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Historical Society gathers at Finley home
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By Judy B. Adkins, Secretary
The first meeting of the Historical Society of Hopkins County was held Jan. 14 at the museum on Union Street. In the absence of J. Harold Utley, president of the Historical Society and official Hopkins County historian, Vice-President Randy Teague called the meeting to order. Judy Adkins, secretary, distributed copies of the November minutes and Louise Utley, treasurer, gave her report. Minutes and treasurer's report were approved and filed.
A report was given regarding the book "Images of America -- Hopkins County" by Lisa Piper and J. Harold Utley. There are a few books still available at the Historical Society Museum for the cost of $21.99. The response has been great and if it continues, more books will be ordered.
The 36th Annual Yearbook -- 2010 is also available for sale at the museum for a cost of $20, including a society membership for 2010. One of the feature stories in the current yearbook is about Spencer Melton (1876-1958), a well-known Madisonville citizen who was injured in a construction accident and suffered permanent injuries, including paralysis. Mr. Melton can be remembered for his fresh produce stand on West Broadway and for his aluminum globe. He also was able to move around town in his hand-crank-propelled wheelchair.
A recent addition to the Historical Society Museum is a guitar-zither and instructor book, donated by The Messenger Executive Editor Tom Clinton. This antique has been placed on display in the museum.
Following the brief business meeting, the Historical Society members left the museum and went to the home of former educator Mary Hart Finley for the program. Randy Teague, program chairman, introduced Miss Finley to some 29 members and guests. Those attending were Louise Utley, Judy Adkins, Bob Adkins, James Harris, Beverly Baldwin, David Baldwin, Beverly Dockrey, D.W. Dockrey, Jean Merrell, Sharon Harris, Ruth Ashby, Anna Lou Riadon, Carl Veazey, James Prow, Jean Prow, Ronnie Lewis and grandson, Sawyer Smith, Howard Parish, Kerby Parish, Marie Noel, Anna Lou Riadon, Jane Bone, Mary Hart Finley, Viki Riley, Leif Ratliff and his son Joe Ratliff, Laura Teague, Elsbeth Teague and Randy Teague.
Mary Hart Finley -- or Hart, as she prefers to be called -- entertained the group with stories of her life in Hopkins County. She was born in Ilsley to Dr. and Mrs. A.F. Finley. Dr. Finley was a very popular physician and one of the few in Hopkins County. Hart's Grandfather Finley was a physician in the St. Charles area for many years. He got his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She said that her Grandfather Salmon was a mine superintendent in the Ilsley/St. Charles area. The Finley family moved from Ilsley to Madisonville when she was 6 years old. They lived on the corner of Scott Street and Hall Street when she first moved. They later moved to the house she is currently living in on South Franklin Street. She said that the house and most of the furnishings in her house were built by patients of Dr. Finley as payment for his medical services. She noted especially the furnishings in the dining room, including a corner cabinet and the bureaus.
Hart's younger sister, Jane Finley Bone, who was also present, was born in the Franklin Street house. Jane reported that Hart had been her teacher for six years while she attended school in Madisonville. She first had Hart for two years in elementary school and then for four years of English in high school. Jane said she never called her sister "Miss Finley" during those years. She also said that she was a hard teacher during the day and then they shared the same bedroom in their family home in the evening.
Miss Finley told the group about the influence of her grandmother on the future of her father to become a physician. She said that her grandmother took her son (Dr. A.F. Finley) to Louisville where they lived in an apartment while he completed high school at Male High School. He then enrolled in the University of Kentucky Medical School, which was in Louisville at the time, and lived in that apartment until he completed his medical schooling. She stated that grandmothers had a great influence on families, even in the days when some women would not have dared go to a big city.
Hart Finley told the group about the family dog named "Frank." Dr. Finley had a friend in the Hecla area named Frank, who gave him a bird dog. The dog, named after his friend, had the distinction of riding in the front seat of Dr. Finley's car when he went on house calls. Miss Finley told the story of her mother waiting for a light to change at the corner of Main and Center Streets, when she saw Dr. Finley and "Frank" drive down the street. Another lady crossing the same street said, "Who in the world is that (with a dog in the front seat)?" Mrs. Finley innocently stated, "I have no idea who it is!"
She also tells about "Frank" going to college in Paducah and according to Hart, the dog earned a B.A. degree... but he still couldn't hunt birds very well. She said she went with her father to Paducah to take the dog. Their car did not have a heater and it was really cold weather. She said that her uncle heated bricks, wrapped them in newspaper and put them in their car so they could have some heat for the trip. She said that she worried all the way to Paducah because she was afraid the paper around the hot bricks would catch fire, but that did not happen.
Hart Finley also told the group about some society events in Madisonville in her younger days. She was especially proud of the "balls" that the Madisonville Cotillion Club had each year. She said the event was held at the city park and was the high society event each year. She had a picture, along with names, of the group that she shared with those present.
Miss Finley said she taught school for 47 years in the Hopkins County School System. She began her teaching career at Hanson School and told the group that it was a great experience. There were several people in attendance who had been in her classes. The majority of her teaching years were at Madisonville High School and Madisonville-North Hopkins High School. She mentioned two of her students, Frank Ramsey and Alfred Collins, who went on to be great athletes.
The Historical Society of Hopkins County was truly blessed to hear the 96-year-old former educator give firsthand accounts of her life in Hopkins County. Mr. Teague thanked the group for their attendance and Miss Finley for her very interesting and informative program.
