Knox Historical Museum

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.

Submitted by Carol Golden

Golden Family Reunion, April 28-30, 2017. Please come!

Date: Friday, April 28, 2017, we will be at the Cumberland Inn, in Williamsburg, KY meeting in their Patriot meeting room from 5:00 - 9:30 PM. Plan to arrive on schedule. The hotel does offer a restaurant called the Patriot Steakhouse where everyone can dine and also food can be brought from the restaurant to the event rooms. No food from outside can be brought into the event rooms; it must be purchased from the hotel. A beverage service will be set up including coffee, tea, water and sodas. A copy machine will be available to share copies of your history with others. Bring your family history, pictures, stories and plan to have some fun with your BIG Family! We have the rooms until 9:30PM.

A memorial service was held Wed., April 26, 2017 for a Civil War soldier from Knox County, Kentucky who was buried in an unknown grave in the Nashville National Cemetery in 1862.

The new issue of the Museum's quarterly magazine, The Knox Countian, features a businessman, civic leader, and "magician at heart," Archie West, who lived 1917-1996, mostly in Knox County, Kentucky. The articles and photos were submitted primarily by his son, Archie B. West. Featured are Archie West's Standard Oil Stations in Barbourville and several stories about his practical jokes and pranks.

The Museum has located yet another photo of Knox County officials in the 1960's.

These photos, courtesy of the Corbin Times-Tribune, show the impact of the flooding of Lynn Camp Creek on Corbin in 1957.

1957 flooding of Lynn Camp Creek

The political leadership of Knox County in 1965 posed together for a photo at the courthouse.

The new issue of the museum's quarterly magazine, The Knox Countian, features the Boone Trace in Knox County and how the Knox Museum staff is involved, including putting up signage along the route.

Denver Bright recently donated a political card collection that spans several decades of candidates running for office in Knox County, Kentucky.
The collection includes 109 political cards that can be accessed via the link below and also in our Photo Collection and Online Galleries section of our website.