Jimmy Hall
Carr Creek Oral History Project
This collection is comprised of audio-recorded interviews conducted during 2022-2023 by folklorist Nicole Musgrave with support from the Kentucky Oral History Commission. Her work was part of an effort to document the geographic and human impact of the construction of the Carr Fork Reservoir in southeastern Kentucky, which was completed in 1976. The collection’s twenty interviews with residents of Knott, Letcher and Perry Counties range in focus and content. Most of the interviewees were affected by dislocation in some way. They express different opinions about the lake and its impact on the community. Most interviewees share memories of what the area was like before the lake was built, and many have vivid memories of what the construction process was like.
National Capital Contracting
Jimmy Hall is a native of Knott County, Kentucky, with deep familial roots in the region. His ancestors, having emigrated from England, settled in Kentucky following the Revolutionary War, establishing a lineage that would endure the trials and transformations of the area. Hall's childhood unfolded in Shingle Branch, where he witnessed the construction of Carr Creek Lake—a development that would forever alter the landscape he knew. Despite not graduating from Carr Creek High School, Hall's resilience led him to acquire his GED through the Job Corps, a testament to his adaptability and determination. His life story is not just one of personal growth but also a narrative deeply intertwined with the community's history and the environmental changes that have shaped it. Hall's connection to Carr Creek Lake is complex, marked by a fondness for the place he calls home and a frustration with the limitations imposed by the Corps of Engineers. His yearning for enhanced recreational opportunities around the lake and his reflections on the vanished community that once thrived there before the lake's creation paint a picture of a man who cherishes his heritage while grappling with the consequences of progress.
Scope and Content Note
The interview with Jimmy Hall provides a rich tapestry of personal and communal history centered around the transformation of Carr Creek Lake and its effects on the local population. Hall recounts his family's skepticism and resistance to the lake's construction, rooted in fears that the dam might fail and lead to catastrophic flooding. The narrative delves into the emotional and practical repercussions of relocating cemeteries and graves, a process that underscored the profound impact on the community's connection to their ancestors and their land. Hall also sheds light on the economic implications for small businesses disrupted by the lake's creation. Despite these challenges, Hall's family managed to stay united, resettling on land owned by their grandfather, demonstrating their resilience in the face of upheaval. The interview captures Hall's mixed emotions: his nostalgia for the pre-lake era, his critique of post-construction regulations, and his aspirations for the area's recreational potential. Through Hall's eyes, listeners gain insight into the personal and collective experiences of those who lived through the transition, the loss of a community to the ambitions of development, and the enduring spirit of those who adapted to their new reality.
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