Coming up on Kentucky life... How traditional mountain music music is being played.

And preserved one luthier shop at a time.

From Middlesboro to outer space.

We'll meet an astronaut who hails from Bell County.

We'll explore the legacy of coal mining in the state.

With a visit to the Kentucky Coal Museum in eastern Kentucky.

And why are so many pit bulls in local pet shelters?

We'll take a look at the negative stigmas.

That often cause these pets to go without a home.

All that's next on Kentucky Life.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hey, everybody, and welcome to Kentucky Life.

I'm your host, Chip Polston.

Now, our show today brings us to the town of Benham, Kentucky.

We're just a few miles away from the Virginia-Kentucky border.

Here at the Kentucky Coal Museum This facility explores the history of the coal industry.

Here in eastern Kentucky.

Now, Benham was set up as a company town.

By Wisconsin Steel back in 1911.

And this building housed what was known as the company store.

which in many areas was the only place.

Where miners could spend their pay.

The museum looks at the history of mining in this region.

And we can't wait to check it out.

But first, luthiers, which comes from the French word for lute.

Are crafts people who use precision.

And time-honored techniques to build and repair.

Stringed instruments.

But the luthier shop is often much more than a place.

For repairs.

It's a crucial gathering spot that connects musicians.

In search of a community.

And as we'll see, happens to play a fundamental part.

In the preservation of traditional mountain music.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ This is a link that is as old as these mountains.

The families that lived here.

The traditions that they transmit, And all of these traditions have melded together.

In passing along this musical tradition.

That is so deep to the heart.

It's as deep as the mountains.

You can trace traditional music back for 400 or 500 years.

And of course, it's evolved but it's music that has deep roots.

In the past and in families and communities and places.

So it's sort of more like the natural music that people.

Did out of a need because music was just a natural.

Unquestioned part of their lives ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ This is her banjo.

She was wanting to use it for the class.

And she brought it over yesterday to me.

It was covered in dust.

You should have seen it.

On occasion.

I have to take my glasses off because I'm getting real old.

Laughs.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We're playing regional old time music.

And that has its own stories and, you know, history.

Whatever culture all tied to that.

And that's all tied to the instruments.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Luthiers are instrument specific.

I think Jim Webb is kind of special in that.

He's mainly known as a banjo person.

But he also has made and worked on mandolins.

He's kind of the banjo guy for East Kentucky.

My dad was a luthier but he also did repair work.

Repair work brings a huge amount of musicians into your store.

They bring their instruments.

A lot of times if they're driving in from a long ways.

They bring their buddies with them.

Because they don't wanna drive three hours by their self.

Nine times out of ten, those buddies pick music.

And so you end up having like many concerts here.

Well, as soon as you walk in there, you feel it.

I mean, the ambience of an old country store.

That's converted into a music shop.

And a workshop and a place for jam sessions.

It's got that feeling.

It's really a perfect place.

You know, you're driving out through this beautiful country.

And all of a sudden there's a little store there.

Only it's a music store.

And so that's what I've been trying to build upon.

That my dad got started in this community.

Try to do workshops, that sort of thing.

We teach all kinds of people how to play.

And we kind of do it in a style that we learned.

At Cowan Creek Mountain Music School.

And a lot of those instructors from Cowan Creek Mountain.

Music School actually come here and teach workshops.

We've had probably six or seven in just the past three months.

There has to be these certain folks in our community.

That are carrying on luthier traditions.

And a love for the old instruments.

Growing up here I always assumed that this place.

Would always be here.

Then the fire ended up happening I had a outpouring of community support.

A lot of people who used to hang out here.

Whenever I was younger came down.

Helped us clean up.

Donations of money, donations of time, labor and all that stuff.

Was able to build it back.

It really, really kind of changed my focus.

Several of my friends in the old time music community was talking They're like.

We need another festival, it's been three years.

Are you gonna have your festival this year?

Well, it was a kicker in me to get things going.

Stidham is one of the premier all time music festivals.

In the State of Kentucky.

And so I was like, well, what I wanna do is showcase.

These people that come down and work so hard.

To teach workshops and do concerts that are in here.

So that's what I did.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Bluegrass Festivals.

All that sort of stuff that encourages folks.

From different communities to get together.

Is usually pretty exciting.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ This community, this Kentucky old time music community.

It wouldn't exist without eing able to gather.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ With this particular type of music.

It's meant to be played with other people.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And it's meant to sit together and hang out and tell stories.

About the tunes.

Tell stories about who you learned it from.

When folks have these gatherings Then you get folks coming from all over different states.

To come just because they have a genuine interest.

In the sort of the same stuff that we do.

You know, we all come to, to sort of fellowship.

And see what everybody else has been doing with it.

