Celebrating Patsy Young’s Legacy: 36 Years of Service to the HC Historical Society

By Jennifer Wimmer

At the Annual Hancock County Historical Society Picnic on Saturday, September 21st, Patsy Young was honored for 36 years of service. She is Secretary of the HC Historical Society, and has also served as Treasurer since the formation in 1973. She has worked for many years at the Hancock County Museum, one Sunday a month, and every month since its opening in 1988.

Young has been actively involved since the very beginning, when the Hancock County Historical Society was first formed. There were approximately 30 original members who signed the charter, and they met once a month. One of the first items on the agenda was to set goals, the first of which was to establish a museum.

The new annex was built about that same time, and the court had allowed them to have one room for meetings. There were also oak cabinets, a judge’s chair and benches, among other items that were available to use, which could not be taken for use in the new courthouse.

The City of Hawesville bought the old train station for one dollar, and the Historical Society paid $200 per year rent to CSX Railroad. Orville Miller worked with contractors, as per his expertise. The goal was to restore it to the original state, and grants were acquired to refurbish it.

Steve and Brenda Harmon refurbished the benches, the Rowes contributed cane bottom chairs, and the late Bobby Fallin worked with maintenance of the buildings for many years. Jack & Mildred Foster and Horace & Liz Temple brought new ideas to the HC Historical Society and Museum as well. These are just a few of the many faithful volunteers who have ensured the ongoing of the society, and that the museum is available for tours each year. The priceless historical items are preserved well, in order to share rich history with the community, as well as with visitors from surrounding areas.

A visitor favorite is the Home & Hearth Room at the HC Museum, which displays items such as: quilting frames, a loom, and an old Singer Sewing Machine. Visitors have also greatly enjoyed the one-room schoolhouse displays.

Young has been very attentive and actively involved in making sure that the HC Museum continues to be a rich resource of history in the county for groups of school children, families, and others to visit and enjoy, as well as being dedicated in her duties as Secretary and Treasurer of the HC Historical Society.

Born and raised in Hawesville, she has lived in the county most all of her life. She was born in 1933, to John and Catherine Duncan Robbins.

In 1951, Young graduated from Beachmont High School, and in 1953 married Herbert Young. He had just completed his duty in the Korean War, as a Control Tower Operator. They lived in Cape Cod for 14 months (1953-1955), while he was stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base, and that is where their only child, Robin, was born. They moved back to Hawesville, and in the years following, enjoyed traveling all around Kentucky, to all 50 states, and to Europe twice, as well as enjoying 8 cruises.

The Hancock County Museum, located at 110 River St. in Hawesville, is open every Sunday from April-October from 2-4 p.m., except on holidays. Monthly meetings are every 3rd Tuesday of the month. The HC Historical Society meets at 5:30 p.m., and the HC Museum meets immediately after. Anyone is invited to attend and join. Building maintenance, museum displays, activity planning and brainstorming on how to get new members to join are discussed at meetings.
Private Tours
Private tours can be scheduled during the week for groups and individuals. Anyone interested in scheduling may call HC Museum President Kelley Richardson at (270) 922-7114, or Nathan & Tina Powers at (270) 927-6524. The email is: [email protected].