Muhlenberg County

The former town of Paradise, Kentucky on the banks of Green River

Paradise, Kentucky was the village made famous by the Paradise song writen by John Prine. Located on Green River,
it was a small village with two stores. The postoffice was in one of the general stores and sold groceries as well as
dry goods and hardware. The Peabody Coal did not actually haul the town away. This site was not stripped, and the
TennesseeValley Authority removed the town. From the air one cannot detect the former site. Jimmy Gilmour told me
in 1968 that it was sad not to be able to return to the home of your childhood --- Click on Picture to see Larger Size

John Prine wrote his famous song "Paradise."	Main Street Paradise was on Green River circa 1898	Paradise, Kentucky circa 1898	Paradise in 1965 Nothing remains of Paradise today	J.G. Gilmour with family in 1916 in front of his general store in Paradise.
November 17, 1967 the last day open	Ferry across Green River circa 1890	Mail Boat at Paradise Landing circa 1890	Rochester Dam on Green River above Paradise circa 1925	Gilmour General Store circa 1909
Mail Boat on Green River circa 1918	Easter Rabbit Hunt Killed Rabbits with a Stick in 1912	Green River in Flood Stage in 1912	"Mr. Peabody's Coal Train has Hauled It Away" circa 1964	Green River Boats tied up at Paradise circa 1900
Hotel Airdrie circa 1875	Airdrie Smelting Tower circa 1885	The Leona on Green River in 1907	Fishermen's Resort Skilesville at Rochester Dam circa 1900	Jimmy Gilmour is between parents circa 1910
James G. Gilmour General Store circa 1909	Civil War Veterans These men are from or near Paradise, KY in 1912	Gilmour Family Boating on Sunday afternoon on Green River circa 1911	Main Street in Paradise circa 1950	Smith Tunstill was a cousin of John Prine circa 1917

The Old Airdrie Iron Works were built in 1850 next to Paradise. It was never a prison but temporary housing for prisoners
brought to quarry stone for the Eddyville Prison. Union General Don Buell had a home on the bluff above. Smith Tunstill
operated a General Store that was on the banks of Green River. Rates at Fishermen' Resort were $1.00 and $1.50 per day