Podcasts about Lexington Public Library

Retired attorney, former President of the Lafayette chapter of the Sons of the Revolution, and all around General Lafayette expert Dale Henley sits down with David to talk about the Marquis de Lafayette and his visit to Lexington in 1825. They talk about Lafayette's background, from joining the Musketeers at the age of thirteen to defying the French King and sailing to the American colonies to advance the cause of liberty at just nineteen years old. Dale shares book recommendations for learning more about Lafayette's role in the Revolutionary War, his abolitionist views, and his 1825 visit on the invitation of President Monroe. He also tells us about the events in Lexington in May 2025 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lafayette's visit.The opening music for this episode is the “Brandywine Quickstep” named for Brandywine, Pennsylvania where Lafayette took part in his first battle of the revolution and was subsequently wounded. The recording is by the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and is in the public domain.

David sits down with Wayne to discuss Wayne's top ten list of historical events in Lexington. This year, 2025, is Lexington, Kentucky's 250th anniversary, and there are many events around the city to celebrate. As part of the celebrations, Wayne put together lists of the 250 most important events and people, and he's selected ten to discuss with us today. Wayne's list of ten influential people will be featured in a later episode.

On this episode, Jamie West tells us about a scandal in 1882 with the Lexington City Physician. J.C. Harpham, as city physician, was required to attend the patients living in the smallpox hospital on the outskirts of town. It quickly came out that he was, in fact, only pretending to go visit the patients. He was replaced immediately, and he and his family left Lexington under a cloud of scandal.The research for this episode was done by Sarah Hubbard, Kentucky Room Manager.

Freda Meriwether joins us for a remembrance of her father and his struggle with alcoholism. Freda Meriwether loves God, her husband, her children and grandchildren and spending time with them either at their sport events or family get togethers. She looks forward to traveling to Maysville once a week to care for her elderly mother. Enjoying life is the highlight of her day.Theme song "Appalachian Lofi" composed and performed by Bryan Klausing and Christine Cole.

Mariam sits down with Raymond McLain and Ruth McLain Smith ahead of the McLain Family Band's induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. They talk about their beginnings as a band in 1968 on television in Hazard, Kentucky and their musical childhoods. They toured extensively throughout the 1970s and 1980s in 64 countries through Africa, Europe and Asia. Raymond and Ruth reflect on their career so far, and the joy music has brought to their lives.  Their father, Raymond McLain, Sr., was a professor of music at Berea College, and later in his career became a librarian at Lexington Public Library, working in children's and then in the Kentucky Room. He retired in the 1990s. Ruth and Raymond perform a song their father wrote, Kentucky Wind, for us on the podcast. 

This episode has brief strong language when reading a quote from the killer in the newspaper, listener's discretion is advised.  Mariam sits down with longtime listener of the podcast Zach Davis to discuss the 1897 murder of local pension attorney Thomas H. Merritt. Zach Davis is the President and Principal Broker of local real estate brokerage Kirkpatrick & Co., and came across this story while researching Gratz Park. Jacob Harris shot and killed Merritt after suspecting Merritt was having an affair with his wife Effie. The murder captivated the nation, less because of the circumstances of the murder itself, rather because of the precedent set by the presiding judge D. G. Falconer in dismissing charges against Harris because of societal norms, rather than written law. 

Mariam sits down with Tammi Johnson, lead researcher and founder for the Project USS Strong DD467 website, to discuss her life's work finding the ship her uncle Billy Hedrick served on in World War Two. The ship, the USS Strong DD467, was torpedoed in the battle of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands and sank, killing Billy and 45 other men on July 5, 1943. They talk about her work with David Mearns and Paul Mayer finding the ship, and her work with Stephen Harding on the book The Castaway's War. At the time of recording, Tammi had not yet taken the plaque to the South Pacific World War Two Museum on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. She has made the trip now, and wrote about it on her blog on the Project USS Strong DD467 website.

