This week I get the privilege to write the Frazier Weekly open letter! The last time I got to write the open letter, we announced a new initiative called Dish with Tish—a guest engagement where we pull items out of the collection and create a more in-depth conversation about them. It’s like a sneak peak into objects in storage that are just waiting to be used.

I’m happy to announce that this Saturday, October 26, in lieu of our regularly scheduled tours, the Frazier will offer a special Dish with Tish (and Casey!) at 11 a.m. in our second-floor classroom! My colleague Casey Harden and I will look at Victorian mourning fashion and traditions. We’ll take a close look at the rules for clothing and accessories. We’ll also look at the acceptable accessories and even hair as memory—all the little bits and pieces that went into acceptable social mourning standards. We’ll talk about why and how some of these traditions came to be and why they were not considered morbid but just a part of life.

At the 1 p.m. staff tour, Casey and I will lead a tour of our Commonwealth: Divided we Fall exhibition and talk about some of our objects currently on display that have fall themes (as well as some of our favorite objects, those that tell great stories).

We hope you’ll join us this Saturday at 11 and 1!

In today’s Frazier Weekly, Rachel Platt previews the Battletown Witch Festival at Camp Piomingo in Meade County and Jason Berkowitz looks at the chained rock at Pine Mountain in Bell County. Plus, Kent Klarer’s three-year-old daughter Frankie leads a pumpkin carving tutorial!

Sippin’ with Stephen features Green River Distillery from Daviess County and Leslie Anderson plugs tomorrow’s program with Louisville Ale Trail on the history of beer. Amanda Briede announces the Frazier’s new SEMC award, Abby Flanders teases the Frazier’s display at Saturday’s Louisville Maker Faire, and Caleb Franz previews his new book on abolitionist Rev. John Rankin.

Thank you for reading!

This Week in the Museum

Highlights of 120: Meade County: Battletown Witch Festival

The Battletown Witch Festival is coming up Saturday, October 26, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., at Camp Piomingo in Brandenburg, Meade County. If you look at the official website, it says, “Meade County: Come Visit Us for a Spell.” The festival celebrates folklore, herbalism, native healing techniques, and Kentucky spiritualism. It’s based on the legend of Leah Smock, whose life ended in tragedy. Festival organizers hope this gathering can help ease some of that pain. As part of our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit, we highlight some of those stories, and Leah Smock, a.k.a. the Battletown Witch, is Meade County’s featured story. I hadn’t heard of her until we opened 120, and I hope you get to know her by watching the story. Because she was different, she frightened folks, and they took action with deadly consequences.

Lesser-known Legends of Kentucky: Chained Rock at Pine Mountain, 1800s–Present

Each week this October, we’re publishing an article in “Lesser-known Legends of Kentucky,” a series written by my dear colleague, Jason Berkowitz. This week, Jason checks in on the fib-fueled origin of Bell County’s Chained Rock at Pine Mountain!—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Sitting precariously atop Pine Mountain, 2,000 feet above the small town of Pineville, Bell County, Kentucky, is a rather large rock. In fact, the rock is so enormous that the children of Pineville have worried the 200-foot-long boulder might tumble thunderously down the mountainside, crashing into their beds while they sleep. The origin of this unusual conviction is far from recent, as the legend has been shared among settlers dating back to the 1800s. And when passenger trains were introduced to the region, travelers frequently heard of the legend from mischievous locals.

Perhaps most fascinating is the explanation given by parents to their terrified children as to why they need not concern themselves with falling rocks in the dead of night. For as long as the boulder has threatened the sleeping children of Pineville, a chain has been secured to the colossal object—or so the children were told, as this was not always true. The rock was, indeed, quite secure. But this was for geological reasons, rather than human ingenuity, as no chain had ever been fastened to the monolithic outcropping.