And I think that's what the importance of these.

Are is this also sort of help give you a broader.

Perspective on the music as well.

Playing guitar, singing.

♪ Way back home... We are in constant search of self and a tune and a story.

♪ It's not the same anymore.

There has to be these certain folks in our community.

That are carrying on luthier traditions.

♪ I wonder if the family circle.

They're kind of cornerstones in this community.

I mean, what are musicians without their instrument?

What I'm hoping to do is keep Kentucky music alive.

I was raised up here and it's in my blood.

♪ Yes, I wonder if the family circle will all get home.

Millions of years ago.

A meteorite struck an area now known as Middlesboro.

Kentucky, one of the few cities in the world.

Built inside a crater.

Now in the present day.

One Middlesboro native has gone beyond the crater.

To the stars above.

John Shoffner spent much of his time.

As a young boy looking up at those stars.

Never imagining just how close he would come to them one day.

Meet Middlesboro's very own Appalachian astronaut.

Ten, nine... Just because I grew up here in the mountains.

Eight, seven...

I never really felt like that was limiting for me.

Six, five... Two years of work.

Four, three... You get down to that last one second.

Two, one.

The arm's opening up now.

It's not a blast off, just this gentle lift.

They didn't last long.

I grew up in Middlesboro,Kentucky.

We're far away from anything related to space.

But in the early 1960s.

The US was beginning its space program.

The actual first space race had just begun.

Ignition sequence start.

I was eight years old.

Several of us started a little astronauts club in Middlesboro.

We'd meet on Saturdays.

And we would have cardboard boxes.

To pretend to be Gemini pilots.

Those were our role models.

They became people that we followed.

And since they were real people.

It was easy for us to understand That space was really happening.

And it was a place that we could learn about.

I think that it is crucial.

To have someone in your life like that.

Who is that person.

And I use the phrase.

A lot that you can't be it unless you see it.

Middlesboro Middle School, this is Mission Control Houston.

Please call station... checking.

Well, it's important that we all have goals.

And then we have to have something.

To personify that goal to.

To make it feel real and accessible.

Sometimes that can be a coach.

That can be a teacher, whatever shape it takes.

It is important that someone has someone in their life.

That says you can be more than what you think.

That you can be.

I truly believe that, at that point in everyone's life.

8, 10, 12, 14 years old.

You have something that you are primarily interested in.

That one really, really big thing that you always.

Look forward to doing.

It's who you are.

It's the core of what you believe yourself to be.

So acting on that or having a system.

Or a way for that voice to come out.

And then help lean that student into more of that.

Put more of that into that student.

My name is Landon.

My question is, what happens when you sneeze?

laughter I'll sneeze in this direction because.

I don't want it to get on the camera.

Sneezes.

Laughter.

Help teach that student to bring that voice out early.

And, you know, make it happen.

John had what we would consider STEM type interest.

When he was a child.

But there was really no outlet or avenue for it here in.

Middlesboro at the time.

I went to school here at Middlesboro, a small town.

We're often in the corner of the state.

Sometimes overlooked.

We have a wealth of students.

That have lots of desires of their own.

He wanted to be able to create outlets that they could pursue.

And engage those interests.

That they have much like he had when he was a child.

Out of that desire to give back.

He wanted to fund a STEM program Beyond the Crater was a slogan that Middlesboro.

Created for itself as a community.

To continue to drive that idea that we are not limited.

Because we come from an area in the mountains.

We have a lot of students who, unfortunately.

They never get the opportunity to travel.

Outside of our mountains.

And we've taken various field trips.

Where we've crossed 33 bridge going.

In close to Knoxville.

And kids have asked, is this the ocean?

It really puts in perspective the lack of exposure.

That our kids have.

So when we think about the term of Beyond the Crater.

You know, for them, that's a huge deal.

I wore a yellow jackets patch that was designed by students.

You know, at the Middlesboro High School.

And that represented the beginning.

Of what we now are trying to develop.

As the full STEM program.

They have been ecstatic to see this emblem.

Come through videos that, you know, NASA has shared.

And the image itself has been a rallying point.

That our community has used.

It's been on posters, it's been on business windows.

It was so neat as John entered the space station itself.

As they docked, and he entered for the first time.

He rolled and his right shoulder came into view.

And there was the patch.

And I know that it just had to be such a surreal moment.

For those three students that crafted the design.

We have two students from the Middlesboro High School.

That are part of an MIT program called Beaver Works.

And I really believe what we've done there in those two examples Is we've changed the course of two lives already.

At the very beginning of this program.

There are a world of things behind the S-T-E-A-M.

Whether it is a coal miner, whether it is an astronaut.

Whether it's biology, medical things.

