Born Again

Life in the Joppa Ridge area centered on community, often with the church at its heart. Weddings, revivals, and funerals created lasting memories, while congregational support empowered members and was relied upon from generation to generation. The 1910 wedding of farmer Veachel Beckner and teacher Josephine "Josie" Wilkins was a joyful event that created memories for many of her "Joppy" students gathered around her. The homes and vistas of Joppa Ridge helped create this national park. Close-knit families moved to unfamiliar houses with unknown neighbors, yet the foundation of faith begun at Joppa carried them to new congregations, where they built a new sense of place. Stories passed on from Veachel and Josie Beckner, and many more like them, bring "the Ridge" back to life for succeeding generations.

Kentucky · United States