That is, until 1933, when fifty or so local citizens, tired of lying to their children, opted to turn myth into reality. There was, however, another catalyst for the events that followed. Pine Mountain State Park had recently been established in 1924 as Kentucky’s first state park, and Pineville residents recognized an opportunity to generate much-needed tourism for the area. For these reasons, the “Chained Rock Club” was formed, composed not only of concerned parents, but also members of the Boy Scouts and Civilian Conservation Corps.

To pull off this astonishing feat, a 3,000-pound, 100-foot long chain (discovered in a nearby quarry attached to an abandoned steam shovel) was cut in half and carried up the mountainside in two trips by a four-mule team. When the mules eventually tired, members of the Chained Rock Club dragged the chains the remaining distance, wielding them together once they had reached the mountain’s peak. The group then stretched the finished chain 100 feet across the yawning chasm, drilling four-foot holes into the rock and anchoring it with large, steel pegs.

As hoped, the publicity stunt was an incredible success. Over 6,000 newspapers reported on the peculiar accomplishment, helping make Chained Rock the region’s first roadside attraction. To add further credence to the not-entirely-true legend, a plaque was erected next to the rock explaining that the existing chain had, in fact, replaced an older, albeit similar, chain. Of course, no such chain had ever existed. Nonetheless, the legend of Chained Rock highlights far more meaningful truths for local residents —namely, the power of community, as well as heritage’s capacity to bring people together for a common purpose. Knowing this, I suggest you visit Pineville and hike the half-mile wooded trail to Pine Mountain’s peak to better appreciate not just the chain’s enormity, but also the inventiveness and determination of the people of Pineville.

Sippin’ with Stephen: Green River Full Proof High Rye Bourbon with Karen Wells

As the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the Frazier History Museum shares stories of the people, places, and producers of the Kentucky Bourbon industry. To learn more, visit our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center or tour our Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

This month’s guest on Sippin’ with Stephen is Karen Wells, national brand ambassador for Green River Distillery in Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky. Karen gives a fantastic overview of the various products and offerings available to Bourbon enthusiasts who visit the distillery. We review the Full Proof High Rye Bourbon that checks in at 117.3 proof. For more details about Green River Distillery and everything they have to offer, check out their website.

Last Call for Louisville Ale Trail’s History of Beer in 10,000 Years!

Tomorrow night the Frazier Museum is hosting Louisville Ale Trail’s History of Beer in 10,000 Years program. This exhibition-style program is unlike anything we’ve hosted before: engage your senses and get hands-on with ancient ingredients that are key to beer production; taste a variety of beers from some of Louisville’s top breweries and fill your belly with delicious pub-style bites! Beer lovers will not want to miss the opportunity to expand their beer knowledge and taste classic beer styles like English IPA, Polish Lager, American Pilsner, Kentucky Common, English Barleywine, and more! Get your tickets today and we will see you at the Frazier tomorrow. Cheers!

Curator’s Corner: Frazier’s 120: Cool KY Counties Exhibit Wins Regional Award!

By the time you are reading this, Casey, Andy, Jason, Tish, and I will either be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or on our way there. We will all attend and present at the 2024 Southeastern Museums Conference this week. Casey, Andy, Jason, and I, along with a representative from Cincinnati Bell Telecom Solutions (the company that helped us with the technology behind the 120 touchscreens), will present on the Frazier’s 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit. We will discuss how this project uses technology to help bridge the urban-rural divide and share diverse stories with a wider audience. Tish, along with colleagues from museums in North Carolina and Georgia, will present on the importance of behind-the-scenes tours for educational and outreach opportunities.

Another exciting reason for us to attend the SEMC conference this year is because we won an award! Our 120 exhibit was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Over $100,000 category in the Exhibition Competition. We all worked incredibly hard on this project and are so honored to receive regional recognition among the stiff competition that entered this year—there were nineteen entrants in our category! This is not our first award from SEMC. In 2022, the Frazier received a Gold Award in Exhibitions for our exhibition West of Ninth: Race, Reckoning, and Reconciliation.

I know all of us Frazier people are incredibly excited to attend the conference and to have the opportunity to share 120 with museum professionals from all over the region. I am ready to soak in all the information and inspiration the conference will provide and come back to work with exciting new ideas!

