An art group in Brandenburg, Kentucky area sponsored an Arts and Crafts Show the summer after the April 3, 1974 Tornado struck that location. D. J. was one of the teenagers who served as a volunteer to aid the victims whose lives were in need of helping hands.
The Brandenburg Show was held on the grounds of a Log Cabin adjacent to the historic Doe Run Inn. Ravella Coffman, her sister, my Mother, and myself planned to stay in the Inn for the weekend as driving back to Louisville on a Saturday night and returning early on Sunday morning was inconvenient.
We learned that we were in rugged territory because after telling the front desk there was a wasp in our room, we were given a can of bug spray.
A young folksinger told us all her paintings had been blown away to “somewhere up north” so she could not display a booth, She would sing for the weekend. I am forever grateful for her singing because it was the first time I had heard the memorable ballad, “Muhlenburg County”. Since that weekend, anytime I hear that song, I can see her sitting near that Log Cabin with the breeze blowing her long, dark hair.
An artist friend, Lynn Davis, was also participating in the show. She happened to also be a friend of the Inn owners. Lynn was one of those people who never met a stranger and everyone enjoyed spending time in her company, Which is why when she knocked on our door Saturday evening and wanted to talk, I was the only one who consented to come down to the Lobby with her. The others were planning on getting a good night’s rest after spending the greater part of the day talking to booth visitors. One usually lets out a long sigh after closing a booth and one eagerly seeks a prone sleeping position as soon as possible.
Meeting Lynn in the Lobby took a surprising turn when she declared, “I’m hungry! Let’s raid the kitchen!”
“I don’t think ok that’s a good idea” I countered.
She grabbed my elbow and I felt myself pulled toward the kitchen while she laughed and said, “They won’t mind! They know me!”
Once she was satisfied with collecting a bounty of snacks, we retreated to the Lobby for our chat session.
Many art shows have logged into my Memory Book since that night but when I hear mention of Doe Run Inn during a conversation, my mind goes back to a scenario of sitting with Lynn in a respected Lobby enjoying shared moments of art stories while eating sandwiches and dips.