Hazard Kentucky. A small town, nestled in the foothills of South Eastern Kentucky. Part of Appalachia, the area has a rich history. Elijah Combs traveled here in 1795 and built the first "temporary" house on the North Fork of the Kentucky River. He was the founder of Perry County, which was the 68th county founded in Kentucky, in 1821. Even in early court records, the town was always called Hazard. Hazard grew slowly, and by the time the civil war broke out, there were about a dozen families settled here. The Civil War was a time of misery for the mountain people, and the town was subject to guerrilla raids and looting from a band of wild outlaws. The expansion of the railroad, and the boom of lumber and the coal industry in the 1920's transformed the town into a major mining industry, which still somewhat continues today.
Even though now, we are mostly known for our addiction problems, and coal lay offs. I still have a love affair with my home town. It started for me when I was young, and a trip to Hazard was a big treat. We lived in Lost Creek, which is out in the county and is a lengthy drive into town. I can remember going to an old fashioned styled drug store, on Main street, and watching as they would make lemonade by hand, while I sat a top a swiveling bar stool. I can't be sure, but I always assumed that it was Rexall's. I used to love to stop in Bybee jewelry (now the Hall's Mall's) and look at all the trinkets, pottery and pretties they had displayed. My mom always told me not to touch. Christmas downtown, when I was little, was magical. There were trees lining the side walks and they would drape Christmas lights across the street. It almost looked like a glittered canopy. Every store window was painted and decorated. People took a lot of pride in it. I loved that. There was Huff Drug, located in Hazard clinic, that had a never ending display of gifts, especially teddy bears, that made my doctors visits a little more cheery. They sold licorice in the single slices, not the Twizzlers kind. I remember always getting a pack before going upstairs. On Sundays, my dad would take me to Circle T for chicken and dumplins, and then to France's for peanut butter milkshakes. He used to know, and like both owners and so, he didn't want to pick a side. Small town life. Little things.
School Rivalries. Namely, M.C. Napier (back in the day) and Hazard, and now Perry Central and Hazard. You want to talk about getting someone riled up, just mention it. My mom and my step dad were high school sweethearts. Mom cheered for Napier, Keith played ball for Hazard. It is STILL an issue in our house when they play each other. My mom is so awful, she can't even go to games. I am a Commodore through and through, ( I cheered for Perry) and I live on a street with the Principal of Hazard High school, a prospective Mayor candidate, the Magistrate of Hazard and numerous die hard bulldog fans. I am outnumbered and outranked. (But I am still looking for a PCC flag to fly on my front porch) Nowhere else can you hate someone blatantly during a ballgame, and then after it is over, go out with them and be best friends. Small town life.
As I got older, I started to see more and more businesses close down.Schools were consolidated, the coal industry was changing. Downtown Hazard now, is only a shell of what it used to be. There are loiters that dirty up the streets, hookers that make the town a running punch line among visitors. It makes me sad to see what was once a booming, beautiful little town, turn desolate. But still, I have a love affair with Hazard that has never went away. I moved away briefly (to Richmond) after graduating high school, spent much of that year so homesick that I couldn't think straight. I came right back home. Something about these mountains, and this town, gets in your blood and never lets you go. I see people leave all the time, and then come right back. Hazard is just a part of who I am, I will more than likely never leave it.
The people, the traditions, the heritage. Families that have known each other from generation to generation. You have the same teachers your parents had. You eat at the same restaurants your grandparents used to. Everyone is so intertwined. Our cast of characters in town is more like something from a slapstick comedy. Everyone knows Larry Love, the sweet newspaper guy that can put a smile on anyone's face, down to HB, the longtime liquor distributor known as Brewers. Life is slow and small here, but at the same time, done on a big scale. So contrasting and different in every way.
I look forward to raising my children here, whatever anyone else says. They will go to school with the children of my classmates, and probably hear tales about me in my younger days. They will more than likely join the ranks of Hazard town folk, when they are older, and maybe even inherit my love for this place. They will go on dates at Wal Mart (god forbid) and probably scramble through a road block late one night at "Coastal". They will become Commodores, maybe even Bulldogs (hope not) who knows? They will learn not to speed by the college, not be caught after dark at the Park, and which police officers will let them off, because they know me or their dad. (You all know it happens.)
All the folk lore and legend of this town will become second tongue to them, and they will enjoy it, and retell it to their children, whenever that time comes. Time always marches on.
I can't tell you all the reasons I love it, but there are many. Maybe, more sentimental than anything. There is a memory around every corner, a connection behind every door. I am Hazard from the top of my head, to the tips of my toes. The unique little place captured my imagination 20 some odd years ago, and just never let me go. I will always be "that girl from Hazard". I am still proud of the queen city, and hope that in the future, it's inhabitants can restore her back to her former beauty and make her lovely again. I still believe in it.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/583192035081693/
Above is the link to Invision Hazard. InVision Hazard is an ad hoc citizens’ action group dedicated to revitalizing downtown Hazard to
make it a fun, vibrant place to work and play! This group is
facilitated by the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, the local
community foundation. If you have questions about the project or would
like to get involved, please contact the Foundation at 606-439-1357 or
email the group's facilitator, Allison Tse, at
allison@appalachianky.org.
Additional credits for information on this blog go to:
www.wsgs.com
www.hazardkentucky.com
www.cityofhazard.com
Note: I am in no way a part of or affiliated with InVision, however, I think what they are doing is fantastic, and I just wanted to share in case anyone who reads this would like to be a part of it, or contact them with ideas.
Labels: HazardKy, ShopLocal
