Coming up on Kentucky Life.

Our show travels to the.

Hopewell Museum, in Paris, Kentucky, where the history.

Of Bourbon County is celebrated.

We'll take you to the stars via the Bell Observatory.

At Western Kentucky University, where students can look.

Beyond our universe.

The area around U.S. Highway 23, in Kentucky, has produced a number of.

Country music superstars, and a new project there aims.

To help the next generation of performers.

And we'll go to the appropriately named.

Butchertown neighborhood in Louisville, where they say.

Pigs will fly.

All that's next on Kentucky Life.

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

I'm your host, Chip Polston.

Well, today we hit the road to Paris, Kentucky.

We're at the Hopewell Museum, a beautiful facility.

Here that traces the history of Bourbon County.

The museum celebrates.

The historical significance of the area.

And it's in this 110-year-old Beaux Arts.

Building that once housed a post office and has an.

Interesting history in and of itself.

We'll learn a little bit more about it.

Later in our show.

But first, Bowling Green is home to the largest optical.

Telescope in the state of Kentucky, the Bell.

Observatory, that I actually used to live across the.

Street from when I was in college.

The program there trains the next generation of.

Scientists as undergraduates get the unique opportunity.

To conduct their own research on distant objects.

Join us for a journey to the final frontier.

And understand why learning about space is both.

Cosmically exciting and deeply important for humanity.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ What excites me most about the universe?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ What excites me the most about the universe is how.

Much we don't know about it.

There's always gonna be more to explore.

That's what excites me more than anything else.

Space is just so -- it's so cold, it's dark.

It's uninviting, and yet we're so enamored with it.

We're so interested in it.

What the universe provides us is, it's an experiment.

It's an ongoing experiment.

We can't control it, we didn't set it up, we don't.

Start it, we don't stop it.

We get to watch it.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ What made me want to become an astronomer was, growing up.

I got to watch the Gemini and Apollo missions.

As they launched and, you know, followed them through.

Their missions.

And that just really inspired me and got me.

Interested in, first, the moon and, and then in space.

I think, probably as young as I can remember.

I was, you know, looking up.

In the sky trying to connect those.

Dots, getting my first smaller reflector telescope.

I was probably six or seven years old.

You know, how many six or seven-year-olds are asking.

Their parents for telescopes.

I -- [laughs] Iwas that kid.

What I do remember having a significant impact on me.. Was just being at a really dark site, you know.

On a moonless night and going outside and looking up at.

The sky and just seeing stars upon stars upon stars.

And that was kind of an awe-inspiring moment for me.

The first time that I was looking through an eyepiece.

It was -- actually I was training up here to fly solo.

For my first time, and Dr. Ryle set up a -- set up.

One of the telescopes on the moon.

And I was like, “Okay, like, seen the moon before.

Whatever.” And I looked through it and I'm like.

“Man, like, you don't realize how cool something.

Is until you actually -- you're looking through it.

But it was just fantastic.

Like, that's really the best way I can describe it.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Students are the key to our operation.

That's the -- the whole reason we're doing this is.

Yeah, sure, it's nice for me to have a -- I have a. Telescope almost in my backyard to do my science.

But the job is to train the next.

Generation of scientists.

When I started at Western Kentucky University.

I had that chance to actually take my own data.

It was just something about sitting there and knowing.

That I was collecting the data on that object.

And there might not be anybody else in the world that was.

Looking at that object.

Then just kind of the thrill of knowing that I could go.

Back and look at that data later to see if something.

You know, exciting had happened with that target.

The unique aspects of this telescope are that it's the.

Largest optical telescope in Kentucky.

It's 28 inche diameter.

The mirror gets about 40% more light than.

The old telescope.

The most exciting thing to me is the fact that we're.

Able to write scripts that can tell this telescope to.

Just operate on its own.

Being able to do science from anywhere, that's truly.

You know, the highlight of accessibility.

WKU's Bell was actually, even 20 years ago.

When I was using it.

Kind of at the forefront in terms of being.

Able to capture data remotely.

And so, it was really nice to be able to sit.

In a classroom in campus and control that telescope from.

You know, 14, 15 miles away.

I'm a little bit of a romantic in the sense that.

I think that, especially when students are first learning.

About how to observe, it's important to be.

At the telescope.

So the training really starts with kind of getting.

Them over to the physical observatory to understand.

What they're dealing with.

And we'll sit with them, going through a couple.

Of nights, as they get acquainted with the tools.

Going through the process of actually starting up the.

Observatory, getting their calibration images.

Taking their observations, shutting everything down.

And if there are any errors, then they can learn how to.

Actually debug those and correct them.

And that's a very intimidating situation.

For an undergraduate.

But I think it's giving them.