Or research in any degree, engineering, development.

Aerospace, someone says they don't feel like.

They could do it because they come from any area.

We've had so many comments of "That guy's from here?"

A girl in the middle school during one of our first.

Engagements said.

If he can do that, then I can do that.

That's what it's all about.

Achieving something bigger than themselves is not limited.

Because we come from an area here in the mountains.

You know, don't consider any limitation.

Because of geographic existence.

The world is your horizon.

You can go achieve that.

Hope you enjoyed the ride to space.

Have a great trip on Dragon.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, we're having a great time here today.

At the Kentucky Coal Museum.

This is Amanda Hughes.

She is the curator of the museum Amanda, thank you so much for letting us be here today.

Thank you all for coming.

Now, clearly, we're not in a coal part.

Of the museum right now.

But tell us about what this mocked up drug store is.

Well, actually it's a diner.

Okay.

When the coal company shut down.

There was a gentleman who purchased it.

And he had built a building in his backyard.

And had all of this on display in a building.

And so they would have their get-togethers, reunions.

Things like that there.

Well, when he passed away.

He'd requested his family to find a place to donate it to.

And so they donated it to us.

So this actually existed here in the town at some point.

Well, this was actually in Leatherwood, but.

The coal museum.

Why is it important to have something here.

Amanda, that really kind of celebrates.

And tracks the history of coal in this region.

Do you think?

Well, I think it's important because it's unfortunately.

Becoming a thing of the past.

And so as you got more and more children.

That grows up in the area, they don't.

Unless they have family that actually work in the mine.

They really don't know what it means.

And so in order to keep that tradition alive.

And the history of it.

I think it's important to have the museum.

Or anything that documents that.

And you talk about those family members.

I was reading online.

You all were talking about people whose grandparents.

Or parents had maybe lived here in the coal camp.

When that was a thing.

Bringing the grandkids to kind of see.

What the family used to do.

That's gotta be fulfilling to you all to see those families.

kind of passing that knowledge down.

It is.

Yes, we love it when people come in and like.

Well, this is my grandchild and they live in so.

And so, and so they don't know nothing about this place.

Like wonderful.

And this used to be the company store and a lot of folks.

Myself included.

I had never really heard of the concept of the company store.

Until that famous 16 Tons song.

Where it talks about, owe your soul to the company store.

How important was a company store.

Like this to a community to be able to.

To provide goods and services to the people who lived here?

From my understanding.

It was very important because back then up.

Until like the '60s when they outlawed.

You've been able to make your own money.

They made scrip.

And so the companies usually paid.

Most of the workers in scrip.

And so you could only use the scrip in the company store.

You couldn't take it outside of that town and spend it.

And so the commissary was real important to the people.

Because they supplied everything their clothing, their food... Pharmacy and stuff... Drug stores, they had food.

They even had like, for example, here.

This one sold coffins downstairs in the basement.

They had coffins on display and sold in the basement.

But you had to work for the company.

And use the scrip here in the store.

Yes.

So, wow.

What's your favorite part of the museum?

I would say probably the memorial exhibit.

And so we have letters from trapped miners.

That they had found like either etched on the wall.

Or like on paper or something that they might.

Have had on them sometime before they passed away.

After being trapped.

Wow.

So that's probably my favorite part.

That's gotta be powerful, I'm sure.

That is really, yes, that's what I was gonna say.

It's really heart touching.

Final question.

If somebody came here.

What's the one thing you want them to walk away with?

What's the one thing you would hope.

That they'd take away from here, Amanda?

I guess a better understanding of the coal heritage.

And kind of what people.

What it was like for people when they used to live here.

And how that all came together.

Yes.

Again, Amanda Hughes, curator of the Kentucky Coal Museum.

Thanks for letting us explore around today.

Thank you all.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ There are approximately 18 million pit bulls.

In the United States.

They're the number one most prevalent breed of dog.

In the country.

But more than half of them are up for sale or adoption.

With pit bulls filling shelters throughout the nation.

And that's no different here in Kentucky.

A trip to any local humane society.

Reveals an abundance of pit bulls and bully breeds.

Here's how this situation has developed.

And the negative stigma that often keeps these dogs.

Without a home.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Cheering.

Some defining characteristics of a bully breed.

Or a pit bull type dog is a square head.

Usually pretty big head.

They can be anywhere from like 30 to over 100 pounds.

Because there's so many different breeds.

That get kind of clumped into the category.

Typically, they have short coats and they really love to snuggle.

In our experience, pit bulls and bully breeds.

Are one of the most common breeds surrendered to shelters.

And also one of the breeds that take the longest.

To be chosen by adopters.

We've seen a lot of bully breeds come and go.

Through our doors at Woodford Humane Society.

