Interview Summary
Gentry planted coffee tree at a park in Florida
Born 9/15/21 in Alabama, graduated from high school and attended business college
Took some correspondence courses in writing and worked in newspaper office as a
young womanCame to Ohio County and wrote for the local newspaper
Both parents were writers, describes an article her father wrote
Got married in 1942, husband worked as a pipe fitter and traveled to different states
Husband went into military in 1942, she helped take care of his parents while he
was awayAlso got a job at the newspaper to help support the family during WWII
Conducted research on communities, partially for the Ohio County Courthouse and
wrote advertisements for extra incomeAlso wrote many articles for the paper about the criminal justice system
Became involved with historical markers for Ohio County
Describes several small communities in Ohio County, including Jingo, and Hell's Snake
Moved here in 1946 and bought a house
Continued working part-time at the newspaper after her daughter Carolyn was born
in 1946, also had her son John in 1957Member of the Church of Christ
Initially thought Ohio County was a bit dull when she first moved there
The area did not grow until coal mines opened, ushering in an era of prosperity
The area’s population increased and people were happier
Town also began to get more amenities, including a movie theatre, but suffered a
decline in the 1960sDecline was caused by changes to the marketability of coal high in sulfur content
Felt like outsider for a long time, but later began to love the area
Perceived that many people did not try to promote the community
Used her newspaper column to increase promotional efforts for the community
Thinks people seemed to have the pride, but no motivation to promote the
community on a wider scaleDiscussion of revival of old theatre and attitudes toward historical
preservation, on the National Register of Historic Places [possibly taken off list as of 2024]More people are becoming involved, builde was R.C. McClellan
McClellan also built the jail and the courthouse
Discussion of old buildings being torn down
Rosine had several hotels, some had balconies, people would look at the moon
Rosine also had several stores and was considered a progressive town.
Discusses how the towns of Rosine and McHenry got their names
Says that Ohio County is a unique area for music heritage
Hartford came in with Bill Smothers and some of the early English settlers in 1782
The Schultz family (white land owners) had lots of dances, close to Pigeon Roost
Says the people here are romantic, considers the county to be part of the South
Discusses differences between Ohio County and Owensboro in the past and now
Thinks that small towns are more friendly
Taught at a one room school in Mount Pleasant in the early 1950s
Discusses the challenges of teaching eight grades of students all at once
Lots of poverty amongst the students, some did not have any shoes or socks
Local churches donated clothing to the school
Mount Pleasant School still stands, tobacco is now stored in there, is across
the road from the Mount Pleasant Methodist ChurchMount Pleasant Methodist Church has a small, old membership
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