Proud Granddaughter

A little over a week ago, my grandfather, Pops,  was named Nicholas County, Kentucky's Citizen of the Year! We are so proud of him! We really wish we had been able to make it for the ceremony but it's an 8 hour drive so not really something you can make a weekend trip out of. Luckily, my Uncle Bill was there. He reported that they set out 30 chairs at the ceremony and had to put out more chairs because over 50 people showed up. 

Here is a little background on how this award came to be:

My Nana grew up in Kentucky. When her cousin died in the 90's, she left Nana her house because she never married or had children. Her one wish was that the house stayed in our family. The house is right in the center of the town, across the street from the courthouse. In 2000, my grandparents sold the house they had lived in in Aiken, South Carolina for over 40 years and moved to the tiny town of Carlisle, Kentucky. There around 1,000 people in Carlisle. People referred to it as a "dead town." Almost immediately both of them became involved in the community though the Rotary Club and their church. When the house next door to them went up for sale, they bought it and restored it. Then, the house next to that house went up for sale. My Uncle Harry bought that house and restored it. He has always loved fire trucks, so he put a memorial in it for the firemen who died during 9/11, put a fire pole in it and also an extra large garage where he has a fire truck he purchased parked in it. Soon, Nana and Pops became involved in the historic homes tour and began buying several other buildings around town and restoring them as well.  People loved touring all the houses and buildings they had restored, which included the old drug store that had been there since the early 1800's. People loved touring the "fire house" as well and sliding down the pole! The town began to thrive and have a little more life to it.

My Nana passed away from cancer in 2007. Our whole family was moved by the amount of people that came to her funeral and the kind things they had to say about her love for the little town she grew up in. In June of 2013, they named a banquet hall after her in her memory. We were lucky to be able to attend the dedication ceremony since it was summer and Nick and I were both off. Kennedy was about 6 months old.

Pops could have just packed up and came back to Aiken but he continued his hard work and involvement in the community. He did remarry in 2010 to a wonderful woman named Julie, who we really like. He has continued to be involved in the tourism industry and donating money to restore the cemetery in town. I remember when I was younger, I always thought Carlisle was "boring" but now I am proud when we go up there. Proud to show off all that my family has done to make it the sweet little town it always has been.

I am one proud granddaughter!!!