[Old School Hound]

Corbin's Kenny Gilbert makes a beautiful catch of a Tom Horvath pass for the 29 yard touchdown and the only score in the 1976 AA championship game at Commonwealth Stadium. Final score in the cold and snow was Corbin 6 , Mayfield 0 .   My mom, stepdad, sister, and myself made the trip to Lexington and froze out butts off , but it was well worth it, This win gave the Hounds first "official" state title.


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[jetpilot]

Here's where I caught Tommy Greer trying to find Paradise by the Dashboard Light with my girl. This was my grandparents go-to place for groceries.

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So that's where ol' Tommy drove the skin bus into tuna town!

[jetpilot]

This is a great thread OSH. i will put some old pics of Pikeville up.

[Old School Hound]

Reba Jeanette Smith grew up in Corbin on the same hill where I was born and raised. Her dad was a railroader and her mom, a homemaker. My parents knew Reba's parents very well, living on the same street all those years. After high school, Reba won 2nd place  in both the Miss Louisville and Miss Kentucky Pageants in 1948. But it wasn't with her looks, so much, that she made her mark. It was with her lovely singing voice. She left Corbin , changed her name to Debbie Stevens , and headed to Nashville, looking to make a name for herself in music. And did she ever.  In fact, he participated in the infamous "Winter Party Dance Tour" in 1959. 

This grueling tour  entailed over 20 shows in 14 days, two shows a day, covering the Midwest in the midst of a cold winter. The performers traveled all night on a cramped bus after each show to arrive at the next venue in the morning. The bus was cold and cramped and no one got the rest they needed. Debbie knew this would continue for several more weeks.  One night, one of her friends, who was headlining the tour,  had grown tired of the bus travel and decided he would hire a plane and fly to the next location far away in Minnesota. He, and two other headlining musicians,  boarded the small private plane for Minnesota. The plane crashed somewhere over Idaho, killing all its passengers. Debbie and the rest of the tour were devastated at the loss of their three friends, whose names you might recognize- Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson(The Big Bopper), and Richie Valens.  The press coined this tragic event "The Day the Music Died."

And now you know...the REST ...of the story.    By the way, that is far from the end of Reba's(Debbie's) story.  Stay tuned for more later today. You've not heard the best yet. Here is a picture of Corbin's own , Reba Jeanette Smith (Debbie Stevens).


[Image: https://images.findagrave.com/photos/202...8a677.jpeg]


Wreakage of the plane carrying Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens:


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[Old School Hound]

Here's where I caught Tommy Greer trying to find Paradise by the Dashboard Light with my girl. This was my grandparents go-to place for groceries.

[Image: https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6842DAD8]

So that's where ol' Tommy drove the skin bus into tuna town!

Yes sir. caught the bastard at the A&P, of all places, trying to drive Miss Daisy(although her name wasn't Daisy, but you get the point).  Followed him to the Piggly Wiggly(see pic above) and threatened to beat his ass. Dropped the trollop off at the next block. Buh -bye. See ya!!!  I was over it the next day and I clearly hold no grudges or ill will toward Tom Turkey.

[Old School Hound]

I'll finish my story about Reba Jeanette Smith.  As I mentioned, her mom and dad lived on the same street I grew up on here in Corbin. You might be asking yourself, how did a young girl from little Corbin come to be partying with Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens the night before "The Day the Music Died" ?  Reba, who had changed her name to Debbie Stevens, and then to Penny Smith, had begun making records. As Penny Smith, she had released her first record , a song written by someone named Bill Haley, in 1958,  for a little record label out of  Chicago. In '58, she was signed to a contract with Chess Records, and released another single, and then another the following year. It was at Chess Records that she got her huge break. She met a man who worked at Chess as a writer. This man was smitten with the talent and potential of Penny . He had a dream of starting his own record label, which he would do early in 1959. His label was first called Tamla Records and the first successful act he signed was The Matadors. Well, the owner of Tamla soon changed the name of the Matadors to the Miracles and he changed the name of his record label from Tamla to MOTOWN.

