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Snapshots in Time

Snapshots in Time, a column exploring the history of Hopkinsville and Christian County through old photographs and artifacts, is published monthly, usually on the third Monday. It is written by Alissa Keller, the executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County. Explore more Snapshots in Time.

Long lost ledger from an old Hopkinsville stagecoach stop reveals details of everyday life
Alissa Keller•
In January, readers chose the artifact they'd like museum director Alissa Keller to feature next. Here's that column.
ledger snapshots full.jpb
Edgar Cayce’s photography: The world as he saw it
Alissa Keller•
Before he became internationally famous as a psychic, Cayce earned his living for several years as a photographer in Hopkinsville and other cities.
Cayce glass negative
Nursery bed symbolizes Brooks family legacy in Hopkinsville
Alissa Keller•
Cowan Brooks, the son of Dr. Philip Carruthers Brooks, donated the artifact to the Pennyroyal Area Museum shortly after the death of his father.
brooks hospital exhibit
This tiny artifact opens doors to several Hopkinsville stories
Alissa Keller•
It came from the estate of Dr. Bertha Beazley, one among a small number of female dentists practicing in Kentucky during the mid-20th century.
eyeball snapshots
Gant Gaither’s scarves depict whimsical designs from one of Hopkinsville’s most creative sons
Alissa Keller•
Among the scarves designed by Gant Gaither in the Pennyroyal Area Museum's collection is one depicting ice skating horses.
Gaither-featured
Parking meters illustrate changing times in downtown Hopkinsville
Alissa Keller•
For 40 years, parking meters lined the streets of downtown Hopkinsville, during a period of industrial progress that eventually drove people — and parking meters — out of the city's center.
Parking meter_museum
South Christian farmer’s daughter built a rich life in Lexington
Alissa Keller•
Mary Kimbrough Stoner's story is revealed through book of poetry "The Cardinal Cat," which includes a tribute — in verse — to Hopkinsville.
The-Cardinal-Cat_Mary-Stoner_Inside-Cover
Western Union bike rack exemplifies a moment in Hopkinsville history
Alissa Keller•
The artifact – housed at the Pennyroyal Area Museum – was once housed outside of the historic Phoenix Building, which is slated for demolition.
western union sign on bike rack
Revolutionary-era trunk carried stories of nation’s past to Hopkinsville
Alissa Keller•
A closer look at a historic trunk housed by the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville & Christian County reveals more stories than one might expect.
Revolutionary-Trunk-3
Torah sheds light on Hopkinsville’s Jewish history
Alissa Keller•
The Torah survives today because it was loaned to the local museum two years before the Jewish synagogue building collapsed in 1977.
Temple Adath Israel feature
Racing silks in museum collection tell another Christian County horse story
Alissa Keller•
The silks were donated by the family of the late Henry G. Adcock, the Christian County man largely responsible for developing harness racing at the local fair.
Harness horses feature
Hopkinsville fire run records provide insight into the past
Alissa Keller•
In this month's Snapshots in Time column, museum director Alissa Keller looks back at the Hopkinsville Fire Department run records — and what they reveal about a fateful night in October 1924.
fire station after blaze