Interview with Bernie Hackett

Partial Transcript: What's your earliest memory associated with the river?

Segment Synopsis: Hackett talks about the flood of 1937 and the damage that it caused. He also says that his grandfather told him about the flood of 1913.

Keywords: 1913; 1937; Flood damage; Lockport, Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: You know, I don't remember the steamboats real well.

Segment Synopsis: Hackett says that he remembers his grandfather telling him about steamboats on the river.

Keywords: Lockport, Kentucky; Redwing; Southern Star; Steamboat

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

Partial Transcript: He said there was two saloons.

Segment Synopsis: Hackett tells stories about his family. He says that one family member claimed that he knew Jesse James. He also talks about the farm that has been in his family for 100 years.

Keywords: American Civil War; Independence, Missouri; James, Jesse

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

Partial Transcript: Irish workers weren't known to be, you know, real well off.

Segment Synopsis: Hackett talks about Irish workers being brought over to build the locks and dams on the Kentucky River.

Keywords: Immigration; Irish

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

Partial Transcript: Of course all the older people have passed away, just about.

Segment Synopsis: Hackett recalls packet boats and steamboats that were on the Kentucky River.

Keywords: Lockport, Kentucky; Packet boat; Steamboat

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

Partial Transcript: What kind of crops did he grown in the river bottom?

Segment Synopsis: Hackett says that his grandfather grew corn and garden stuff in the river bottoms. He also raised hogs.

Keywords: Crops

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

Partial Transcript: Do you remember the 1930 drought here at Lockport?

Segment Synopsis: Hackett talks about being able to walk across the river during droughts.

Keywords: Lockport, Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Did you go on to high school?

Segment Synopsis: Hackett says that he served in the regular army during WWII. He once saw General Patton during a weapon's inspection.

Keywords: General Patton; WWII

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you remember any drownings much around Lockport?

Segment Synopsis: Hackett talks about one man that he saw that had drowned. He says that he saw another man save several people over the years.

Keywords: Lockport, Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: Did you ever fish much in the river?

Segment Synopsis: Hackett says that he used to fish and catch catfish and spoonbill. He no longer fishes because of the poor water quality.

Keywords: Catfish; Spoonbill

Subjects: Fishing--Kentucky River (Ky.) Water--Pollution--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I'm sorry I don't have much to tell you on that.

Segment Synopsis: Hackett talks about how Lockport has changed over the years, especially its population decrease.

Keywords: Lockport, Kentucky

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