Disturbing Things Happened In These 11 Small Towns In Kentucky
By Jenn Shockley|Published November 30, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Kentucky is a beautiful place to live, but that doesn’t mean disturbing things don’t happen–even in small towns. Our little communities are normally quite serene, but every now and then something turns things inside out. In most cases these horrid or unusual events don’t occur very often, and our small towns remain peaceful and relaxing.
Here are 11 disturbing things that happened in small town Kentucky:
11. Hopkinsville Goblins
Standing around 3-4 feet tall and having black liquid looking eyes and lipless mouths, these little guys are said to wander, move things, steal things and peep in windows. Though similar drawings have been found in some of Kentucky’s cave systems, more modern allegations began in 1955, and have been reported off and on up to recent years.
Privacy is important to most of us. Some people try to invade that privacy and drones have made this a lot easier, for those that can afford them. One Shepherdsville man took action when he found a drone hovering over his property and shot it. This ended up being a court case and getting the attention of the media. In the end, the shooter was justified, as his privacy was being violated, according to the judge. The fact that a drone can spy on us is disturbing, but at least we don’t have to tolerate their presence.
According to Kentucky State Police, there have been more than 15 unsolved murders in the county of Perry, including the brutal deaths of Roy and Wanda Campbell in 2006. It is disturbing for a small, seemingly peaceful community, to be filled with unexposed killers. Some townies say when someone is murdered in Perry, you only know who did it when the killer fesses up.
This can no longer be found on any map of Kentucky, not because of size, but due to reputation. The town has been "removed" from our existence. Apparently, on August 12th, 1936, the Elsewhere school teacher went mad and poisoned her entire class, save one who managed to get away when seeing other students die. On April 2nd, 1953 the town was listed in the Courier Journal as "abandoned for health and safety reasons." The real reason Elsewhere became nowhere according to locals is because people who entered the old school house went missing.
There are several reports of explorers just disappearing after they saw a child in the doorway. The last two college students to visit found bones and decay in the school house and its cellar. Things got out of hand, and one female ended up unconscious, supposedly due to a ghost attack. The curious college kids reported the findings to the authorities, and not long thereafter, the area was bulldozed. All remnants have been destroyed, but why go to all that trouble for something that wasn’t true?
May 14th, 1988 was the second largest death by bus crash in the US, and it happened in Carrollton. This tragic day a church bus was in route with 67 passengers when struck by a drunk driver. The end result was 27 deaths and 34 injuries. This deeply disturbing incident drew nationwide media attention, and the drunk driver was convicted to 27 counts of manslaughter.
According to WKYT, local residents of these areas repeatedly called authorities on November 26th, 2015, due to loud explosions, which frightened animals, humans and shook homes and windows. Unfortunately, the police could not find a source for said explosions, and NASA refused to comment (Seriously.). The communities are disturbed, but without a confirmed source, these ground quaking explosions remain unexplained.
What really makes this community stand out is the fact it is not really a normal community at all. Instead it is part of a low level radiation waste dump deemed Maxey Flats, approximately 10 miles north of Morehead. From 1963 to 1977, this once beautiful 252 acres of land became a dumping ground for 832 corporations. It had 52 unlined trenches for waste, key word being "unlined". Townies nearby are assured their water and such are safe, but then again, it is nuclear waste.
During a cold, foggy morn on February 28th, 1958, a school bus filled with 48 children was enroute to school. The driver struck another vehicle and ended up losing control and rolling down the bank into Levisa Fork of Big Sandy River. The bus and students were swept downstream and submerged, with 27 dying during the tragedy. Those that survived did so merely by luck. This was the third largest death toll via bus crash in the U.S.
3. 11619 Highway 68 East at Hardin in Marshall Co.
Sound familiar? This is the address of the renowned Silver Trail Distillery, which partially exploded during the 2015 spring. Kyle Rogers lost his life and several others were severely injured. The dangerous smoke from the burning alcohol filled the air, tormenting local residents. Sometimes it is easy to forget the dangers of working with alcohol and heat, but the people who suffered from the Silver Trail incident will not soon forget.
Most everyone has heard the disturbing tale of the Hatfields and Mccoys, but it is one of the great tragedies of our beautiful Appalachians. Some say it began when McCoy’s band of Confederate Veterans, also known as the County Wildcats and Logan’s Wild Cats, murdered one of Hatfield’s kin, a Union Veteran. Others say it began over Devil Anse Hatfield accusing Randolph McCoy’s kin of stealing a pig. The murder, nor the pig theft was solved, and the conflict continued over decades, regarding land, love and life. In the end, the feud left a trail of well over a dozen bodies.
July 17th, 1935 changed everything for Van Lear. What was once a thriving coal mining town is now home to a coal mining museum located at 78 Miller’s Creek Road. Why? On July 17th, 1935 there was a huge methane explosion in the early morn, killing nine and injuring others. The town never recovered, nor did the mines, which were permanently closed.
Visiting Kentucky can be one of the most surreal experiences you will have in life, depending on when and where you go. Most of our state is filled with friendly, good hearted people and gorgeous scenery. Our small towns are as warm and inviting as a modern day Mayberry in 9 out of 10 areas. The few disturbing incidents that occur are well beyond a town’s control, but that is what catches the media’s ear. The good of Kentucky and our people by far outweighs any bad, so don’t get the wrong idea. Sometimes it is good to know why a place has a certain feel to it when taking a trip. I obviously do not get the scoop on everything, so what disturbing news do you recall seeing or hearing about a small town in Kentucky?
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