Kentucky History & Haunts

Jessie Bartholomew

History, true crime and bizarre happenings in the bluegrass state. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessie-bartholomew/support

  • 23 minutes 41 seconds
    146. A Century Ago in Kentucky- December 1924

    Welcome to another installment of 'A Century Ago in Kentucky', where I share some of my favorite newspaper clippings from Kentucky newspapers in 1924. This episode includes stories of prisoners celebrating behind bars, while others are set free in time for the holidays, hundreds of gallons of wine are poured into the sewer by the Feds, plus fires and other accidents, burglars, crossword puzzles, and a special appearance by my great-grandfather!

    This episode includes clippings from the Louisville Courier-Journal and The Lexington Herald-Leader.

    This podcast is researched, written, recorded and produced by me, Jessie Bartholomew. To leave me a tip for a cup of coffee, use the following link:

    https://account.venmo.com/u/kyhistoryhaunts


    For more on crossword puzzles:

    https://www.alieward.com/ologies/enigmatology

    https://time.com/5811396/crossword-history/

    24 December 2024, 10:15 am
  • 25 minutes 31 seconds
    145. Tuberculosis Experiments in Mammoth Cave

    In the 1840s, a doctor from Louisville purchased Mammoth Cave. One of his motives for purchasing the land was to conduct an experiment by inviting tuberculosis patients to live underground during the winter months to cure them.

    It did not go well.

    For more on this topic, check out THE PURSUIT OF HEALTH IN THE MAMMOTH CAVE, published in the Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 1971, by Stanley Sides & Harold Malloy.

    Follow the show on Instagram @kyhistoryhaunts and find it on Facebook by searching Kentucky History & Haunts. For feedback, corrections and topic suggestions, email [email protected]


    To buy Jessie a coffee for her work on this episode, you can Venmo @kyhistoryhaunts.


    Thanks for listening!

    26 November 2024, 10:16 am
  • 46 minutes 39 seconds
    144. Floyd Collins- 'Prolific' Cave Explorer

    On a cold January evening in 1925, after a long day of widening an entrance to a newly discovered cave, Floyd Collins lost his footing, knocked over his light, caused a shift in the tunnel and was pinned under a rock. Floyd was hopelessly stuck. Over the next two weeks, miners, geologists, engineers, family members and the Kentucky National Guard worked tirelessly to rescue Floyd. Floyd had passed by the time they reached him, but that wasn't the end of his story.

    For more information on Floyd Collins, start here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/tragedy-at-sand-cave.htm


    And for photos of his second funeral service, go here:

    https://westernkentuckyuniversity.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Collins%2C%20Floyd%2C%201887-1925

    15 October 2024, 9:30 am
  • 33 minutes 14 seconds
    143. The Preacher & The Felon- Part 2- Albert Fall
    Albert Bacon Fall, a Kentuckian, was the first US Cabinet member in history to be convicted of a felony. Albert, the grandson of Reverend Phillip Fall, moved out west, practiced law, got into politics and got mixed up with some less than virtuous characters, eventually leading to his involvement in the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal.
    6 March 2024, 7:54 am
  • 30 minutes 53 seconds
    142. The Preacher & The Felon- Part 1- Reverend Phillip Fall

    This is part one of a two part series about the Fall family. Part one discusses the life of Phillip Fall, preacher, teacher, Southern sympathizer. Phillip Fall made connections with major religious figures in Kentucky during the Reformation movement. One of Phillip's sons, William, would later have a son named Albert Fall, who holds the infamous title of being the first U.S. Cabinet member convicted of a felony. Part two will focus on the life of Albert Fall, Phillip's grandson, and let me tell you, it's a very different story.

    Much of the research from part one was from the Phillip Fall biography written for the Kentucky Historical Society by P. Burnley and from therestorationmovement.com.

