Interview with Claude Howard

Partial Transcript: If you could go back in your memory to the first things you remember about events on the river, people.

Segment Synopsis: Howard talks about seeing boats go up the river, a stuntman who dove into the river, and the Flying Dutchman merry-go-round.

Keywords: Flying Dutchman; merry-go-round

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) River life--Kentucky River (Ky.) Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I bought the ferry in 1950 from a fellow by the name of Ed Land.

Segment Synopsis: Howard talks about buying the ferry in 1950 from Ed Land. He also talks about seeing showboats and steamboats.

Keywords: Ed Land; Land, Ed

Subjects: Boats and boating--Kentucky River (Ky.) Ferries--Kentucky River (Ky.) River steamers--Kentucky River (Ky.) Showboats--Kentucky River (Ky.) Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Do you remember any floods?

Segment Synopsis: Howard talks about a few floods that he remembers, including the 1937 flood and the Daugherty flood.

Keywords: 1937 flood; Daugherty flood

Subjects: Floods--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.) Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Do you remember any of the drownings that occurred over the years?

Segment Synopsis: Howard talks about a man who drowned and was found in the river. He had concrete blocks tied around his neck but Howard was not sure if it was a suicide or murder. He also talks about his father telling him that the fate of the sawmills depended on one election and right after, the sawmills closed for good.

Keywords:

Subjects: Drowning victims--Kentucky River (Ky.) Sawmills--Kentucky Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And you bought the ferry in nineteen, what, fifty?

Segment Synopsis: Howard talks about buying the Valley View Ferry from Ed Land. He also describes the day to day operation.

Keywords: Ed Land; Land, Ed; Valley View Ferry

Subjects: Ferries--Kentucky River (Ky.) Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I think your sister mentioned that you had an uncle that had drowned?

Segment Synopsis: Howard describes how his uncle drowned while trying to cross the Kentucky River. Ed Land almost saved him in the dark but his uncle was sucked under before he could get to him.

Keywords: Ed Land; Land, Ed

Subjects: Drowning victims--Kentucky River (Ky.) Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Wasn't there somebody else that drowned in your family?

Segment Synopsis: Howard talks about the death of his grandfather. While, he is not sure of the details, he knows that his grandfather worked for a sawmill and was pulling in timber rafts when he fell in and drowned.

Keywords:

Subjects: Drowning victims--Kentucky River (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.) Sawmills--Kentucky Timber rafting Valley View (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So the ferry has a brighter future now than it maybe has had in the last few years?

Segment Synopsis: Howard believes that the ferry's future is improving because roads to it are in better shape. He also mentions that Cassius Clay's wife was from Valley View and that Henry Clay represented some men from there so they probably rode on the ferry.

Keywords: Clay, Cassius; Clay, Henry; Valley View Ferry

Subjects: Ferries--Kentucky River (Ky.) Valley View (Ky.)