It seems like everybody is talking about video in the podcasting space. Is it worth it? How should we help our clients set their expectations? Listen for more!Episode Notes: https://podcasteditorsmastermind.com/episode/is-video-the-big-gamechanger-podcast-editors-hope-for Follow the Podcast Editors MastermindRate and Review the Podcast Editors MastermindLeave text or voice feedbackRick Sellnow from Lexington Public Library will talk about video podcasts, including the importance of quality, using platforms like YouTube, Instagram Reels, and TikTok, and managing costs and time.We'll also answer a fun AI-generated question: If you could have any animal as a tame miniature pet, which one would you choose and why? Our answers might surprise you.Join us as we explore taking your podcast to the next level in the age of video. Let's GOOOO!Riverside.fmThis episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm, the leading tool for podcast and video recordings. Visit riverside.fm and use code Yetis to start recording studio quality sound and video and get 15% off a membership plan.https://creators.riverside.fm/YetisKey Discussion PointsIs it really a podcast? (Just kidding - we talk about it, but we don't go crazy.)Why high-quality tools and software matterWorking with limited budgetsThe importance of setting expectationsWhat exponential reacn REALLY means and how video plays into thatThe dark side of algorithm-driven exponential reachLinks And ResourcesStoryblocksThe YouTube FormulaWikimedia CommonsPixabayPodcast Editor AcademyAbout Rick SellnowRick Sellnow is a keen observer of the digital media landscape, particularly the blending of podcasts and video content. He notes YouTube's recent shifts, emphasizing its roots in talking head shows and highlighting the undeniable influence of major figures like Joe Rogan. Rick underscores the significance of this convergence, showcasing his deep understanding of the evolving interplay between audio and visual media.Connect with Rick SellnowLinkedInJoin Us Live!We stream live to our Facebook page and to YouTube every other week. Our EditorThis episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Alejandro Ramirez. You can find him on LinkedIn if you're interested in talking with him about editing your show.Also, special thanks to Carrie Caulfield for her help in shaping the content.Be a GuestIf you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode.

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.

Kevin Nance is a photographer, arts journalist and poet living in Lexington, Kentucky. His photographs have been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Chicago, Portland, Danville and Lexington, including at the Lexington Art League, the Lexington Public Library, the University of Kentucky Hospital and Arts Connect's Mobile Gallery. His two collections of photographs and haiku are Even If (University of Kentucky Arts in HealthCare, 2020) and Midnight (Act of Power Press, 2022). As a journalist, Kevin's work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, Poets & Writers Magazine, the Lexington Herald-Leader, Ace Magazine, UnderMain and many other publications.​He's the host of Out & About in Kentucky with Kevin Nance and a co-host of the Kentucky Writers' Roundtable, both on RadioLex.

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.

Retha Hicks joins us with a tale of how she successfully protested the dress code for teachers in  Fayette County Public Schools in the early 1970's. Retha Perkins Hicks is a writer, a tour guide at Waveland State Historic Site, and a retired public school teacher. She was born in an Eastern Kentucky coal camp and lived in several different coal camps until she was eight years old. Those coal camps are the background of many of her childhood stories. She is a proud mother of four sons and grandmother of four grandchildren. She lives in Lexington with her Miniature Schnauzer, Edgar. Theme song "Appalachian Lofi" composed and performed by Bryan Klausing and Christine Cole.

Quilting Kentucky's Stories is a year-long series of autobiographical tales from Lexington Residents, some of them funny, some of them heartwarming and some heart wrenching, but all of them important as they build the quilt of Kentucky life. Donna Carter joins us for our inaugural episode, performing the speech she gave on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for Winchester (Clark County), Kentucky. She recounts her 30 years in recovery, and how equity helped her to build the life she has now. Donna resides in WInchester, KY with her husband of 23 years and their 14 year old daughter. Donna has over 20 years of HR experience within various industries.  Over her career she has been responsible for leading HR departments and DEIB initiatives in the manufacturing, non-profit, government, education and private sectors. She is currently the Director of Professional and Community Development at Internal Family Systems Institute, headquartered in Chicago, IL and also oversees the HR department.  

Mariam sits down with JP Johnson, Kentucky Room Librarian to discuss his research into Pralltown, one of Lexington's best known Black Enclaves. They talk about the founding of Pralltown, how the residents of Pralltown stood up to urban renewal and destruction of their neighborhood in the mid-twentieth century, and a few of Pralltown's famous residents: community leader James Herndon, known to most as Sweet Evening Breeze; Lou Johnson, the professional baseball player for the Dodgers; and Tony Briggs, a leader in Lexington's Punk music scene.