History in the Make-ing: Frazier to Table at Maker Faire Saturday!

Louisville Maker Faire 2024 is on, and we can’t wait to be a part of it! Hosted at the U of L Student Activities Center, Maker Faire highlights inventors, artists, creators, and Maker enthusiasts of all ages in a family-friendly festival on Saturday, October 26, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Though the philosophy of the Maker movement has gained traction in recent years, the concept of Making is nothing new! Throughout time, technologies (and the inventors behind them) have evolved and changed to meet the needs of the time. Here at the Frazier, we celebrate Kentucky Makers every day. On October 26, we will take a slice of the museum to the Louisville Maker Faire where you can put your hands on history. Join us as we discover objects and artifacts from the past.

As Maker Faire’s parent organization “Make:” says, this is the “Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth!” You can find more information at their website.

20th Anniversary Photo: Rebranding, 2006

Did you know the Sears Tower in Chicago is actually called the Willis Tower now? The Willis Group secured naming rights back in 2009, but many of us stubborn folks still call it the “Sears Tower.” Why? Because rebranding is tough! When the Frazier opened in 2004, we were the Frazier Historical Arms Museum. Then, in 2006, we rebranded as the Frazier International History Museum. In 2011, we quietly dropped the “International”—allowing us to devote ourselves fully to Kentucky history. So when someone asks me if I work at the “arms museum,” I kindly remind them I work at the Frazier History Museum—and I think about the good people over at Willis Tower.

Museum Shop: Raven Earrings

Ruffle feathers and embrace the spooky season with our eerie-sistible raven earrings! Swoop into the Museum Shop to grab yours before they vanish!

History All Around Us

How to Carve a Jack-O’-Lantern (as a Three-Year-Old)

It’s spooky-scary season, which means every house on the block is putting a jack-o’-lantern on the front porch. Our household, in attempting to maintain our place in a functioning society, is participating as well. This year, though, our daughter is old enough and interested enough to take the reigns of the pumpkin carving. So here are a few helpful tips from a young Halloween enthusiast for how to get festive this fall.

Step 1: Choose the right pumpkin. It should be roughly as wide as your entire body and heavy enough that you can barely lift it.

Step 2: Snack break. Picking up that pumpkin was hard! I recommend some peanut butter on toast to balance your carbs and proteins.

Step 3: Gather all the tools you’ll need. Trust me, you don’t want to be looking around for a bowl while you’ve got a handful of slimy pumpkin goop dripping everywhere. A big knife is also important, just be careful when you’re holding it.

Step 4: Let your dad do some work while you finish your snack. He likes to feel involved, and the inside of the pumpkin is kind of gross anyway.

Dad Tip: Cut the top off the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle so it doesn’t fall straight through the hole. Cut it in a hexagonal shape rather than a circle to keep the top from spinning once it’s back in place.

Step 5: Draw the face. Make it a little scary, but not too scary in case a baby sees it. Also, pumpkins usually have triangles for noses.

Step 6: Go play for a while. Pumpkin carving can get a little boring, so take an opportunity to do something more fun like making coffee for your stuffed animals. While you’re gone, the face you drew on the pumpkin will turn into holes. It’s like magic, how cool!

Now your jack-o’-lantern is done, so just light a candle inside and admire your creation. And if you decide it still needs a few more last-minute details, you’ve always got time to draw on some hair.

Happy Halloween!

Bridging the Divide

Caleb Franz on Abolitionist Rev. John Rankin in Kentucky

Front cover of *The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism’s Essential Founding Father* by Caleb Franz, 2024. Credit: Post Hill Press.

