Packhorse Librarians Marker in Hyden, ROSE Award Nominees, Kirstin Knabel’s Sparkly Wedding Dress, and More
It’s finally here and I plan on traveling more than three hours to Hyden, Leslie County, Kentucky, on October 11 to be part of history.
A Kentucky Historical Marker honoring the legacy of the Pack Horse Librarians will be dedicated during a special ceremony at Riverfront Park in Hyden.
The guest speaker will be New York Times bestselling author Kim Michele Richardson, who has written four historical works on the librarians, mostly women from Appalachia.
Pack Horse Librarians historical marker dedication flyer.
Hyden served as the first outpost for the librarians, who during the Great Depression delivered books to America’s poorest and most isolated people by horseback and on mules.
They believed in the power of books and how they can unite us and build stronger communities.
Richardson was the special guest at a program at the Frazier this past spring honoring the librarians. She said this when I asked her about the marker: “After ninety years, the librarians finally get their day in the sun. It is long overdue.”
Preach!
One of Richardson’s readers from Ohio, Eddie Black, asked her why there was no marker honoring them a couple of years ago. Richardson got to work, and dedicated hundreds of hours to help make it happen.
Relatives of those librarians will travel to be part of the ceremony, with Hyden Mayor Carol Joseph serving up a free picnic.
It’s finally here, and I hope you will join me in being part of history.
Also, in today’s Frazier Weekly, everything’s coming up Roses for two of our outstanding colleagues, a custom wedding dress as we say happy anniversary, and move over Big Foot, there’s another critter that made headlines in Hopkins County back in the 1950s.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Frazier History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Frazier’s Heidi Janes and Zac Hughes Nominated for Louisville Tourism’s 2025 ROSE Awards!
2025 ROSE Awards graphic.
Frazier employees Heidi Janes and Zac Hughes pose with their 2025 ROSE Award nominations, September 29, 2025.
Roses all around!
Great news, folks: two of our longest-serving and most outstanding employees have just been honored as 2025 Louisville Tourism ROSE Award finalists! ROSE stands for Recognition of Service and Excellence.
Congratulations to our Senior Manager of Operations, Heidi Janes, and our Facility Manager, Zac Hughes. They are two absolute rocks, now appropriately honored with roses!
Now let me tell you why you should vote for them when voting opens, October 8–16.
The Frazier has gone through a lot of changes since I started back in 2015, and I am incredibly proud of how we have grown. Heidi and Zac are a huge part of that growth. In fact, there are only four employees on the team who were working here before I started at the Frazier in August of 2015. Zac and Heidi are two of them.
In that time, they have grown as much as we have.
Heidi Janes, September 29, 2025.
Zac Hughes, September 29, 2025.
Heidi has mastered the business from the bottom up, working in admissions, retail, guest services, education, security, and management. She has developed our Bourbon tasting programs, manages our entire guest services team, and serves as the head honcho for our admissions, retail, and parking staff. She is creative, consistent, and most importantly curious about ways to improve. It is a formula for success that our younger employees are learning from every day.
Born with a servant’s heart, Zac is our get-er-done guy, with a better handle on this incredible asset at 829 Main Street than anyone. Early in his career at the Frazier, Zac was our Swiss Army knife, expertly completing every assignment with a smile and a nod. In 2019, he became “the guy” responsible for every nook and cranny of this 100,000-square-foot facility—chillers, boilers, and all. He manages permitting, logistics, and staffing for our big fundraisers and he has the unique ability to give you what you need instead of what you ask for. There is a difference, and Zac makes a difference for the Frazier every day!
I am more than thrilled that Heidi and Zac will be recognized before their peers in tourism on November 13 at the Louisville Palace. They deserve both the honor and the experience. And who knows: with your vote, they just might head home that night as ROSE Award winners. You can vote once per email address.
Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Dance Teacher Kristin Knabel’s Sparkly Custom Wedding Dress
Kristin Knabel’s wedding dress on display in the Frazier’s Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition, October 3, 2025.
Newlyweds Kristin Knabel and Tyler Hardwick pose at Christ Church United Methodist in St. Matthews, Kentucky, October 12, 2024.
One of the most exciting exhibitions I have worked on this past year is Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage. With fifty-four wedding dresses and ten suits, I can honestly say I have never dressed so many mannequins in my whole sixteen-year career! I am proud of how many brides we represent in it, too. One particular dress has the most beautiful sparkle to it: the dress worn by Kristin Knabel Hardwick, who uses a wheelchair. Kristin’s dress is the perfect example of what can be done to make every bride’s dream dress come true. But I will let Kristin tell you in her own words about her big day. And if you haven’t had a chance yet, come on down to the Frazier to see Kristin’s dress on display. Kristin celebrates her first anniversary this Sunday. Happy anniversary, Kristin!—Tish Boyer, Registrar & Manager of Collections Engagement
October 12, 2024, was a huge day for me: one of the most exciting, nerve wracking, and memorable days I can ever remember. I did not sleep the night before worrying about all the little details—if my dress would fit, or if my husband was even going to show up. It turned out to be the best day of my life. I married the man of my dreams, my dress fit perfectly, the food was amazing, and all the important people in my life came to support us. Now, a year later, we are coming up on our first anniversary and are excited to celebrate with a weekend trip to French Lick Resort. We have moved to Elizabethtown, bought a house, and adopted a dog. Life is great and I cannot wait to see what the many years of marriage ahead have in store.
Planning our big day had stressful moments but also some really fun ones. My favorite part was shopping for my wedding dress. My parents, close family, and friends joined me at Rebecca’s Bridal, where the amazing consultant Kaitlyn and her team helped me. The first gown I tried on was a sparkling ball gown with lace detail and a long train. I fell in love with it immediately and no other dress compared. My parents were nervous because, as a manual wheelchair user, I knew it was going to be a challenge. Luckily, Rebecca’s had an alterations referral, and that is how I met Heather Green.
Heather is a Godsend and a miracle worker. She fit the bodice perfectly, hemmed the skirt so it would not catch in my wheels, and even made the train detachable and attachable to my wheelchair with bustles. Her work allowed me to live out my favorite part of the night, dancing. My husband and I choreographed our first dance to “That’s What Love Is” by Alexandra Kay with the help of my friend Angela Tino. I was not nervous, since I am a dance teacher, but my husband was. It turned out amazing.
A few months later, I received an email from Rachel Platt asking if I would lend my dress and spare wheelchair to the Frazier History Museum. I was shocked but honored. The display turned out beautifully. It is definitely something I never imagined would be on my life bingo card.
Kristin Knabel
Dance Teacher
Guest Contributor
Frazier’s Leslie Anderson Marries, with Simon Meiners as Officiant
The Frazier’s Leslie Anderson, escorted by her mother and stepfather, walks down the aisle at her wedding, September 27, 2025. Leslie married Zac Stout in the Frazier’s Merkley Kendrick Rooftop Garden.
The Frazier’s Simon Meiners officiates Leslie and Zac’s wedding, September 27, 2025.
Louisville is for lovers!
On Saturday, September 27, Leslie Anderson—the Frazier’s Senior Manager of Grants and Community Development—married her fiancé Zac Stout. The ceremony took place in the museum’s Merkley Kendrick Rooftop Garden, which offers a scenic view of the Ohio River and the Falls City skyline.
Leslie had asked me to officiate—and the bride gets what the bride wants! I was honored to be a part of their special day.
Are you looking for a gorgeous and historic wedding venue? If so, book a site visit with our fantastic Events Team at fraziermuseum.org/events.
Congratulations, Leslie and Zac!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Museum Shop: Butter my Butt and Call me a Biscuit!
“Butter my Butt and Call me a Biscuit” dish towel sold in the Frazier’s Museum Shop and online.
Nothing beats a skillet of warm biscuits fresh from the oven—except buttering them up. It works just as well on friends and family, too. And as our cheeky flour sack towel declares: “Butter My Butt and Call Me Biscuit.” Made exclusively by a Mississippi artist, this sassy black-on-white towel is available now online and in the Frazier’s Museum Shop.
Join Frazier at Pumpkins at PlayPort on Saturday, October 11
Pumpkins at PlayPort flyer.
