A TRAGEDY, TWO SCULPTURES RISE
FOR HOPE AND HEALING.
THESE CARTER COUNTY CAVES
PROVIDE A REFUGE AND AMMUNITION.
WENDEL BEARY AND BOBBIE ANN
MASON, LOOM FATE THE STORY
BEHIND A STRANGE MAYFIELD
MONUMENT.
AND YOU'LL FIND ANTIQUES, ART
AND MORE AT THE OVEN FORK
MERCANTILE.
THESE STORIES COMING YOUR WAY
NEXT ON KENTUCKY LIFE.
>> HELLO, I'M DAVE SHUFFETT,
WELCOME TO KENTUCKY LIFE.
IT'S ONE OF LIFE'S HARD TRUTHS
TO BE HUMAN IS TO EXPERIENCE THE
PAIN OF LOSS.
AS INDIVIDUALS, WE ALL GRIEF
DIFFERENTLY BUT WHEN LOSS
EFFECTS A WHOLE COMMUNITY OR
ENTIRE NATION, HOW DO WE
RESPOND?
HOW DO WE FIND A WAY
COLLECTIVELY TO DEAL WITH THE
PAIN AND MOVE FORWARD?
THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF 9/11 TESTED
OUR NATIONAL RESOLVE AND 2006
CRASH OF COMAIR FLIGHT 5191 IN
LEXINGTON, SHOCKED THE COMMUNITY
AND THE STATE.
TWO MEMORIALS INSPIRED BY THESE
EVENTS WERE RECENTLY DEDICATED
IN KENTUCKY.
THE SCULPTURE CREATED BY
ACCLAIMED ARTIST AND THE ONE
BUILT BY U.K.'S COLLEGE OF
DESIGN ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
BUT AT A BOTH SHARE A COMMON
THEME AND PURPOSE, TO HELP US
REMEMBER, HONOR AND HEAL.
>> THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER
11, 2001, HAVE FOREVER IMPACTED
OUR LIVES.
REMEMBERING THE TRAGEDY OF THAT
DAY AND CONSIDERING HOW WE AS A
NATION HAVE GROWN SINCE THEN,
WORK TO ENCOURAGE THOSE IN ALL
WALKS OF LIFE STRUGGLING WITH
CRISIS.
SAINT ELIZABETH HEALTH CARE
HOSPICE PARTNERED WITH THE U.K.
COLLEGE OF DESIGN TO CREATE
THEIR OWN LASTING REMINDER AND
IT CENTRES AROUND A PIECE OF
STEEL RECOVERED FROM THE WORLD
TRADE CENTER.
>> FIRST READ ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN A PIECE OF
STEEL SEPTEMBER OF 2009 IN THE
SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES.
IT'S A BEAUTIFULLY-WRITTEN
ARTICLE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THE PORT AUTHORITY OF
GIVING A COUPLE OF THOUSAND
PIECES AWAY AND IF YOU WERE A
QUALIFIED NONPROFIT OR
GOVERNMENT AGENCY, YOU COULD
SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR A PIECE.
IT IMMEDIATELY STRUCK ME THIS
WOULD BE SOMETHING PERFECT, NOT
ONLY AS A SYMBOL FOR HOSPICE
AWARENESS BUT FOR THE ENTIRE
NORTHERN KENTUCKY REGION.
I SERVE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD OF
U.K.'S COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND
THEY GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO DESIGN
THE BASE AND CONSTRUCT IT ALSO.
>> WE TRIED TO MAKE A REALLY
SLEEK, ELEGANT BASE.
IT WAS NOT TOO INTRUSIVE ON WHAT
THE ACTUAL BEAM WAS BOTH
SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH AND WAS
TRYING TO BE PLAYED FOR AS THIS
KIND OF MOBILE MEMORIAL.
>> WHEN REESE FIRST APPROACHED
ME AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROJECT, I
WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT
BECAUSE I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN
THE MARINE CORP BEFORE I STARTED
SCHOOL HERE.
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN THE
IDEA FIRST CAME TO US AND FIRST
SHIPPED TO US BECAUSE I DIDN'T
WANT TO TOUCH IT BECAUSE IT FELT
SORT OF SACRED TO ME.
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE
GAVE THE UNIVERSITY WAS
SIMPLICITY.