Following the program, members were treated to refreshments in the Finley home.
The Historical Society of Hopkins County meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month. Most meetings are held at the Historical Society Museum at 107 Union St. For more information about the Historical Society of Hopkins County, call 821-3986.
A report was given regarding the book "Images of America -- Hopkins County" by Lisa Piper and J. Harold Utley. There are a few books still available at the Historical Society Museum for the cost of $21.99. The response has been great and if it continues, more books will be ordered.
The 36th Annual Yearbook -- 2010 is also available for sale at the museum for a cost of $20, including a society membership for 2010. One of the feature stories in the current yearbook is about Spencer Melton (1876-1958), a well-known Madisonville citizen who was injured in a construction accident and suffered permanent injuries, including paralysis. Mr. Melton can be remembered for his fresh produce stand on West Broadway and for his aluminum globe. He also was able to move around town in his hand-crank-propelled wheelchair.
A recent addition to the Historical Society Museum is a guitar-zither and instructor book, donated by The Messenger Executive Editor Tom Clinton. This antique has been placed on display in the museum.
Following the brief business meeting, the Historical Society members left the museum and went to the home of former educator Mary Hart Finley for the program. Randy Teague, program chairman, introduced Miss Finley to some 29 members and guests. Those attending were Louise Utley, Judy Adkins, Bob Adkins, James Harris, Beverly Baldwin, David Baldwin, Beverly Dockrey, D.W. Dockrey, Jean Merrell, Sharon Harris, Ruth Ashby, Anna Lou Riadon, Carl Veazey, James Prow, Jean Prow, Ronnie Lewis and grandson, Sawyer Smith, Howard Parish, Kerby Parish, Marie Noel, Anna Lou Riadon, Jane Bone, Mary Hart Finley, Viki Riley, Leif Ratliff and his son Joe Ratliff, Laura Teague, Elsbeth Teague and Randy Teague.
Mary Hart Finley -- or Hart, as she prefers to be called -- entertained the group with stories of her life in Hopkins County. She was born in Ilsley to Dr. and Mrs. A.F. Finley. Dr. Finley was a very popular physician and one of the few in Hopkins County. Hart's Grandfather Finley was a physician in the St. Charles area for many years. He got his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She said that her Grandfather Salmon was a mine superintendent in the Ilsley/St. Charles area. The Finley family moved from Ilsley to Madisonville when she was 6 years old. They lived on the corner of Scott Street and Hall Street when she first moved. They later moved to the house she is currently living in on South Franklin Street. She said that the house and most of the furnishings in her house were built by patients of Dr. Finley as payment for his medical services. She noted especially the furnishings in the dining room, including a corner cabinet and the bureaus.
Hart's younger sister, Jane Finley Bone, who was also present, was born in the Franklin Street house. Jane reported that Hart had been her teacher for six years while she attended school in Madisonville. She first had Hart for two years in elementary school and then for four years of English in high school. Jane said she never called her sister "Miss Finley" during those years. She also said that she was a hard teacher during the day and then they shared the same bedroom in their family home in the evening.
Miss Finley told the group about the influence of her grandmother on the future of her father to become a physician. She said that her grandmother took her son (Dr. A.F. Finley) to Louisville where they lived in an apartment while he completed high school at Male High School. He then enrolled in the University of Kentucky Medical School, which was in Louisville at the time, and lived in that apartment until he completed his medical schooling. She stated that grandmothers had a great influence on families, even in the days when some women would not have dared go to a big city.
Hart Finley told the group about the family dog named "Frank." Dr. Finley had a friend in the Hecla area named Frank, who gave him a bird dog. The dog, named after his friend, had the distinction of riding in the front seat of Dr. Finley's car when he went on house calls. Miss Finley told the story of her mother waiting for a light to change at the corner of Main and Center Streets, when she saw Dr. Finley and "Frank" drive down the street. Another lady crossing the same street said, "Who in the world is that (with a dog in the front seat)?" Mrs. Finley innocently stated, "I have no idea who it is!"
She also tells about "Frank" going to college in Paducah and according to Hart, the dog earned a B.A. degree... but he still couldn't hunt birds very well. She said she went with her father to Paducah to take the dog. Their car did not have a heater and it was really cold weather. She said that her uncle heated bricks, wrapped them in newspaper and put them in their car so they could have some heat for the trip. She said that she worried all the way to Paducah because she was afraid the paper around the hot bricks would catch fire, but that did not happen.
Hart Finley also told the group about some society events in Madisonville in her younger days. She was especially proud of the "balls" that the Madisonville Cotillion Club had each year. She said the event was held at the city park and was the high society event each year. She had a picture, along with names, of the group that she shared with those present.
Miss Finley said she taught school for 47 years in the Hopkins County School System. She began her teaching career at Hanson School and told the group that it was a great experience. There were several people in attendance who had been in her classes. The majority of her teaching years were at Madisonville High School and Madisonville-North Hopkins High School. She mentioned two of her students, Frank Ramsey and Alfred Collins, who went on to be great athletes.
The Historical Society of Hopkins County was truly blessed to hear the 96-year-old former educator give firsthand accounts of her life in Hopkins County. Mr. Teague thanked the group for their attendance and Miss Finley for her very interesting and informative program.
Following the program, members were treated to refreshments in the Finley home.
The Historical Society of Hopkins County meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month. Most meetings are held at the Historical Society Museum at 107 Union St. For more information about the Historical Society of Hopkins County, call 821-3986.
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