Ice House: In Its Day, a Miracle of West Kentucky Culture

and Senatorial Campaigning

Ivan Potter 9-29-2022

The day was long. The night was young. Waning light of the moment caught up between the day and night ritual of bewilderedness hours of twilight, when the shadows of the day crawl into the shadows of early evening.

And so it begins. My passionate journey of searching for political intrigue, kissed with a touch of culture and art brought me, at this time on this day to a singular fortress of creatively, called simply, the Ice House.

In another day, long ago in community history, this building had served as a central point to store and chill large portions of ice blocks to be sold to homes, businesses, and churches.

Now, decades later, instead of ice for the community, this structure now collected, stored, and served up art, music, and events for very creative people.

The old bricks and seasoned wooden timbers encased some 30 ft. by 40 ft. of cubic space. These 1,200 cubic ft. served as a central gathering spot and teaching center for the appreciation of art and culture for West Kentucky. Physically located in Mayfield, Kentucky the Ice House was a central drive from the eight counties if the Jackson Purchase, of far West Kentucky.

On a typical night like this night of late spring, the walls would hold up some 15 to 30 framed art paintings and drawings. Intermixed with these art pieces would be displays of more art and creative efforts setting on tables and special stands. Sometimes, like on this night there could be a small live band or performing artist with their music and verses of poetry to entertain the many souls gathered.

As the night closed in on what was left of the day, over a 100 people had travelled to the Ice House for a special exhibit of paintings' and songs. As an added reason for being a part of this event was the appearance of one Charles Booker.

During its time, the Ice House had greeted the rich, the famous, the daring, and the future leaders of men and woman. Who all had tasted of the glory of the art world, as it framed the new reality of the here and now world.

Charles Booker was a grand example of those of upward leaders within our society, who commanded not only respect, but to be given a chance to represent the people in Congress. On this budding night, Charles Booker, candidate for Kentucky U.S. Senate, stood in the mix of about 25 to 40 people, by the major food table of the event.

Using both hands Charles was attempting to have his dinner. This consisted of this very tall man, eating a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread. Standing at the table, he tried to add some spicily mustard to his ham sandwich.

For the next 40 minutes, Booker, using his left hand for the sandwich, stood tall over 6 ft. and used his right hand to shake hands. They all came to him as if he was some rock star just being discovered. Another 50 to 70 people were in other rooms, enjoying the live music and poetry.

I stood just to the right of him. Standing there I watch as each visitor wanted to shake his hand, touch his coat, and speak to issues. With a kind smile, firmness of being, and willingness to address each person about what they thought, he became that leader who relishes being a voice for the people, who so often in America did not have many leaders who cared about them.

As the night wore on, the Ice House had once again played its vital role of being the social platform for the mixture of art, words, people, spirits of the now as well as energies of the past, to dream of a new and brighter tomorrow.