Publisher

Dr. Marion D. Miniard hosted the third Men’s Day Out at the Miniard Farm at Cornettsville this past Saturday afternoon. Taylor Roark, whose birthday was celebrated at the gathering, was the chief cook of the fish enjoyed by those attending.

Along with a time for area folk to get together and visit as well as enjoy a good meal, the Men’s Day Out was a chance to promote the historical significance of the area as well as promote the area as a tourism attraction. Robert Brashear, who came to Perry County in 1841 and established himself as a businessman, founded the Brashear salt works in 1835, which utilized locals and slaves as workers. The salt, which sold for $1.00 per bushel, was sold locally as well as into Virginia. The salt works operation was later flooded in the 1880s.

Brashear, the son-in-law of William Cornett, was the owner of the area’s first industry as well as postmaster, merchant, sheriff, probate judge and trustee for the town of Hazard. He moved to Tennessee during the Civil War, and that is the state where he died.

The first conflict of the Civil War in this area was the Battle of Leatherwood where about 140 men were engaged in that skirmish. Many other battles, both larger and smaller, would be held in Eastern Kentucky for the three or four years following the Battle of Leatherwood. The 145th anniversary of the battle was commemorated at a re-enactment held on the site last October. Paul David Taulbee, a supporter of the re-enactment from its infancy until today, was among those at the Men’s Day Out gathering.

In thanking Dr. Miniard for his longtime support of the rebuilding of Brashearville so as future generations will appreciate the historical importance of the area, former Perry County Sheriff Pat Wooton, and now Area Representative for Congressman Hal Rogers, reminded the group that “everything starts with local leadership,” and followed through with everyone working together for the common cause.

Lt. Governor candidate Dr. Daniel Mongiardo told those at the gathering that he would continue to see that we use what has been left in the way of trails and roads by the coal companies to build what he hopes is a massive inner-connected trail system going through 16 Eastern Kentucky counties. The promotion of Eastern Kentucky as a tourism mecca has been a great interest of Dr. Mongiardo for years.

John Gassett, Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife for the state of Kentucky, talked to the group about the importance of the wildlife population in making this area the tourism destination it deserves to be. Commissioner Gassett said the goal is to have 10,000 elk in the four million acres which involves 16 counties. Elk hunting has been going on here since 2001, and the number of those buying tickets for a chance to hunt elk in eastern Kentucky has grown each year. The state office of Fish and Wildlife is now receiving inquiries about elk hunting in this area from as far away as California.

The event stressed to those in attendance the important role that this area has played in many years past as well as the importance it will be in the growth of tourism business many hope to see in the immediate, as well as long range future.