A PIECE OF STEEL, WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE COMBINED
AND PAIRED WITH CONCRETE.
BECAUSE REINFORCED CONCRETE IS
WHAT MADE THE BUILDING STAND UP
TO BEGIN WITH.
>> TO CREATE THE BASE,
SOPHISTICATED ROUTEING EQUIPMENT
WAS USED TO SHAPE THE MULTIPLE
FOAM PIECES NEEDED TO FORM A
MOLD.
ONCE TOGETHER, THE MOLD WAS
CRAFTED AND FILLED WITH
CONCRETE.
TWO DAYS LATER, IT WAS OPENED TO
REVEAL THEIR HARD WORK.
>> I WAS PLEASED WITH THE END
RESULT.
THERE WERE SOME IMPERFECTIONS.
HOWEVER, DUE TO ALL THE RUST AND
THE CORROSION THAT IS ALREADY
KIND OF EXHIBITED ON THE IVY, IT
REALLY MATCHED GRACEFULLY.
IT SORT OF REVEALED THE BONES OF
THE STRUCTURE OF A BUILDING AND
IT SORT OF GETS TO THE HEART OF
WHAT HAPPENED WITHIN THE TOWERS.
>> SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, REVISED
OUR WAY OF LIVING AND CHANGED
FOREVER.
>> THE FINISHED MEMORIAL WAS
UNVEILED AT A PUBLIC SERVICE
HOSTED BY THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE
OF COVINGTON.
THERE, A CAPACITY CROWD GATHERED
TO MARK THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ATTACKS AND TO FIND
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE ROAD
AHEAD.
THE MEMORIAL WILL NOW RESIDE AT
SAINT ELIZABETH HEALTH CARE
HOSPICE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.
>> AND I REALLY HOPE MORE THAN
ANYTHING, THAT IT SYMBOLIZES
WHEN SOMEBODY SUFFERS A LOSS,
WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE 5191
DISASTER, I HAD NO IDEA THAT I
WOULD EVER CREATE A MONUMENT FOR
THAT.
I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD BE
CREATIVE.
BUT CINCINNATI IS A BIG COMAIR
TOWN AND THAT MORNING, SUNDAY
MORNING, WE CAME TO CHURCH AND
IMMEDIATELY HEARD THE NEWS.
THERE WAS A VEIL OF TENSION JUST
EVERYWHERE AND I HAD TWO FRIENDS
IN PARTICULAR THAT I KNEW WERE
FLYING AND I HAD NO IDEA IF THEY
WERE INVOLVED OR NOT.
SO, IT WAS A REAL HEAVY MORNING.
AND GRADUALLY, WE HEARD THE
PEOPLE WE KNEW WERE NOT
INVOLVED, BUT IT'S A TIGHT
FAMILY.
I THINK IT MADE THIS PROJECT
CLOSER TO MY HEART THAN IT
NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN,
BECAUSE HAVING GONE THROUGH THAT
AND ACTUALLY BEING A PILOT
MYSELF, I SEEM TO RELATE.
EVEN A LITTLE RIPPLE, EVEN JUST
A RIPPLE, THAT LINE HAS TO BE
SUPER SMOOTH SO WHEN THE EYE
CATCHES IT, EVERYTHING FLOWS.
ANY KIND OF A RIPPLE OR BUMP IS
GOING TO STOP IT.
AND IF IT ISN'T GOING TO GO
AWAY, TAKE A MARKER AND MARK IT.
THE CONCEPT IS BASED ON 49 SOULS
THAT WERE LOST THAT DAY.
REPRESENTED BY 49
HIGHLY-STYLEIDES BIRDS.
THEY ARE FLYING UP FROM THE
GROUND AND THEY ARE ALL TOUCHING
EACH OTHER, WHICH IS SYMBOLIC,
THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER BUT THEY
ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS AT THE SAME
TIME.
AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT VERY OFTEN GETS LOST IN
TRANSLATION.
THE REALITY OF THE EXPERIENCE OF
LOSS AND THEN REALITY THAT THESE
WERE PEOPLE, THESE WERE PEOPLE
WITH FUTURES.
THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD JUST
GOTTEN MARRIED OR A COUPLE GOING
TO BUILD HOMES FOR PEOPLE OR A
COUPLE CELEBRATING THEIR
50th ANNIVERSARY OR CHILDREN
THESE WERE LIVES.