This is a place where they are safe.

We don't have any time limits.

Or breed limits or anything like that.

So they have a safe place here as long as it takes.

But it is a little bit heartbreaking.

To see some really great dogs who wait as long as, you know.

As much as four years to find a great home.

The most common breed of dog that we see here at LHS.

Would be a pit bull type dog.

And it's really hard to classify it as a strict pit bull Because we don't do DNA testing and we just look at them.

And name them based on what they look like.

So I would say it would be a pit bull type.

And there's a lot of breeds that fall under the umbrella of that.

The Staffordshire, bulldogs, a pit bull terrier.

So it's really hard to say for sure if they are a true pit bull So when we label them, it is just a type of dog.

People have this perception of pit bulls.

In particular but bully breeds in general because.

Honestly, people have a hard time telling what's a pit bull.

And what's not, as being dogs that are aggressive.

With other animals or aggressive With people or unpredictable or unsafe.

A lot of that stems from the '80s, basically.

When pit bulls became the breed of choice for dog fighting.

And that perception unfortunately has just really.

stuck with them.

Even though like any other dog.

Most of them are perfectly friendly, well-adjusted dogs.

So some of the misconceptions when it comes to dogs.

And dog behavior is that excitement.

And anxiety are two things that go hand in hand.

So while most people come to the door.

And they think that their dog jumping on them.

And wagging their tails and stuff is like them excited.

To be home.

A dog is just anxious.

They're looking for leadership.

Dogs are pack animals.

They need leadership and that's just instinctual.

That's not because, you know.

Of wherever they came from or what they're doing now.

Like they're an animal and that's what they need.

Because they're pack animals.

So we start with employing leadership.

What that looks like is that a dog has a safe space to be.

Like a crate.

Because a lot of times you'll bring a dog home.

And you're like.

Why is the dog hiding under my bed.

Or why is the dog burrowing in my closet?

And it's because they're denning.

It's because they're looking for a safe place to be.

And when a dog is in a crate.

They don't have to make decisions.

They don't have to worry about about what they're doing next.

They don't have to worry about what they smell over here, And if they need to investigate that.

They're completely zen.

It's like their float tank.

There's a lot of stereotypes.

That we don't really like to focus on them.

Because we want people to see them in a positive light.

But people do discriminate and think they're too big.

They can't be around kids.

Because they'll knock them down.

They're strong, they can bite.

You know, anything with teeth can bite.

Whether it's a dog or a cat or even a pig.

All dogs are capable of having a bite or biting someone.

And it's just that because they are stronger and larger.

Unfortunately, the results of that bite.

Can be more devastating than something coming from.

A chihuahua or a yorkie.

So we just want to encourage people, When they choose to adopt them.

Or add them to their family.

To make sure they have proper training, socialize them.

Provide enrichment, exercise.

And with all dogs, supervise them at all times, When they're around children or even other dogs.

Or other smaller animals.

There are some fighting lines and aggression.

That is bred into dogs.

And that's not exclusive to pit bull type dogs.

You know, there are aggressive German shepherds.

There are aggressive mastiffs.

There is aggression bred into a lot of dogs.

So when we get aggressive dogs.

We do extensive behavior evaluations.

Because of our training program.

Our dogs are in foster homes for longer and we also do tests.

With the dog at the shelters before we pull them.

So rarely does an incident happen, but when it does happen.

We have to take it really seriously.

And nobody gets into the business of animal rescue.

Or animal welfare to put dogs down.

But you do it because you have to, you know.

Because an aggressive dog in somebody's home or a dog that's.

You know, that's a liability in somebody's home.

There's another dog that's not.

That's gonna get killed in a shelter just because of numbers.

So we have to be really careful and intentional about that.

At the end of the day.

What we would love for people to do is to walk.

Into a shelter with an open mind Try to be aware of what you have heard before and say.

I'm not going to take this at face value.

I'm going to give these dogs a chance to show me who they are.

Because that's the more important thing.

Not the breed of the dog but the personality of the dog.

and whether it's a good fit for you and your life.

And your home.

We've really enjoyed our day here in Benham.

At the Kentucky Coal Museum.

Now, this really is a must see for anybody.

Who wants to learn more about how coal mining.

Shaped Eastern Kentucky and the Commonwealth in general.

And it's a reminder of the hardscrabble life faced.

By many here more than 100 years ago.

For more information about the Kentucky Coal Museum.

Be sure to like the Kentucky Life Facebook page.

Or subscribe to the KET YouTube channel.

For more Kentucky Life Extras.

Where you'll learn more about this amazing facility.

And have access to lots of other great videos.

Until next time, I'll leave you with this moment.

I'm Chip Polston, cherishing this Kentucky life.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