We love it when wonderful partners ask us to be part of something special! In this case, it’s Waterfront Park and their Pumpkins at PlayPort event on Saturday, October 11. The Frazier will be tabling along with many other organizations. The new westward expansion of Waterfront Park has been a bonus for the Frazier with its proximity for us to visit, especially with campers. Keep reading to learn more about the event. We hope to see you there.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
Waterfront Park is excited to host the inaugural Pumpkins at PlayPort on Saturday, October 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. This is a free, family-friendly event. Wear your favorite costumes and enjoy trick-or-treating throughout PlayPort. Waterfront Park is partnering with local organizations to bring fall fun to this state-of-the-art playground, located at 1105 Rowan Street. Organizations like the Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Science Center, Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville Public Media, and many others will be there to interact with children and provide activities such as spooky story time and free books, face painting, tattoos, craft-making, and other fun activities. Portal will provide a DJ with spooky tunes and a dance floor, and there will be a live performance by the Complex Collaboration Step Team. Be on the lookout for Catfish Louie and other life-sized characters and don’t forget to stop by the Caudill Seed Pumpkin Patch to pick out your pumpkin (while supplies last). Several food and beverage vendors will be on site with food and beverages for purchase. The event will also provide fantastic giveaways from Kentucky Kingdom.
Waterfront Park PlayPort is an innovative outdoor experiential learning and play area. Paying homage to the Ohio River’s cultural and industrial heritage, this 3.5-acre space features custom-built playground equipment made from repurposed construction and boat materials, creating a distinctive environment for hands-on exploration. Designed to foster creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and imagination, PlayPort offers engaging opportunities for families to learn together. Educational signage and interactive exhibits include graphics, content explaining how the exhibits work, play prompts, and links to videos developed by the Kentucky Science Center. PlayPort is an inclusive, transformative space where children of all abilities can enjoy accessible play alongside STEM-based learning. This project marks the beginning of the Phase IV expansion, with exciting additions to come. Come out and join the fun!
Angie McCorkle Buckler
Project Manager, the 40 & 1 Company
Guest Contributor
Highlights of 120: Hopkins County: Critter Ridder
120: Cool KY Counties graphic.
As we prepare for Halloween, we want to spotlight some of the spooky content featured in our museum. Learn more in the following story, one of hundreds of stories featured in our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist
Illustration of the Missouri Monster, a similarly described monster seen in Missouri in the 1950s, drawn by Hal D. Crawford for the 1970 book The Aliens by Crawford, Hayden Hewes, and Kietha Hewes.
In the 1950s, there were reports of a “critter” roaming Dawson Springs in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The first reports mentioned trees having large claw marks. Then there were glimpses of a creature in the dark: a large, cat-like animal. Additional evidence of the critter included black and red fur left in fences and a paw print that measured four inches in diameter. As sightings and evidence became more frequent, the critter was now believed to be the size of a bear. One morning, a couple reported what they believed to be a large wolf crossing the road on their way out of Hopkins County. A posse was formed on the last day of the hunting season in 1954 to try and find the critter. The posse met at 9:30 in the morning, asking for hunting dogs and warning that .22 caliber rifles were too small. After a day of searching, they found no trace of the critter.
On the Trail with Abby: Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort
On the Trail with Abby graphic.
Bourbon tourism is booming—and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is growing faster than ever! Each week, the Frazier’s Abby Flanders takes readers on a digital stop-by-stop tour of this expanding adventure, spotlighting the distilleries, stories, and expressions behind America’s native spirit. Ready to hit the trail in real life? Start your journey at the Frazier History Museum, the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
Exterior of Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky.
Some distilleries have a warehouse or a barn. Castle & Key has a castle!
Built in 1887 by Colonel E. H. Taylor Jr., this Frankfort, Kentucky, landmark was designed to look like something out of a fairy tale, complete with a limestone castle and sprawling European-inspired gardens. Taylor’s vision was brave: he wanted not just a distillery, but a destination that would dazzle and draw in visitors. He succeeded, though the site eventually fell into ruin and disrepair. For decades, ivy and weeds crept over the stone walls and through the keyhole-shaped Springhouse, giving the place a haunted grandeur.
That all changed when Castle & Key was resurrected through the restoration of the Old Taylor Distillery in 2014. The founders meticulously restored the grounds, gardens, and distillery buildings, reopening them to the public in 2018, and earning the designation of being on the National Register of Historic Places. What once was a crumbling relic is now one of the most beautiful stops—and one of my favorite stops—on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
Castle & Key is known for its Restoration Rye, small-batch Bourbon, and delicious gin, all distilled using the site’s original spring water source. Guests can wander formal gardens, relax in the sunlit Springhouse, or simply marvel at how a piece of Bourbon history was saved and reimagined. You’ll notice nods to the grounds integrated into the design of every bottle.
Visiting Castle & Key feels like stepping into a storybook, but I don’t think Cinderella had Bourbon like this.
Abby Flanders
Administrative Chief of Engagement
