Moonpies, RC, and Bluegrass? Anyone else thinking of Rosine, KY?

How many of you know that we are fast approaching the 100th anniversary of Bill Monroe's birthday? Many bluegrass communities and definitely we at KHS are gearing up for the kick-off year of this celebration--which will begin Sept 13th this year. While we are discussing ways to mark the occasion, so is Ohio County, Kentucky - home of Rosine, Bill Monroe's homeplace.

On March 1st I travelled to Hartford, KY to visit with a group of volunteers to discuss the development of an oral history project about Bill Monroe's home community and early life as a part of a year long birthday celebration developed by the Ohio County Tourism Commission. The tourism commission applied for, and received, a technical assistance grant through the Kentucky Oral History Commission here at KHS, which provided professional recording equipment for the interviews, as well as guidance on the project itself.

The interviews will be ultimately archived at the Kentucky Historical Society for anyone to access, as well as reference copies accessible in the community. 
 

Francis Johnson Harvey - History of Rosine Oral History Project, May 27, 1991

Thanks to the Ohio County Public Library for agreeing to host the workshop visit, as well as participate in the oral history project itself.

SO, IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS A BILL MONROE STORY TO TELL, OR A ROSINE BLUEGRASS MEMORY, CONTACT the Ohio County Tourism Commission at 270-274-1090 or ohiocountytour@bellsouth.net

--Sarah Milligan

Image: Ohio County Oral History Project Volunteers