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Harlan Community TV
- Standing the Test of Time -
(Source: KCTA, August 2004
www.kycable.com)
In the mid-1950s, when Charlie Hale met with 11 other entrepreneurs in
London, Kentucky, to form an association of cable operators (KCTA), he never
could have imagined everything that was in store for him in the next four
decades.
As secretary and treasurer of Harlan Community TV, one of the oldest cable
systems in the state, Hale remembers cable's early years-cable running from the
antenna tower on the hilltop down to the homes in the valley below. This was the
only way for rural areas to receive a television signal - not a movie channel - but
basic, local network television. Without this, people in the rural areas of the
state would have been isolated from viewing the news and other local and world
events that bind communities together.
Hale recalls that when his cable system first began, it offered only one
channel. But, for the people of Harlan, that one channel was better than
nothing - which is exactly what they'd get without cable!
From its one-channel beginnings to its current 47-channel lineup, Harlan
Community TV has evolved to meet the needs of its customers. And that commitment
can still be seen today as this small, independent system, which serves 3,250
people in Harlan, installs fiber optics throughout its territory.
"Even though we are a small system, we try to keep as up-to-date as
possible," Hale stated. "By installing fiber optics, we will be in a position to
offer more services and better quality."
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In 1951, my husband Charles Hugh Hale Sr., and I, along with our eight
month old daughter, Susan, went to Ohio with our friends, Carl and Inez
Livingston. We visited Inez’s parents and family. The Baisden family
were dairy farmers and their neighbors were all farmers. The Baisdens
had purchased a big television set. Cable had just come to the area.
After the chores were all finished, the neighbors came to the Basiden
home to watch the new thing called television. This is where my husband
and I saw our first television.
After coming home my husband read and studied everything he could find
on the new invention. He asked if I had any extra curtain rods. Curtain
rods were made of brass back in those days. I went to the closet and
gave him a bundle of curtain rods that I had stored. He took these
curtain rods and cut them into precise lengths to make channel 13
antennas. He put the homemade antennas on a pole and raised it in our
front yard. We received channel 13 from Ashville, North Carolina on this
homemade antenna. I remember two programs very clearly, a devotional
program called, “Seed From The Sower” and a preacher riding horse back,
going from place to place preaching the gospel. They called this
preacher, “The Circuit Rider.” How we enjoyed this television station.
About the same time, a group of Harlan businessman, were interested in
seeing if a signal could be received in Harlan. They heard of Charles’
interest and ask if he would make tests in these mountains to see if a
signal was available in this area.
Charles organized camping trips with my younger brother Jack Tackett and
some of his scouting friends. He needed these younger boys to help carry
the testing equipment and food and utensils for their meals. Off they
went to the top of the mountains for their camping trips. They took a
German shepherd dog named Smarty with them. Gene Douglas was one of
these young boys and the three Asher brothers. Gene said that Charles
would borrow a mans mule to help carry all the equipment. Gene said this
was much easier, since they were now carrying food and water for the
animals.
The best signal was found on the Kitts Mountain, and the work began.
Charles said that Price Brumback was the first customer connected to the
cable. When the signal was found, Gene Douglas said Charles took the
young scouts to the mountaintop before the cable was installed and let
them watch “The World Series.”
Joe Gutherie was the first President and G.B.Purcell was the first
Secretary-Treasurer. The first office was from Mr. Purcell’s furniture
store which was “ Fullers Furniture.” Former Presidents included Barney
Smith, Raymond Cole, Jim Morgan and the present president is Jack Hale.
V.B.Gray was office manager for several years.
The first vehicle for the work was an old International wood paneled
station wagon.
About 1962 a group of Cable operators met in Lexington, Kentucky to form
what is now the Kentucky Cable Association. The charter members were:
Charles Hale, Fred Dupree, Dwight Brown, John Garrett, Everett Akers,
Jim Ferguson, Bill Bredding, Clyde House, Jim Hayes, Tom Gullet, Doug
Hanks, Earl Chumley, Lonnie Gregory, Bill Betts, Bill Risden and Joe
Gillespie.
In 1982 a microwave station was placed on top of Pine Mountain in order
to transport broadcasting stations from Lexington and Knoxville. Harlan
Community Television has prided themselves in keeping up with all the
latest technology and the cable company in Harlan has the name of being
one of the best cable systems.
Since 1982 numerous advances have been made to the system including
installation of fiber optic cable, internet services and telephone
service for its customers. They are currently in the process of adding
digital packages to its line-up.
The staff now is as follows:
Jack Hale, President
Mark Lawrence, Vice-President
David L Smith, Secretary-Treasurer
Other Board Members are Glenn Greene, Jim Morgan, Mike Forrester and
Homer Fortney
Office Manager-Joy Taylor
Secretaries- Ashley Hatfield and Deserea Lynch
Linemen are: Andy Stewart, Clarence Epperson, Brian Hale and Chris Hamlin.
From very humble beginnings the Cable Company has developed into a state
of the art company that Harlan County can be proud of. |
