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Each month, The Kentucky
Explorer magazine receives literally scores of letters from
our faithful readers. Whenever possible, we try to publish as
many of them as possible in the 12 pages we have set aside for
"Letters to the Editor."
Here are actual letters from November
2007
Interested In Aviation
Related Events
Dear Editor:
Thanks for including my request for information concerning the
P-47 crash in Johnson County, Kentucky, on March 28, 1948, in
the September 2007 issue of The Kentucky Explorer. I hope to
hear from someone soon.
I am interested in everything aviation related, especially during
WWII. I'm the historian for a museum located on a former B-17
Flying Fortress training field located in Halls, Tennessee. One
of the bombers from this field crashed near Princeton, Caldwell
County, Kentucky, on March 6, 1944.
The crew of the B-17 got lost in bad weather, ran low on fuel,
and were forced to bail out. Some parachuted down near Farmington.
The pilot landed in a corn patch on Hafford Paschall's farm and
proceeded to Murray to call the training field and report the
crash. Another crewman landed in a swamp in Cold Water. The pilot
and co-pilot received minor injuries. The other nine on board
were not injured.
I would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this
incident, met and helped any of the airmen, knows where the plane
crashed and what happened to the wreckage.
Also, I would like to hear from anyone who may have picked up
any pieces of the wrecked airplane and still have them. I realize
cameras were not as commonly owned then, but if anyone has any
photos pertaining to this crash, I'd like to obtain copies.
Thanks to the magazine's staff for all the help, past and present.
I would also like to hear from anyone who trained at Dyersburg
Army Air Field, which operated from 1943 to 1945, or their family
members.
Tim Bivens
5080 Upper Finley Road
Dyersburg, TN 38024
731/286-5900
Info. Wanted On
Mountain States League
Dear Editor:
In the 1950s there was a Class D Professional Baseball League
called the Mountain States League. In the league were the towns
of Jenkins; Hazard; Harlan; Newport; Morristown, Tennessee; and
others.
I am looking for records or history of this league, including
players and other data.
I remember that Virgil Q. Wacks was the head of the league. Others
involved were Tony Harm(?), Ranson Jordan, Sam Hancock, Ray Russell,
others in Jenkins, and many others throughout the league. The
teams played night baseball and produced, among other players,
Johnny Padres.
I know there is a baseball buff out there who will have information
about this league.
Burton Bradley
1803 Haygood Drive
Atlanta, GA 30307
Old Railroad Hotel
At West Van Lear
Dear Editor:
I am interested in any information or photos of an old railroad
hotel that was located at West Van Lear, Johnson County, Kentucky,
on what was then known as Railroad Street. The building was two
stories high and had a facing of large gray stones and was directly
across the street from the railroad tracks. I have heard that
at one time, possibly the late 1920s and 1930s there was a restaurant,
general store, and post office, all on the street level and rooms
to rent upstairs.
The hotel was owned and operated by the maternal great-grandparents
of my three sons (from my first marriage). Their names were James
"Jimmie" A. Howard and LaDeski (Higgins) Howard. After
Jimmie's passing, LaDeski and her daughter, Minnie Howard Thompson,
lived there. Jimmie died January 9, 1940, according to the Kentucky
Death Index, but possibly not in Johnson County. A great-grandson
thinks Jimmie is buried in a family cemetery in a place called
Boogler Hollow near West Van Lear, and other family members may
be buried there, also.
I do not know if LaDeski Howard and her daughter, Minnie, are
buried at the Cumbo Cemetery at West Van Lear, Kentucky.
I would appreciate any help from readers.
Sara Combs Cercone
414 W. Herr Street
Englewood, OH 45322
937/836-1124
sarahcercone1612@earthlink.net
scercone@woh.rr.com
Too Many Volunteers?
Dear Editor:
Someone told me that so many men volunteered for the draft or
enlisted from one particular county in Kentucky that the government
refused to take any more volunteers.
I would like more information on this.
James M. Steed
2465 Eastway Drive
Lexington, KY 40503
Hominy Recipe Wanted
Dear Editor:
I really enjoy The Kentucky Explorer.
I am looking for a recipe for making homemade hominy using soda
instead of lye.
Also, I would like some pictures of the Spears School and children
who went there. It was a one-room school located at Endicott,
Floyd County, Kentucky.
I will pay for any costs of copying the photos and the postage.
Emma Lee Hunt
60 Hickory Flats
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
Old Regular Baptist
Minute Books Wanted
Dear Editor:
I am searching for old Old Regular Baptist minute books.
I am looking for minutes from the following associations: Old
Indian Bottom (the Frank Fugate/Murl Caudill side), Indian Bottom
(the J. W. Pratt/Edwood Cornett side from 1960-1975), New Salem,
Union, Old Friendship, Philadelphia, and Mud River. The older
the minute book, the better.
If anyone has any minute books of any of these Old Regular Baptist
Associations, and they would like to part with them, I would
be glad to get them.
I would be willing pay for or reimburse any postage and handling,
if necessary.
Steven Jones
425 Lisle Road
Georgetown, KY 40324
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