Paul Collins was born in December 1954 and grew up in Smithboro, Kentucky. His father hailed from Irishman Creek, a region impacted by the construction of a dam, while his mother's family resided in Smithboro. Paul's maternal grandfather, John J. Amburgey, was a schoolteacher and merchant, running multiple general stores in the area alongside his brothers. Paul spent his childhood in Smithboro, where his family operated a general store that evolved into a department store. Paul's education began at the newly built Carr Creek Elementary School, marking a transition from the one-room schoolhouse in his community. After the construction of a flood control reservoir in the 1960s, Paul's family established a new dairy bar at Red Oak Mountain. 

Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Paul Collins, conducted on February 27, 2023, by Nicole Musgrave for the Carr Creek Oral History Project, provides a comprehensive account of his life and the socio-economic changes in Smithboro, Kentucky. Paul discusses his upbringing in a family of merchants, detailing the operations of their general store, which later expanded into a department store. He describes the impact of the dam construction on Irishman Creek and the subsequent relocation of his family and their business. Paul offers insights into the community's structure, the role of local stores, and the cultural landscape of small rural villages in Knott County. He recounts the challenges of growing up during the transition period, including the relocation of homes and cemeteries due to the flood control project. The interview captures his personal experiences, such as working in the family store, engaging in local trade practices, and adapting to the new socio-economic realities brought by the reservoir's construction. Paul's narrative also touches on the broader implications of eminent domain and community displacement, providing a nuanced perspective on the balance between public infrastructure projects and their impact on local communities.