, allows herself to be drawn to two men. The resort, though intended for “healing waters promising restoration,” proves to be less than problem-free. Alas, tragedy strikes, one instance involving Elena, and her mother’s plan seems to be left tottering. Faith and courage become the watchwords. As usual, Ann H. Gabhart endows the historical setting with enough detail to take readers to the era. She patiently unfurls each character, seeming to find out about them as the readers do. Those elements are what Gabhart’s readers have come to expect. Gabhart lives with her husband, Darrell, on an Anderson County farm.

By Patricia Ranft

By Steve Flairty

Returns and Exchanges: A Novel, by Kayla Rae Whitaker, Random House, $30 (H)

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford, by Ann H. Gabhart, Revell, $18.99 (P)

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Remembering a Legend: Forest “Aggie” Sale

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH SALE

at the University of Kentucky in 1929, where he earned the nickname “Aggie.” He joined the UK basketball team as a freshman and played under the guidance of the immortal coach Adolph Rupp for the remainder of his career. ÅAggie was Coach Rupp’s first All-American. At 6 feet, 4 inches, he was rather tall for that time and also agile. One of the many stories he told me was how defenders at Mississippi State University would grab his basketball shorts to try to keep him from jumping. Aggie would then use his long arms and elbows as weapons to keep them away. “They’d rough him up, but he wouldn’t let that bother him,” Rupp told Lexington Leader sports editor Russell Rice in 1962. “The rougher they got, the better he played.” • • •

spent part of my career at Eastern Kentucky University interviewing men and women as part of oral history projects—about 600 people altogether. I have kicked myself many times for never interviewing Forest “Aggie” Sale. I met Aggie in July 1962, when I took the job as head football coach and history teacher at Harrodsburg High School. Aggie was in his last years of teaching, after coaching basketball at the school for many years. I was, to say the least, “wet behind the ears,” and Aggie was a great source of information about many things— Harrodsburg High School itself, supporters or nonsupporters, individual players, you name it. Aggie had words of wisdom to impart to this 22-year-old teacher and coach. • • •

Born on June 25, 1911, on the family farm in southern Anderson County, Aggie attended one-room schools and graduated from Kavanaugh High School, a well-known private school in Lawrenceburg, where he excelled as a basketball player. Being a farm boy, he enrolled in the School of Agriculture 56

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

SEPTEMBER 2026

You can find Aggie’s biography on several websites, along with photos of him as a strapping, handsome youth and then a mature man. In 50 games, he scored 657 points for the Wildcats—unheard of at that time—and was named All-American twice. As a senior in 1933, he was named Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, and as the team’s captain, he led UK to a Southeastern Conference title. He was inducted into the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame in 1963. In the final game of his career, Aggie outscored the Louisiana State University center, a 265-pound behemoth, 20 to 2. Aggie’s jersey number 19 hangs in Rupp Arena. Coach Rupp always had good words to say about this native Kentuckian. Upon his college graduation in 1933, Aggie returned to Kavanaugh High School as a teacher and basketball coach, where his teams dominated Harrodsburg High School, which finally lured him away to coach in 1937. After the beginning of World War II, Aggie volunteered for the United States Navy, serving until the end of the war. Soon after returning from the service, Aggie married Elizabeth Van Arsdall. They had one daughter, Betsy.

A remarkable teacher, he was referred to by many of his students in 1962-1963 as “Professor,” a sign of their respect. In 1954, Aggie bought a building on Mooreland Avenue in Harrodsburg and started a business, Aggie Sale Sport Shop, the ownership of which later was passed on to others. As a young teacher and coach, I loved to sit quietly and learned to listen carefully to his advice. He was a raconteur of the first order. It was amazing how many people he knew. • • •

Even after I left Harrodsburg to teach and coach in Shelby County, Aggie continued to be my primary sports equipment source. Aggie loved children and often visited my home to bewilder my young daughter with a string and pencil puzzle.

In short, I never knew anyone kinder and downright sweeter than Aggie. A lifelong Democrat, Aggie served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1972-1982. He died on Dec. 4, 1985. He was a most remarkable American and Kentuckian. E.G. Plummer, an all-SEC track athlete when he attended UK, coached at Harrodsburg and Danville High Schools for many years. He recalled Aggie as kind, generous and always full of good advice. Betsy best recalls her father as “having an even temperament, multiple interests, a genuine nature—a unique sense of humor.” Email or write me about your memories of Aggie Sale. Readers may contact Bill Ellis at editor@kentuckymonthly.com.

Grant County Tourism presents . . .

A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

Sat., Dec. 5 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. Downtown Williamstown, Ky. visitgrantky.com Festivities include:

September 2026 | Kentucky Monthly Magazine