Project Summary

Evarts is a small Kentucky town located in Harlan County, near the Virginia state border. This project focuses on J.D. Housley, one of Evarts former mayors. Born in 1917, Housley discusses his family, childhood, education, and courtship and marriage in 1939. He also recounts the bootlegging, shooting, and inefficient police force in Evarts, and the changes he made as mayor to make the town a safer place to live and visit.