What we love about Eastern Ky. (Lexington, Covington: high crime, mobile home, school)

[pejuta]

the particular thompson was minerva thompson who married corda pendergrass. she was from a remote indian tribe from the virginias. such things as indian blood was hidden. my grandmother (it was her grandparents)casually mentioned it to me in a letter in the 1960's but didnt say what tribe. i had thought ind. blood, but back then people didnt ask questions. etc.

[Ridgerunner]

I am very fond of eastern Kentucky. I grew up just over the line in Virginia and am quite familiar with much of the region. The people who live there are among the friendliest you will find anywhere. I am a descendent of two Kentucky families, the Burkharts of Harlan County and the Tomlinsons from Breathitt. When Dr. Thomas Walker first explored the region (SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO DANIEL BOONE), one of the men in his expedition was named Tomlinson. I am unable to determine if I am his direct descendant, but I do know that some of Walker's men remained in the area. Many local festivals offer a sampling of the region's culture and history. There are many scenic wonders including Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park, Breaks Interstate Park, Cumberland Falls, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Patty Loveless. (heh heh) The region east of I-75 also gave us Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, Tom T. Hall, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam, Keith Whitley, David "Stringbean" Akeman, Sam Bush, The Judds (Naomi, Wynona and Ashley), Billy Ray Cyrus, Red Foley, Sonny and Bobby Osborne, Skeeter Davis, Rosemary Clooney, John Conlee, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Lee Majors, Don Galloway, Harry M. Caudill, Judge Roy Bean, Kit Carson, George Clooney, Chuck Woolery, Tony Snow, Jim Bunning, John Fox, Jr. and Jesse Stuart.

[Miss Blue]

Ridgerunner. Wow I knew we had some famous people, but what a list and am sure there are more. Is Billy Ray still in tne "Dancing with the stars" contest?

[opelske]

Blue Grass Fever -- you sound alot like a friend of mine who moved to Louisville, KY years ago. She never has enough good things to say about Kentuckyians! They are simply just nice, friendly, and helpful people, which was hard for her to believe coming from NYC. She would often ask them if they were for real -- funny, the many, many different types of people and communities one meets along the way. Looking for my special "community shangri-la" too, and I thank the posters for giving hints to possibilities. KENTUCKY will be one of my stops, for sure!

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by blue62

Ridgerunner. Wow I knew we had some famous people, but what a list and am sure there are more. Is Billy Ray still in tne "Dancing with the stars" contest?

I'm not sure. When he first went on the show I heard they were going to change the name to "Wiggling With the Stars." (chuckle)

[karenmpbrandon]

Okay, Nancy, i think I might know who you are now. You must be descended from Louisa (Lou-eye-za) Pendergrass, b. Dec 12 1861, second youngest daughter of Cordy P and Manerva Thompson (dau of Henry). I have her as married first to a Mays and next as a Brandenburg, hut really don't know TOO much about her. I'm better with the folks prior to 1850. I grew up in Booneville, have been researching the family for 40 years and would love more info on the persistent rumor that Manerva was Indian. The Ps always claimed to be descended from Pocahontas through the Bollings, but this is untrue. If you still have the letter, I would really be thrilled to see the exact wording about Manerva, and if you are a driect female descendat of hers, we've been looking for one to do mitochondrial dna testing.
We've had a grand time testing the guys and validating my research back to John P of Wake county NC (Daneil Boone Carter P, son of Cordy, son of Moses, son of John, son of ?) but would really like to check the maternal line of someone who has unbroken ties along the female line back to Manerva. I would be happy to purchase the kit for you if you are that person or know of one. (Manerva's daughter's daughter's daughter?) Any info about your branch of the family would be more than welcome and I have tons of info to share if you are interested. My father (Paul) ran down all the descendants of Cordy up to my Dad's death in 1980, so i probably have your stats somewhere. I also e-mailed you privately.

Thanks for a prompt response. This could be very exciting.

[Miss Blue]

Hi, Karen just want to welcome you to cd and particularly thank you for the information in your post. Sounds like you are into tracing ancestors. Such a fascinating hobby. My husband family goes back about as far as two hundres years here in east Ky. I am not origionally from here, but have known for a long time that my paternal gr'ma and gr'pa were from Henderson.

