Tales From The Kentucky Room Lexington Public Library

Forget what you know about the Daughters of the American Revolution and join Mariam as she sits down with three members of Kentucky’s Lexington chapter of the DAR. Judy Owens, Robin Fisher, and Sharon Withers talk about the contemporary society and what it means to each of them, their work to research and identify patriots of color, historical preservation at McConnell's Springs and Sharon's pioneering use of DNA in DAR genealogy research, and the use of DNA to find patriots of color and their descendants. 

The Lexington Chapter of the DAR is hosting a DNA Beginners Seminar at Beaumont Branch on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

The oral history series mentioned in the episode is Daughter Dialogues, and is available at https://www.daughterdialogues.com

This Memorial Day, Terry Hall joins us with a story of hope and healing. While Terry's story has a happy ending, he describes the darkest period of his life as he dealt with alcoholism and post traumatic stress, including thoughts of of suicide, deaths during war, and a description of the murder of a friend.  Please take care of yourself while listening to this episode.
Terry Hall is a disabled Army veteran from eastern Kentucky who enlisted in the US Army after graduating high school in 1983. He quickly rose to the rank of W2 due to his outstanding leadership skills and commitment. In 1991, Terry was deployed to the Middle East for Operation Desert Storm, where he demonstrated bravery and determination in the face of danger. After returning from serving in the Gulf War, he has struggled with PTS and has recently turned to writing as a way to share his story and inspire and encourage others. Terry has been married to his wife Vickie for 30 years and together they have 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law, 4 grandchildren, and 1 fur baby.
Theme song "Appalachian Lofi" composed and performed by Bryan Klausing and Christine Cole.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/
For veterans struggling with post traumatic stress, you can find out more about the Save a Warrior project at their website https://saveawarrior.org/ 

Mariam sits down with Kim Wickens, author of Lexington: the Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse, to discuss her book and Lexington’s impact on the sport of horse racing in the mid-19th century.
 
Kim tells us about Lexington’s racing career, how his racing career ended in 1855, and how his offspring fared in both war and the racetracks in the Northern Union States. Lexington: the Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse is available for checkout from the library and for purchase at your favorite book stores. 

Leo York joins us to tell us about the magical experience he had in Kentucky's forests.
 
Leo is a copywriter from Corbin KY. He writes commercial screenplays, and also writes all manner of narrative fiction, and helps assist inventors and entrepreneurs at Inventors Network KY. He is also cohost of the popular paranormal podcast, The 13th Floor. 
 
Theme song "Appalachian Lofi" composed and performed by Bryan Klausing and Christine Cole.

Yesterday, April 2, 2024, there were three confirmed EF-1 tornado touchdowns in three different Kentucky counties, with severe storm damage affecting many more, including Lexington. Today, April 3, 2024, is the fiftieth anniversary of the tornado super outbreak in 1974, with 7 F5 tornadoes attributed to this one storm. The super outbreak affected thirteen states with a total death toll of 319 people, with 75 of them in Kentucky. 
 
Wayne Johnson sits down with Mariam to describe his memories of day in Lexington, Kentucky, which was spared from the super outbreak, and the destruction in the counties that were not so fortunate, and to give important safety tips of always listening to the warnings, and getting to shelter as fast as you can because seconds can mean the difference in survival.
This episode discusses deaths and destruction a result of natural disaster, so please take care of yourself as you listen.

Librarian JP Johnson joins Mariam to discuss his research into the life of Ella Offutt Pepper, avid horsewoman and long-time owner of the James E. Pepper distillery. When her husband James E. Pepper took ill, he sold her the distillery to manage, which she did until after his death in the early 1900s. JP tells us about her widely-reported divorce from her first husband in Louisville, to the quiet ceremony of her second to Colonel Pepper, to her later years settling the Meadowthorpe estate.