"Bloody Williamson" by Paul M. Angle and "Herrin Massacre" by Scott Doody

    

I did want to take a moment to mention a couple of books that I read recently involving the events in Herrin Illinois during the 1920s.

I read Paul Angle's book, packed with info, some time ago.  This book is a bit horrifying in many ways.  Anyway, even though the book was written three decades after the massacre, it still has a feel of coming from a time close to the events.

Just so you have a very rough idea of Herrin in the 20s, the town was packed with bootleggers, gangs, the KKK, and a tough local union.

Both books give detailed accounts of the various feuds and conflicts that went on in town in the 1920s.  The bootleggers are fighting over product.  The Klan is trying to get rid of the bootleggers.  Various players are trying to make a name for themselves......

AND, a coal mine is trying to keep churning out coal during a strike.  Scabs and guards for the mine are needed.  In a very union heavy area, you know that the non-union mine employees were not very popular........

In fact, some locals get away with murder as they deal with the non-union guys.

"Herrin Massacre" shows that the ripples from 1922 are still being felt in Herrin today.  Scott Doody's book on the subject came out just a couple of months ago and it is one of the most interesting books I have read in years.  Scott spends time early in the book covering Herrin's dark past.  He discusses his own personal quest (and lack of success) to locate the exact location of one of the victims of the massacre.  His efforts lead him to a very dark discovery about the local cemetery.

Check out Scott's web site about the book, and for more info on what is going on at the Herrin Cemetery-

http://www.herrinmassacre.com/

Both are fascinating reads about a fascinating area and era.  I like the Angle book because of its close connection (time wise) to the massacre.  And, being written in the 50s, it also has a more modern feel than a book written in the 20s would have.

Doody's book is a very easy read, and I like his story telling.  He uses very modern comparisons to get points across (he compares some events from the 1920s to modern "flash mobs" and getting tickets to a Cubs game late in the season).  Plus, his research on the cemetery and what has become of certain burial sites shows that the area is still dealing with this tragedy.  His book is very bold!

Coffee Emporium- Cincinnati Ohio

Some friends who live a bit to the north have raved about the Coffee Emporium in Cincinnati for some time.  I finally got a chance to go up there and check it out!

This business has actually been around for some time in Cincinnati, and I feel bad that I am JUST NOW discovering it!

We went to the Over-the-Rhine area to take one of the historic tour being offered down there (see my various other entries about those great tours!).  We had not had lunch yet, and we gave this spot a try!


There was a bit of a line, but it moved very fast and our sandwiches were made and on our table within 5 minutes of walking in the door.  These guys are quick!

On this day I had possibly the best tuna melt ever!  Seriously, I want one now!  AND you can choose a side.  EVERYTHING was very green and very fresh.

I love any sit down coffee shop where you can get a nice lunch like this.  With a counter where you order and a self serve coffee area, the place is very casual.

I also picked up some spectacular letterpress style postcards for a buck or so each!

We left and went on our tour.  After out tour we were exhausted, and we wanted to visit with our friends some more, so we ended up going back to the Coffee Emporium!

http://www.coffee-emporium.com/

Random Thoughts On Friday

Happy Friday the 13th!

There are a couple of cool things going on in Lexington this weekend NOT involving sports!

I have mentioned before that Halloween season has begun here.  There was a nice little chill in the air this morning which brought a smile to my face.

AND it leads me to my mention of Scarefest which starts today!  Check out their web site-

http://thescarefest.com/

THERE is also a stamp show in town!

http://www.henryclayphilatelicsociety.org/

Acres of Land Winery, near Richmond KY

https://www.acresoflandwinery.com/

A friend has been telling me for some time that I had to check out Acres of Land.

We went there for an early lunch on a Saturday and had a great time.  I love getting down to Richmond, and the drive out there was scenic and relaxing.

After a nice lunch, we took their tour to see how they make their wine.

I have mentioned here before that I am not a drinker, but I do appreciate seeing how beverages are made and learning about the process.

Corkscrew in Mammoth Cave in Old Kentucky

"Climbing up through Corkscrew requires endurance, patience, and skill equal to that ofclimbing a treacherous mountain.  However it is a near way out from the Echo River region, and to have accomplished this feet is considered a matter of personal pride."

