Kentucky History Podcast

04/08/2025

In this episode, we begin the extraordinary story of Alexander Keene Richards, a 19th-century horse breeder from Georgetown, Kentucky, whose bold vision reshaped American horse racing. Drawing from Gary O'Dell’s newly published book, Reinventing the American Thoroughbred, we explore Richards’ belief that American Thoroughbreds had lost their endurance and needed revitalization through bloodlines from pure Arabian horses.

Join us as we follow Richards’ daring journey into the Syrian desert in 1851—making him the first Westerner to bargain directly with Bedouin tribes for these prized horses. Discover how this Kentucky visionary brought endurance and excellence back to American racing, laying the groundwork for future champions.

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Gary's book: https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-American-Thoroughbred-Adventures-Alexander/dp/0807183695

In this episode, we begin the extraordinary story of Alexander Keene Richards, a 19th-century horse breeder from Georgetown, Kentucky, whose bold vision resh...

30/07/2025

25 July 1750

Knox County is named for Henry Knox who was born on this date.

Barbourville, Knox County, Kentucky 🎂🎉🎁

30/07/2025

30 July 1863

Battle of Irvine

Irvine, Estill County, Kentucky

30/07/2025

Livermore, Ky., February 25, 1983. Remembering the days of the train.

27/07/2025

27/07/2025

Extra! Extra! Local community member finds Brown artifact in thrift store! 👀🔍

This document was created by the Louisville Board of Trade to commemorate John Mason Brown (1837-1890). JMB’s untimely death was lamented throughout Louisville and this artifact was given to his widow as a thank you for his service to the community.

21/07/2025

21/07/2025

🕰️ Did you know we're Open 7 Days a Week? 🍴🥃

No matter the day, there's always a seat waiting for you at the Historic Talbott Tavern!
Join us for delicious food, handcrafted cocktails, and a little slice of Bardstown history — every single day of the week.

📍 Stop by for lunch, dinner, or just a drink at the bar.
🗓️ Open daily — because great food and warm hospitality shouldn’t take a day off!

21/07/2025

Kim Michele Richardson's The Mountains We Call Home follows a Kentucky book woman's journey home, where she encourages literacy in a prison. The novel examines incarceration and criminalization, as well as Kentucky's long history in fostering literacy.

21/07/2025

Stroll down memory lane with us again as we take a look at a couple of “familiar faces” from Cadiz’ past.

Lexie Bush began working at the Cadiz Barber Shop in 1926 and worked until the year he died. He tried to retire at age 66 but missed the shop and came back to work. Bush recalled that in the early days the barber shop was a gathering place for friends to sit and discuss the news and swap jokes. During baseball season there would always be a game on the radio. In 1945, Bush, Ollie Cunningham and Avery Francis bought the Cadiz Baber Shop from Arthur Worsham. They owned and operated the shop until the late 1960’s when they sold it to Harold Knight and Ronald Capps.

Haircuts were 35 cents, a shave was 15 cents and a shoe shine was a dime when Bush began barbering. Bush frequently made house calls at nursing homes and the hospital to cut hair for those who were unable to make it to the barber shop, usually donating his time. He even cut ladies’ hair. In the mid-1980’s, Bush calculated that he had given about 400,000 haircuts; he lost track after that. His most famous customer was Vice President Alben Barkley.

Bush had many interesting experiences during his years of barbering. Once, in 1963, after having cut hair for patients at Trigg County Hospital, two men abducted him in the hospital parking lot – presumably mistaking his white coat and black bag for doctors’ apparel – robbed him, and finally released him unharmed near Kentucky Lake.

Bush died on July 13, 1995, at the age of 91 years old. He had held court and cut hair at the Cadiz Barber Shop on Main Street for almost 70 years. Bush was an institution and not only cut the hair of customer’s children but also their grandchildren.

📷 Lexie Bush at the Cadiz Barber Shop
Picture courtesy of Fritz Geiger