That's right, the young beauty queen who started out her young life in the little hamlet of Corbin, KY had a new friend and admirer in the music business. His name was Berry Gordy, founder of MOTOWN Records.   Gordy and Smokey Robinson wrote most of Penny's early songs. Smokey, and someone by the name of Marvin Gaye, performed her songs with her on stage.  In 1960, Gordy changed her name to Debbie Dean and signed her to a three-year contract to perform and to write songs for other early MOTOWN acts.  Debbie's biggest hit was a song called "Don't Let Him Shop Around." It was a response to a song written and recorded by her friend, Smokey Robinson. That song, called "Shop Around" was a hit for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Not sure, but I think Debbie's song reached #39 on the charts.

Corbin's Reba Jeanette Smith, who's name changed, first,  to Debbie Stevens, then Penny Smith, and finally , to Debbie Dean, was the very first white female solo artist signed by Berry Gordy for MOTOWN  Records. Debbie went on to make other records, some of them were moderately successful, but none bigger than "Don't Let Him Shop Around."  In 1965, she recorded a song written by Ike & Tina Turner. 

As I mentioned, Gordy signed Debbie to MOTOWN to record and also to write songs for other burgeoning MOTOWN artists of the day.  Debbie wrote , or co-wrote, songs for(get this) ...   The Supremes, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas,   Edwin Starr,  The Four Tops, The Temptations,  The Jackson Five , Smokey Robinson & the Miracles , and more.  Not bad  for a little girl born in Corbin, KY , and raised during the Great Depression.  Reba Jeanette Smith(Debbie Dean) died in 2001 in California. She is buried  in Pine Hill cemetery, not far from where my grandparents and great-grandparents final resting places are located. Debbie was 73 years old when she passed away.


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[Image: https://debbdean.wordpress.com/wp-conten...5/dd16.jpg]    [Image: https://images.45cat.com/debbie-dean-eve...62-3-s.jpg]



   The only place you can go in Corbin to see any evidence that Reba Jeanette Smith(Debbie Dean), the first white female solo artist signed to MOTOWN, ever existed , is in a little out of the way plot of land in Pine Hill Cemetery on the east side of Corbin.  No street signs named after her, no park downtown named for her , no monument, no statue, NOTHING!!!  Completely whitewashed from the walls of history by her hometown.  If you are an old white man, with white hair and goatee, wearing a white suit , who lived in Corbin for a quarter of a century,  growing a chicken franchise, you get a statue, a festival, a park, and adoration as Corbin's most famous citizen.  If you are a white girl from a lily white town, who rubbed shoulders with all the great, early MOTOWN stars,  just three or four decades removed from the 1919 Corbin Expulsion (of all black people), all you have to remind folks that you ever existed is this:


[Image: https://images.findagrave.com/photos/200...756362.jpg]





Smokey & the Miracles on backing vocals:

[Jarons]

Downtown Richmond, I'd say 1980's .

No, Old School doesn't remember a thing about this place. I literally don't remember a thing.  LOL


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Spent many nights there in the 90's. If I remember correctly, that is the location of the new Richmond post office.

[Old School Hound]

Downtown Richmond, I'd say 1980's .

No, Old School doesn't remember a thing about this place. I literally don't remember a thing.  LOL


[Image: https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6865BECC]

Spent many nights there in the 90's. If I remember correctly, that is the location of the new Richmond post office.

You are correct. Damn post office taking the place of a historical landmark, where so many sorrows were drowned on Thursday nights. So many babies were conceived after a night of hard partying there.

[Old School Hound]

The great blizzard of 1978.   We were out of school for weeks. I partied like it was... 1978 .


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=684540F7]

[Jarons]

Downtown Richmond, I'd say 1980's .

No, Old School doesn't remember a thing about this place. I literally don't remember a thing.  LOL


[Image: https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6865BECC]

Spent many nights there in the 90's. If I remember correctly, that is the location of the new Richmond post office.

You are correct. Damn post office taking the place of a historical landmark, where so many sorrows were drowned on Thursday nights. So many babies were conceived after a night of hard partying there.

And black eyes

[Old School Hound]

Someone fishing below Cumberland Falls,  my guess is, probably in the 1950's.