A taste of what real research is like.

What that responsibility is like.

Having the control over.

Their own project.

I didn't even know that I wanted to be an astronomer.

Before doing this, I didn't know that I wanted to get.

Into research.

And another thing too that it's allowed me to do is.

Figure out that I love public outreach.

I love talking to people about science.

And so, being able to come up here, I now have been.

Able to do things like talk to kids and be a part of.

Child programs and just share my love of space.

And that's something that I never thought that.

I would ever be able to or want to do.

Public viewings are actually kind of my favorite part of.

the job mainly because, with astronomy, folks come in From all sorts of backgrounds.

We'll have talks where there's a five-year-old next to.

A 75-year-old, and they're both as enthralled with the.

Topic, you know, equally with each other.

Astronomy now is undergoing this interesting revolution.

Especially what we call ground-based astronomy.

We're building and operating telescopes that spend their.

Time surveying the night sky.

They're going to produce volumes and volumes of data.

They're going to find objects we haven't seen.

Before, but they're not going to be able to follow.

Up on that.

They're just going to be able to flag.

That and say, “Hey, this object is interesting.

Somebody else needs to go observe it.” And that's.

Where a facility like this really can make the impact.

Because we're in the position to say.

“Oh, can we observe that object?

Yeah, let's go follow up on it.” And that's gonna open up.

For students especially, just the ability to get.

Into all kinds of different areas of astronomy.

And astrophysics, and will really open up their eyes.

And their training opportunities.

Why is it important to study the universe?

Another big Question.

Wow.

So why -- why is it important to study the universe?

That's an awesome question.

There's the famous Carl Sagan quote that we're all.

Made of star-stuff.

And the universe is -- it's who we are.

And part of human nature is to discover more about who.

We are and where we came from.

We are trying to dive deeper and deeper into what all.

This means, right?

What all this -- how all this operates, right?

I think there's a lot of comfort in what we find.

Out there.

You know, we're such a small part of the.

Universe, down here on earth, that there's so much.

Out there that we don't know.

What better way to know more than learn about something.

That's infinitely vast.

It's something that you can never stop exploring.

I don't want to say we'll never know at all.

But I'd actually be happy if we didn't ever figure it all.

Out, because that just means that we can keep on going.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The history of country music runs deep in Eastern Kentucky.

From Loretta Lynn to Tyler Childers, so many.

Legendary artists have come from the area around U.S. Highway 23, that it's become known.

As the Country Music Highway.

And now, a partnership between a local.

Music venue and a radio station aims to support.

The next generation of Kentucky country music legends.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Having a resource like this for people to come here.

And make music is awesome.

Whenever I was in my bedroom, trying to record.

In high school, middle school, there wasn't really this.

Or a place to go do this.

Just having a space, creating a space for people.

To know that they can come express themselves.

And really make a dream happen sometimes is.

A really big deal.

We're known for a lot of good shows and concerts.

Here at the Mountain Art Center, where we do so much.

We have a state-of-the-art recording studio, plus we.

Bring in other acts from the road.

So, we double as a roadhouse, plus an in-house.

Production center.

This is the center of the Country Music Highway.

So many folks and artists from the area had to go.

Elsewhere, had to go to Nashville, New York.

City tour of the country like crazy.

To get their name out there.

I mean, the lead guitarist for Blake Shelton.

Came through this stage, he was in this program.

J.T.

cure, the bass player for Chris Stapleton, came up.

Through our program here in this building.

We just look to be able to be the center.

To streamline everything.

The Country Music Highway starts right when you come.

Into Ashland area.

And if you follow the stars with The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus.

As you travel through the highway, then you'll.

Come up through Paintsville, home of Loretta Lynn.

Prestonsburg, Floyd County, and to Pike County to the.

Home of several stars.

When people see the names that are on the highway.

A lot of times they would ask why don't some of our stars.

Come back and give back to the Country Music Highway.

I've never asked that because the truth of the.

Matter is we didn't have any way of helping those.

Individuals.

I mean, until the MAC came or the.

Appalachian Wireless Arena, we didn't even have a venue.

Really for them to play.

We also didn't have studios to record.

So, most of the artists had to leave here.

And go to Nashville to be discovered.

Well, today, that's different.

We've got all of that in place here.

CMH23 Radio is dedicated to the stars of the highway.

And the new stars that are on their way.

The talent that lies on this highway, in the mountains.

In the hollers is incredible.

I mean, it's like every time we record somebody.

It's like, “They're gonna be a star.

They're gonna be a star.” I wanted to come up with a radio station that.

Would play all of the stars of the Country Music.

Highway, and all of the up-and-coming stars.

Who are going to be the next.

Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton Loretta Lynn.

