Story behind the Keith Whitley and Patty Loveless 1989 Hazard concert

WSGS Radio station in Hazard, Kentucky, always has some neat tidbits and stories from eastern Kentucky.  This one posted on their Facebook page is one to definitely read.

Original Ticket Stub from Keith Whitley and Patty Loveless concert in 1989

On This Day in History: May 27th 1989: Keith Whitley was scheduled to perform in concert in Hazard, Kentucky, however he died 18 days earlier of alcohol poisoning. WSGS began playing the East Kentucky native's music long before he was a star and he was a frequent caller to the station in Hazard. He once landed a spot on Channel 57's Jamboree in Hazard when he was a struggling musician. He later charted 19 singles on Billboard's charts with five straight number one songs. His May 27th 1989 concert in Hazard, Kentucky was much anticipated and heavily promoted by WSGS, but the show was not to be with his untimely death at the age of 33. Patty Loveless, who was also scheduled to perform, went on with the show in Hazard without Keith. A sadness swept over Patty and the entire audience but she carried on for the appreciative crowd. Click on the audio link to listen to one of Keith's conversations with WSGS: http://www.wsgs.com/keith.wax

Only in Kentucky - The Mother Goose House

Mother Goose House in Hazard, KY - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have visited quite a few sites throughout our wonderful state of Kentucky.  I thought I would feature a few of these in a new series, "Only in Kentucky."  As you guessed it, you probably will not find anything like these places, objects, and people anywhere else.

In Hazard, Kentucky, you will find the unusual house that even Oprah had to feature on her show.  The Mother Goose House is well known among eastern Kentucky folks.  George Stacy started working on the house in 1935 and completed it in 1940. He used a goose skeleton to build the home to scale and the rocks are from numerous states, as well as Canada.  The windows are egg shaped and a pair of automobile lights are the eyes of the big ole goose.

According to the Hazard, Kentucky, website, "The head of the goose is about 15 feet high.  There is a tail at the other end of the roof.   It was built in an oval shape to symbolize a nest.  Eli Brashear with the Home Lumber Company in Hazard milled the lumber which was numbered and fixed to make the skeleton.  Charlie Presnell and Ivis Jones did the stone work, Lee Spalding poured the concrete and Corvitt Brown supervised the woodwork.  The goose, which now serves as an apartment, has three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bath, dining room, and large family room."

Mother Goose House in Hazard, KY - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

The address to the Mother Goose House is 2906 N Main Street, Hazard, KY 41701.  To get to the Mother Goose House from the west, you will take KY-80/Hal Rogers Parkway east towards Hazard.  You will take Exit 59 and turn right onto KY-80/KY-15.  You will continue on this route and then turn right onto KY-476, which is also North Main Street. The house will be on your left.

Mother Goose House in Hazard, KY - Photo by Jessica Blankenship