Interview with Ernest Ashcraft

Partial Transcript: Well, you grew up on the river. What was it like as a child on the Kentucky River?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft says that he hunted and fished as a child.

Keywords: Hunting; Sea Lion

Subjects: Boats and boating--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: How many different locks did you work on?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft talks about the different locks that he worked at. He saw boats go over the locks and heard of a steamboat that caught on fire.

Keywords: Steamboat

Subjects: Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.) River steamers--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Did you ever see any logging on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft recalls seeing timber rafts on the river. He says that they took a long time to lock through.

Keywords: Log raft

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.) Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: When did your dad start working on the locks?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft talks about his favorite part of the river. He mentions people that he worked with.

Keywords:

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Did there used to be some other ferries that you remember on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft says that there used to be a ferry above almost every lock but they were replaced by bridges.

Keywords:

Subjects: Ferries--Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: What about some of the floods on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft talks about the flood of 1937 and says that floods never hurt the locks.

Keywords: 1937

Subjects: Floods--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Do you remember seeing much coal coming down the river?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft talks about seeing coal come down the river. He also compares the locks and explains repairs that were made.

Keywords: Coal

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Did you ever witness any people drown on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft tells a story about saving a drowning man.

Keywords:

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

Partial Transcript: What's the name of the creek down here?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft says that if a proposed dam is put in he will have to move and a lot of good farm land will be covered by water.

Keywords: Proposed dam

Subjects: Dams--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: You were working when you were on duty, twenty-four hours a day, weren't you?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft details working on the locks.

Keywords: Work conditions

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: What about ice on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Ashcraft talks about the damage from ice tides.

Keywords: Ice tide

Subjects: Ice on rivers, lakes, etc.--Kentucky River (Ky.) Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Kentucky River (Ky.)