Tony Pence knew just what to play and sing in Olive Hill on the Fourth of July as they city prepared to wrap up the 50th anniversary of the Tom T. Hall Homecoming.
“Well I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died. They said for the last two weeks that he suffered and cried,” Pence sang while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar as he offered an outstanding rendition of Hall’s 1971 hit song.
Opening up the “Pop Up & Pic Pub’s musical selections for the day, Zach Hunt of Clearfield, Ky. accompanied himself with an unplugged Gretsch resonator guitar for a much-appreciated delivery of “Stay a Little Longer,” by the Brothers Osborne.
Beverages for the pop-up pub were crafted by Ethereal Brewing, with a selection of four somewhat unusual, although delicious brews.
In the old Olive Hill High School gym nearby, Archivist Jim Plummer prepared to close the 2019 historical exhibit showcasing items, articles and artwork from Olive Hill and Carter County’s recent, and extremely early, past.
The exhibit will soon be moved to a permanent home in a nearby building, Plummer noted. Along with vendors and activities at Olive Hill’s historic railroad depot, downtown business owner Jason Duvall and team provided hundreds of hot dogs, chips and drinks for visitors.
While guests sought shade, members of the band Diamond Ridge launched into a high-energy set from beneath a tent on the front lawn at Duvall & Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Veteran musician Carl Smith sat nearby on the front porch, sometimes strumming his Martin guitar to check the tuning.
Duvall noted the recipe for the day’s hot dog sauce was the original formula followed by the old Burton’s Drive In.
