Kyra Shiann Higgins
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
Kyra Higgins is a long-time resident of Redfox, Kentucky, with a deep familial and personal connection to the local landmark, Carr Creek Lake. Her life has been intertwined with the lake, from childhood memories of family gatherings to her participation in church summer programs. Higgins' experiences with the lake are not just recreational; they are also reflective as she contemplates the lake's origins and its broader implications for the community. Her family ties extend to a relative who was employed at the lake, providing her with a unique perspective on its day-to-day operations and the less documented aspects of its existence. Despite her intimate knowledge of the area, Higgins harbors reservations about the lake's water quality and the safety of swimming there, which stem from both personal caution and the lake's storied past, including local legends and real-life tragedies. Her insights are informed by a mix of nostalgia, skepticism, and a quest for a deeper understanding of the lake's history and its effects on the local ecosystem and the community's social fabric.
Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Kyra Higgins, conducted as part of the Carr Creek Oral History Project, offers a multifaceted exploration of the Carr Creek Lake and its significance to the Redfox, Kentucky community. Higgins recounts the lake's eerie reputation, fueled by tales of a mysterious "big fish" and the somber history of deaths associated with the lake. She raises questions about the lake's creation, suggesting that there may have been ulterior motives behind its development, including the displacement of the Black community and potential hidden agendas. The interview delves into the environmental and social impacts of the manmade lake, including the disruption of wildlife habitats and the relocation of homes. Higgins expresses a desire to uncover more about the lake's history, particularly the underrepresented stories of resistance to its creation and the fate of the displaced Black community. She advocates for the lake to be utilized for community events and activities that could foster tourism and economic growth while also expressing concern about the environmental and social costs of constructing manmade lakes. Through her narrative, Higgins provides a personal account that captures the complex relationship between the Carr Creek Lake and the people whose lives it has shaped.
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