Interview with Lewis Stivers

Partial Transcript: I went to school here in Frankfort.

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about his education, career, and family background.

Keywords: Great Depression; Science Hill, Kentucky

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: What's the first thing you remember about the river?

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about log rafts, swimming; fishing; and the 1937 flood.

Keywords: 1937; Buffalo Carp; Log raft; Trotline

Subjects: Fishing--Kentucky River (Ky.) Floods--Kentucky Timber rafting

Partial Transcript: I can't remember when there was a kid drowned.

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about saving a boy from drowning, watching a woman jump into the river, and a flash flood that killed a family.

Keywords: Cedar Creek; Flash flood; Frankfort, Kentucky; Suicide

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

Partial Transcript: What was your father's work?

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about his father's grocery store in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Keywords: Frankfort, Kentucky; Grocery store; Old Hermitage Distillery

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

Partial Transcript: This has nothing to do with the river.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Frankfort, Kentucky; Pentecostal; Smiley; South Frankfort Dump

Subjects: Stivers tells stories about a man named Smiley who hauled trash to the dump.

Partial Transcript: My first wife and I were interested, went to school together, we were both Republicans.

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about life with each of his three wives.

Keywords: Frankfort, Kentucky; Republican

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Tell me some more about growing up in Frankfort. What was it like?

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about fighting a girl, sleigh rides, walking on the frozen river, and building a raft.

Keywords: Frankfort, Kentucky; Raft; Shelby Street; Sleigh ride

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

Partial Transcript: Do you know any people you'd think of as river rats, river characters?

Segment Synopsis: Stivers talks about river men, especially Tom Eversole.

Keywords: Couches; Eversole, Tom; Richardsons; River rat; Shanty boat

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

Partial Transcript: What do you remember about the boats?

Segment Synopsis: Stivers describes several boats that he remembers on the river. They range from dredging boats to pleasure boats.

Keywords: Pleasure boat; Steamboat; Summer Girl; The Kentucky

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

Partial Transcript: That's right, I'm a mason.

Segment Synopsis: Stivers describes his life at the time of the interview. He spends most of this time reciting poetry.

Keywords: Ellis, James; Frankfort, Kentucky; Mason; Masonic funeral; Poetry

Subjects: