SOUTH-CENTRAL-KENTUCKY-L Archives

From: Sandi Gorin <>
Subject: HISTORY OF SUMMER SHADE, METCALFE - CONTINUED
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 07:58:07 -0600

"Prior to 1890 the free school at Mt. Carmel had been tansferred to Summer
Shade but not until in 1890 was it permanently established.

"Summer Shade has three churches: The Methodist organized about 1870 and
built on the lot given by Dr. WATSON; The Christian organized in 1876 held
their first meeting in the school building or the Masonic Hall until their
church was built about 1882; the Baptist organized in 1882 held their
meetings in the Masonic Hall for a number of years but disbanded because of
insufficient members until 1906 when they reorganized and built a church on
a lot given by Mr. and Mrs. J B SWOPE.

"A roller mill was built in 1901 by James TOOMEY, James SHIRLEY and James
WITTY, who sold his interest to Joseph CLARK in 1901 and CLARK helped in
the operation of the mill until 1926 when he sold his intesrest and retired.

"The Bank of Summer Shade was established in 1907 with Dr. G M DEPEW as
cashier. Prior to that time the citizens of Summer Shade did most of their
banking at Glasgow, Kentucky.

"About three miles east of Summer Shade is the noted BRANSTETTER park
founded between 1925 and 1927 by John Lew BRANSTETTER of Oklahoma and
Florida. BRANSSTETTER, a native of this community, attended the home
comings at Beaumont and enjoyed them so much that he founded the park for a
place to celebrate the annual August home coming. As long as he was able he
returned since many people throughout the state gather there to meet and
greet friends of other days and to enjoy an excelent program prepared for
the occasion.

"Summer Shade today has a number of business houses and is a busy little
town. It has five well stocked stores, three filling stations, one roller
mill, one planing mill, one bank, one school, three churches, three cream
stations, an undertakers establishment, one baraber shop and one post
office with three R.F.D. routes totaling about one hundred miles.

"Around 1942 land lying one mile east of Summer Shade was purchased from C
W WORD for the location of the Tennessee Valley Primary Substation. This is
reported to be a million dollar project. Army engineers in charge of
constructing Dale Hollow Dam for flood control needed a market for their
power, therefore the substation at Summer Shade, since it is closer from
Dale Hollow to the two 154000 KV lines owned by the TVA. The substation
receives all the generation (400000 KWH) from Dale Hollow dam. The 2
Louisville lines interconect with the Northern Utilities Companies; the
Bowling Green steam plant is interconnected by a 66000 KV line. The station
also carries the load of Scottsville and the local REA distributors. The
operation of the station requires four men working forty hours per week,
and one relief oeprator for vacation and sick leave. When Wolf Creek Dam is
finished by the Army, the station will be enlarged. It is a tribute to
skillful electrical engineering construction and at night, when the lights
are turned on, it is quite pretty in its rural setting."

This concludes the look at Metcalfe Co towns. Sandi

>>}}}0>> <<0{{{<<
Sandi Gorin - 205 Clements Ave., Glasgow, KY 42141-3409
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