[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/5389...c9bb_b.jpg]

[Jarons]

A church in Greenup during the 1937 flood.

[Old School Hound]

Williamsburg, early 1900's.


[Image: https://www.williamsburgky.com/quickimag...n_1900.jpg]


The Burg , east on Main , 1940's :


[Image: https://www.williamsburgky.com/quickimag...wn_40s.jpg]



1950's :


[Image: https://www.williamsburgky.com/quickimag...wn_50s.jpg]




2008 :


[Image: https://www.williamsburgky.com/quickimag...n_2008.jpg]

[Jarons]

According to the page I was on, this is the original Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin. OSH can you confirm?
My brother's mother-in-law worked there when she was young with Col. Sanders. She said he was very demanding and hard to work for.

[Old School Hound]

Former President Carter at Cumberland College in 1990, at the dedication of the O. Wayne Rollins Center . That's Rollins , an Atlanta businessman, philanthropist and friend of Mr. Carter, to the President's  right,  in the picture. The Rollins Foundation has donated over $38 million dollars for significant campus projects, including a donation of $25 million in 2023. That's the single largest donation to the university in the school's history.


[Image: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/image...n_PqbdSA&s]

[Jarons]

Waverly Hills Sanitarium Louisville.

[Jarons]

Downtown Ashland in the 50's or 60's. The J.C. Penny was at the location until 1989 when it relocated to the Ashland Mall. Sears next to it stayed in business at that location until it closed in the late 90's or early 2000's.

[Old School Hound]

According to the page I was on, this is the original Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin. OSH can you confirm?
My brother's mother-in-law worked there when she was young with Col. Sanders. She said he was very demanding and hard to work for.

That picture is how the restaurtant looks today but, yes, the original Sanders restaurant was in that spot. He lived in North Corbin from 1930- 1956. And yes, he was a bastard. Mean, nasty , vulgar man. My step mom's mother worked for him. Said he was a vile man.  He once shot a man in North Corbin over signs at his gas station.

Here's an early picture of the restaurant:


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And another:



[Image: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68457649]

[Old School Hound]

Anyone besides me remember the motel on the McCreary County side of the Falls?  Always thought it must have been quite the adventure staying at the old Cumberland Falls resort when the flood waters were elevated.


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68458638]

[Old School Hound]

When Clancy's closed up shop in Corbin, this place became a thing.


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=684572F5]

[Old School Hound]

Corbin had water problems in 1957. Lynn camp Creek can be your friend, or she can be your foe.


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68458C11]

[Old School Hound]

Loving those prices. I wanna go back.  From the menu board of the Clancy's in Corbin in 1973.

[Image: https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68456DD9]

[Old School Hound]

Jackson, in Breathitt County, circa 1940 .  I see a small child standing in the doorway of this hand-hewn log cabin.  I wonder things like, is this child still living? Doubtful, but possible. Probably a hard life .

[Image: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68458C41]

[Old School Hound]

Clays Ferry Bridge, around 1964. I was still in diapers... and eating crayons.


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68458EE1]

[Old School Hound]

This lady, Lavinia graham Ramsey, lived in Wayne County. She lived from 1848-1935. She was a midwife. She rode horseback to deliver many, many babies in Wayne and surrounding counties. Just seven months before her death , she rode horseback to deliver one of her own grandchildren. She fell ill soon after returning home, became bedfast, and passed away.


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6845900D]

[Old School Hound]

Oldest known photo of Danville.  Circa, 1875 .   See Jack Lambert, anywhere?


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6845A460]

[Old School Hound]

Four room house rented for $9/mo in Four Mile, KY in Bell County in 1946.


[Image: https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=684585FE]

[Old School Hound]

The only U.S. city that was built entirely within a meteorite crater.  Know which city???

[Image: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=68458AC9]


Yep. Middlesboro , KY.   (Pic, circa, 1950's.)

[Old School Hound]

Dedication of the Gatliff Bridge at Cumberland Falls.  1954

[Image: https://scontent-ord5-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6847F5EC]

[Old School Hound]

1955 State Champion, Hazard Bulldogs.   Corbin icon, Bob Igo, is  in the center, front row.


[Image: https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=6847EC89]