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| The big road in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, is US 150, which began as the northwest leg of the Wilderness Road blazed by Daniel Boone and others. But now the federal route bypasses the heart of the town, leaving KY 39 as Main Street. |
Kentucky Route 39 is a two-track strip of pavement running out of horse country near Lancaster, Ky., that cuts right through the heart of Crab Orchard — one of the bypassed villages scattered all across the country.
No Trader Joe’s, no Sam’s Club or Costco — just an abandoned movie house, and some closed cinder block storefronts. I’ve passed by several times, but decided to stop the other day.
I was kneeling in the middle of the highway, framing the movie house when a car pulled up behind me. It was a police cruiser. The window came down and the officer said: “Did you get your shot?” I said I did, and he said: “OK, I thought you might want me to stop traffic while you worked.”
He was the first car I had seen in the 20 minutes I had been there.
Later when focusing on a faded wall with a Coca-Cola sign rapidly disappearing, another gentleman stopped by in an older pick-up.
“Whatcha doin’?”
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| There's still a place to eat in the town of 700-plus. |
I was kneeling in the middle of the highway, framing the movie house when a car pulled up behind me. It was a police cruiser. The window came down and the officer said: “Did you get your shot?” I said I did, and he said: “OK, I thought you might want me to stop traffic while you worked.”
He was the first car I had seen in the 20 minutes I had been there.
Later when focusing on a faded wall with a Coca-Cola sign rapidly disappearing, another gentleman stopped by in an older pick-up.
“Whatcha doin’?”
 |
| The theater still advertises its last movies. To enlarge any image, click on it. |
“I’m documenting the town, “ I said.
“Well, if you need anything, let me know, I’m on the town council and I can show you around.”
I told him about meeting the police officer.
He said: You didn’t meet an officer— you met the entire Crab Orchard police force.
Nice people, nice town. Glad I stopped.
I hope they get the funds to restore the theater. I will send a check.
“Well, if you need anything, let me know, I’m on the town council and I can show you around.”
I told him about meeting the police officer.
He said: You didn’t meet an officer— you met the entire Crab Orchard police force.
Nice people, nice town. Glad I stopped.
I hope they get the funds to restore the theater. I will send a check.
Crab Orchard is in Lincoln County, where the Bluegrass gives way to Appalachia. Yarmy told The Rural Blog, "Little adventures like this one is what I think is meant by the cliché 'stop and smell the roses'." More photos from his sojourn in Crab Orchard are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/140962699@N06/albums/72177720304074291.
from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/95IETGY Photo essay: A bypassed town tries to keep going - Entrepreneur Generations
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