The station itself will only play artists from the Country Music Highway or those artists that are in.

The band playing the bass or the guitar or belonging to.

Other top hit country acts.

So, we're playing the hits that you'll hear on any.

Country radio station of Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers.

But then we've got Nick Jamerson, and we've.

Got new artists that are coming up, and it's all.

Original material.

We believe this project is going to work and it's gonna.

Give everybody on the highway an opportunity.

To realize their dream.

One, two, three, four.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I mean, I couldn't live here, I don't think.

Trying to do this as a full-time profession, you know.

Just have to have that outlet.

I've been writing music for the last 20 years, but I've.

Played music my whole life.

I'm from Floyd County, Kentucky, primarily.

Singer-songwriter rooted in country, folk, bluegrass.

You know, I think when I first started, one thing.

That I wanted to do was instill pride and value.

In the experience of being here.

So, as a young songwriter, just trying to figure it out.

I just sort of looked around me.

And drew off of that.

♪ left beaver boys can shoot but PBurg boys are fast.

So, when people hear, you know, Floyd County All-Stars.

Is one of my songs, you know, that was for kids.

Growing up here to be like, “Hey, that's -- it's cool to.

Be from here.” You know, because I think that that.

Narrative has just not been that for a long time.

♪ A bunch of Floyd County all-stars, Betsy Lane.

Bobcats, a bunch of rowdy rebels running.

Wild in the grass.

I mean, it's invaluable.

I think about 20 years ago, and there -- there wasn't.

This, there wasn't the outlets.

And it seems so distant to be able to do something like.

This because it always has been like, “Go to Nashville.

Go to L.A., go to New York,” because that was the.

Narrative of you have to go there because.

The infrastructure was there.

And so now, we have the creatives, we have the.

outlets, we have the spaces, and it's evolving.

♪ Floyd County all-stars and Martin Purple.

I think this project can do so much for the Country.

Music Highway.

It could mean revenue to an area that has lost coal jobs.

Lost a lot of population.

It could make this an entertainment destination.

Based upon the talent, the revolving talent that.

We have that just seems to keep coming.

I just think it means we can stay, you know, and I think.

That people, that's the greatest asset, it always has been.

You know, it means that you can carve out.

A place for yourself, and a life that is centered around.

Doing something you love.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We're having a great time here today at the Hopewell Museum.

In Paris, Kentucky, really is a beautiful place.

And this is Betsy Kephart.

She is the former executive director and current.

Co-curator here at the Hopewell.

Betsy, thank you so much for letting us be here today.

You're welcome, Chip.

So this beautiful building, tell us a little bit about this.

What it used to be and how you all landed here?

Well, the building was built to be a U.S. Post office, and it served as the post office until.

The ‘60's, at which time the city offices moved here.

And then the city offices moved out and the building was empty.

And the city basically gave the building.

To Historic Paris-Bourbon County, Inc. And we've had the building ever since.

And you told me a great story when we came earlier.

About the vault that was here.

Yes.

And the role that the post office played in the community.

Tell us about that.

Well, back in the day, payrolls were not sent by check.

Generally, they were sent in cash.

And the cash came to the post office.

And we have two big.

Safes where the payrolls were kept.

And that's where people would come to.

Get paid that way.

The owner of the business would come and get the.

And pick up the payroll and disperse it.

So, when somebody.

Comes here, what are they gonna see?

What are they gonna be able to enjoy?

We have a wonderful new exhibit about the history of.

Bourbon County.

Co-curator Nancy O'Malley Estes and I got this.

Together, and it's -- we -- it's only been open a couple.

Of weeks, and it's very detailed and involved about.

Bourbon County.

Right.

And what are some of the things folks are gonna learn.

About Bourbon County when they see that?

Well, they're going to learn about our horse history.

Here in Bourbon County.

They're gonna learn about our bourbon history here in.

Bourbon County.

They're gonna learn about political history.

Agricultural history, the founding of the county.

Right.

And when somebody comes here, Betsy, what do you.

Really want them to walk away with when they're on.

The way out the door and they're thinking.

“Wow i really enjoyed that,” and they're thinking of.

Something about this, what do you want them.

To take away?

I would hope that they would be, after they'd seen this.

Exhibit and toured the museum, that they would.

Be even more curious about Bourbon County and want.

To see more -- and want to see more of our historic.

Structures and places.

And what else can they see in Bourbon County?

Wow.

Our courthouse is gorgeous.

Right.

We have a beautiful courthouse.

There's a covered bridge in Bourbon County that lots of.

People don't know about.

And we have some cute little outlying towns as well.

Millersburg is a great place.

There's a lot to check out here.

Yeah.

That's great.

Well, again, this is Betsy Kephart, with the Hopewell.