[Kichenwich]

G' Morning everyone. I live in what is considered E. KY, but feels more central to me. However, Eastern KY University is our local college, so.....I get to reply to this post! There are SO many things I love about the area. I guess my favorite thing is water: lakes, streams, creeks. My childhood revolved around swimming and fishing, so I'm just an ole water dog! However, wade casting the local streams right when the sun comes up, seeing the mist rise, watching minnows and crawdads play around your feet, hearing the water trickeling over rocks and down small water falls-it doesn't get any better. Well, except for, walking in the woods: listening to jaybirds fuss with mocking birds, mourning doves calling, smelling pine and cedar (yes, they do have strong smell) finding wild berries and nuts, watching squirrels play overhead. That runs a close second. Finally, the people are my third favorite. I live in an area where, if your car breaks down, everyone stops to help. If a family member is sick, neighbors bring food and comfort. Many of the "kids" still call you "mam". You are "related" to almost everyone, and there is always someone who remembers who you are related thru. I could not imagine living somewhere else.

For the geneology folks: my mother's family came to this area in the late 1700's, and there is a wonderful book out about my family, written by a distant cousin (the Long family). I am now trying to trace some of my dad's side, but have hit a brick wall. His mother was Anna Mae Ray, which I can trace way back. His father was George Thomas, who died at the age of 23 from a head injury. My dad was only 3 when his father died. His father never knew his father, so he carried his mother's maiden name of Thomas. Her name was Pearl Thomas Peters. The most I can find about her is that she was originally from the Harlan area, moved into a boarding house in the Paint Lick area when she was 16, and died at the age of 43. Any help finding her family would be greatly appreciated! ~joanna~

[No More Propaganda]

In Boyd & Greenup County (northeastern Ky) we have 2 great hospitals. One is in the top 100 of the nation rated by Soluient & Working Mother Mag. In fact native Ashlanders often call it the hospital that ate Ashland. There's every chain imaginable including mom & pop stores both in town or close by. In less than an hour's drive you can visit Huntington, W.V. (2nd largest city in W.V.) & a good hunk of southern Ohio.
We're just finishing up the week long July 4th holiday we have every year with all kinds of stuff to do including free concerts. This year we had Lee Greenwood, The Turtles, Diamond Rio & Starship. You can read about that at Summer Motion 2007 - Welcome
We're proud of our past & have a museum, extensive genealogy dept. & we had alot of firsts in early american history as until 1803 we were part of Va. Truman came through & stopped here on his campaign, Eleanor Rosevelt gave a short speech at the post office, standard oil began here. Even the original McGuffy Readers were here first.
In the 40s Paramount commissioned 12 studios in the nation. Only 6 were built & ours is the only one still being used for Broadway shows, musicians, etc. The Temptations were here a few years back & tickets were as low as $10. You can see that at :: PARAMOUNT PICTURES :: Jeff Foxworthy even mentioned the tri-state airport in his comedy routine. In '68 all of the American Bandstand Groups were here at the high school and we have the most modern senior high in the state. It looks more like a college campus. We have a community college & vocational school linked to U.K.
Crime & the cost of living is very low compared to some places. What we call a traffic jam would be normal non rush hour traffic elsewhere.
The people are friendly & there are all kinds of charities to help the poor.
Unskilled labor doesn't pay much but professionals make good & are always in need. The scenery is beautiful & there are 2 state parks in less than an hr.'s drive that have fishing, boating & camping, all of which are cheaper than most places. The campsites have all levels of camping include restaurants & a laundromat. Plus things for the kids to do for free including weekend hayrides.
We also have all 4 seasons with fall being my fav because of the trees changing color.
Chuck Woolery, Naomi & Wynona Judd, Brandon Webb, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Ricky Scaggs & a bunch of others are from here and still come back from time to time to visit or volunteer.
If you don't smoke Ashland couldn't be better. But even if you do, if you leave the 11.1 sq. miles of the city restaurants allow smoking.
We have 2 large movie theatres (10 screens each) that show all the hottest movies on the day they're released. Town meetings are twice a month & open to the public to view or for input & the politicians are very accessible even after hours.
There are all kinds of chuches & if you're jewish or muslim there is a synagogue & mosque in Huntington. There's even an art district, country club, flea market, farmers markets, 7 or 8 banks. Golf courses, etc. The list is endless.
I've always said this area is Ky's best kept secret. It has all the anemities of the big city w/o all the hassles. I'd definitely recommend it.

[and the]

My grandfather was raised in Lynch, and Stonega, VA. I've never been down there but always wanted to take a trip. I know they do tours of the US Coke and Coal mine where he used to work.

What's going on in Lynch these days? Are there any decent hotels to stay at in that area?

Thanks