Life in Livingston: Memories of a Small Kentucky Town
Barbara M. Castleberry
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
2016
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Life in Livingston by Barbara M. Castleberry, PhD., is a history of Livingston, KY a small, rural town in the foothills of Appalachia from 1750 to the present day. Beginning with the discovery of the Rockcastle River in 1750 by Thomas Walker it tells the story of the arrival of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L & N) in the late 19th Century followed by the construction of the Dixie Highway in the early 20th Century. The intersection of the Rockcastle River, the L & N Railroad and Dixie Highway placed the town in a strategic location to take advantage of the expanding transportation system in the nation. The book chronicles the history of education in the town. From the late 1800's through the early 1990's the Livingston School was the source of formal education for children from the town and the far flung reaches of the county including communities such as Brush Creek, Climax, Drew Valley, Three Links, Pine Hill and Pleasant Run. For many years Livingston was the place you came to go to high school, buy your groceries, see the doctor, go to the movies or catch the train or Greyhound Bus. Like many small towns the decline of the railroads, construction of the Interstate Highway System, and school consolidation almost took Livingston off the map. The story of Life in Livingston concludes with recent efforts to revitalize the town and surrounding area by encouraging tourism. Designation of Livingston as a Kentucky Trail Town in 2013 provided recognition of the potential for outdoor adventure activities. Today visitors are encouraged to experience the beauty of the area by hiking, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, and biking. In the foreword Chief Circuit Judge Thomas T. Burdette says of the book "Finding a way to make a life in the hardscrabble river town of Livingston, produced a culture of fiercely independent and hardworking people who are captured perfectly in the pages of Barbara Castleberry's book". Artist Mark T. McFerron, a Rockcastle County native, contributed his talent and artwork the book. He created the book cover that includes a copy of his painting the Livingston L&N Depot and Boy Catching Crawdads. A copy of his painting of the "Rockcastle Rock" is also included in the book. Dr. Castleberry says she began writing the book about a year ago when she realized how much information was being lost with the passing of so many "old timers" who had a firsthand memory of the boom times in Livingston. Through their recollections and photos, she hopes to create a record of the times and document the history of the town and school so many love. The book includes more than 125 black and white photos and illustrations contributed by friends and colleagues of the author.
