Bonnieville School 1961-1962

Bonnieville school 1961-62. L-R 5 rows of desks.
starting with 1st row of desks front to back. photo courtesy: Loraine Jaggers Ard. row 1: Marsha Harper, Wanda Butler, Brenda Reynolds Cottrell. row2: Glen Ragland, Roger Gibson, Gary McDowell, Lonnie McDowell, Judy Key, boy1. row3: Huston Moody Jr, boy2, Vicky Hack, Raymond Hughaugh, Melvin Caswell. row4: girl4, girl5, Travis Gunterman, boy4, David Riggs. row5: girl6, girl7, girl8, girl9.


photo courtesy: LORAINE JAGGERS ARD

BOAZ BONNIEVILLE LEAP DAY CELEBRATION

Jessie Lee "Jake" Crump Viet Nam Veteran

Jake’s Letters Home

By: Linda Watts; inspired by Nadine Crump Ray

In our community, any time Veterans issues or a Wreath ceremony is being discussed; Jessie Lee Crump’s name is mentioned with love and pride and a deep sadness. Jessie Lee Crump “Jake” was born in Bonnieville, Hart Co., KY July 16, 1946 and died Oct 28, 1966 in Quang Nam Province, South Viet Nam. Jake was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend to many, an avid hunter, an expert Rifleman, a Private First Class, and a

Marine. He served with F CO, 2ND BN, and 1ST MAR DIV, III MAF, United States Marine Corps. As a member of the Marine Corps Selective Service, PFC Crump served our country until October 27th, 1966 when he was severely injured, while guarding a medical helicopter that was attempting to land to transport wounded soldiers. He was hit by small arms fire and died the next day Oct 28th. We know a little about the last year of his life from his letters home. Jake was 20 years old and was not married but in a letter to his Mother, he sent home a ring for safekeeping. She never had a chance to find out who Jake was going to ask to be his wife.

In the last letter home to his sister, written on Oct. 8

th & received on the 12th, Jake told of being wounded Oct 4th. He described being shot in the back while on duty, speaking sadly of seeing his buddies receive mortal injuries and witnessing deaths of several of his friends. In his letters home, He often spoke of hunting on Frenchman Knob, working in the tobacco on the farm and of missing home. His letters always ended “love always” or “with love” Jake.

Jake was in the service less than a year when he died. During his short Military career he earned a Purple Heart, Viet Nam Service Medal, Rifle Expert Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal. Jake died Oct 28th, 19

66 from small arms fire/grenade fire, and is listed in Military records as casualty number 7187. PFC Jessie Lee Crump is honored on panel 11E, line 121 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.

Jake didn’t live long enough to be a husband, a father or a grandfather but in his short 20 years of life, he lived in such a way that even 45 years after his death, he continues to be loved, respected and remembered with tears and a smile. It makes me wish I could have met him.

Service Photo and information: Courtesy Nadine Crump Ray. Thank you to Jake’s sister Nadine, for sharing photos, information and letters home from her brother Jessie Lee Crump, Jake to all who knew and loved him.

UPDATE:  January 2012

Classmates of Jessie Lee "Jake" Crump recently placed a memorial stone at his grave. Several Munfordville High school Class of '64 students gathered at Mt Pisgah to dedicate the stone. BONNIEVILLE Native Pvt. 1st Class Crump, F CO, 2ND BN, 1ST Marines, 1ST MAR DIV, III MAF, United States Marine Corps Served & died Viet Nam 1966.

1933 31W Bonnieville Bridge Construction

1933 photo of the construction of the 31W bridge over Bacon Creek, Bonnieville Ky.

photo courtesy: Brenda Embery

Historic Bonnieville Gas Station Photograph

The old gas station by 'Tooter' Jaggers Motel
L-R
Arlie Fulks and Marvin Ferriss



email me with any additional information, family connections?, the year ?

Bacon Creek Fish and Wildlife Club

Seeking information on the Bacon Creek Fish and Wildlife Club. This is a scan of a Vintage Bacon Creek Fish & Wildlife Club Patch. Charles L Ross recovered 2 of these patches and donated them, through Janet Clauson, to the Bacon Creek Historical Society. The BCHS is interested in any and all history, stories, or memorabilia or photos, clubs, organizations, of the Bacon Creek Bonnieville area Community. Tell me about it...

