Black Patch Tobacco

Local Writer Shares 'Passions of the Black Patch'

Kate Lochte — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:22:55 +0000

Kate Lochte speaks with western Kentucky native and author Bobbie Smith Bryant on Sounds Good. Bryant was born in the Black Patch of Calloway County and shares her family's heritage in a new book titled, "Passions of the Black Patch: Cooking and Quilting in Western Kentucky." Black Patch is the region in western Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee where a specific type of tobacco, which has distinctly dark leaves, is grown.

Learn more at bobbiesmithbryant.com.

Western Kentucky Black Patch Tobacco Documentary Airing on KET Tonight

Kate Lochte — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:20:00 +0000

Last November, a new documentary about raising dark-fired tobacco titled “Farming in the Black Patch" debuted in Murray. The film starts its first run on KET at 8 p.m. Central tonight, with shows scheduled through March on both KET and KET KY. The name Black Patch comes from the dark leaves of the kind of tobacco that's smoke-cured in barns and used for pipe blends, chewing, and snuff. Kate Lochte has more with the filmmaker and writer.

Front Page Sunday - September 16 Episode

Chad Lampe and Todd Hatton — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:41:58 +0000

The Black Patch Tobacco War in our part of the country was the most pronounced activity of military aggression between the civil war and the civil rights movement, we learn from Christian County Historian William T. Turner the key players in that conflict and how it’s remembered.

Also, we’ll speak with futurist Ivan Potter on the lasting effects of this year’s drought, and Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham’s take on the changing interoperations of the U.S. Constitution. Plus the history of Fulton’s Banana Festival and details about a Japanese performance group coming to MSU.

Judge Cunningham Previews Constitution Day Speech

Kate Lochte — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:09:40 +0000

Recommended readings on the black patch wars include “The Tobacco Night Riders of Kentucky and Tennessee: 1905-1909” by James Nalland “On Bended Knees: The true story of the Night Rider Tobacco War in Kentucky and Tennessee”by Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham. Cunningham, also gives tonight's (Monday) keynote at Murray State’s Constitution day celebration. The title of his presentation, “The Fourth Amendment; the Majesty of the Ruined Tenement,” references a statement attributed to William Pitt while he was speaking about the cider excise tax in the British House of Commons in 1763. Judge Cunningham gave WKMS a preview of the speech.

Hopkinsville Historian Recounts Black Patch Tobacco Wars

Kate Lochte — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:05:22 +0000

The black patch tobacco wars of the early 20^th century pitted farmer against farmer as a group of men sworn to secrecy used destructive tactics to coerce collective action. Hopkinsville’s Pennyroyal Area Museum commemorates the war with several activities starting Friday (September 21). Official Historian for Hopkinsville and Christian County William T. Turner recounts the story of the Tobacco War in conversation with Kate Lochte.