Sherry Lee Parks
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
Sherry Parks was born and raised in the rural landscapes of Kentucky, where she spent her formative years immersed in the tight-knit community of Carr Creek. Her upbringing was characterized by the simplicity and warmth of rural life, where education often took place in modest one-room schoolhouses. Sherry's family roots in Carr Creek run deep, with her ancestors having settled in the area, contributing to the local culture and economy. As a child, Sherry's life was filled with the pastoral pleasures of the countryside, from the familial bonds forged within her community to the natural playgrounds provided by the local creeks and woodlands. Sherry's family was integral to her early life, with her parents playing a significant role in shaping her work ethic and values. The family's livelihood was connected to the land, with her father cultivating crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes while also instilling in Sherry a love for outdoor activities like fishing. As she transitioned into adolescence, Sherry's educational journey led her to Carr Creek Elementary and High School, where she continued to develop both academically and socially. Her life was marked by the significant changes that came with the construction of a dam in Carr Creek, an event that would reshape the landscape of her childhood and the community she knew.
Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Sherry Caudill Parks, conducted by Nicole Musgrave for the Carr Creek Oral History Project, provides a rich narrative of Sherry's life and experiences growing up in Kentucky. The interview covers a broad range of topics, beginning with Sherry's childhood memories of living in a close-knit community and attending a one-room school. She reflects on the simplicity of her early years, including the pleasures of getting ice cream and playing in the local creek. Sherry also discusses her family's move to Carr Creek, the impact of the dam's construction on the area, and the subsequent creation of a lake that necessitated the relocation of many homes, including her own. Sherry's narrative extends to her adult life, where she recounts her time working for a construction company during the development of the lake and engaging in activities such as drag racing on the newly built highway and playing pranks. She shares anecdotes about the lake being filled and the excitement surrounding the new developments in the community.
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