This episode has mentions of violence of dueling, listener's discretion is advised. Mariam sits down with Stuart Sanders to discuss his newest book, Anatomy of a Duel: Secession, Civil War, and the Evolution of Kentucky Violence. They talk about his role and artifacts at the Kentucky Historical Society, why dueling was so embraced in Kentucky (Henry Clay himself dueled more than once), and Stuart's previous and upcoming projects. Stuart is the Director of Research and Publications for the Kentucky Historical Society and has written four other books exploring interpersonal violence in the Civil War Era.Anatomy of a Duel: Secession, Civil War, and the Evolution of Kentucky Violence examines why white male Kentuckians engaged in the "honor culture" of duels and provides fascinating narratives that trace the lives of duelists. Stuart W. Sanders explores why, during a time when Americans were killing one another in open, brutal warfare, William T. Casto and Colonel Leonidas Metcalfe engaged in the process of negotiating and fighting a duel. The book is available for checkout at the Lexington Public Library and for purchase at your local bookstore.During the episode, Stuart mentions a memento ring from a duel that is available to view online. You can see it at the Kentucky Historical Society's online archive.

In our last episode of 2023, Mariam sits down with Betty Abdmishani, retired Village Branch manager and Jackie Arakaki, one of the original staff members at Village Branch, to discuss the history of the Village Branch location. Village Branch became an essential and beloved part of the community by never saying "we don't do that here" and helping customers with whatever they needed, in many ways shaping the services the Library now provides at all locations. In 2024, twenty years after Village Branch opened, the newly designed and far larger Marksbury Family Branch will open on the site of the original Village Branch. They reminisce about the founding and opening of Village Branch, staffing, and the unique challenges and successes for the Village community.

You can find Jenny Kiefer on her website at jennykiefer.com/ or at Butcher Cabin Books at www.horrorbookstore.com/. She is also on instagram at @horrorbookstore and @_jennykiefer For show notes for any episode, go to our website at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. You can contact to us through the link on the website. We are also on Instagram @perksofbeingabookloverpod and on FB Perks of Being a Book Lover.   It has been one year since Louisville welcomed a horror bookstore to its ranks of cool, independent offerings. Butcher Cabin Books is a mother/daughter labor of love; Jenny Kiefer and her mother run the show.  Jenny has been a horror fan since she was a child and also happens to be a horror writer whose debut novel titled This Wretched Valley will be published in January 2024 by Quirk Books. It has a wild inspiration story which she tells us about in this episode. Her dog Rye also gets in on the interview action, although his horror tale was that dinner might be delayed.  Butcher Cabin Books prides itself in having a large selection of books in stock from not only the Big 4 publishers but also small independent presses where so much of the exciting new horror literature is produced.  Via their website, you can get these indie press scary favorites shipped to your door. Last but not least, the store is sponsoring Butcher Cabin BookFest in Lexington KY on Oct. 18 from 5-9 at Pivot Brewing to benefit the Lexington Public Library.  There will be a mass meeting of great horror writers to sign books and chat with readers, including Cynthia Pelayo, JH Markert, Andrew Shaffer, and Laurel Hightower. There will also be book bingo, silent auctions, and more.  Books mentioned-- 1- This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer 2- The Eyre Affair (Tuesday Next series) by Jasper Fforde 3- Women Talking by Miriam Toews 4- The Shining by Stephen King 5- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 6- Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut 7- The Troop by Nick Cutter 8- Bunny by Mona Awad 9- We Need to Do Something by Max Boot III 10- Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle 11- Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi 12- 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by Sadie Hartmann 13- Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko 14- Coraline by Neil Gaiman 15- Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes 16- The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan 17- Sadie by Courtney Summers 18- The Skull by Jon Klassen 19- The Last Devil to Die (The Thursday Murder Club series) by Richard Osman Films mentioned-- 1- Women Talking (2022) 2- The Shining (1980) 3- It Follows (2014) 4- The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix - 2018) Historic Events mentioned- Dyatlov Pass

