Paradise, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Paradise was a small town in Muhlenberg County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The town was located 10.5 miles east-north-east of Greenville
and was formerly called Stom's Landing (sometimes incorrectly spelled Stum). It was once a trading post along the Green River
, but it no longer exists. It was torn down in 1967 by the Tennessee Valley Authority
due to health concerns over coal-burning electric plant, Paradise Fossil Plant
.
was established at Paradise on March 1, 1852; it closed in 1967.
In 1969, the TVA built a coal plant at the former site of Paradise. The coal-fired plants remain controversial and the Paradise permits in particular, have been criticized by environmentalists for non-compliance with The Clean Air Act. Since construction of new Scrubbers on Unit 3 at Paradise, the plants emissions from the massive unit have dropped dramatically in recent years. This in turn has led to a dramatic drop in toxic emissions from the plant overall.
, was written and made famous by singer/songwriter John Prine
.
The lyrics attribute the destruction of Paradise to the Peabody
company, and allude to the fact that the town was a site for strip mining. In reality, the town remained in partial form after the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company stripped the coal around it. The Paradise Fossil Plant was erected with only two units initially and after that, the residents that were left in the village were bought out by the Tennessee Valley Authority
after ash fall from the newly opened plant brought health concerns to the area. It was shortly after the Tennessee Valley Authority
bought the town out, they tore down all the structures and at the same time constructed the largest Cyclonic Fired Boiler
in the world at the new "Paradise Unit 3". The only thing that remains of the original town is a small cemetery at the top of a hill close to the plant. Contrary to popular belief, the town was not abandoned by any flooding of the Green River
. Even though the town did endure numerous floods during its lifespan, it survived all the floods of its history.
John Denver
recorded the song, and released it on his album, Rocky Mountain High
.
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Muhlenberg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 31,499. The county is named for Peter Muhlenberg. Its county seat is Greenville....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town was located 10.5 miles east-north-east of Greenville
Greenville, Kentucky
Greenville is a city in and the county seat of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. It is named for Revolutionary War General Nathan Greene...
and was formerly called Stom's Landing (sometimes incorrectly spelled Stum). It was once a trading post along the Green River
Green River (Kentucky)
The Green River is a tributary of the Ohio River that rises in Lincoln County in south-central Kentucky. Tributaries of the Green River include the Barren River, the Nolin River, the Pond River and the Rough River...
, but it no longer exists. It was torn down in 1967 by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
due to health concerns over coal-burning electric plant, Paradise Fossil Plant
Paradise Fossil Plant
The Paradise Fossil Plant is a coal-fired power plant operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Located just east of Drakesboro, Kentucky, it is the largest power plant in the state of Kentucky in terms of megawatt capacity....
.
History
Paradise was settled in the early nineteenth century when it was known as Stom's Landing, for Leonard Stom who founded the ferry there. It may have once been named Monterey. The origin of its final name of Paradise is not known. A post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established at Paradise on March 1, 1852; it closed in 1967.
In 1969, the TVA built a coal plant at the former site of Paradise. The coal-fired plants remain controversial and the Paradise permits in particular, have been criticized by environmentalists for non-compliance with The Clean Air Act. Since construction of new Scrubbers on Unit 3 at Paradise, the plants emissions from the massive unit have dropped dramatically in recent years. This in turn has led to a dramatic drop in toxic emissions from the plant overall.
John Prine
A song about Paradise, Kentucky, called "Paradise"Paradise (John Prine song)
"Paradise" is a song written by John Prine for his father, and recorded for his 1971 debut album, John Prine. Prine also re-recorded the song for his 1986 album, German Afternoons. The song is about the impact of coal mining both while in activity and what happens to the area around the Green River...
, was written and made famous by singer/songwriter John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
.
The lyrics attribute the destruction of Paradise to the Peabody
Peabody Energy
Peabody Energy Corporation , previously Peabody Coal Company, is the largest private-sector coal company in the world. The company is headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri....
company, and allude to the fact that the town was a site for strip mining. In reality, the town remained in partial form after the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company stripped the coal around it. The Paradise Fossil Plant was erected with only two units initially and after that, the residents that were left in the village were bought out by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
after ash fall from the newly opened plant brought health concerns to the area. It was shortly after the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
bought the town out, they tore down all the structures and at the same time constructed the largest Cyclonic Fired Boiler
Cyclone furnace
A cyclone furnace is a type of coal combustor commonly used in large industrial boilers.-Background:Developed in the early 1942 by Babcock & Wilcox to take advantage of coal grades not suitable for pulverized coal combustion, cyclone furnaces feed coal in a spiral manner into a combustion chamber...
in the world at the new "Paradise Unit 3". The only thing that remains of the original town is a small cemetery at the top of a hill close to the plant. Contrary to popular belief, the town was not abandoned by any flooding of the Green River
Green River (Kentucky)
The Green River is a tributary of the Ohio River that rises in Lincoln County in south-central Kentucky. Tributaries of the Green River include the Barren River, the Nolin River, the Pond River and the Rough River...
. Even though the town did endure numerous floods during its lifespan, it survived all the floods of its history.
John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
recorded the song, and released it on his album, Rocky Mountain High
Rocky Mountain High (album)
Rocky Mountain High is the sixth album released by American singer-songwriter John Denver in September 1972. It was his first Top 10 album, propelled by the single "Rocky Mountain High".-Side 1:# "Rocky Mountain High" - 4:37...
.
External links
- Ancestors of Robert Stom & Christine (Hilton) Stom
- Photos of old Paradise
- A pictorial trip to John Prine's Paradise KY - links up old photos of the town to each line of the lyrics
- An up-to-date picture of the TVA Paradise Fossil Plant- This plant is the second largest coal fired plant in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) rated at 2,273 Megawatts at Winter Peak.