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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 March
2009
Teepee Was Located
At Gas Station In Grant County
Dear Editor:
In the March 2008 issue of The Kentucky Explorer, Scott Thomas
inquired about a teepee located between Corinth and Williamstown,
Grant County, Kentucky.
The teepee was located at a gas station/restaurant that belonged
to the Hill Top Tavern. I sold gas there for 18¢ to 21¢
per gallon. My best customer was a man who drove for Brown Stove
Works. He would stop by about once a week and purchase at least
100 gallons. I pumped gas, changed tires, and helped two brothers
who ran the restaurant.
Alonzo C. Richardson
8914 W. Plain Drive
Mason, OH 45040
alonzocr@aol.com
Chicken Hill
Dear Editor:
Oldham County is in a rural area of Kentucky along the Ohio River.
In the middle of the county is a large area of land owned by
the Kentucky Department of Corrections. This area contains three
prison complexes: Kentucky State Reformatory (KSR), Roederer,
and Luther Luckett.
KSR was built in 1936. The main feature is a large tower built
in the Art Deco style. After the prison was built, the question
came up of what to do with inmates who died in prison when nobody
wanted their body, and they had no money to be buried. KSR started
a cemetery for these prisoners. In the old days this type of
cemetery was called Potters Row or Boot Hill. KSR named the cemetery
Chicken Hill, and it is only for indigent inmates. KSR became
a medical prison and all the inmates who were too ill to be in
other state prisons were sent to KSR, so the cemetery got a lot
of use, and is still being used today.
I was not able to find out why it was named Chicken Hill. A record
was found in the Department of Libraries and Archives in Frankfort,
Kentucky, indicating that there are three children buried in
the cemetery.
I would like to know whose children they were and why they were
buried in the inmate cemetery.
Also, I would like to know why the cemetery was named Chicken
Hill.
Perhaps Kentucky Explorer readers can answer these questions.
Franklin Knecht
#196497
LLCC
P. O. Box 6
LaGrange, KY 40031
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