On Sunday, March 28th, this writer embarked on an exploratory sojourn through the rural byways of Kentucky, accompanied by a trusted companion. Our objective was to document, through the lens of a camera, three sites that bear witness to the state’s multifaceted history: a tobacco processing facility in the throes of demolition, a venerable residential structure, and a former medical institution dedicated to combating the scourge of tuberculosis.
On Sunday, March 28th, this writer embarked on an exploratory sojourn through the rural byways of Kentucky, accompanied by a trusted companion. Our objective was to document, through the lens of a camera, three sites that bear witness to the state’s multifaceted history: a tobacco processing facility in the throes of demolition, a venerable residential structure, and a former medical institution dedicated to combating the scourge of tuberculosis.
Our journey commenced at daybreak, traversing eastward along the AA Highway until we arrived at the Parker Tobacco Company in Maysville. The scene that unfolded before us was one of controlled chaos, as the process of dismantling the facility was well underway. Rooms stood bare, stripped of their contents, while desks, filing cabinets, and furniture lay discarded. Gaping holes punctuated the floors and walls, facilitating the removal of equipment from the premises.
Thereafter, we ventured southward to conduct follow-up photographic documentation of the William Tarr House, a historic residential edifice that has endured the passage of time.
Our final destination was the Paris Tuberculosis Hospital, a medical facility erected between 1946 and 1948 in the city of Paris, Kentucky. Regrettably, this structure, once a bastion of hope for those afflicted with the debilitating respiratory disease, succumbed to the inexorable march of progress and was demolished in 2012.
Through our endeavors, we sought to capture the essence of these sites, preserving their memory and bearing witness to the ever-evolving tapestry of the Bluegrass State’s narrative.
