Pondering Kentucky: The Magazine, Issue 7, 1990

Interview Summary

Paul Moss talks about decorating his roof for Christmas and taking part in the display as Santa Claus.

Richard Gaul, superintendent of the park at Columbus, Kentucky, talks about the chain and anchor that was put across the Mississippi River during the Civil War, and the trenches that were used by the soldiers.

Dorothy Malore talks about William Shakespeare Berger of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, who started collecting dolls in 1910. He died in 1972, and his home and dolls are now part of the museum called Vent Haven. It is the only ventriloquism museum of its kind. Each year a ventriloquism convention is held in Ft. Mitchell.

Bastin talks with Don Sprague, a Kentucky vintage license plate collector.

Linda Andrews, a biologist with the U.S. Forestry Service in Pulaski County, Kentucky, talks about bird feeding in Kentucky and the types of birds during different seasons.

Cecil Paten followed his mother as postmaster at "Bethlehem." The post office was, and is still located in the side room of Mrs. Cecil's home. The hand stamping of mail with the word "Bethlehem" started around Christmastime in 1937 by Cecil Paten's mother. Bethlehem is located in Henry County, Kentucky.

Jim Adams discusses the accuracy of the state border between Kentucky and Tennessee, the Walker Line. Jim Adams talks about the sixty-three stones, or monuments, that were placed as the border between Kentucky and Tennessee.

Bastin talks with Dr. Keith Himes about author Jesse Stewart's collection at Murray State University.

A. B. Crouch takls about the Owsley County post office named "Mistletoe" and stamping mail with the location Mistletoe, Kentucky.

Interview Keyword

Santa Claus Ventriloquism museums Doll collections Kentucky license plates Survey monuments Post offices Mistletoe (Ky.) Bethlehem (Ky.)

Interview LC Subject

Christmas decorations Mississippi River United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Ventriloquism Automobile license plates Birdseed Migratory birds Boundaries, State Surveying Stuart, Jesse, 1906-1984 Postal service

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.