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In 1950 - WSGS & WKIC in Hazard held a contest inviting listeners to tell us why Hazard is was best place to live in the USA. Jenny French provided the winning entry taking home the $10 prize. Jenny was married to one of WKIC's original engineers - Jim French, and moved to Hazard from Chicago in 1947. They made Hazard their home until 1951. You can listen to Jenny read her winning entry by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

I think Hazard is the most wonderful place in the world to live because it offers enough advantages to compensate for it's many undesirable features. For example, I dread climbing the long steep hill to our house but once I reach our own doorstep I love to turn and watch the smoke curl from the chimneys and the lights flicker on in the homes of my friends below. I am ashamed of the tiny yards and cramped play space which we must offer our children. But I am grateful to our citizens who are providing a swimming pool and park, recreation hall, folk dancing opportunities, modern gymnasium and playgrounds in every available location.. I miss the cultural advantages of life in a larger city but I am proud to live in a small town which refuses to let the world pass it by, a town which supports the community concert series, other lectures and concerts, the outstanding civic clubs of the country, a children's theater, two newspapers, and a radio station. I regret that there are comparatively few stores in which to shop. But I appreciate the fact that those few stores offer the same famous name brands of merchandise as those found on Fifth Avenue. I am often embarrassed by the attitude of other Kentuckians who are inclined to consider Hazard as an isolated town far removed from the hub of our state's educational activity but I am always glad to remind them that in spite of our isolation the Hazard School System ranks with Kentucky's best. I hate the soot and dirt which we must battle continuously in order to keep our homes even moderately clean and attractive. But I have a healthy respect for Hazard's homemakers who have maintained such a high standard of house keeping in the face of such terrific obstacles. I am depressed by the lack of natural beauty in Hazard but the dinginess of my surroundings has been offset by the brightness of loyalty in the friends I have made. I am concerned about an apparent indifference toward an element of crime in Hazard but I have confidence in the churches of our town and in the many steady law abiding citizens who support those churches in a constant effort to make Christianity supplant lawlessness. I would never in the world have selected Hazard as the ideal town in the United States but now that I'm here, it has became my home and I think it's wonderful.

Why I love my hometown of Hazard, Ky is not because of it's new modern business' or it's big highways cutting through the mountains, but because the natural beauty and small hollers that bend with the mountains. Also, quoting Jenny French, I am proud to live in a small town which refuses to let the world pass it by. Hazard fights to stay in
the race with the big city's of Kentucky but still keeps it's respect of being a "small-town". I love Hazard, Kentucky and will always call it my home! Eric Eversole, Hazard, KY

I was born and lived in Hazard most of my life. I love when I was growing up and living in Lothair, how good the neighbor was to everybody. During sickness or death the neighbor would help other family with what every they could. I love the Christmas when we was small and we was so excited to get a bag of fruit and candy from the miner. We kids would play under the lights under dark and we all got along. I still remember some of the neighbor that lived there. I remember taking my boys to T G & Y, NewBerry and Watson. I loved going to school in Lothair. We had a hard life here but a good life. I wish my kids could have known the life we had a had got to enjoy it. I hope I all ways live here but I wish down town was back to like it was when I was young. CAROL

I wasn't born in the 50's but I remember loving getting to "go to town" back in the 70's when I was a kid. Sitting at the counter in Newberrys and eating lunch. Going in TG&Y and shopping and stopping at the candy counter and buying a bag of mixed candy. Those were good times, simpler times back when town was the only place to shop.

I thought it was well written but she said as many negative things as she did positive things. I guess it's a generational thing. Tell us what Hazard and Perry County means to you. CuriousCat

Curiouscat, I don't think it is a generational thing. I too thought it was negative. This comes from someone who moved to Hazard from Chicago and only stayed in Perry County for three years. I agree it was well written and that is probably why she won the contest but her words seem to come off as back-handed compliments. You know the kind - "that dress is pretty to be so old." I think it reveals that she basically learned to appreciate a place that she thought she would hate. It was a special time in her life. Two of her children were born here. I think it is an interesting perspective but not typical of natives of East Kentucky. I think she really missed the mark when she said, "I am depressed by the lack of natural beauty in Hazard and the dinginess of my surroundings ..." That is the main thing the area has going for it, the beauty of the mountains. This was written eight years before La Citadelle opened in 1958, which attracted tourists from all parts of the state to Hazard. It was one of the most beautiful mountain top resorts around. I would be curious to hear what Carlene Shackelford thought of the comments. She has a wonderful way with words. Carol Melton

The sleepy little town of my past has been etched in my mind since the day I became old enough to know the name Hazard. It never entered my mind to be ashamed of my hometown...I took its name with me wherever I had to make a home away from home. I was so proud to talk about the quality of life in our little town, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the metro cities. As this lady says, the pros of living in Hazard during the 50's far outweigh the cons, so much so, I can hardly quote you a con from my memory of Hazard during that time frame. From our little town went out doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, judges, and the list goes on and on.

Education was never at a low ebb and I get chills just thinking of walking the "hallowed" halls of Hazard High School and the opportunities offered to us within the walls. The teachers were the creme of the crop and they instilled in us, the students, a desire to succeed. After walking those halls for four years, for myself, I can say, I was ready for society and hoped society was ready for me. Thank God for Hazard, Ky. I am bragging on this small town's educational opportunities. When I entered Hazard High School that first day, 1948, I was scared, not knowing what to expect or where I really needed to be. An hour into my being there I became aware of three options for those of us as Freshman.

One option, we could sign up on what I called a college prep class and take classes that would get us ready for college ahead; another option was the commercial class, which offered English, bookkeeping, shorthand, typing, etc. (which I chose for I wanted to be a legal secretary) and without any further training, (only tutoring along the way from my peers); and the other option offered was the general course which would just get your through four years of high school with a certificate. A small town high school but what potential inside those walls. I am proud to say I graduated from Hazard High School in 1952, and what I learned from Ms. Griffey, Ms. Ross, and so many other wonderful teachers prepared me (without college degree) to pursue a great profession which ran from secretary, court reporter, legal assistant and paralegal. I am so proud to have been born and reared in my sleeping little mountain town of Hazard. Idalee Hansel, Spartanburg, SC

I think Idalee's post just beat that other lady's entry all to pieces. That was great, Idalee. I don't understand the other lady saying that we have no natural beauty here...that makes no sense at all.