Mammoth Cave Hotel

"This new Mammoth Cave Hotel was opened in 1965.  The motor-hotel complex contains Dining Room, Coffee Shop, Gift, Craft and Photo Shops, Lounge and a number of beautifully furnished, completely air-conditioned rooms.  Open all year.  Adjacent  to National Park Visitor Center."

Green River- Mammoth Cave National Park

"Green River, one of the deepest inland rivers in the country, is an outstanding surface feature of Mammoth Cave National Park.  Picturesque valleys and rugged bluffs border the shores of this stream as it courses through the park for a distance of about 22 miles.  Mammoth Cave National Park, comprising 52,000 acres and established in 1941, contains two navigable rivers, the Green and Nolin."

This card was sent in 1953.

GET YOUR PASSPORT AT THE NAZARETH POST OFFICE!

I have mentioned the great community of Nazareth Kentucky before.  This is a very peaceful area very close to Bardstown.

I am sure I will mention the place more later, but I wanted to take a moment to say that you should get your passport at their post office!

I recently decided to get mine done, and I know that I have watched others dealing with the hassle of doing this at some of the larger POs in the state.  Dealing with crowds, scheduling, and staff at some other sites can be rough.

Well, at Nazareth they do walk-ins, AND you can go there on a Saturday morning!

Thats what we did and the process was super easy!  I have stopped by the post office a few times and the people working there are the best!  VERY fun and friendly folks.  THEY ACTUALLY THANKED US FOR STOPPING BY!!!!

This might be the most hassle free post office anywhere.

If you do go there for a passport, make sure you call first and that you have all of the documents and info that you need.



Frozen Niagara in Mammoth Cave

This vibrant postcard was sent from Bowling Green in October of 1953.  The sender lets her friend know that they are staying in an air conditioned room in Bowling Green after touring the Cave!

Misty Morning on Kentucky Lake

This spectacular postcard was distributed by Riverdale Resort.

Municipal Bridge Connecting Louisville, KY. and Jeffersonville, Ind.

I LOVE the barge and boat on this card!

Executive Inn Louisville Kentucky

This cool postcard shows potential visitors just how close the Executive Inn is to the Expo Center.

If anyone has an Owensboro Executive Inn postcard, PLEASE send it to me!

Natural Bridge

One of my all time favorite areas of the state, Natural Bridge.

Upper Broadway- Paducah, KY

This card says on the back:

 

The 'Broadway Mall' is the new look in Paducah.  It presents a comfortable and relaxing atmoshpere for downtown shoppers.

Secrets of the Herrin Gangs by Ralph Johnson and Jon Musgrave

I am really becoming interested in Herrin Illinois!  Man, does this area have some odd history!

I picked this very easy to read book up a couple of weekends back while traveling through Herrin.  Its about 90 pages, and it would be a great intro for anyone interested in learning a little about the gangs in Herrin during the 1920s.

The first half of the book is a republishing of a 10 part newspaper account from 1927.  A former employee of Charlie Birger and a former member of the Shelton Gang, Ralph Johnson is the author.  Of course, Ralph Johnson wasn't his real name.

MODERN Illinois Historian Jon Musgrave adds notes to Johnson's story and he gives more detail on the gang activities in the area.  He offers a good argument for the identity of the gangster who used the name "Ralph Johnson" in 1927. 

AND, there is still a bit of a mystery surrounding Ralph Johnson in his later years!

My Old Kentucky Home- Bardstown, KY

Carter Caves

 The top postcard shows Saltpetre Cave in Olive Hill, Kentucky. 

The bottom one shows a "Birdseye view of Lake and Bathing area in Carter Caves State Park- a scenic wonderland of natural bridges, caves, mountain streams, rugged cliffs and sparking Smoky Valley Lake.  Located just off U.S. Highway 60 near Olive Hill, Kentucky."

Cave-In-Rock Illinois

It seems that I just started hearing about Cave In Rock not too long ago.

The cave was used for all sorts of illegal activity over the last few centuries.  Thieves, counterfeiters, pirates, etc. all made the place their home at one point or another.

And now, the cave itself is part of the Cave-In-Rock State Park in the town of Cave-In-Rock.

