Yesterday, I took my children to one of my favorite spots in Perry County. Homeplace. Once a clinic, (and the birthplace of several of my aunts and uncles) the grounds and services offered at this community favorite, are remarkable. Driving up the shrub dotted lane, so many memories came flooding back to me. I spent a great deal of my childhood here. I thought of countless field days in the softball field, hair stringy and shoulders sunburned. Running laps during soccer practice, and having to watch for all the Elk dropping (seriously). Nothing has changed since I was young. As Greyson was skipping from root to root of the staple of the grounds, a gigantic shade tree, I couldn't help be remember doing the same as a kid. Still the same brightly colored toddler swings, that have a chain and bar that comes down. Still the same towering silver slide, that will burn your tail off, if you slide on a hot day. I used to love to go on the porch of the old Hale log home, because legend has it, it's haunted. They used to have it set to where you could hear music playing if you stepped on the back deck. I can remember it would send hoards of us running and scared to death. I am laughing just thinking about it. I have attended countless birthday parties there, taken gymnastics in the field, played basketball in the top of the old barn, (it burned down years ago) fished in the pond, and ran with my arms outstretched, laughing and chasing fire flies by the old stone grill. I think every one's childhood, around here, includes some sort of memory or piece of Homeplace. It is so special, and I am so happy to see it so well kept, and true to it's roots.
Pictured below: Homeplace Clinic in 50's, and Today.
In 1908, E.O Robinson and Fredrick W. Mowbray of the Mowbray-Robinson Lumber Company based out of Cincinnati Ohio, purchased nearly 15,000 acres of land in Perry, Knott and Breathitt counties in Kentucky. However, by 1922 the majority of the timber
had been extracted and E.O. Robinson decided to donate the land to the
University of Kentucky. Robinson's main intention for donating the land
was for the establishment of an agricultural facility that would eventually reforest
the land, eventually making it useful again. As a way to transfer the
tract, he set up the E.O. Robinson Mountain Fund in 1923. This fund not only promoted land management, but called for the general
improvement of welfare and education in the residents of Eastern Kentucky.During the early days, Ary was not very populated and only consisted of a few families. In the 1930's, they built the community center, and the hospital was opened in 1948.
Pictured: Dr. Martin and Dr. Yand
.Pictured Below: Don and Virginia Martin
Pictured Above: Dr. Martin and Cameron with nurses. Peggy Mancini is included, she was my bible and sunday school teacher growing up.
Dr. Cameron with his wife and son.
Letha Smith, Ms. Call and Goldie Chaney in the kitchen.
Nurse Lantz.
Homeplace acted as the community's center of commerce, source of entertainment, and medical resource. My great-grandmother, Lottie Boggs, worked at the clinic, and my grandmother had several of her children there. Notable Doctors included, Dr. Cameron, Dr. Yand, and Dr. Martin, with Nurse Lantze working alongside them.Homeplace also included a woodworking shop, and a clogging school. The Clinic has since been reopened, and closed several times, ultimately shutting their doors a few years ago.
Sunday school being held in the community center. Dr. Martin was a teacher.
Homeplace in the 50's.
Homeplace and the community center still continue to be a favorite of Eastern Kentucky, and serve as venue to weddings, and special events. Homeplace also includes a playground, and a pond where you can fish, along with a softball and soccer field, and the historic Lula Hale log home. This place is such a shining example of what people can accomplish when they come together, and have the best interest of their community in their hearts. Homeplace serves as a symbol of continued love and interest in bettering ourselves and our residents, and having pride in our neighborhood. I am sure that if Mr. Robinson could see this place today, and see how much of a role he played in the development and modernization of this area, he would be very proud.
I have included an excerpt from an article, written in 1927 by Lula Hale, a field worker at Robinson SubStation, detailing her vision and hope for this area's future.
"We have a vision of the Kentucky mountains 50 or 75 years from today, in
which happy, healthy children are going over real roads to well equipped
schools. We have a vision of mothers singing about their work, because the
drudgery of housekeeping has been lightened by modern improvements. We have
a vision of fathers with brighter eyes and less stoops in their shoulders
because of a better and easier livelihood. Will that vision be fulfilled
because of good roads? The mining industry? The public schools? Better agricultural
conditions? One of these or a combination of all? Or will that vision be
fulfilled because of something yet undreamed of?"
The Hale Sisters, in the old log home.
I will always cherish this place, and savor my fond memories. I look forward to showing my children the magic and beauty that is Homeplace.
Address and Phone Number: 24 Victor Rd , Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 378-7481
Special thanks to Bailey Richards and Amelia Holliday, who steered me in the right direction and dug out archives so that I could find some history. Thanks, guys!
An EXTRA special thank you to Carol Ann Martin Bucksot, who is Dr. Martin's daughter and was kind enough to share these special pictures with me. Pictures taken by Dr. Martin.