Thanks for letting us be with you here today.

We really are enjoying it.

You're so welcome, Chip.

Happy to have you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Butchertown is one of oldest Louisville's neighborhoods.

It's home to several historic landmarks.

And buildings, including a house where Thomas Edison.

Reportedly stayed while working in the city.

Devastated by the 1937 flood, Butchertown has seen.

Its share of hardship.

But the neighborhood has experienced a resurgence.

And is now thriving.

Our next story explores the rich history behind.

The vibrant, appropriately named, and some might say.

A little pungent neighborhood, Butchertown, where pigs can fly.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, you know, if you look at the facts.

In my opinion, I think Butchertown is Louisville's.

Oldest intact urban neighborhood.

It dates back to -- the early development would.

Be in the 1790s, but really into the early part of the.

19th Century.

So, slowly, as Louisville grew.

And expanded not only southward and westward, It expanded eastward.

And that's where Butchertown, which wasn't.

Called Butchertown yet in those early.

Days, it developed.

People moved from Downtown Louisville, up the Ohio.

River, into Butchertown in the 1830s, 40s.

Solidly in the 1850s.

There's an 1858 map that clearly has written on it.

Butchertown as a neighborhood of Louisville.

As Louisville developed, slaughterhouses weren't.

Allowed right in the core city.

And so, even though Butchertown.

That neighborhood became part of Louisville, it was annexed.

By Louisville, it was still allowed to have businesses.

Like slaughterhouses and butcher shops.

And the slaughterhouses, given what they created.

In the way of mess and dead animals and all that.

They wanted that and the smell They wanted that out of the city.

And so, as it developed to the east.

In 1834, the Bourbon Stockyards were founded.

And Beargrass Creek flowed right through that area.

It was a very good dumping place for all those remnants.

Of animals, and what have you, because they didn't.

Want that being right downtown.

You had the slaughterhouses, you had the stockyards.

And then you had all these people that were taking the.

Byproducts and making and manufacturing stuff to sell.

So we became a viable commercial center.

Well, the landmarks in the -- in the neighborhood.

Include some old industries.

I'm thinking of where Hadley Pottery used to be.

That industrial building dates to the 1850s.

In fact, it is said that that's the first industrial.

Building that was electrified in Louisville.

[laughs] It is said that Thomas Edison, when he was.

Working as a telegraph operator in downtown.

That he rented a house there.

He certainly rented a house, and we hope that that's the.

House that he rented.

When he was a telegraph operator in 1866.

In Louisville, before he became.

Internationally famous.

And then you have the Heigold House.

Christian Heigold was a German immigrant.

And when he built his house, in the 1850s, he kept kind.

Of improving on it with the façade, in which he cut.

Stone into, like, sculptures of the bust of James Buchanan.

And he had George Washington carved into it.

And the Heigold House was there in Butchertown.

The Pointe, Butchertown.

In the ‘37 flood that was so devastating, the Heigold.

House actually survived.

And there it stood, and eventually it was raised.

But the facade was saved because it was so unique.

And so different.

Butchertown was significant -- especially The Pointe.

[laughs] especially The Pointe, was constantly.

Vulnerable to flood.

And in the 1937 flood, Butchertown that remains.

That survives, out on The Pointe, it's almost.

Significantly all green space.

But the ‘37 flood really kind of stunted, I'd say.

The vitality and growth of the neighborhood.

And because of that ever-present danger of the.

Flooding, when the Corps of Engineers ran the floodwall.

By the river, they also ran it right through Butchertown.

I mean, if you go over, I'll say, like.

Quincy Street, there in Butchertown, the floodwall.

Runs right down the middle of the street.

I think that Butchertown is truly.

A Louisville-centric neighborhood.

The architecture is old-school.

It's great.

It has been preserved for the most part.

Which has been fantastic.

If you work Downtown, if you were involved in Downtown.

If you want to go to a baseball game, if you want.

To go to a sports or a concert venue, if you want.

To enjoy the Waterfront Park, if you wanna go to the.

Waterfront Botanical Gardens, all of that is.

Literally within walking distance.

All of that is literally in walking distance.

So why Butchertown for residents?

It is clearly convenience to all kinds of amenities.

As to why visitors would go there?

It is the story, and it's the presence of historical.

Structures.

And so, you have both story and presence in.

The form of apedestrian- accessible neighborhood.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's been a lot of fun here today at the Hopewell.

Museum, in Paris.

Now, if you've liked our show, be sure and like the.

Kentucky Life Facebook page or you can subscribe to the.

KET YouTube channel.

For more of what we call Kentucky Life Extras.

Where you'll have access to lots of other.

Great videos.

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

I'm Chip Polston, cherishing this Kentucky life.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