Interview with J. Gordon Combs

Partial Transcript: This is an interview with J. Gordon Combs.

Segment Synopsis: Ellis gives the date, place, and time of interview. Combs' general background is also given.

Keywords: Breathitt County, Ky.

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Do you remember rafting on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Combs begins describing the last time logs were rafted down his creek, which was his first trip.

Keywords: Logging; Rafting; Winter

Subjects: Logging--Kentucky Rivers--Kentucky Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: We made it real nice till we got out here, to this bridge.

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes when the timber raft hit a bridge and went out of control. Eventually it got stuck and sank but re-emerged in the morning and they were able to salvage it.

Keywords: Bridge; Rafting accident; Troublesome Creek, Ky.

Subjects: Rivers--Kentucky Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: Well, we had another cousin of mine on there. Uh, George Washington Allan.

Segment Synopsis: Combs talks about his stubborn cousin, George Washington Allan, who would not listen to Combs' father and almost drowned.

Keywords: Accident; George Washington Allan; Winter

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: We went on down, uh, and we got to Jackson.

Segment Synopsis: Combs talks about making it to Jackson, Kentucky and seeing his first movie.

Keywords: Jackson, Ky.; Movie; raft; Troublesome Creek, Ky

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: We went down through the river until we got in the Narrs, the Narrows is what it is.

Segment Synopsis: Combs talks about navigating the Narrows and people throwing rocks at them until his uncle pulled out a gun and fired back.

Keywords: Narrows, Kentucky; Shooting

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: We stayed, we, we got to be looking for a place to stay all night.

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes trying to find a place to stay for the second night of the trip. Eventually, a poor family took them in.

Keywords: Lee County, Ky.

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: It didn't seem like I even got in bed I heard my dad, I felt him shaking me saying, "Let's go. It's time to go."

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes the final day of his raft trip and the route that he took to get home.

Keywords: Jackson, Ky.; Meeting House Branch, Ky.

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: What kind of logs were in those rafts?

Segment Synopsis: Combs explains which trees were used for timber rafting and why they were chosen.

Keywords: Logging; Oak trees; Poplar trees

Subjects: Logging--Kentucky Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: So your uncle was involved in that too, did they always work together?

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes raising and harvesting corn, soybeans, and oats. He also talks about killing hogs and raising cattle.

--There is a break in the tape at 31:49 that last for 6 seconds. It doesn't seem to effect the conversation.

Keywords: Cattle; Corn crop; Harvest; Oat crop; Pigs; Soybean crop

Subjects: Agriculture--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Where did you go to school?

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes his educational background and transitioning of careers.

Keywords: Jackson, Ky.; Lees College

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: So on these rafts, did you ever build fires on the rafts?

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes how they built fires on rafts to stay warm.

Keywords: Coal; Fire; Rafts

Subjects: Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: Uh, when I got out of, uh, school, high school.

Segment Synopsis: Combs begins describing his "hoboing days" that happened after high school.

Keywords:

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: And, uh, we'd stay in these jungles, what they call a hobo jungle.

Segment Synopsis: Combs describes a hobo jungle and the hierarchy within it.

Keywords: Hobo jungle

Subjects: Tramps

Partial Transcript: Well, I said we came back home we stopped in, in, uh, Dayton.

Segment Synopsis: Combs talks about a job that he had with the Kentucky Highway Department. He was badly burnt while working and ended up in the hospital for six weeks. It inspired him to go back to school.

Keywords: Accident; Burns; Fire; Kentucky Highway Department

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Did people used to use the creeks and rivers a lot for transportation?

Segment Synopsis: Combs briefly talks about freight boats that were used on the Kentucky River.

Keywords: Freight boat; Transportation

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I want to thank you for talking to me.

Segment Synopsis: The interview ends.

Keywords:

Subjects: