Kentucky History & Haunts

Latest Episodes:

42. The Cicadas Are Coming! May 03, 2021

Show notes

Every seventeen years, Kentucky gets a visit from a new batch of periodical cicadas. They are loud, they are numerous, but they are generally not harmful, except to young trees and vineyards. You’ll come away from this episode armed with all kinds of great cicada fun facts. Enjoy!

41. Ventriloquism & the Vent Haven Museum Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

Learn the eerie origins of ventriloquism, how it evolved into the modern form of entertainment it is today, and then enjoy an overview of the fascinating Vent Haven Museum started by W.S. Berger- now home to over 980 ‘figures’ plus oodles of other memorabilia. Check out venthaven.org to learn more and book your appointment.

40. Nancy Green- Aunt Jemima Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

It’s difficult to decipher which information about Nancy Green’s life is true. In this episode, I’ve tried to separate fact from fiction, while giving an overview of Green’s life and the racist stereotypes perpetuated by the flour companies who used her (and others after her) for their brand. For more on this topic check out The NY Times article ‘Nancy Green, Aunt Jemima- Overlooked’; the Medium article ‘Aunt Jemima- It was Never About Pancakes’; NPR’s ‘The Fight to Commemorate Nancy Green: The Woman who Played Aunt Jemima’; and USA Today’s ‘Fact Check: Aunt Jemima Model Didn’t Create Brand, Wasn’t Millionaire’

39. Narcotic Farm- Lexington Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

It was progressive. It was controversial. It was sometimes unethical. The advancements made at the US Public Service Hospital are often overshadowed by the highly questionable experiments conducted on volunteer inmates... experiments sometimes funded by the CIA as part of Operation MKULTRA. For more, find the air dates for KET’s Narcotic Farm documentary on the KET website. Also check out the Forbes Articles ‘The Narcotic Farm and the Little Known History of America’s First Prison for Drug Addicts’ by Clary Estes. Plus the IRETA article ‘A Look at Treatment History: The Narcotic Farm’

38. True Crime- Kevin Dunlap Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

In 2008, Kevin Dunlap pretended to be interested in buying a home for sale in the Roaring Spring community. The owner let him in, where he proceeded to tie her up, rape her, leave her for dead, set the home on fire and murder her children. He was arrested and charged three days later, but an evaluation of his mental state brought up questions about his competency. For details on this case, see Dunlap v. Commonwealth- Kentucky Supreme Court decision June 20, 2013. On behalf of this episode, please consider making a donation to The Center for Women and Families at www.thecenteronline.org

37. Why Public Officials Can’t Duel in Kentucky Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

While dueling has been out of style for quite some time in the state of Kentucky, public officials must still swear under oath before taking office that they’ve never participated in a duel or challenged anyone to fight one. Find out why in today’s episode. Be sure to check out the Smithsonian Magazine article ‘Duel!’; the PBS article ‘The History of Dueling in America’; and the fabulous article by Z.F Smith from the Register of Kentucky State Historical Society ‘DUELING, and Some Noted Duels by Kentuckians’

36. HAUNTED- Anne Mitchell & John Bell Hood Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

This is a love story. That turns sad. And then violent. And then spoooooky. A woman fell in love with a man, but was forced into marrying someone else. Find out how she retaliates... Check out this story and more Kentucky mysteries in the book ‘Myths and Mysteries of Kentucky’ by Mimi O’Malley & Susan Sawyer

35. Montgomery Blair- Dred Scott v. Sanford and Other Things Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

A person with a unique role in political history. I didn’t choose this guy because he was an exceptionally great guy, but because his series of roles was interesting and his life might make for a good tv show. This is the story of Montgomery Blair. For more on The Belknap Scandal check out historynet.com/belknap-scandal-fulcrum-disaster

34. Aviatrix Willa Brown Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

So. Many. Firsts. This woman was not afraid to set records. I get so excited talking about her accomplishments. I hope you enjoy the story of Aviatrix Willa Brown as much as I enjoyed researching it. For more on some of the topics I cover in this episode check out ‘The Other Harlem’ on airspacemag.com. ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ on history.com and ‘Lieutenant Willa Brown- Aviatrix, Maker of Pilots’ by Tanja Spitzer for The National WWII Museum.

33. Nurse Mary W. Arvin Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

Mary Arvin was born in Henderson, Kentucky. She graduated from nursing school in Owensboro and then joined the Red Cross Harvard Base Unit #5 which was sent to France in 1917. She cared for patients throughout the war years and witnessed two German night raid bombings before coming home to Kentucky and being honored by all three major allied forces. This is the first installment of BADASS KENTUCKY WOMEN.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected