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| Hunnewell, 1880 |
In the year 1868 as President Andrew Johnson was busy fighting impeachment proceedings, The Kentucky Improvement Company was
busy extending it's railroad south several miles and establishing a station at this railhead. It was named after Horatio Hollis Hunnewell. It would make sense, after all,
he was a partner with Nathaniel Thayer in many different business ventures. This was just one of many things bearing
his famous last name.
In order to get to Hunnewell, three tunnels came into being and many many tons of dirt and rock were
moved to make railroad bed. A depot was established at the Laurel general store halfway between
Hunnewell and Argillite. Nearby were some cannel coal
deposits in which the company set great store. However, in just one year the quality of this coal proved a disappointment
and was almost used up. Two blast furnaces (part of one survives today) were acquired but they were almost immediately handicapped
by lack of sufficient iron ore and coal.
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| No. 4 at a water tank, possibly near Hunnewell. c.1890s |
A reorganization took place
in 1870. The Kentucky Improvement Company deeded to the newly organized Eastern Kentucky Railway it's railroad, two
blast furnaces, and about 25,000 acres of ore, coal, and timber land.
Nathaniel Thayer, who had acquired the major
portion of stock in the Eastern Kentucky Railway, became the first president and held that office until his death in 1883.
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| Capt. William J. McKee conductor for the E.K.R.Y. |
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| E.K.R.Y. pass 1872 |
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