Wesleyville, Kentucky
In my younger days when I still lived “east”, I found myself taking odd roads into odd places. One of those places was off I-64/US60 in eastern Kentucky known for a region of accessible caves. This took me off the beaten path along which I passed this building in Wesleyville.
I don’t do caves anymore …
Wesleyville is listed as a “populated” place but I found no other evidence of a “town” – or even hamlet – at this location other than this building alongside a narrow road heading up into a “holler”. When I took this photo, I didn’t know it was the heart of “town” – there is no town, at least not when I passed by.
From this image, it appears the building no longer exists.
This structure was a church, school, and meeting hall – possibly all at the same time – and was built sometime around 1882. It is possible the building also held the post office and local “emporium”. Locals told me of “pie suppers” being held in this building as late as the 1940s.
The building was locked when I discovered it but peering through cracks, the floor was in bad shape and the roof obviously leaked. There was no glass in the boarded up windows and no furniture or furnishings. Snakes, possums, coons, and skunks were likely inhabitants.
Imagine the stories if only the walls could talk.
Looks like it is all of about five miles north of 64. I have driven that stretch of 64 many times driving to and from WV.
My Dad was born in Spencer WV where there old buildings and countryside much like Wesleyville. When his health started to deteriorate he wanted to take his family to all the old cemeteries in Spencer, so we would know the grave sites. We went to three cemeteries, two near town and one way up in a hollow with an old church and the Bartlett Cemetery. The old country church was unlocked. The floor very uneven but the building well kept. A sign on the wall indicated that attendance at the most recent service was a headcount of 18 and offering was $195. The cemetery just behind the church was full of markers with my family name. Many blood relatives are there. After I retire, I hope to show up for a Sunday service and see if there are some distant blood relatives in attendance.
“After I retire….”
============
A point to ponder.
My dad’s father, my dad, my 2 brothers, all died BEFORE they were old enough (social security) to retire.
I’m the only male member of my family that has lived long enough to retire, yet I still have not done so. I collect SS but I still work too.
No one knows when their last day will be and it usually comes unpredictably. When you’re in the last 20% of your likely life span it’s prudent to update the way you think.
Here in Brown County, and probably throughout Indiana, there is an abundance of small, old cemetery’s and after we moved here we walked a lot of them because my wife’s ancestors are from here. She has found headstones with names that helped fill in some spaces in her genealogy quest, and created more questions too.
I have lived in Kentucky 2 times and 2 diff locations, both under mostly unfavorable conditions. I lived at Fort Knox for 2 months in 1974 and then Fort Campbell for 7 months in 1977-78.
Campbell was funny because it straddled the border of Kentucky and Tennessee. One state was dry and the other not, and now I don’t remember which was which. Also, the barracks I lived in was in 1 state and the motor pool I worked at everyday was in the other. So yeah, Mon – Fri I walked across the state line twice a day to go to work.
I agree with gs. Do it now.
Ghost and Jean,
Thank you for the advice and encouragement. My DEROS calendar says 554 days to go. I will then be just short of 62. I am aware that I hit the fourth quarter when I hit 60 this year. Cash flow new kitchen countertops, kids college, then I am done. Afterward you will be able to find me drinking coffee at the gun range.
Sounds like a good plan.
If you need any help you know who to call.
I’m slowly learning how to be retired.
Why don’t you do caves anymore?
It’s something for younger people. I’m now old enough to be a danger to myself and others in such an environment.
“younger people”. makes me chuckle a bit.
Oh, I just read “about DT”…adds some interesting details 🙂
Took you long enough … 🙂
Snakepit Kansas is one of those “younger people”. Ghostsniper? Not so much.
You’re as young as you feel and I don’t feel young.
Met a dood last year that LIVES to do caves. Him and the wife travel the country on a harley doing caves. He was kinda weerd. But he did a good job fixing my riding mower.
I feel young. My body disagrees.
You coulda pointed…but noooo preferred to listen to me beg.
Well, I ain’t done yet 🙂
I’m definitely not in the “younger people”.
But you prefer a good mystery …
You enjoy being a mystery. Cowboy in the shadows.
‘nother clue: not a cowboy. never was.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
but you like those hats 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I enjoy exploring back road. I was lucky enough to spend about 10 years delivering grain byproducts all over eastern Washington, Oregon and sometimes Idaho. Saw lots of towns barely hanging on. And the names of those places: Washtucna, Ione, Lexington, Marsing, Dusty, LeBam, Roosevelt, Mesa, Tekoa, Bonanza, Christmas Valley, Basin City.