1939 ... I guess everyone is still recovering from last month's flood in Hazard. The water reached a depth of 30 feet and was surpassed only by the water of May 27th 1927 and a bad one back in 1890. Most serious to the majority of Hazard residents was the failure of the water supply. The water was off for about 48 hours but thanks to the continuous work of emergency crews, the system starting pumping again two days later. The flood waters reached a 30 foot crest about 4 p.m. on Friday February 3rd 1939. About 100 houses in the low Big Bottom and Blue Grass sections of Hazard were flooded, many almost completely submerged and furnishings destroyed. Two to four inches of mud left by the receding waters caused the most serious damage and will require months to clean. A dozen businesses and three filling stations near the intersections of East Main and High Streets were in eight to ten feet of water. Low lying sections near the Y.M.C.A. building were in water up to ten feet deep. East Main Street was under water nearly as far up as the Hobbs' Motor Service and Maple Street was inundated between the residence of Curt Combs and Mrs. Richmond Combs. Flooded basements on Main street caused thousands of dollars worth of damage. Moore Brothers Garage on the Walkertown Road was washed away and the upper side of the Mountain Auto Service was crushed. Nearly 100 mining families have been forced out of their homes by the flood. When the waters starting rising rapidly and it was evident they would reach the level on which the two giant motors sat at the Hazard Water Plant, it was decided to disconnect them. The motors, which furnish Hazard residents with their water supply, were taken loose from the pumps and moved to higher ground. Continuous ringing of the telephone by persons wanting to know how long before the water would be back on, kept one person busy at the water plant. An example was the lady who called Saturday afternoon. The following conversation took place. Lady: "City Water Company, this is Mrs. ---------- speaking. Will you please tell me when the water will be turned on?" Water Plant: "Probably tonight or tomorrow, as soon as possible." Lady: "I would like it very much if you would turn it on for about half an hour so that I may have some water to cook with." Water Plant: "We're sorry, but the motors are out and the electrical equipment is flooded. We may be able to turn it on late tonight." Lady: "I would appreciate it immensely if you would turn it on now as I only need a small amount." Water Plant: (after hanging up) "You and about 7,999 others."We want to hear from you. What topics would you like to see covered on this site. Please click on the comments section and let us know.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIME THAT TYPISTS AND STENOGRAPHERS WERE RECRUITED FROM THE HAZARD AREA TO APPLY FOR CIVIL SERVICE JOBS IN WASHINGTON DC DURING WORLD WAR II. I THINK THIS TOOK PLACE IN 1942. I WONDER IF THERE IS A RECORD SOMEWHERE IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE HAZARD HERALD. THERE WAS A WRITE-UP IN THE NEWSPAPER DESCRIBING THE EVENT.
ReplyDeleteIs there any record of the lynching of an African American man who allegedly raped a church staff person? This may have been in the late 1930's or early 40's.
ReplyDeleteTO JEAN,
ReplyDeleteALTHOUGH I REMEMBER WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE STORY WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE HAZARD HERALD. IT WAS ABOUT 1942. THE MAN WAS "WILDMAN" ROBINSON, I THINK, AND THE LADY'S FIRST NAME, I THINK, WAS JEAN. SHE WAS ON HER WAY HOME FROM A MEETING, WALKING UP BAKER HILL TOWARD HER APARTMENT. HER BODY WAS FOUND BY SOME BOY SCOUTS (ONE OF WHOSE NAME WAS JACK REEVES) IN THE BUSHES. SOME OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE WERE TRYING TO GET IN THE JAIL TO LYNCH THIS MAN BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HE WAS QUICKLY REMOVED TO EDDYSVILLE PENITENTIARY WHERE HE WAS LATER ELECTROCUTED. THIS STORY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THE HAZARD WEBSITE POSSIBLY UNDER THE TITLE OF HAZARD HERALD ARCHIVES. I DO REMEMBER READING IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I HAD MET THE LADY ONCE WHEN A SCHOOL FRIEND OF MINE AND I WERE CAUGHT IN A STORM WHILE GOING HOME FROM SCHOOL. WE DUCKED INTO THIS CHURCH FOR COVER WHEN THIS LADY CAME OUT OF HER OFFICE AND GAVE US AN UMBRELLA AND TOLD US WE COULD BRING IT BACK TO HER THE NEXT DAY. SHE WAS A PRETTY REDHEAD 29 YEARS OLD ORIGINALLY FROM KINGSPORT, TN.
Jean, you are thinking of two different events that are often confused. The only lynching that ever happened in Hazard took place in 1934. It was the last lynching in the state of Kentucky. The rape you are referring to happened in 1942. Billie is correct, they were afraid another lynching would take place in 1942 since it happened only 8 years earlier and was fresh on everyone's minds. In 1942, they snuck the suspect out of Hazard and secretly kept him in the Jackson jail that first night. He went on trial and was found guilty and sentenced to the electric chair.
ReplyDeleteThanks for shedding some light and helping me piece together some vague memories I had of this event. Billie, I appreciate your suggestion that I go the the Hazard Herald Archives and I will try to do that. Billie and Wanderer, please keep posting our history.
ReplyDelete