Project Summary

This is a series of oral histories about roadside springs in Kentucky, created through a 2016 Kentucky Oral History Commission Project Grant. Historically, community roadside springs were used before public water systems were implemented, providing a critical source of water for travelers, or for those who did not have private access to a reliable water source. These natural resources, which can be found throughout the state, are surviving remnants of the agricultural public commons and often mark very early human settlements. They are filtered naturally and in some cases have been flowing for upwards of a century. Today, even with the presence of municipal water systems, many people still gather water from springs. The project examines the role these water supplies have played in local history; factors that support the continued public use of springs; understanding how community springs are maintained, and exploring how a spring's role in creating community has changed over time. Counties included are Allen, Barren, Edmonson, Estill, Hart, Lee, Madison, Menifee, Monroe, Powell, and Warren.