WILLIAM A. LEWIS The Journey Home

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: Biography – Friends, Community, Visitors

WILLIAM A. LEWIS The Journey Home

TAGS: William A. Lewis The Journey Home, motorcycle tours, Straightcreek, Coldiron family, Bledsoe KY, Harlan County KY, Infirmary, Harlan Daily Enterprise, tourism, Enthusiast Magazine

After 25 years, William A. Lewis re-visited his place of birth at Pine Mountain Settlement School and Harlan County where he had spent his earliest years with his parents, grandparents, and extended family. Now it was 1979 and his mode of transportation was his touring motorcycle. In The Journey Home he describes the thrill of riding the “curvy roads” and the breathtaking scenery of southeastern Kentucky, while, at the same time, re-discovering of his own sense of history and belonging.

GALLERY: William A. Lewis The Journey Home

  • William A. Lewis Letter to Harlan Daily Enterrprise, p. 1. [lewis_wm_a_HDE_article_001.jpg]
  • William A. Lewis Letter to Harlan Daily Enterrprise, p. 2. [lewis_wm_a_HDE_article_002.jpg]
  • William A.Lewis to PMSS, 2004.[lewis_wm_a_corresp_001.jpg]
  • 01 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home. [lewis_wm_a_journey_home_001.jpg]
  • 02 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home.[lewis_wm_a_journey_home_002.jpg]
  • 03 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home. [lewis_wm_a_journey_home._003.jpg]
  • 04 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home. [lewis_wm_a_journey_home_004.jpg]
  • 05 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home. [lewis_wm_a_journey_home_005.jpg]
  • 06 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home. [lewis_wm_a_journey_home_006.jpg]
  • 07 William A. Lewis, The Journey Home. [lewis_wm_a_journey_home_007.jpg]

TRANSCRIPTIONS: WILLIAM A. LEWIS The Journey Home

Cover letter for narrative sent to PMSS Director
lewis_wm_a_corresp_001.jpg

William A. Lewis
Burbank, IL.

Ms. [Nancy] Adams,
Last year I was planning to ride to south eastern Kentucky on my motorcycle. I wanted to reconnect with my cousins down Bledsoe way, but also to see if the place I was born still existed. Much to my surprise it not only existed but had undergone much change and was still a vital part of the community. I had tried several times to talk to you, but you were busy in town and/or helping the pre-schoolers. Sorry I missed you but, your secretary was kind enough to help out with some info.

Seeing the settlement school for the first time was invigorating to my soul to say the least. I loved it and wished I had known about it more in my youth. I can’t wait to bring my wife down to see the place and take her for a tour if that would be ok with you folks.

Enclosed is the story I have submitted to the Harlan Enterprise. I don’t know if they will print it or not, but I informed them that I would also send a copy to PMSS. Use it as you wish or not at all. I thought you would find it interesting and I just wanted to say thank you for the help I did receive there.

With much regard for the community,
William A. Lewis

Cover letter for submitting his article to the Harlan Daily Enterprise, page 1
lewis_wm_a_HDE_article_001.jpg

To: John Henson, Managing Editor Harlan Daily Enterprise 1548 South Highway 421 Harlan, Ky. 40831

It was my pleasure to visit Harlan Co. while riding my motorcycle. My family is the Coldiron clan that lives “cross the mountain” and down Straightcreek in Bledsoe, Ky. I had not been there for many years and the trip was an epiphany of sorts for me, as the enclosed story will explain.

In subsequent visits for research, I was more than a little disappointed at the lack of advertising or seeming interest in promoting tourism. Harlan Co. is rich in history and culture, but also magnificent in beauty, and environmental treasure that should be used to promote tourism and culture. My visit to my birthplace was awesome to say the least. It should be advertised from Highway 421, 119 and promoted for tourism by the County.

While riding around Harlan Co. I found I could spend hours riding all those curvy roads and never ride the same road twice. The largest majority of people riding cruisers and touring bikes are decent law abiding people that I’m sure would enjoy all those scenic curvy roads if they were aware of them. The brochures that are found at only a few local city buildings and gas stations just doesn’t get it done.

The county/state needs to consider the placement of picnic tables at spots along the roads and especially at appropriate and designated spots along the scenic roads. The county/state also needs to invest in local camping sites with some roadside signs offering directions. I really believe that some investment of money and time will produce beneficial financial results for the entire area.

I receive the Enterprise at home and enjoy the occasional articles dealing with the subject at hand, while Ike Adams may think that Wind Gap, Pa. is a piece of heaven; he needs to understand that the rest of that piece of heaven runs through Harlan County, Ky.

I hope you can tell by the tone of my letter just how much I love and appreciate my “homeland” and wish it well. That’s why I am submitting my story to you for publication. I will also submit the story to the City Commerce Dept. for consideration and also to Enthusiast Magazine, which….

Cover letter for submitting his article to the Harlan Daily Enterprise, page 2
lewis_wm_a_HDE_article_002.jpg

…is an international publication for Harley-Davidson with some minor alterations more suited to cyclists. I will also submit a copy to the Pine Mountain Settlement School, to use/or not, at their pleasure.

If you choose not to publish my story in your paper, I promise you it will not offend me in the least. While I live in Chicago now, I just wanted my homeland to have first opportunity to know how I feel.

Thank You, William A. Lewis

See Also: LEWIS Family