Listen Now

Mariam and Wayne share the story of David Rice Atchison, born in Lexington, KY and later senator from Missouri, the only person in history who was possibly president for a day.

Mariam interviews Beverly Bell about her recent book, The Murder of Marion Miley, to mark the 79th anniversary of Marion Miley's death (September 28, 2020). They discuss Beverly’s research into Marion’s life, her interviews with the people closest to Marion at the time of her death, and how America entering World War II affected the memory of her tragic loss.

Wayne tells the story of Pamela Brown and the ill-fated hot air balloon voyage across the Atlantic in 1970, in time for the 50th anniversary of the crash. He tells of her early history and acting career, how they got the idea to try to be the first people to cross the ocean in a hot air balloon, what might have gone wrong with the balloon, and the aftermath of the crash. 

Mariam tells a brief history of Lexington's first steam powered street roller, named the Willipus Wallipus. This episode was researched and written by Sarah Hubbard, Kentucky Room Manager.

Mariam and Erin, the show's producer and editor, discuss a few of their many favorite moments from Tales from the Kentucky Room. They share clips and some behind the scenes fun as the podcast turns two years old. This episode was recorded online during COVID-19 social distancing. To share your favorite podcast moments with us, visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/lexingtonpubliclibrary

Enjoy this discussion of Lexington born Major League Baseball players that was cut from the Kentucky Baseball episode. We hope you're staying healthy at home!

Mariam and Wayne discuss the rich history of baseball in Kentucky, beginning just after the Civil War. They discuss Happy Chandler’s role in the integration of Major League Baseball, and how the Lexington Hustlers were the first integrated team in the south. Wayne discusses Lexington’s club and school baseball teams, beginning with Little League, and ends with book and film recommendations to fill the current baseball void. 

Mariam interviews Dr. Randolph Hollingsworth of the Kentucky Woman Suffrage Project, artist Barbara Grygutis, and Council District 9 legislative aide Rob Bolson about their inspiration and work with the “Breaking the Bronze Ceiling” initiative to bring the first monument honoring the contributions of women to society to Lexington, KY. You can find out more about the Kentucky Woman Suffrage Project at their website here; see more of Barbara Grygutis’s artwork on her website here; and learn more about the “Breaking the Bronze Ceiling” monument project on their website here. 

Mariam interviews Ruth Gaylord about her life and work as Lexington Public Library’s first African American librarian. They discuss her experiences going to school and college in segregated Kentucky; how she balanced working full time, raising four children, caring for an ill spouse, and attending Library School from 1979-1984. They also talk about her long career as a librarian with Lexington Public Library. She began as an assistant on the bookmobile in 1977, and when Ruth retired in 2008, she was the Assistant Manager of the Eagle Creek Branch. 

Brenna Pye guest hosts to celebrate the life of Dr. Mary E. Britton (1855-1925), a passionate advocate for civil and women’s rights. She used her time and talents to uplift Lexington’s African American community. As a teacher, a journalist, an activist, a suffragist, and a doctor, Mary Ellen Britton was a distinguished Lexingtonian who made significant contributions to the town. 

J.P. Johnson guest hosts to celebrate the life of Dolly Johnson Dandridge (1852-1918), a Kentucky native who was the White House Chef for President Benjamin Harrison, and later a much sought-after chef after her return to Lexington, Kentucky in 1894. She had such clout as to be able to refuse to return to cook for President Grover Cleveland and still have a very successful career as a chef and caterer in Lexington, KY, while continually being recruited as a private chef for prominent families. She was the first African American woman to open a business on Main Street in Lexington. J.P. shares some of her most famous recipes throughout the episode. The interlude music is performed by J.P. Johnson.

Recorded on the 100th anniversary of Geneva’s death, Mariam interviews author and attorney Peter Brackney about his latest book, The Murder of Geneva Hardman and Lexington’s Mob Riot of 1920. They discuss the trial and execution of Will Lockett, the man who confessed to her murder. The mob riot following the trial led to Lexington being placed under Martial Law for two weeks. Though questions remain on his ultimate guilt or innocence, what is not in question is how, for the first time in the south, Lexington’s local authorities were able to successfully repel a lynch mob. You can check out Peter Brackney’s book here. 

This episode may be difficult for some listeners to hear – history is often hard and tragic, but it’s still important to tell it. Mariam discusses the life of Margaret Garner, the real life Kentucky Woman who inspired Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved. Margaret, at age 22, and her family attempted to escape from slavery, only to be caught and returned under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Her harrowing decision to kill her youngest daughter rather than return her to slavery had her brought up on murder charges in Ohio. This led to a cat-and-mouse political game between her owner and Governor Chase of Ohio. Margaret Garner died in 1854, at the age of 24, from Scarlet Fever.  Mariam references Modern Medea: A Family Story of Slavery and Child-murder from the Old South by Steven Weisenburger, and you can check it out here. 

Mariam interviews First Vice President Dee Pregliasco and Board of Directors member Cindy Heine from the Kentucky Chapter of The League of Women Voters about the organization’s 100 year history. They also discuss the League’s current statewide initiatives regarding redistricting, the restoration of voting rights for people with felony convictions, and overall civic engagement.

In time for the 100th anniversary of Kentucky ratifying the 19th Amendment granting women in the United States the right to vote, Mariam interviews Shea Simanek Magnuson about the history of women’s suffrage in Kentucky. They discuss the earliest attempts to get votes for women, and the women in Kentucky who fought for the right to vote. This episode features two suffrage songs: “Daughters of Freedom” performed by the “Music for the Nation” Singers and can be found here and a 1916 recording of “She’s Good Enough To Be Your Baby’s Mother”, performed by Anna Chandler that can be found here.

Mariam interviews Tom Eblen, former editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader, about the history and personalities surrounding Lexington’s Newspapers. They discuss the Kentucky Gazette, The True American, The Lexington Standard, The Bluegrass Blade and more. These newspapers are available on microfilm in the Kentucky Room. 

Mariam interviews Susan Griffith and Vikki Franklin about the history of the Eastern Kentucky Lunatic Asylum, now called Eastern State Hospital, what historical records are available, the creation of the cemetery, and what services are offered by the hospital today. She also explores the history of the hospital as reported in the Lexington newspapers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The newspapers referenced are available to view on microfilm in the Kentucky Room at Central Library.

Mariam interviews Kentucky native actor, author, and playwright Kevin Lane Dearinger about his forthcoming memoir, Bad Sex in Kentucky, his Broadway career, and his second career in education. Kevin’s first books, The Bard and the Bluegrass and Marie Prescott, a Star of Some Brilliancy are available to view in the Kentucky Room. 

Mariam and Denise discuss the history of the Joyland Amusement Park. The park operated from 1923-1963, and the land is now the site of several subdivisions. 

Mariam interviews Wayne Johnson about the colorful life of Cassius Marcellus Clay (1810-1903), as he fought slavery, served as Ambassador to Russia during the Civil War, and made life difficult for the Madison County Sheriff. This episode contains descriptions of violent events, but is not overly graphic (our apologies to Mr. Potato Head.) Listener Discretion is advised.