    It is likely I made mistakes in this episode as I am not well versed in the topic of religion. If I need to make a correction, or you have a future topic suggestion, please email [email protected]

    To buy Jessie a coffee for her work on this episode (remember, this is a one-woman show) you can send a tip through Paypal @kyhistoryhaunts or Venmo @kyhistoryhaunts

    19 February 2024, 10:53 am
  • 40 minutes 26 seconds
    141. Who REALLY Murdered Rhonda Sue Warford? (Louisville/Brandenburg)

    In the early 1990s, the Meade County police, Louisville police and Kentucky State police thought they had gotten it right when they arrested Garr Keith Hardin and Jeffrey Clark for the murder of Louisville native Rhonda Sue Warford. It took decades and assistance from the Kentucky Innocence Project to right the wrongs made during the investigation and trial. Let me know what you think. You can send mail to my work address- 9115 Leesgate Rd Suite A, Louisville, KY, 40222.

    Send me your address to get on my mailing list!

    Send your feedback and topic suggestions to [email protected] Connect with the show on Instagram @kyhistoryhaunts or search the show name on Facebook. Be sure to join the Facebook group- Kentucky History & Haunts & More. Please leave a rating or review if you haven't yet! Thanks!

    1 February 2024, 10:08 am
  • 37 minutes 23 seconds
    140. Lucy Hicks Anderson- Baked Goods, Brothels, and Trouble with the Feds
    From winning baking contests and cooking for wealthy families, to a federal indictment- welcome to episode 140, the fascinating life of Lucy Anderson Hicks. Lucy was born Tobias Lawson in Waddy, Kentucky in the 1880s. Lucy, a black, trans woman from rural Kentucky, baked award-winning desserts, cooked for the most prominent families in Oxnard, California, hosted benefits and parties of all kinds, and became a loved and respected figure in her community. She also operated a brothel and was involved in the sale of liquor during Prohibition. This episode includes content that may not be suitable for younger listeners (specifically, discussion of bordellos and more specifically, a sailor visiting a 'house of ill fame' and leaving with an STD), listener discretion advised. For topic suggestions or feedback, please email [email protected]. Connect with the show on instagram @kyhistoryhaunts or find it on Facebook by searching 'Kentucky History & Haunts.' Be sure to join the Facebook group 'Kentucky History & Haunts & More.' Please leave a review or rating on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Thanks!
    15 January 2024, 2:47 pm
  • 22 minutes 6 seconds
    139. New Year's Traditions

    Cozy up with your bayberry candles, your Hoppin' John, your whiskey and your black buns. It's time to discuss New Year's traditions. I'm making sure you know how to prepare your meals, who to invite into your home, and how to clean your furniture as we enter the new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

    31 December 2023, 9:43 am
  • 57 minutes 41 seconds
    138. Ohio River Stories- Part One
    Boy is this episode all over the place, but in a good way. Enjoy a variety of stories related to the Ohio River, including tales of a Welsh prince, escaped slaves, alligators, and my parents! Some true, some questionable. Happy New Year to all! If you have topic suggestions, or I need to make a correction, or you just want to say hey, send an email to [email protected]. Connect with the show on Facebook by searching the show name. Follow on Instagram @kyhistoryhaunts. And please be sure to tell a friend about the show and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. Thanks!
    26 December 2023, 9:00 am
  • 30 minutes 29 seconds
    137. A Century Ago in Kentucky- Dec. 1923
    Welcome to another installment of the A Century Ago in Kentucky series. This month we have fistfighting judges, yuletide bribes, a destructive cow, a Christmas tree accident, and much more! Please leave a review wherever you listen and be sure to follow the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kyhistoryhaunts. Follow the show's Instagram @kyhistoryhaunts and if you have topic suggestions, feedback, or just want to say hello you can email [email protected]. To send me, Jessie, a holiday or Happy New Year card, you can mail them to 9115 Leesgate Rd Suite A, Louisville, KY, 40222. Happy Holidays!
    18 December 2023, 10:03 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    136. Eddyville Escape Attempt of 1923

    In October of 1923, a group of armed young men attempted to escape from Eddyville prison in western Kentucky. After shooting multiple prison guards, they realized their original plan wasn't going to work. They barricaded themselves in the dining hall in the center of the prison yard and the following days resulted in a standoff between the surrounded inmates and the prison guards, plus several Hopkinsville National Guardsmen summoned by Governor Morrow. As the incident came to an unfortunate end, authorities were left wondering, who provided the weapons? They learned exactly who it was. She even confessed, multiple times. But would she face the consequences?

    3 December 2023, 11:15 am
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