LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) --Some Trimble County residents want to save a cave from becoming part of an
LG&E coal ash landfill. They believe
the Wentworth Lime Cave was used during the Civil War to hide runaway slaves.
"It needs to be preserved," say Trimble Co. farmer, Sonia
McElroy.
The power
company is in the process of turning the 200 acre plot of land, where the cave
is located, into a landfill for coal ash debris. The debris is a byproduct of the nearby power
plant.
There's
rumors up and down the river about caves," says Pam Venard, who lives nearby.
"Hopefully
LG&E would find another place rather than to destroy something of
historical cultural significance," says McElroy.
LG&E is waiting for more information before moving forward.
"The
Corps of Engineers is going to do some additional studies on the feature to see
if there is any connection with the Underground Railroad," says LG&E's
Brian Phillips.
A
research report by Berea College Professor Dr. Alicestyne Turley suggests it is
possible the cave was once used to aid runaway slaves.
She writes
"...the Wentworth Lime
Cave serves as a very real example
of a "holding" or way station to aid slave escapes along the Ohio
River....The location is deemed worthy of further
investigation."
LG&E
calls the report speculative and says more research is needed.
"There
is some historical significance in the area but nothing that links this
particular feature to the Underground Railroad," says Phillips
People
who live near the proposed coal ash landfill are also concerned about how it
could impact their health.
"We
manage these products very safely and in compliance with all regulations," says
Phillips.
LG&E
says another landfill site is a possibility but that property has even more
streams and trees and would cost up to 50 million dollars more.
But
McElroy argues how can you put a price on preserving history?
"A lot of our history has just been in the way of progress
so it just gets bulldozed over," says.
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