The Morgantowner: Boyd County, Kentucky

I know. For someone who writes about Morgantown, it seems like I'm never there. Tonight (August 11) I'm in Ashland, Kentucky, which, according to the "2015 Kentucky Travel Guide" is the "...major urban area of eastern Kentucky, the area where coal meets iron." Catlettsburg, the county seat of Boyd County, is just across a bridge from Kenova, West Virginia, and downtown Ashland is on the Ohio River across from Ohio a few miles downstream. The proximity of coal, iron ore and limestone, the ease of transportation on the Ohio River, and later, the coming of the railroad, were the economic drivers of the region. Oil and gas are major industries.

It seems somehow different from both West Virginia and Ohio-more Southern, more laid back, friendlier. The first thing you notice crossing from West Virginia to Ohio on I-64 is the huge Marathon oil refinery sitting on the hill, looking like Elizabeth New Jersey's Exxon plant. I was worried. But Ashland, while not a large town, has all the amenities. There is a mall, occasional live theater, movies, a museum. The rich people live near downtown and there is a Central Park. Lots of people were out jogging when I went by this morning.

Catlettsburg is much smaller than Ashland, pretty, but with a nearly vacant downtown. It is on Big Sandy River where it flows into the Ohio.

I found most of the places in Boyd County on the National Register of Historic Places. All are in or near Ashland and Catlettsburg.

The weather was cool this morning, getting muggy later and up to about 85 F. this afternoon. I explored this morning, planned to eat lunch at Sbarro in the mall, and hit a movie later. I checked this morning and found that "Mr. Holmes," a movie about Sherlock Holmes in retirement in 1947, featuring Ian McKellen and Laura Linney, was playing in at the Kyova Mall, west on US 60 from town. (Kyova, like Kenova, has to do with the names of the three states in the area, although somehow "West" gets left out). The mall is off I-64 and is mostly dead. There is one department store, a branch library, the movies, and lots of abandoned stores. I wouldn't have been in that area except for the movie. I don't think "Mr. Holmes" did well. It looks beautiful, but there is no sex, no car chases, guns or monsters. The lead actor is 76; the leading lady is 51. I enjoyed it, but I imagine young people stayed away in droves.

I'll be back in Morgantown tomorrow in time for the baby-naming for Parker Finn Solomon. Boyd County was my July County. To really catch up, I have to get to Bracken County, Kentucky later this month, along the Ohio farther west, featuring Augusta, hometown of Rosemary, Nick and George Clooney. Stay tuned. Here are some pictures from Boyd County.