Were you a member?, Do you know any old members? What were the years the club existed? What did you do at the meetings?, Who was the leader?, Where did you meet up?, What did you do? Do you have any old photos ? Will you share any information with us ?

send us a message via facebook or
bchs.email*yahoo.com or bchist*hotmail.com. (replace * with @)

Thank You Charles!!! Thank You Janet !!!

Bonnieville Welcome Sign projects begin...

Welcome signs and historic banners will soon be placed around our town. The Bonnieville Image Committee secured a grant to help spruce up around town. The placement of 3 new Welcome signs was completed this week. The larger directional signs with local information for travelers will be placed by the interstate exchange soon ! The Large stone and brick Welcome signs at the North and South ends of 31w will be constructed later this month, the footers will be poured in a few days.

The Welcome signs placed this week were constructed by "Kenny Signs & Graphics" out of Horse Cave, Ky. The front say "Welcome to Bonnieville Kentucky established 1849" the rear of the signs say "Drive Safely".

The Father & son crew from Kenny Signs arrive with the signs and are ready to get to work !

The first sign is placed in Bonnieville, near Mt Vernon Rd.

The second sign placed on 728, driving towards Bonnieville from I-65 exit 71

all that is left to do is to paint the poles black...

The final sign for today, placed on 728 right by the railroad tracks

As soon as the last sign was placed, rain started to fall. All that is left to complete the first phase of signs is to paint the poles black, the Kenny sign crew will be back tomorrow to paint.

The completed Welcome Sign on Campground Road in Old Bonnieville

Historic Bonn Theater Bonnieville Ky

The Historic Bonn Theater
Bonnieville, Ky





photos of the theater in 2010




The only thing I know for sure about this beautiful historic theater, is that it closed in the late 70's or early 1980's. Several long time citizens have told me the last movie to be shown was "Jaws", which was released in 1975.

I am attempting to research exactly when it was built, who all have owned the building, who were the managers, the projectionists, ticket booth employees. I am looking for any one with any old ticket stubs, ads, memories, stories, photos, etc...to let me scan them for all to see.

Merl Reynolds in front of the Bonn Theater circa 1955-1960
Photo shared by :
Carolyn Reynolds Nunn

Merl Reynolds & JW Hodge in front of the Bonn Theater circa 1955-1958
The Playbill on the wall is for "The Tender Trap".
'The Tender Trap' was released in 1955 and
starred Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds.
Photo shared by :
Carolyn Reynolds Nunn





Do you have any photos you will share with me ?


Marie Kessinger, wife of Oscar Kessinger. circa 1950's.
Marie Kessinger standing on the Bonn theatre show porch, behind her is the old pool hall, the Town Restaurant, the roller rink, and James Raglands gas station (which is where the fire house is located now.) circa 1950's, The original photo can be found on this page of the
Bacon Creek Historical Website
Photo shared by:
David Breeding



If you would like to share any old photos of family in and around Bonnieville with me, please contact me. I would be honored to share your photos on this site. You can share either through email or I will borrow your photo, scan it and return it to you as soon as possible. I am looking for photos of any and all old buildings, houses, festivals, horse shows, businesses, mills, creameries, restaurants, churches, street shots, meetings, tent shows, baseball games, the skating rink.

look in the background of all your old photos, you never know what you may have captured.

Please share your photographs with all who are interested in preserving the history of our community and of those who came before us...
Thank you !

Click to Email Me

Bonnieville Homecoming July 4th Celebration 2010

Around Bonnieville -
during the Independence Day Celebration...

Kenneth Nunn
Winner of the Electric Grill
free drawing sponsored by the Bonnieville Image Committee


Grand Marshal Lillian Waldeck Richards receives the Key to the City

Parade participants in Civil War clothing honoring 6th Ky volunteers !

Bonnieville City Hall is a part of Ky Quilt Trail

Bonnieville City Hall featured Quilt Patterns:
L - R

'Railroad Crossing'
'July fourth'
'Lone star'

a 4th quilt
pattern will be coming soon !





