voss adventures: Butcher Holler, Paintsville, KY

On the second weekend at Kentucky Mountain Bible College (KMBC), we headed East, toward Paintsville, KY., to see Butcher Holler, the childhood home of country sinnger, Loretta Lynn.

It was Good Friday, and along the way, in front of a church, we saw this reenactment. Pretty special! A sign not in the picture reminded us “Jesus paid it all”

We drove through the town, seeing the Mayo Mansion and church built by John Caldwell Calhoun Mayo, who came to Paintsville to teach, and soon started investing in mineral rights, eventually becoming Kentucky’s wealthiest citizen. The mansion is now a school.

The church, Mayo Methodist Church, has an organ with more than 1000 pipes, which was donated by his good friend Andrew Carnegie.

We visited the Highway 23 Museum, a tribute to Highway 23, designated National Scenic byway, honoring country music entertainers who were born or lived along Route 23.

I was amazed at the numerous country music singers who grew up along this highway.

Of the twelve listed country music entertainers who gained fame that we recognized, Billy Ray Cyrus, the Judd's, Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, and Ricky Skaggs all live in the Nashville area now. There may even be more!

It took a while to find the Webb General Store to get a tour of the house where Loretta Lynn grew up. I regret that I have no picture of it. I was going to get it on the way out, but we left a different way. It was originally one of the company stores. We were told if we were lucky, her brother would give the tour. And we did get him! Directions: Go down a narrow but paved road to the fork in the road..... A rock with an arrow and Butcher Hollow written on it guides you to the left.

The house, where the family of 8 lived, is a little way down the road.

We were thrilled to meet Harold. When Paul and another tourist started looking at the well, he right away started talking about hand digging it, 30 feet down through rock.

He pointed out a tree and a plant that was planted by his momma, back in the 20's.

The front porch was so welcoming

The inside had a lot of memorabilia and original furniture

Notice all of the signatures of visitors on the wall.

He was such a gracious man and reminded us both of Paul’s dad.

I could have stayed a lot longer visiting with him.

After leaving there, we decided to go to the right of the rock that directed us to the left. The jeep would not stay on the pavement, but had to follow the dirt roads through the mining area.