AND WE FORGET THAT IN THE SCOPE
OF LARGE DISASTERS I THINK
SOMETIMES THAT INDIVIDUAL GETS
LOST.
>> TO HELP INDIVIDUALIZE THE
MEMORIAL, FAMILY MEMBERS WERE
INVITED TO PLACE MOMENTOS INTO
CANISTERS THAT WERE PLACED
WITHIN EACH BIRD.
>> TO ME, BIRDS AND FLIGHT HAVE
ALWAYS HAD A CLOSE ASSOCIATION
WITH A SOUL.
THESE SOULS FLYING UP, BEING
RELEASED AND THEN A WILD SPIRAL
OF BIRDS JUST FLYING HEAVENWARD
OF THE THE LIKENESS OF THE
IMAGE, LIKENESS OF THE COLOR,
THE SPIRAL MOVEMENT.
KIND OF LIKE -- JUST LIKE THAT.
THIS IS MY FIRST MEMORIAL FOR AN
ACCIDENT OF THIS SCALE.
I HAVE DONE MONUMENTS TO
INDIVIDUALS, BUT THIS IS UNIQUE
IN ANYTHING I HAVE EVER DONE.
AND THERE IS A HUGE
RESPONSIBILITY THAT I FEEL.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT IS SO MUCH
LARGER.
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
AND IN THIS CASE, ALL AROUND THE
WORLD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED
RADICALLY.
AND I THINK A MEMORIAL CAN DO A
GREAT JOB OF MAKING THAT
STATEMENT THAT THIS HAPPENED.
SO IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY
FORGOTTEN.
I THINK IN THIS CASE IT SERVES
OTHER PURPOSES FOR THE FAMILY TO
GIVE THEM A PLACE THAT THEY CAN
CORPORATELY COME, THAT THEY CAN
INDIVIDUALLY COME AND PRAY
REFLECT, MEDITATE, JUST BE.
I THINK IN A BEAUTIFUL AND
APPROPRIATE WAY THE MEMORIES OF
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TERRIBLY
TERRIBLY IMPORTANT TO THEM.
>> ALTHOUGH BOTH SCULPTURES
COMMEMORATE SPECIFIC EVENTS,
THEY ARE CERTAIN TO BE A SOURCE
OF HEALING AND INSPIRATION FOR
ANYONE FACING LOSS OR A
DIFFICULT PERSONAL STRUGGLE.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
KET.ORG/KENTUCKYLIFE FOR MORE
ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND THEIR
REMARKABLE MEMORIALS.
x█ú█ú█ñ█
>>> I WAS LOOKING FOR A COOL
SHADY SPOT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
AND HEADED OFF TO CARTER CAVE
STATE RESORT PARK.
THERE, JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM
THE ENTRANCE, I FOUND A
HISTORICAL MARKER FOR SALTPETRE
CAVE.
THE MEN ENTRANCE AND TWO OTHER
OPENINGS ARE WELL PROTECTED
KEEPING THE CAVE AND THE PUBLIC
SAFE.
THE MARKER TELLS OF THE LONG
HISTORY OF THIS PLACE.
A KEY COMPONENT IN MAKING
GUNPOWDER, SALTPETRE WAS MIND
HERE AND USED TO MAKE GUN POWER
FOR KENTUCKY RIFLE MEN DURING
THE WAR OF 1812.
IN THE CAVE, SOME OF THE REMAINS
OF THE SALTPETRE MINING
OPERATIONS CAN STILL BE FOUND.
ALSO, EARLY INDAN ARTIFACTS AND
GRAVES HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED.
THE DAY I VISITED, THE CAVE WAS
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
MANY CAVES IN THE AREA ARE
CLOSED TO TRY TO PROTECT THE BAT
POPULATION FROM WHITE NOSE
SYNDROME.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO THE
CAVES HERE, YOU WILL NEED TO
CALL AHEAD AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT
IS OPEN.
ACROSS FROM THE CAVE ENTRANCE, A
PARK GIFT SHOP HAS BOOKS ON THE
AREA AND A COOL DRINK ON A HOT
DAY.
