Among the keepsakes inside Trabue Russell House
2025-05-16 - Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com
The walls of the historic Trabue Russell House are covered with memorable moments like the time when Rock 'n Roll Star Jerry Lee Lewis performed in 1958 or 1959 at Adair County High Gymnasium to a capacity crowd. According to Joe Pyles, he, David Butler and Luther Ray Redmon went to the concert in Billy Todd Cundiff's 1957 Chevy and had front row seats. Everyone remembers vividly the piano keys on teacher Miss Frances Russell's piano flaming when Lewis performed his trademark song "Great Balls of Fire." Miss Russell later said the piano was never the same, but for all the students it was a time to remember, even 60+ years later.
The band stayed at Columbia's Dreamland Motel and Lewis played impromptu on the owners' piano. The owner's daughter, Brenda Collins Williams, remembers "being so surprised that my piano made such awesome music!" For information about tours inside the house, contact City Hall in Columbia, 270-384-2501. Comments | Permalink
2025-05-16 - Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com
The walls of the historic Trabue Russell House are covered with memorable moments like the time when Rock 'n Roll Star Jerry Lee Lewis performed in 1958 or 1959 at Adair County High Gymnasium to a capacity crowd. According to Joe Pyles, he, David Butler and Luther Ray Redmon went to the concert in Billy Todd Cundiff's 1957 Chevy and had front row seats. Everyone remembers vividly the piano keys on teacher Miss Frances Russell's piano flaming when Lewis performed his trademark song "Great Balls of Fire." Miss Russell later said the piano was never the same, but for all the students it was a time to remember, even 60+ years later.
The band stayed at Columbia's Dreamland Motel and Lewis played impromptu on the owners' piano. The owner's daughter, Brenda Collins Williams, remembers "being so surprised that my piano made such awesome music!" For information about tours inside the house, contact City Hall in Columbia, 270-384-2501. Comments | Permalink
Tourism presentation at May Chamber meeting
2025-05-16 - Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com
Paige Nickel, Tourism Executive Director, standing in center, presented the picture of the value of visitors' spending in Adair County - seventeen million dollars in just one year. Assistant Director Breann Franklin, at left, documented the event in the historic Trabue Russell House and will make a video of it for promotion. The City of Columbia owns the House which was restored by the Heritage Association and events during the year are made possible from a gift for that purpose by the late Jim Blair. For tours of the home, contact Columbia City Hall, 116 Campbellsville Street, Columbia, KY, 270-384-2501. Comments | Permalink
2025-05-16 - Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com
Paige Nickel, Tourism Executive Director, standing in center, presented the picture of the value of visitors' spending in Adair County - seventeen million dollars in just one year. Assistant Director Breann Franklin, at left, documented the event in the historic Trabue Russell House and will make a video of it for promotion. The City of Columbia owns the House which was restored by the Heritage Association and events during the year are made possible from a gift for that purpose by the late Jim Blair. For tours of the home, contact Columbia City Hall, 116 Campbellsville Street, Columbia, KY, 270-384-2501. Comments | Permalink
At the historic Trabue Russell House
2025-05-16 - Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com
Lindsey Wilson College faculty member Kristyne Gilbert and her husband, Assistant to the President for Communications and Marketing Duane Bonifer, enjoyed learning about Columbia-Adair County's burgeoning tourism industry at the May meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Comments | Permalink
2025-05-16 - Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com
Lindsey Wilson College faculty member Kristyne Gilbert and her husband, Assistant to the President for Communications and Marketing Duane Bonifer, enjoyed learning about Columbia-Adair County's burgeoning tourism industry at the May meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Comments | Permalink
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