Knox Historical Museum

Several active staff members and board directors of the Knox Historical Museum met June 21, 2017 to discuss a wide range of topics, including establishing a building fund to ensure the museum's future. More on this in the near future as committees research and plan.

William M. Dishman, Jr., a member of one of Knox County’s most distinguished families and longtime friend of the Knox Historical Museum, passed away 29 November 2016 at the age of 80. Whenever business occasioned a return to Barbourville from his home in Danville, Kentucky, where he practiced law for some 48 years, Bill made it a point to visit the museum. As museum staff member David Cole recently observed, former residents who return to find downtown Barbourville changed and adjusted to the times can find the Barbourville of their memories at the museum. Bill often would spend several hours talking and reminiscing with the editor and museum staff about his family and his earlier years in town.

Barbourville businessman Curtis Deweese Congleton Sr. died on May 8, 2017 and was cremated in accordance with his wishes. A graveside service was to be scheduled for a later date.

Mr. Congleton was the husband of the late Marty Viall Congleton. Their children are Curtis Congleton Jr. and Sally Congleton King.

Curtis Congleton was born in 1934 in the coal camp of Tway, Kentucky, in Knox County. His love for those days and his interest in the coal and lumber industry brought him to the Knox Historical Museum on several occasions, during which he would peruse old photos and documents and discuss bygone days.

Henry Matt Mills of Cannon, Ky., was interviewed at his home on August 15, 1989 by William Sherman Oxendine and Jakalyn Jackson.

In the interview, Mr. Mills touches on many topics, including the Bailey-White Feud, the Charles Childers killing, legal whiskey making, "poor houses," folk medicine and more.