Rabbit Hash in the Snow. Note men standing in the center of the river.	Rabbit Hash, Opposite Rising Sun, Indiana

 

The documentary, Rabbit Hash (the Center of the
Universe) had it's Midwestern premier at the Madison
 Theater in Covington.  This is their promo shot
of Rabbit Hash. The original is from the 1907 Flood (For the record, you
get that the “Hollywood-type” sign is a Photoshop job, right?)

How many stories of how Rabbit Hash got its name have you heard?  We've got 9 of them, Here.

Rising Sun, from Rabbit Hash, 1909	Rabbit Ash from Rising Sun, c. 1913

 

Across the Ohio from Rising Sun, Indiana

        

Early Rabbit Hash - Rising Sun Ferries

 

Henry Stanley	Joseph Walton
The Henry Stanley and the Joseph Walton crashed at Rabbit Hash in 1900.

 

The first motor hearse in Rising Sun, a Dodge, returns from Rabbit Hash

 

Rabbit Hash - Rising Sun Ferry The Mildred, 1922-1945

Indianapolis News, July 25 1918

 

Daily Commonwealth, July 11, 1883

“C. G. Riddell and Ben Wilson have rented the Rabbit Hash and Rising Sun ferry for five years of Captain Bob Piatt.  Mr. Piatt will leave our town the first of next month.  We are sorry that the captain is going away.” Covington's Daily Commonwealth, September 28, 1881	“Ben Wilson and C. G. Riddell are having new horse power put in the ferryboat.  P. G. and Z. T. Holmes and Keene Robbins are doing the work. They will have the boat in running order by the middle of the week.” Covington's Daily Commonwealth, July 11, 1883
The Ohio County, Indiana's history of the Rabbit Hash ferry is here.
Obstreperous Rabbit Hash citizen sets fire to Covington jail.
The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a feature on Rabbit Hash in their magazine section in 1954. (pdf)
Rabbit Hash is on the National Register of Historical Places. Pdf's of the town's application is here, and the store's application is here. Both with history, maps, and pictures; both pdf's.

Maysville's Daily Public Ledger, March 6, 1895

It was issued. And reproduced (pdf) by the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.

The Rising Sun Wharf
Steamers landed at the wharf, but the ferry landed on the shore.

 

sketch by Gloria Wolfe	sketch by Caroline Williams

 

1975
Rabbit Hash General Store, since 1831 photo on the right is by Paul Briol

In 1894, Reuben Gold Thwaites, the director of the  Wisconsin State Historical Society, and a noted historian, traveled the length of the Ohio River, with his family and  his trusty Number 2 Kodak Camera.  These 3 pictures were taken by him, at Rabbit Hash

Well, of course, if this happened, it happened in Rabbit Hash. If this happened...

Frank Hodges Sawmill, circa 1900	Rev. Twinkle Preaches in Rabbit Hash, 1917	Martin Williamson Home

“Rabbit Hash.  Things we have heard that: - The R. H. W. & B turnpike is a sure go.”  Boone County Recorder, January 8, 1908.  We’re guessing Rabbit Hash, Waterloo, and Burlington.

We find a number of turnpike companies formed to build roads to and from Rabbit Hash. Like railroad companies later in the century, many such companies formed, failed to sell enough stock, and folded. We don't know about the success or failure of these: The Carlton Ferry Road to the Covington and Lexington Turnpike, and the Boone Turnpike Road Company. We also find this item, which seems to indicate the road to Union is privately owned, but supported by the county and is free of tolls.

“Captain David, of the [steamboat] Cherry, reports a new obstruction in the shape of a root in the channel at Aurora, about seventy five yards below the wharf boat. He also reports a fire at Rabbit Hash, opposite Rising Sun, Ind., Wednesday night, which destroyed Pate's store and several other houses, entailing a loss of $3,000.” Courier-Journal, September 23, 1883

C. W. Craig's General Store, 1954	C. W. Craig & Clayton Ryle, owners of the two Rabbit Hash Businesses

 

Rabbit Hash, Kentucky	Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

 

Cincinnati Daily Gazette, January 17, 1879

 

Formerly the Crescent Springs Fire Truck #501 in
downtown Rabbit Hash, 1989
From a Facebook post by Frank Michaels

 

Rabbit Hash Ferry from a Facebook post by the Ohio County Historical Museum	The Steamer Bonanza leaving Rising Sun from a Facebook post by the Ohio County Historical Museum	The Katie Piatt.  She was lost in the 1918 ice Thanks to Big Bruce for identifying the ferry for us, and for the pic on the right.

 

The Katie Piatt

 

That's the former Doctor's Office on the right - last used circa 1934	General Store, 1963	Rabbit Hash School Bus

`

Outside a church near Rabbit Hash
That's Rosa Lee Reed Vollmer, who had returned to a reunion that took place at the
 church in the photo. With her are her two daughters, Helen and Gertrude, and Gertrude's
daughter, Helen.  Identify of the man is unknown.  Thanks to Rose Berry for the picture.

Cliff and Lib Stephens, Rabbit Hash General Store proprietors			Cliff Stephens	C. W. Craig, with Patsy and Ronnie "Bugo" Stephens
These five from a Facebook post by Suzie McGuire Langen

The Rising Sun Wharf Boat, Flora, c. 1910	1871 Gravel Bar near Rabbit Hash	Aerial of Rabbit Hash

 

Aftermath of the 1937 Flood in Rabbit Hash. One of hundreds of buildings that floated off their foundations in the area, some floating down river never to be seen again. This one was moved up the hill at Rabbit Hash. Still there. From a Facebook post by Matt Mansu.

 

Ice of 1917-18 at Fernbank, Ohio Side from a Facebook post of the Saylor Park Historical Society	Ice of 1903, at Front Street in Rising Sun from a Facebook post by the Ohio county Historical Museum

 

Rabbit Hash in the 1937 Flood			In the 1964 Flood From a Facebook post by Matt Mansu

 

Fighting over the spoils of the 1907 flood

Rabbit Hash suffered from the 1883 Ohio River flood.

Rabbit Hash suffered from the 1884 Ohio River flood:


Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, February 11, 1884

“At Rabbit Hash a depot building was caught, and further down in the bottom a freight car was caught.  Maybe they will catch a railroad during the next flood.”	“If you want to come to this place, just start in this direction and continue to travel until you come to the dirtiest, filthiest, muddiest, and worst wrecked place anyone ever saw, and then stop, and we will assure you to be in Rabbit Hash.”
A more detailed description is here and yet another one, here.
The three items above are all from reporting about the 1884 flood in the Boone County Recorder of March 5, 1884.

Lots of current Rabbit Hash pictures are at Rabbithash.com.

River Ridge Park, 1968

Contemporary Rabbit Hash Brochure

 

Contemporary Rabbit Hash Brochure

We can't believe we post this stuff department: rabbit hash recipe.