Lifelong learning is what we’re all about at the Frazier, and I learn something new almost every day on the job. What a gift. Author Caleb Franz, who lives in Lexington, reached out to me recently about his new book on abolitionist Rev. John Rankin, who, by all counts, assisted about 2,000 freedom seekers in the 1800s. His house on the hill in Ripley, Ohio, across the Ohio River from Mason County, Kentucky, served as a refuge on that journey. A light in his window was a signal of safe passage. His home, by the way, is a historic landmark and open to tours. Keep reading to learn more about Rev. John Rankin as Caleb previews his new book The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism’s Essential Founding Father, published October 15 through Post Hill Press and available for purchase online.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission

Known in his day as the “father of abolitionism,” Reverend John Rankin is an often forgotten figure in American history. Born in Eastern Tennessee in 1793, Rankin lived most of his years in the small town of Ripley, Ohio, across the river from Mason County, Kentucky. During his time in Ripley, he provided the abolitionist movement with the intellectual foundation and moral leadership it needed to grow into a social powerhouse.

Many of Rankin’s more popular abolitionist colleagues were directly influenced by his writings and activities. In 1824, after discovering that his brother, Thomas, had purchased slaves in Virginia, Rankin wrote a series of public letters, anticipating and denouncing every possible argument in support of slavery. Years later, William Lloyd Garrison credited these letters as “the cause of my entering the anti-slavery conflict.” Garrison would even consider Rankin to be his “anti-slavery father.”

Notably, Harriet Beecher Stowe was also influenced by Rankin. Rather than his words, however, she took inspiration from his activities on the Underground Railroad. In her sensational novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the dramatic story arc of Eliza, who escaped slavery by crossing the Ohio River in the dead of winter with her child in her arms, was inspired by a real-life fugitive who traveled through John Rankin’s station in Ripley.

Rankin’s legacy was largely built in Ohio, but his Kentucky years formed him into the courageous figure he became. After leaving Tennessee in 1817, Rankin lived in Carlisle, Kentucky, until completing his journey to Ripley on New Year’s Day in 1822. During his time in Carlisle, he pastored the Concord Presbyterian Church. His congregation was full of anti-slavery advocates, many of whom participated in the creation of the Kentucky Abolition Society.

Rankin developed his convictions growing up in Eastern Tennessee, but it was the Concord church in Carlisle, Kentucky, where he strengthened his voice.

Rankin’s role in the formation of the abolitionist movement, as well as his leadership in the Underground Railroad, contributed significantly to the eventual defeat of slavery. It’s unfortunate that his legacy has been overlooked for so much of American history. Certainly, his formative years in the Commonwealth are a heritage Kentuckians can take pride in.

Copies of Caleb Franz’s book The Conductor are available for purchase online.

Thank You, Raoul Cunningham!

I am thinking back to our sixtieth anniversary program involving the March on Frankfort we had in February, and the giants who joined us that evening. One of them was Raoul Cunningham, the president of the NAACP Louisville Branch.

I remember him using a cane that evening, I remember asking him if I could help get him to his car which he politely declined. And then headed out on his own, cane in hand, for what had to be a long walk.

As I think about it now, in the context of him recently announcing he is stepping down from that position, I think about how his walk has never been easy.

His involvement with the NAACP began when he was only fourteen years old, lobbying for high school students in Louisville to be part of the sit-ins happening nationally by college students in 1961. Sit-ins to change the status quo and get businesses to do away with their segregation policies.

I read that he was one of the first students to be arrested, and it would happen several times over until the laws changed.

Cunningham told the Courier Journal the arrests were worth the reward.

Raoul Cunningham will step down from the NAACP at the end of the year after a twenty-year term.

I called him last week to say thank you.

Thank you for your courage.

Thank you for leading.

Thank you for teaching me so many things.

Thank you for always being wise counsel to me on any topic, any question I had, and for always saying yes to being part of our programs.

Thank you for the long walk, the walk that was never easy.

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission

Dish with Tish on Victorian Mourning, Battletown Witch Festival, Chained Rock at Pine Mountain, and More

Ghosts in the Gorge, a Haunted Honky Tonk, and an Ohio River Curse, Proceed with Caution…..

White Cane Awareness Day, 1937 Great Flood Comic, Herrington Lake Monster, and More