IN THE GRACE COUNTY COMMUNITY OF
MAYFIELD, THE MAPLEWOOD CEMETERY
CONTAINS WHAT HAS GOT TO BE ONE
OF THE MOST UNUSUAL GRAVE SITES
IN ALL OF AMERICA.
BUILT IN THE LATE 1800's, IT'S
A MENAGERIE OF PEOPLE AND PETS
PLUS TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF
THE MAN WHO COMMISSIONED IT.
OVER THE DECADES, IT ATTRACTED
THE ATTENTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND
WRITERS ALIKE.
AMONG THEM, TWO OF OUR BEST
KNOWN WRITERS HERE IN KENTUCKY,
WENDELL BERRY AND BOBBIE ANN
MASON.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE US
INSIGHT INTO THE MONUMENT KNOWN█
AS THE STRANGE PROCESSION THAT
NEVER MOVES.
♪♪
>> THEY ARE CALLED THE STRANGE
PROCESSION THAT NEVER MOVES, AND
IT'S A GROUP OF SCULPTURES IN
THE GRAVEYARD, A FAMILY GROUP
WITH A DOG AND A COUPLE OF
DOGS -- AND THERE IS ONE MARBLE
STATUE.
AND THEY ARE ALL LOOKING EAST
LIKE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE
WALMART TO ON OPEN.
I GATHERED HE BECAME OBSESSED
WITH BEING NOTICED AND MAKING
HIS MARK AND MAKING A CLAIM TO
FAME.
I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY AN EGO
MANIAC WHO WANTED TO MAKE HIS
MARK ON THE WORLD AND SO HE HAD
ALL THESE STATUES MADE.
WOOLDRIDGE WAS A MYSTERY AND I
READ MORE RECENTLY THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN PIECED TOGETHER ABOUT
HIM.
HE WAS THE LOCAL COOKIE
ARISTOCRAT AND CALLED HIMSELF
COLONEL.
AND HE BECAME VERY WEALTHY BUT
HE HAD GROWN UP OR HAD BEEN
POOR.
WALKER EVANS, THE RENOWNED
PHOTOGRAPHER, TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS
OF THE WOOLDRIDGE MONUMENTS AND
THEY MADE THEIR WAY TO WILLIAM
FAULKNER IN OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI,
WHO SAW THEM AND THEN WROTE A
SHORT STORY CALLED, SEPATURE
SOUTH GASLIGHT.
>> AND NOW WE CAN ALREADY SEE
THEM, GIGANTIC AND WHITE, TALLER
ON THEIR MARBLE PEDESTALS THAN
THE ROWS AND HONEY SUCKEL CHOKED
FINS LOOMING INTO THE VERY TREES
THEMSELVES, THE MAGNOLIAS AND
CEDARS AND ELMS, GAZING FOREVER
EASTWARD WITH THEIR EMPTY MARBLE
EYES NOT SYMBOLS, NOT ANGELS OF
MERCY OR WINGED SER FILM OR LAMS
OR SHEPERDS, BUT EFFIGIES OF THE
ACTUAL PEOPLE THEMSELVES AS THEY
HAD BEEN IN LIFE, IN MARBLE NOW,
DURABLE, IMFEVERRUOUS, HEROIC IN
SIZE, TOWERING ABOVE THEIR DUST
IN THE IMPLACABLE TRADITION OF
OUR STRONG, UNCOMPROMISEING
GRIMLY BAPTIST, METHODIST,
PROTESTANTISM, CARVED IN ITALIAN
STONE BY EXPENSIVE ITALIAN
CRAFTSMEN AND SHIPPED ALONG COST
LEEWAY BY SEA BACK TO BECOME ONE
MORE AMONG THE INVINCIBLE
SENTINELS GUARDING THE TEMPLE OF
OUR SOUTHERN MOORINGS, EXTENDING
FROM BANKER AND MERCHANT AND
PLANTER DOWN TO THE LAST TENANT
FARMER WHO KNEW THE PLOW HE
GUIDED AND THE MULE WHICH DREW
IT, WHICH DECREED, DEMANDED THAT
NO MATTER HOW SPARTAN THE LIFE,
IN DEATH THE SIGNIFICANTS OF
DOLLARS AND CENTS WAS ABOLISHED,
THAT GRANDMOTHER MIGHT HAVE
SPLIT SO WOOD RIGHT UP UNTIL THE
DAY SHE DIED, YET SHE MUST ENTER
THE EARTH IN SATIN AND MAHOGANY
AND SILVER HANDLES, EVEN THOUGH
THE FIRST TWO WERE SYNTHETIC AND
THE THIRD WAS GERMAN.
