Smithland,
Kentucky lost a friend recently. Dianne Boswell O'Brien passed away at her home in Paducah Sunday, 18 October
2015. She was 72 years old. Dianne was born in Smithland and even though she
had lived in Paducah for many years, she loved Smithland and was involved in
many activities there.
I first met
Dianne when the new county office building was being planned to replace the old
courthouse (built 1845). Dianne was afraid the old courthouse would be destroyed once the
new building was occupied. I don't know if the idea originated with Dianne or
not, but she was an early proponent of having the courthouse placed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Smithland had a reputation of destroying historic buildings rather than preserving them, but Dianne had a
different vision. She saw the courthouse
as a museum and event center for many years to come.
To guarantee
the courthouse had a chance at a new life, Dianne felt it necessary to have
it listed on the National Register. It was not an easy process and, at times,
it appeared it would not be successful, but, in 2011, the Livingston County Courthouse was placed on the National Register. I am not sure it would have happened without
the encouragement and leadership of Dianne O'Brien.
Rest in
Peace, Dianne, and thank you.
Published 21 October 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com
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