You can find Jenny Kiefer on her website at https://jennykiefer.com/ or at Butcher Cabin Books at https://www.horrorbookstore.com/. She is also on instagram at @horrorbookstore and @_jennykiefer For show notes for any episode, go to our website at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. You can contact to us through the link on the website. We are also on Instagram @perksofbeingabookloverpod and on FB Perks of Being a Book Lover. It has been one year since Louisville welcomed a horror bookstore to its ranks of cool, independent offerings. Butcher Cabin Books is a mother/daughter labor of love; Jenny Kiefer and her mother run the show. Jenny has been a horror fan since she was a child and also happens to be a horror writer whose debut novel titled This Wretched Valley will be published in January 2024 by Quirk Books. It has a wild inspiration story which she tells us about in this episode. Her dog Rye also gets in on the interview action, although his horror tale was that dinner might be delayed. Butcher Cabin Books prides itself in having a large selection of books in stock from not only the Big 4 publishers but also small independent presses where so much of the exciting new horror literature is produced. Via their website, you can get these indie press scary favorites shipped to your door. Last but not least, the store is sponsoring Butcher Cabin BookFest in Lexington KY on Oct. 18 from 5-9 at Pivot Brewing to benefit the Lexington Public Library. There will be a mass meeting of great horror writers to sign books and chat with readers, including Cynthia Pelayo, JH Markert, Andrew Shaffer, and Laurel Hightower. There will also be book bingo, silent auctions, and more. Books mentioned-- 1- This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer 2- The Eyre Affair (Tuesday Next series) by Jasper Fforde 3- Women Talking by Miriam Toews 4- The Shining by Stephen King 5- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 6- Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut 7- The Troop by Nick Cutter 8- Bunny by Mona Awad 9- We Need to Do Something by Max Boot III 10- Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle 11- Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi 12- 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by Sadie Hartmann 13- Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko 14- Coraline by Neil Gaiman 15- Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes 16- The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan 17- Sadie by Courtney Summers 18- The Skull by Jon Klassen 19- The Last Devil to Die (The Thursday Murder Club series) by Richard Osman Films mentioned-- 1- Women Talking (2022) 2- The Shining (1980) 3- It Follows (2014) 4- The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix - 2018) Historic Events mentioned- Dyatlov Pass

Mariam sits down with Rona Roberts and Barbara Sutherland to discuss their work on Segregated Lexington. Segregated Lexington gathers primary sources and research to show how systemic racism in housing result in unequal life opportunities for Lexington's Black residents versus white residents. They speak on redlining in particular, as well as the effect of realtor steering in relation to home ownership. They talk about how, as white women, they can contribute to repair, and how it's important to understand our past to move forward together in the future. You can visit Segregated Lexington at https://www.segregatedlexington.com This podcast episode is produced in conjunction with the Library's Community Read of The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein (available for checkout) and the UnDesign the Redline exhibit at Central Library, available for viewing until November 17, 2023. 

Mariam interviews local author Gary O'Dell about his new book Bluegrass Paradise: Royal Spring and the Birth of Georgetown, Kentucky. Royal Spring is the largest spring in central Kentucky and is located in Georgetown, Kentucky. They discuss how Gary became interested in springs in Kentucky, and how he gathered the information for his new book about Royal Spring. They also discuss Kentucky's pioneer history, the discovery of Royal Spring, and the growth of Georgetown around it until it was made into a State Park. Bluegrass Paradise: Royal Spring and the Birth of Georgetown, Kentucky is available for purchase at your local bookseller and available for checkout at the Lexington Public Library.

David guest hosts to interviews Wayne about more street names and how streets are named in Lexington. Part Two covers the names of streets in subdivisions and major roads around Lexington. And yes, Wayne does tell us the origin of the name Chinoe and how to pronounce it like a native Lexingtonian.

Shelby joins us to read selections from Lexington's Fallout Shelter Plan from 1965. The plan was created in a pilot program funded by Stanford Research Institute and the Federal Offices of Civil Defense to maximize survivability using shelters in the event of an atomic attack. One city in each state developed a plan, and Lexington was the representative city for Kentucky. The full plan can be found in the Library's Digital Archives.

David guest hosts to interview Willie Carver, Jr., Kentucky Poet and 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year about his new work, “Gay Poems for Red States.” They discuss Willie's approach to poetry, growing up gay and Appalachian in the 90's, and the effect on book banning in schools on students. Willie reads his poem “First Crush” for the podcast. “Gay Poems for Red States” is available for checkout and for purchase at your local bookseller.

David guest hosts and interviews Wayne about street names in Lexington. The first episode of this two-part series covers streets named after racehorses, racetracks, and horse farms in Lexington.  The Week of June 5th is Secretariat Week in the Kentucky Room, so check our events page for more information about the programs for this week.

For our 75th episode, Mariam interviews Peter Brackney about The History Lovers' Guide to Lexington and Central KY, his new book co-written with the late Foster Ockerman, Jr. They discuss some of the places that were selected for the book, and how it's important for history to remain in context as markers are placed or removed, or places renamed. The History Lovers' Guide to Lexington, KY is available for checkout from the library or for purchase from your local booksellers.