A CEREMONY NOT AT ALL TO DEATH
OR EVEN TO THE MOMENT OF DEATH,
BUT TO DECORUM, THE VICTIM OF
OUR ACCIDENT OR EVEN MURDER
REPRESENTED IN EFFIGY, NOT AT
THE INSTANCE OF HIS PASSING BUT
AT THE PEAK OF HIS SUBLIMATION
AS THOUGH IN DEATH, AT LAST, HE
DENIED FOREVER THE GRIEFS AND
FOLLIES OF HUMAN AFFAIRS.
>> WHEN I LOOK AT THE WOOLDRIDGE
MONUMENTS IT'S A COMBINATION OF
EMOTIONS LIKE, FASCINATION AND
SOMETHING LIKE PITY FOR HOW
PEOPLE THINK OF THEMSELVES AND
THINK THAT THEY CAN OUT WIT
ETERNITY.
>> I COULD REMEMBER THAT DAY SIX
YEARS AGO, THE FAMILY GATHERED,
FATHER AND MOTHER AND MAGGIE AND
I IN A SURREY BECAUSE
GRANDFATHER RODE HIS HORSE.
THE CEMETERY, OUR LOT.
GRANDMOTHER'S EFFIGY PRISTINE
AND DAZZLING NOW OUT OF ITS
PACKING CASE, TALL ON THE
DAZZLING PEDESTAL ABOVE THE
GRAVE ITSELF, THE UNDERTAKER HAT
IN HAND, AND THE NEGRO WORK MAN
WHO SWEATED ERECT WAS DRAWN TO
ONE SIDE FOR US, THE FAMILY, TO
LOOK AT IT AND TO PROVE.
AND IN ANOTHER YEAR AFTER THE
TEDIOUS CARVING IN ITALY AND THE
LONG ATLANTIC SHIP, GRANDFATHER
TOO ON HIS PEDESTAL, BESIDES
HER, NOT AS THE SOLDIER WHICH HE
HAD BEEN, AND AS I WANTED HIM,
BUT THE LAWYER, PARLIAMENTARIAN,
THOR TERWHICH HE WAS NOT, IN
FROCK COAT, THE BEAR HEAD THROWN
BACK, THE CARVED TONE CARVED
OAKLAND THE CARVED HAND AND THE
OTHER EXTENDED IN THE MEMORIAL
GESTURE OF DECLARATION.
THIS TIME MOTHER AND MAGGIE AND
I IN THE SURREY BECAUSE FATHER
WAS NOT ON THE HORSE COME TO THE
FORMAL PRIVATE INSPECTION AND
APPROVAL.
>> I'M REMINDED OF THE SHELLY
POEM IN WHICH A BROKEN STATUE IS
FOUND IN THE DESERT.
LOOK ON MY WORKS YOU MIGHTY AND
DESPAIR.
>> AND 3 OR 4 TIMES A YEAR, I
WOULD COME BACK.
I WOULD NOT KNOW WHY.
ALONE TO LOOK AT THEM, NOT JUST
A GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER,
BUT IN ALL OF THEM, LOOMING
AMONG THE LUSH, GREEN OF SUMMER
AND THE REGAL PLAYS OF FALL AND
THE REIGN AND RUIN OF WINTER,
BEFORE SPRING WOULD BLOOM AGAIN.
STEAM NOW, A LITTLE DARKENED BY
TIME AND WEATHER AND ENDURANCE
BUT STILL SURRINE, IMPERVIOUS,
REMOTE.
GAZING AT NOTHING, NOT LIKE
SENTINELS, NOT DEFENDING THE
LIVING FROM THE DEAD, BY MEANS
OF THEIR VAST TONGUE MEASURED
WEIGHT AND MASS, BUT RATHER THE
DEAD FROM THE LIVING SHEILDING
INSTEAD THE VACANT AND
DISSOLVING BONES, THE HARMLESS
AND DEFENSELESS DUST FROM THE
ANGUISH AND GRIEF AND INHUMANITY
OF MANKIND.
