Interview with Charles Douthitt

Partial Transcript: Your father, did he work on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about this youth in regards to the Kentucky River. He recalls falling into the river when he was young.

Keywords: Distillery; Franklin County, Kentucky; Paddleboat; The Sandy

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

Partial Transcript: Do you get on the river everyday?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about trapping raccoons. He also mentions the difficulties he has fishing with all of the recreational boats on the river.

Keywords: Traps

Subjects: Fishing--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: What about the flood of 78?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about water levels during the floods of 1978 and 1937. He says that recovery was more difficult in 1937 because there were fewer government agencies to help.

Keywords: 1937; 1978; Flood recovery

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

Partial Transcript: Since you got back from the army have you been working on the river just about all the time?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about the different species of fish that he has caught in the Kentucky River.

Keywords: Bass; Catfish; Spoonbill

Subjects: Fishing--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I get used to some of these animals down here.

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt says that he does not hunt for sport like many other people do. He also talks about raising wild wood ducks.

Keywords: Hunting; Wood duck

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

Partial Transcript: How far up and down the river have you been?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about his experiences traveling on the river. His boat almost flipped over while locking through.

Keywords:

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

Partial Transcript: You ever have any accidents on the river?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt describes falling into the river and almost drowning. He also says that he has seen many drowning victims recovered.

Keywords:

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

Partial Transcript: Now I recall them logs.

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about a local dry dock and sawmill.

Keywords: Dry dock; The Sandy

Subjects: River life--Kentucky River (Ky.) Sawmills--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Who are some other people I might interview about the river?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt mentions a few people that might be interviewed about the Kentucky River.

Keywords: Couch, Carl; Franklin County, Kentucky

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Boy, you talk about turbulent years, they were back in the 20s and 30s.

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt talks about the illegal activity that took place in the 1920s and 1930s including moonshiners, Klu Klux Klan cross burnings, and dehorning logs.

Keywords: Dehorn; Franklin County, Kentucky; Klu Klux Klan; Moonshine; Wilkerson Street

Subjects: Distilling, Illicit--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.) Prohibition

Partial Transcript: What do you think about what's going to have to be done to save the river?

Segment Synopsis: Douthitt says that he does not believe that the state can maintain the river.

Keywords:

Subjects: Kentucky River (Ky.) United States Army Corp of Engineers