Mariam hosts a roundtable discussion with librarians Brenna and Heather about the 1964 March on Frankfort. On March 5, 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball player Jackie Robinson, and band Peter, Paul and Mary participated in a march from Louisville to Frankfort to advocate for the passage of a bill to end segregated public accommodations in Kentucky. This bill was eventually passed in 1966, but previous to that time, a pivotal moment in Kentucky Civil Rights history was several Black NBA players, including Bill Russell, were not allowed accommodation in the Phoenix Hotel because of their race.  Producer Erin briefly joins the conversation when the talks move into how the March, and many aspects of Kentucky history, including Civil Rights, are not taught in Kentucky schools, and how surprised Heather, Mariam and Erin were to discover the March had happened only as adults. There is no known transcription of the speeches given at the March on Frankfort, but the Library does have a digitized copy of the program available in the Digital Archive. Brenna makes many recommendations for further learning on this topic, including oral histories, in the episode.

Mariam interviews David Bryant about the life and work of Lexington-born African American composer Julia Perry (1924-1979). David covers her early life in Lexington, KY, and Akron, OH and her move to Europe. He also discusses her musical style, with three examples of her works. Special thanks to Dr. Yvonne Giles for her assistance with the research for this episode.Recordings of Sabat Mater, Short Piece for Orchestra, and Homunculus C.F. are used under Fair Use for purposes of review.

Mariam interviews Fred Mills about the history of the Kentucky Theatre and his 50 year tenure as the theatre's manager. They discuss the opening of the theatre in 1922, and the ups and downs of the theatre industry, and of the Kentucky Theatre itself, from funding issues to the building fire that shuttered the theatre for years. There is a brief discussion of the theatre showing adult movies in the 1970s and the first amendment implications, but no discussion of the movies beyond their titles and the legal trouble that the theatre faced, some listener discretion is advised. 

Mandy Otis with the FEED Backpack Program and Anne Donworth from the Lexington Public Library join us for this special two-for-one special episode! To learn more about the FEED Backpack Program, visit https://www.feedbackpackprogram.com/ To learn more about the Lexington Public Library and Booktacular, visit https://www.lexpublib.org/ ........ The DoGood Radio Hour is brought to you by Blue Grass Community Foundation https://www.bgcf.org/ @bgcfky on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok Our theme song is "Happy Tune," written and performed by Brother Smith - https://www.brothersmithband.com/

Brenna guests to share her research on three of Lexington's Black enclaves, founded by formerly enslaved persons after the Civil War. In this episode, she discusses Davis Bottom (est. 1865; redeveloped in 2010s to make way for Newtown Pike road expansion), Adamstown (est. 1870; razed in early 1900s to make way for Memorial Colosseum), and Brucetown (est. 1865; still exists today). Brenna highlights the history we know, and points out that much of the history of these hamlets and their residents are lost to time, despite their vital contributions to Lexington's development and growth pre- and post-Civil War. 

Mariam and David discuss the sordid life of John Wilkes Booth before his assassination of Abraham Lincoln, including his visit to Lexington during the Civil War as a theater actor. Some listener discretion is advised as they discuss his womanizing, his racist and pro-slavery views, and the conspiracy theories surrounding his death. 

Mariam and Wayne talk about the history of Lexington Public Library spaces, from its beginning as a subscription library in 1795 to the building project for the new Marksbury Family Branch (formerly Village Branch) now in 2022. 

Mariam shares the history of Kentucky's Separate Coach Law, and Lexington's second African American attorney, J. Alexander Chiles, who took the fight to the US Supreme court multiple times in the 1890s and early 1900s. Kentucky's Separate Coach Law was one of many of Kentucky's explicitly racist Jim Crow segregation laws, and those who fought against it faced persecution, harassment and assault. J. Alexander Chiles was at the forefront of this fight for de-segregated equality. 

October 1973 saw one of Lexington's most brutal crimes, the murders of Rev. John Barnes (47), his daughter Francine Barnes (18), and his son John E. Barnes (14). In the final part of this series, Wayne takes us through the murders of the Barnes Family, the murders and shootings in Falmouth, KY, and the aftermath of the crimes. Listener Discretion is Advised. 