>> WHAT STRIKES ME MOST IS HOW
MAJESTIC THEY ALL ARE.
THEY ARE PLACED THERE LIKE THEY
ARE GOING TO SPEND
THEIR -- STAND THERE LIKE THAT
FOR ETERNITY.
IT'S A FEAT OF THE IMAGINATION
WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY
PRACTICALITIY OR WHAT PEOPLE
WILL MAKE OF IT.
HE JUST WANTED TO BE THERE
FOREVER.
>>> PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD TO SEE THE
MAYFIELD MONUMENT AND I'M SURE
NONE OF THEM ARE DISAPPOINTED BY
WHAT TAZE SEE.
OVER THE YEARS WE SPENT A LOT OF
TIME IN LECTURE -- LECHER COUNTY
HIKING IN BAD BRANCH FALLS,
KINGDOM COME STATE PARK.
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY
THAT I STOPPED IN AT OVEN FORK
MERCANTILE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS MISSING
DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LECHER
COUNTY BETWEEN PINE AND BIG
BLACK MOUNTAIN, THE OLD OVEN
FORK STORE IS STILL IN BUSINESS
SINCE THE EARLY 1900s.
>> IT USED TO BE AN OLD GROCERY
STORE GAS STATION IN THE EARLY
19 AND 20s AND IN 1945 IT
BECAME THE LOCAL POST OFFICE AND
WAY POT BELLY STOVE THAT RUN UP
THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND
PEOPLE WAIT FOR THEIR MAIL.
I WANTED TO KEEP THAT
ATMOSPHERE.
STILL GOT THE OLD POST OFFICE
WINDOW AND OLD POST OFFICE BOXES
AND PEOPLE STILL COME SIT
AROUND.
>> STORE OWNER, BARBARA CHURCH
SAYS FOLKS ALWAYS SEE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT WHEN THEY COME BACK.
>> WHEN YOU COME BACK TO THIS
PLACE, YOU WILL SEE SUN SETS,
DIFFERENT THINGS EVERY TIME,
THINGS THAT YOU MISSED BEFORE,
THINGS THAT I ADDED, THERE IS
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
I BUILT THE BUSINESS FROM THE
ONE ROOM TO TEN ROOMS OF ANTIQUE
S AND FILLED THE ROOMS UP
WITH ANYTHING OLD YOU CAN THINK
ABOUT.
THERE IS A ROOM THAT JUST HAS
GLASS IN IT LIKE ALL DIFFERENT
KINDS OF DEPRESSION GLASS,
CARNIVAL GLASS, CLEAR GLASS, AND
THEN THERE IS A SECONDS OF JUST
OLD PICTURES, STONE WEAR AND THE
McCOY AND ROSEVILLE AND ALL OF
THAT.
AND THEN THERE IS KITCHEN
COLLECTIBLES, THERE IS CAST IRON
AND ENAMEL WEAR.
ALL KINDS OF OLD CHAIRS HERE
SINCE WE DO THE HICKORY CHAIR
BOTTOMS.
I LEARNED ABOUT IT FROM MY
COUSIN, HARVEY.
I KNEW HE DID IT.
HE WAS A MOUNTAIN MAN.
I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT
BECAUSE MY CHILDREN KEPT
BREAKING DOWN CHAIRS.
SO, I ASKED HIM TO DO IT FOR ME
AND HE SAID, NO.
HE WOULD SHOW ME HOW TO DO IT
BUT HE WOULDN'T DO IT FOR ME.
AND THAT WAS ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.
AFTER HE SHOWED ME HOW TO DO IT,
I HAVE BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE.
I TAUGHT MY SON HOW TO DO IT AND
I'M HOPING TO TEACH MY GRANDSON
AND MY GRANDDAUGHTERS AND HAVE
THEM CARRY ON THE TRADITION.
>> LIKE IN OLD DAYS WHEN PEOPLE
COULDN'T GO OUT AND BUY A NEW
CHAIR, THEY HAD TO MAKE THEIR
OWN CHAIRS AND THERE WAS PEOPLE
WHO WOULD TRAVEL AROUND AND
GATHER HICKORY BARK IN THE
SUMMERTIME AND THEN THEY'D GO
AROUND AND STAY AT PEOPLE'S
HOUSES FOR PLACE TO STAY OR FOOD
OR WHATEVER AND THEY WOULD
BOTTOM THE CHAIRS FOR THEM.
