Interview with Henry S. Hankla, August 4, 1992

Interview Summary

In this interview, Henry Hankla begins by discussing his family genealogy as it relates to his farm. The farm was acquired by a member of the family in 1883 and is located near Perryville. He discusses his work history including that he initially worked in electronics for a mining technology company in Hazard. Hankla talks about moving back to Boyle County after taking a job at a Danville bank where he subsequently bought an interest in a Danville farm supply (Farmer?s Supply). After working there for ten years, he returned to farming in 1954. Hankla reflects on the impact of electric power. His first testimony focuses on life before electricity on the farm and he describes that at one point they installed a generator and battery set which provided electricity primarily for lighting. In due course this was replaced with power from the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). Hankla's discussion focuses on the big impact that electrification had on dairy production and the quality of life in general. He discusses water supply to the farm and how this has changed through the years. Hankla reports how they would drive animals to market involving crossing bridges and fording streams. This involved working with droves of sheep, hogs or turkeys. Mr. Hankla speaks of the process of hog killing and the related meat processing including curing ham and making sausage. Because the farm?s boundary involved a river, there was a swinging bridge involved in getting access to some area of the farm. There is discussion of the construction of the bridge, it being washed out during a flood and the risks associated with driving an automobile across the river when the bridge is out. Early farm equipment is also discussed including a brief discussion of early tractors and early hay balers. At various places the use of horses and mules for traction is considered . Also included is a discussion of early corn planting practices, gardening, ice and iceboxes, doing household laundry, sport fishing, peddlers, guinea fowl, egg production , use of mail order catalogs, heating the house with wood and coal, wood lot management, hemp production and telephone service.

Interview Keyword

Boyle County Chaplin River City Water Draft Animals Electric Heat Grinding Sausage Heritage farms Impact of River on Farm Interaction with Blacks Lamp livestock Renting Tobacco Out on Shares Stock Company Swinging Bridge Tractors. Wash Day

Interview LC Subject

Agriculture--Kentucky Agriculture. Family farms Hankla, Henry S. Hankla, Henry S.--Interviews

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.