Mr. Burl’s Writing
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"Cap" Dawson’s Blacksmith Shop

In this entry, Mr. Burl writes about the blacksmith shops that were in Owingsville and specifically mentions “Cap” Dawson. In his book, The History of Bath County, John Adair Richards also mentions Cap Dawson. From the journals: Have you ever watched a blacksmith prepare a shoe for shoeing a horse? All of our Bath County… Continue reading
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Fratman Hall
There used to be a place in Owingsville where actors would gather and put on grand performances. Seriously. From the journals: “Chick” is in there selling nuts and bolts, paints and varnishes, and most anything you need in the hardware line but what does that have to do with Fratman Hall? That’s right –… Continue reading
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Brigadier General James Virgil Thompson
Reposting in honor of Memorial Day and for D-Day, which is right around the corner. June 6th of this year marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the day when allied forces stormed the beaches of… Continue reading
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A Hometown Baseball Legend

Nathan Redmond and the Owingsville Giants baseball team. Continue reading
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The Owingsville Panthers
From the journals about a basketball team that he played on. He and his teammates would have been between 18 and 21. Prior to the 1935-36 basketball season, a group of young men organized a semi pro team. After much discussion regarding organization, uniforms, transportation, finances, and team name, it was apparent from our first… Continue reading
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TV in 1934? A Trip to the Chicago World’s Fair.
From Daddy’s notes on the 1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair: What is Television? Who are you trying to kid? Projecting a picture and sound through the atmosphere? No, we believe this to be some kind of joke! Well, let’s go in and see about this thing called television.Five young Owingsville men, after hearing all the glowing… Continue reading
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Minihan Saddles
From Daddy’s notes: Bath County at one time produced some of the finest saddles obtainable. The saddles were custom made to fit the individual. There are today some of those saddles still around. Doris Darnell Kincaid owns one of those prized saddles as do some other Bath Countians. Eugene Minihan founded and operated the saddlery… Continue reading
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Letter to the Herald-Leader about Frank Jones
Mike Fields, Staff Writer Lexington Herald-Leader Co. 100 Midland Avenue Lexington, KY 40508 Sir, Read your column Friday 19th and noted your piece about Jeremy Simpson and Mark Higgs. In 1969, Bath County had a great running back-Frank Jones. Frank was the leading scorer in Kentucky high school football that year. Jones scored 38… Continue reading
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Sitting Up With The Dead
Funeral notice from 1935. It opens up but is blank inside. From the journals: A discussion of funerals can be a morbid subject, but let us look into how funerals and the preparation for such rites were treated in Bath County prior to the advent of funeral homes. Upon notification of the undertaker,… Continue reading