>> YOU GOT TO FIND THE GOOD
HICKORY TREES AND TAKE OFF THE
BARK AND THEN I USUALLY ROLE IT
UP AND STORE IT SO I'M READY TO
USE IT AND THEN I'LL THROW IT IN
A PAN OF WATER OVERNIGHT AND
WEAVE THE BOTTOM AND LET IT DRY
AND THAT'S A GOOD CHAIR.
>> I STARTED IN THE BACK TIEING
MY KNOT IN AND WET MY BARK
AROUND THIS WAY.
AND WHERE IT GETS SHORT, I'LL
HAVE TO SPLICE ANOTHER PIECE ON
TO THIS AND WRAP IT AROUND AND
ONCE I GET OVER HERE, I'LL COME
DOWN AROUND THIS CORNER AND
WEAVE IT IN.
SINCE I RUN OUT OF BARK HERE, I
GOT TO SPLICE ANOTHER PIECE IN.
WE DO THAT IN A KEY IN A KEY
HOLE.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CUT A SQUARE
IN IT.
I PREFER TO USE A TRIANGLE.
IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO CUT OUT.
IT SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE.
HICKORY BARK IS ALMOST LIKE
WORKING WITH LEATHER.
YOU HAVE TO GET IT WET BEFORE
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
AND ONCE IT DRIES, IT WILL
TIGHTEN UP.
HERE I MADE MY KEY AND MY KEY
HOLE AND YOU PUT THESE TOGETHER,
AND THEY LOCK RIGHT IN.
JUST CONTINUE WEAVING YOUR BARK
AROUND.
IT WILL BE TIGHT IN THE BACK AND
DAMP IN THE FRONT OF IT.
NOW THAT I WRAPPED IT AROUND THE
FRONT, I HAVE COME BACK UNDER
THIS CORNER AND NOW I'LL START
WEAVING IT AND AS WE GOT A
CERTAIN PATTERN WE GO BY TO GET
A HERRINGBONE.
START OUT AND GO OVER ONE AND
THEN OVER TWO AND UNDER ONE AND
UNDER TWO.
AND THEN YOU ATINATE TWO AFTER
THAT.
AND THIS SKIPS OVER EACH TIME
AND THEN GIVE IT A DIEAGONAL
PATTERN.
>> FIND SOME OLD TABLES AND
DRESSERS AND BEDS AND JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
YOU CAN PLAN A DAY TRIP HERE AND
COME AND HAVE LUNCH AND HAVE A
HOTDOG OR A POLISH SAUSAGE OR
BARBECUE OR HOMEMADE CANDY.
I HAVE BEEN MAKING IT FOR ABOUT
20 YEARS AND SELLING IT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THIS.
THE PEOPLE THAT DO STOP HERE
THAT IS TRAVELING, AFTER THEY
VISITED HERE, THEY ARE LIKE, IS
THERE ANY OTHER PLACES LIKE THIS
AROUND HERE?
AND I'M LIKE, NO, NOT FOR
ANOTHER HOUR'S DRIVE OR LONGER
THAN THAT.
BUT YES, IT'S OFF THE BEATEN
PATH AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR
IT.
>> AND THAT INCLUDES OLD
MOUNTAIN TRADITIONS.
AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS OF HARD
WORK, DAMON FINISHED HIS CHAIR
BOTTOM.
>> HERE IS YOUR FINISHED PRODUCT
AND THEN NORMAL USES USES AND
CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IS SHOULD LAST
TWO LIFE TIMES.
>> SO HOPEFULLY THIS STORE WITH
SUCH A RICH HISTORY WILL ALSO BE
AROUND FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE
LIFE TIMES.
>> WE WON'T WAIT SO LONG TO MAKE
OUR NEXT VISIT TO OVEN FORK
MERCANTILE AND WON'T WAIT ANY
LONGER TO LET YOU THAN KENTUCKY
LIFE IS NOW ON FACEBOOK.
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE
HEADED POSTING PHOTOS OF WHERE
WE HAVE BEEN AND GIVING YOU
PREVIEWS OF UP COMING SHOWS.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR ALL OF
US TO CONNECT WITH ALL OF YOU.
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE OUT OF TIME
FOR TONIGHT.