This is a great park and a great town.  Getting to the cave is easy, and it is very accessible.  Some areas might try to set up a more formal tour of a cool site like this, and charge a fee to see it, but they haven't done that in Illinois.  You can literally walk right up to the cave, and go in!

Other people were there checking the cave out on the Saturday we went, but it was a nice, calmer crowd.  People were enjoying the hike to the cave too, and stopping to admire the scenery on the way.  The cave itself was very cool, but I think most people were more impressed with the view of the Ohio from the cave.

With all of the nice trails in the park, and the other sites to see, we noticed that some visitors really didn't spend a lot of time inside of the cave.  In fact, for some time, we had the entire place to ourselves.

We drove from the western part of Kentucky to Cave-In-Rock.  There is a Ferry that takes cars over the Ohio into Illinois, but I really enjoy the drive. 

Random Thoughts On Friday

OK, I know I jump the gun on this each year but.......  Halloween is coming up!

Yes, I know, it is over a couple of months away, but I am ready for the season to start!

My life generally goes in three seasons.  There is baseball season, which starts sometime in February (whenever pitchers and catchers report to Arizona and Florida).  That season for me starts to slow down in August.  I know the major league play-offs go in to October, but the various minor league seasons really start winding down in August, and by the first week or two in September, the minor leagues are done until the following April.  Sure, I will still watch the play-offs and all on TV, but the real excitement ends around Labor Day.

BUT THEN- I know Halloween is coming up!  The Halloween and Fall Season goes from about early August through November (yes, I still celebrate going in to November).

And I love everything about the season- store displays, temporary Halloween shops, the colors outside, and wearing a flannel shirt like its a light jacket.  Oh, and I love scary movies.

Then you kind of go in to the Christmas season, which is nice and all, and that leads in to winter....

I do have a few more Illinois posts to get up on this blog, and then I will probably do a few Ohio posts again.  BUT, from now until the end of October, I will try to have a very odd and strange vibe going on here at Kentucky Travels.

HERE, the Halloween Season starts right about now! 

Sebree KY

It seems that a time or two each year, I find myself in Sebree!

The town is pretty, has some great old buildings, and just has a nice vibe!

Several weeks ago I was passing through and the town was having a small street fair!

I love when small towns like this have a fair!

Crystal Lake in Mammoth Cave Kentucky

"An outstanding attraction of Mammoth Cave, Crystal Lake provides a unique subterranean boat trip for cave visitors."

The Annex Coffee and Deli- Herrin, IL

We really loved the Annex in Herrin, Illinois.  VERY slick and unique!

This is a clean and comfortable place to stop for lunch or coffee in a very interesting area. 

In fact, the restaurant is decorated so nicely, it almost feels more like a chain establishment.  They have obviously put a lot in to setting up shop here.

PLUS, the Annex is in an old movie theater!  The building was built in 1912, and it is just spectacular!  They have kept a movie theater theme, and it really works!

The vibe is very casual, you order at a counter, and there is a self serve coffee area.  So, this is a great place to grab lunch, or to hang out and sip coffee!

We enjoyed our thick panini sandwiches and other items.  The prices were reasonable too.  In fact, I felt that we got a very good deal for high quality food!

Much more on Herrin later....  this is a fascinating area with lots of strange history, but if you do make it to Herrin, go to the Annex!!!


http://www.theannexdeli.com/

Aerial View of Accomodations in Mammoth Cave National Park

"The Hotel accommodations and the Visitor Center are located near the Natural Entrance to Mammoth Cave discovered in 1798 by a local hunter who pursued a wounded bear into the cave entrance."

I really love this postcard- I have spent a lot of time in the cave AND in the park and I just love this view of the main area.

The Lane Report

Did you see the latest issue of The Lane Report?  There is a nice shot on the cover of downtown Owensboro, and there is a great article in it too about how the area is making a comeback!

 

 

http://www.lanereport.com/

 

The A & P Carnival, Chicago World's Fair 1933

"The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company has created an area at the World's Fair for pleasure, without admission charge.  There is a big open air marine park, with an amphitheater seating several thousand, surrounding a revolving stage where daily programs are given.  Tony Starg's famous marionettes, Harry Horlick and his Gypsy orchestra and Gypsy dancing, are features.  With George Rector presiding as a master of ceremonies it is a real carnival."