Hatfield & McCoy cabin opens door to politics for first time in 140 years

MCCARR, Ky. (WYMT) – The notorious Hatfield & McCoy Feud has fueled tourism within the Pike County space for many years. Now, historians hope to make use of a bit of the storied previous to construct upon the world’s future.

After greater than 140 years, the “Hog Trial Cabin” opened its doorways to a neighborhood election. Tuesday, the cabin turned a polling place within the McCarr neighborhood, inviting locals to fill of their ballots in the identical space the place Ellison Hatfield was killed throughout an election in 1882.

“Are you able to think about, again within the day, voting at this website? Coming throughout these mountains- we didn’t have roads- it was horseback and coming by the creeks,” mentioned Bob Scott, descendent and tourism advocate with Pike County Tourism.

Native historians say the constructing has doubtless not served as a political pop-up since Hatfield’s dying.

“However this brings a lot alternative to this space for tourism,” mentioned Hatfield. “And really for this native community- to have the ability to use this website to vote.”

The spot, whereas serving as a time capsule for space historical past, will now be a steppingstone towards the longer term. Scott mentioned he hopes to see extra voters turning out to the precinct, both due to its comfort or due to the character the constructing holds.

“They usually love the story of the Hatfields and McCoys. And it’s one thing that we have to take pleasure in,” he mentioned. “It’s something- a narrative that we’ve that nobody else has.”

Scott mentioned he was impressed by the voter turnout and he hopes it means good issues for neighborhood involvement.

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