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Reading literature is one of the best way to keep your brain active and increase your intelligence. Furthermore, reading literature about your home city can reconnect you with a place you never knew you loved. The purpose of this article is to list the best books about the greater Ashland area. I hope you’ll enjoy these and let me know what you think of them in the comments! Let’s get started.
The Ashland Tragedy: Murder, Mob & a Militia in Kentucky
On Christmas Eve 1881, a horrible crime shook the small town of Ashland, Kentucky, and captivated the entire nation. Three children were brutally murdered and their house set ablaze. Nothing in the small town’s past had prepared it for what followed. Three men were convicted of the crimes, and two were sentenced to death. But the murderers were protected by the governor’s untrained militia, which would eventually turn their guns on Ashland’s innocent citizens.
Ashland (Images of America)
Resting on the banks of the Ohio River, Ashland is eastern Kentucky’s largest city. After the Poage family settled on land between Hoods and Keys Creeks in Boyd County, the area came to be known as the Poage’s Settlement. Before long, a small town began to take form in the early 1800s with the establishment of a church, gristmill, sawmill, and homes built near Hoods Creek. In 1847, the townspeople built their first post office, and the Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad laid tracks through town, opening the area for even greater development. Named for the estate of Kentuckian Henry Clay, the city of Ashland was made official by an act of legislature in 1856.
Shadow of Ashland
Only weeks before she dies in March, 1984, Leo Nolan’s mother shows her son a rose she says was just given to her by her brother, Jack, who disappeared 50 years earlier. After her death, letters from Jack begin to arrive at the family home. They are postmarked 1934. The final one is from Ashland, Kentucky.
The Ashland Oil Story
Paul G. Blazer, a brilliant if parochial businessman, promoted a small independent oil refinery into a highly efficient petroleum company. He also attracted and trained some very energetic, hard-driving young executives. When they finally had the company drop in their laps the world was their oyster. Great strides were taken and objectives reached – and visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. With success came pride, then greed and avarice. It was a wild ride and one hell of a lot of fun while it lasted.
Raceland: Eastern Kentucky Horse Racing History
Over a decade before he built one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks at Keeneland, Jack Keene had the idea of building a racetrack in Eastern Kentucky. That track, Raceland, hosted a number of races in its short operation. In fact, it was dubbed the “Million Dollar Oval” because of the vast sums of money changing hands and the track’s beautiful surroundings. This book explores the short history of Jack Keene’s dream at Raceland.
My Old Kentucky Home, Ashland
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME, ASHLAND is the story of a small town bordering where Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia all meet. Many famous people have lived here for various lengths of time. I have compiled an exhaustive list from years of research and they, with many of their stories are found in this book. At the end of this book is: THE LIST OF OVER 125 FAMOUS ASHLANDERS. It includes movie & TV stars, music stars, sports stars, famous criminals, a president & governor.
Ashland, The anchor of Northeast Kentucky: history of Ashland
This is the history of Ashland, Kentucky through pictures and descriptions. It covers prehistory, Native American mounds and on to the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
