Interview with Elizabeth Finley, Paul Finley, July 15, 1979

Interview Summary

Paul Finley was born in Clay County in 1925. He had very few toys as a child and cherished the little sailor toy out of a box of Crackerjack bought for him by his father. Finley attended a one-room school through the sixth or seventh grade and then began helping his father quarry rock and build houses. He drove a school bus and carried the mail from Hazard until he went into the Army. After World War Two, he went to work hauling coal in Perry County; at that time coal was hauled out of the mines with ponies. Finley tells of many aspects of life in Leslie County over the years and also of practices such as foot washing in the local churches. Finley also gives information on the Brock-Colwell feud. FNS nurses delivered Finley's youngest sister and his own children. Elizabeth Finley was born in 1930 and describes the care her family received from the FNS. She later worked for the organization at the hospital as a cook and in other capacities, according to what was needed.

Interview Keyword

Brock-Colwell feud Clay County (Ky.) Elizabeth Finley born in 1930 Jackson County (Ky.) London (Ky.) Manchester (Ky.) Muddy Hill (Ky.) One-room schools Rockhouse (Ky.) School bus drivers Ulysses Creek (Ky.) Worked for FNS as a cook

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Businesses Children--Health and hygiene--Kentucky Community Economy & Environment Family history Farm life--Appalachian Region Ghost stories Grade schools Horses--Transportation Jobs & employment opportunities Kentucky Logging Medical care Nursing Physicians Rural conditions

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.