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Archiver > KYHARLAN > 2000-07 > 0963552978


From: The Browns <>
Subject: [KYHARLAN-L] Re: KYHARLAN-D Digest V00 #257
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 01:36:18 -0400
References: <200007131800.e6DI0hg22754@lists5.rootsweb.com>


SFC Langford' location of Georgetown is nearly accurate. Georgetown was
a 'colored' section of Harlan, across the river from downtown. There
were two churches there, as well as two 'recreation' centers, each
having pool tables and barbershops; the notorious one of which was known
as the 'White House.' The liquid products of Harlan County's other
industry could be purchased there on occasion. Both Harlan High School
and Rosenwald High School shared the football field during practice and
for home games. In fact, the street from Harlan High went through town,
past Main St, Cumberland Ave, and Elm St, across the bridge to Kentucky
Ave, then right to the end at the field where Kentucky Ave. ended.
Georgetown met its demise in the late '60s when the building structures
could no longer stand up to the nearly annual floods. Many of the
former residents moved to the new apartments built in Harlan Gas. The
white residents of Georgetown lived across the railroad tracks, up the
hill, above flood level. When I was last there in '94 (?) the dirt that
had been removed for cutting the tunnels through Ivy Hill had been
deposited on the old football field.

Jerry W. Brown



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