Interview with Gilbert Britton

Partial Transcript: What's your first memory associated with the Kentucky River?

Segment Synopsis: Britton talks about local sawmills and watching timber rafts lock through.

Keywords: Camp Nelson, Kentucky; Hughes Lumber Company; Log raft; Packet boat

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.) Sawmills--Kentucky Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: Bryce Wilson had a sawmill at Oregon.

Segment Synopsis: Britton describes the town of Oregon, Kentucky. He says that it had a farmer's market and a distillery. The town disappeared when the distillery closed.

Keywords: Distillery; Oregon, Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: On the Kentucky River, do you remember any of the high tides?

Segment Synopsis: Britton recalls the floods of 1937 and 1978. He describes the damage caused by an ice tide in 1918.

Keywords: 1883; 1918; 1937; 1978; Flood damage; Ice tide; Lock 8

Subjects: Floods--Kentucky Ice on rivers, lakes, etc.--Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: He made forty dollars a month.

Segment Synopsis: Britton describes his father's career as a lock keeper. He says that his father left to make more money. He also talks about the current state of the locks.

Keywords:

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

Partial Transcript: Do you remember the '37 flood?

Segment Synopsis: Britton talks about the flood of 1937. He also blames Kentucky Utilities for opening flood gates too quickly in the 1978 flood.

Keywords: 1937; 1978; Kentucky Utilities

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

Partial Transcript: Somebody said that, Bill Young, I don't know if you know him or not in Frankfort.

Segment Synopsis: Britton talks about the Herrington Lake Dam and how it was made.

Keywords: Herrington Lake

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

Partial Transcript: Do you remember the 1930 drought?

Segment Synopsis: Britton says that while he did experience the 1930 flood, it did not effect life nearly as much as the Great Depression did. He talks about finding work during that time.

Keywords: Great Depression

Subjects: Depressions--1929--Kentucky Droughts--Kentucky Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: However, I think Kentucky American Water Company digging a water line to go into the number six or number seven pool, either one, in case this happens again...

Segment Synopsis: Britton says that he feels that more dams are needed on the water to prevent further issues with water supply. He argues that most of the river bottoms are not used and could not be used with modern farming methods.

Keywords:

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

Partial Transcript: Did you ever know any Civil War veterans in that area, in Oregon?

Segment Synopsis: Britton talks about local men, including his grandfather who fought in the Civil War. Most of the men fought for the Confederate army but his grandfather fought for the Union army.

Keywords: Civil War; Oregon, Kentucky

Subjects: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Partial Transcript: Myrtle! let me get her.

Segment Synopsis: Britton and his wife talk about life on the river. In particular they talk about the history of his family's property. They also tell stories involving their children.

Keywords: Oregon, Kentucky

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