Jr. Woman's Study Club gets lesson in history and environmental presentation

The GFWC Kentucky Barbourville Jr. Woman’s Study Club got a history & environmental presentation from Keith Bowling II, dressed up in period costume as Dr. Thomas Walker at the Thomas Walker Historical site on April 29th, 2025. Dr. Thomas Walker was the first white man to build a house in the state of Kentucky in 1750, 19 years before Daniel Boone. He named the Cumberland River after the Duke of Cumberland and was also the first to discover and use coal in the state of Kentucky. Although Daniel Boone gained more acclaim, a lesser-known explorer, Dr. Thomas Walker, preceded the famed frontiersman. We even found out that our past Kentucky President, Teresa Schmidt is a direct descendant of Dr. Thomas Walker through her grandfather David Keith Walker. Our President Jimberly Watts presented a $250.00 in kind donation of Girl Scout Cookies to their Summer Camp for children. Club members then toured the Education Center and learned about the wildlife in Kentucky, including several friendly snakes such as a king snake, a python and a red tailed boa. Our club invited members of the Barbourville Woman’s Study Club to join us at the summer picnic which was such a fun & educational event.