Hart county clothesline of quilts web site




photo: linda watts

Bonnieville is Blooming

lets take it from the beginning.......





barrels donated from Jim Beam

drilling drainage holes; janet clauson, john bourne, teresa & molly bostic

placing the rock

Otis Highbaugh lends a hand ...

volunteers at work

placing the petunias



...Bonnieville in Bloom...

Bonnieville's Blooming

On Friday, June 11th the Bonnieville Image Committee sponsored a flower planting project in downtown Bonnieville. Volunteers brightened up our community by placing wooden flower planters in various spots around the town. Many people worked behind the scenes to make this project possible. The Committee would like to thank : Jane Higgins, Brushy Fork Institute Berea College, Angie Woodward KCTCS, James B. Beam Distilling Co. for donating the barrels, event coordinator Janet Clauson, Donnie Clauson, Ken Bailey and David Marsh for sawing the barrels in half to make the planters, and John Bourne who donated his time and use of farm equipment for hauling rocks and heavy planters.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to help plant flowers and to the businesses and residents for offering to maintain the planters. Our volunteers: Otis Highbaugh, Will Clauson, Ken Bailey, Teresa Bostic, Molly Bostic, Janet Clauson, Donnie Clauson, John Bourne, Linda Watts, Cindy Johnson, Charles Ross and Wanda Gregory. Thank you to all involved in making Bonnieville Bloom. Get involved in one of the local committees that were created during the BOAZ (Bonnieville Opportunity & Advancement Zone) meetings and be a part of what comes next !

photos courtesy of Linda Watts

Bonnieville Image Committee Projects Underway

Bonnieville Image Committee Projects Underway

Several members of the committee are pictured on June 3rd. 2010 discussing placement of planters and flowering annuals to help spruce up downtown...

photo: Linda watts

Random bonnieville photo

no telling who you'll cross paths with in bonnieville...

Veteran's Memorial Dedication Service Bonnieville, KY

Bonnieville Memory Park Cemetery

Memorial Day / Decoration Day Celebration
Bonnieville, Ky
Sunday May 30, 2010
2:00 p.m.

"Thank You Veterans for your dedication of duty and commitment to service to our great land and Country, The United States of America."



"This is our day to remember and appreciate all military members of the Armed Forces who willingly served our nation in time of Peace and War."



"Let us never forget that our freedom cost a great price. Some paid the ultimate sacrifice."

"This is our moment in time to commemorate and thank those who are currently serving in harms way dedicating themselves to protect and ensure our freedom for yet another day."



"Let us loudly proclaim and testify to all who will listen how proud we are to be Americans"

*Cemetery Committee: Rose Bostic, Donnie Clauson, Shirley Dye, Kimmy Cook, & Teresa Bostic.

Bonnieville is currently taking donations to pay for this beautiful monument area dedicated to all of our Veterans. Donations can be dropped off at city hall during business hours.

*All Quotes are taken from the dedication service program:
*Memory Park photographs courtesy of Linda Watts

Old Bonnieville Church on the Hill

The Old Bonnieville Baptist Church

Bonnieville, Ky

Current day Bonnieville Baptist Church

Bonnieville, Ky






...additional info to follow...

photos: Linda Watts

Going Batty in Bonnieville

an unexpected visitor...

Old Buildings - Bonn Theatre Bonnieville Ky

The Historic Bonn Theatre
Bonnieville, KY

Do you have any historical photographs or information that you would share with me?
Please Email Me . We will be sharing old and new photos made in and around our community. Any homes, buildings, restaurants, photos or memorabilia of any of the events that have occured in and around bonnieville / bacon creek since we were established in 1849 ! Do you have an old ticket stub from the Bonn Theater ? Email Me and I will scan it and return it to you. Do you have an old church program, funeral card, newspaper clipping or post card ? Please share with me. You will receive full credit for sharing your item.
Thank you !

Historical Photo WPA Bonnieville Road Construction

Hart County, Kentucky
Bonnieville Road

photos taken between 1934-1942

Bonnieville Road

The road was constructed by funds from the
New Deal; WPA (Works Progress Administration)

undated photos courtesy of:
University of Ky
The Goodman-Paxton Photographic Collection
photographer: Goodman, George, 1876-1961

photo taken between 1934-1942

Ice Storm of January 27 2009

One year ago today...