October 1973 saw one of Lexington's most brutal crimes, the murders of Rev. John Barnes (47), his daughter Francine Barnes (18), and his son John E. Barnes (14). In this part one of two series on the Barnes Family's murder, Mariam interviews guest Ike Lawrence, whose father notified Mrs. Barnes of her family's murder, and later, Wayne discusses the start of the crime, with the two killers escaping the custody of the US Marshals. The discussion of the crime continues in part two tomorrow. Listener Discretion is Advised. 

Erin guests to talk about bloodhound Nick Carter and his handler Captain Volney Mullikin, who together searched for and found over 600 people in Nick Carter's career as a tracking hound. She goes over his most profiled cases, and shares one case tracked by Nick Carter's son, Nick Carter, Jr. 

Mariam interviews oral historians Terry L. Birdwhistell and Donald A. Ritchie about their January 2022 book, Washington's Iron Butterfly: Bess Clements Abell, an Oral History. They discuss Bess Clements Abell's (1933-2020) Kentucky history, her background and family life, her time in the White House during Lyndon B. Johnson's administration, and her later public relations firm. More information can be found about the book here and is available for check out here.

Mariam and David discuss Charles Dickens' visit to Kentucky in 1842, including his observations of America, particularly about American table manners, tobacco use, and the varied people he sought out for conversation during his travels. Readings by Bill Widener from Dickens' work American Notes and from The New York Times and The Paducah Sun newspapers. American Notes is available for check out here.

Mariam talks with Kentucky author Jayne Moore Waldrop about her first fiction work, Drowned Town, about the creation of Land Between the Lakes. They explore the differences between man-made displacements and natural disasters, as this episode was recorded just two weeks after the December 2021 tornado devastated parts of Western Kentucky. Drowned Town is available for check out at the library here and for purchase at your favorite bookstore. 

Join us for a dramatic reading by the TFKR Radio Players of several ads taken out by Dennis Nichols and Tazewell Marr in the 1846 Observer & Reporter, each accusing the other of foul play in the sale of a horse that was either already lame or became lame shortly after the sale. The injury to the horse is described as a spavin, which is an osteoarthritis condition and is degenerative. We checked for deeds and court records for the sale and threat of court action, but we weren't able to find any records to say how this turned out. We hope you enjoy this special episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. 

After a year of pandemic created challenges for the public school system in Lexington, Mariam gives an overview of the history of the public schools in Lexington City and in Fayette County. She discusses the initial funding of the schools, through the creation of segregated public schools in 1864, and finally desegregation and the merging of the city and county public schools in the 1960s. 

Alexa and Jennifer discuss what they've read and enjoyed lately, including dark fantasy, romance, mystery, graphic novels and biographies. They also revisit two timeless children's classics, The Phantom Tollbooth and A Wrinkle in Time. This is the final episode of Checked Out, but please look forward to our new library podcast series, coming in January 2022!

Mariam and David discuss Lafayette's 1825 visit to Lexington, his tour through the 24 states of the United States, and touch briefly on his involvement in the American and French revolutions. David references several books: Hero of two worlds: the Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan; Lafayette In America, in 1824 and 1825: Journal of a Voyage to the United States by Aguste Levasseur; Lafayette's visit to Lexington: an account of the General's sojourn in the Bluegrass, May, 1824 by J. Winston Coleman; and the website of The Lafayette Trail, a project to retrace Lafayette's visit: https://www.thelafayettetrail.org/

Mariam and Wayne discuss the history of Lexington & Fayette County's merged governments, one of only fifteen merged city-county governments in the United States. They discuss how and why the merger was planned, how it was enacted, and briefly touch on Lexington's famous mayoral race, known as the “Spider Election”, of 1973.

Jamie tells an abridged history of Russell's Cave, Fayette County's largest cave, including a description of the area, evidence of Native American's habitation of the land, Colonel William Russell's military grant of the land including the cave, and our favorite event: the Cassius Marcellus Clay fight with Samuel Brown at a political rally. 

Mariam and Wayne discuss the construction of New Circle Road, the transition of the downtown streets to one way, and other major transportation projects in Lexington. (You might notice some light construction noise after the 25-minute mark - there were renovations happening on the floor above us, our apologies!) An image of Main Street while it was still two-way is available on the Kentucky Photo Archive here. 

Producer Erin takes a turn on the other side of the mic to tell the story of the unsolved murder of Alexander T. Hays. She explores the coverage of the crime, the investigation, the suspect, and two theories of the 1846 crime.