Hemphill Community Center
Hemphill Community Center was originally formed in 1968 and was then housed in the back of the Old Hemphill Fountain which was one of the original Elkhorn Coal Corporation buildings. The organization was founded by James Johnson and Mella Anderson of Hemphill who worked tirelessly to establish a park and horse riding show grounds. After a few years the Community Center disbanded and dissolved. Where the Community Center is now housed was formerly the Hemphill Grade School building where three generations of students attended school between 1944 and 1990. The school closed in 1990 and left a community without a gathering space. Beginning in 1997, the community worked with the Letcher County Fiscal Court and the Letcher County School Board to use the vacant run down building as a community gathering space.
Hemphill Community Center is now a gathering place for families, friends, and neighbors. A place where mountain traditions such as quilt making, traditional music, and hospitality abound. A place to host reunions, parties, receptions, and community events. Located on KY Hwy 317 just north of Neon, KY on the Coal Miner's Highway, it is also home of the Letcher County Coal Miners Monument and the Hemphill Catering Company.
Weekly music, dance, and food takes place every Saturday evening at the Mountain Saturday Nite music event. Other activities include survival skill training, instruction in shape note singing, quilting, cooking, woodworking, beekeeping, canning, preserving food, and traditional music, etc.
