As we leave Key Town, I wanted to share a few, final thoughts. I’ve said many times that I’m leaving with more questions than answers, and that’s certainly true after assembling these articles on Key Town. As I write about people and places that appear as familiar as my own life story, I often find that there are unknown layers to the stories and my research seems to never be finished. I suppose that’s the nature of history and the reason we can spend a lifetime studying it.

I’m always asking what brought people to this place and I certainly long to find an answer to that question for Stephen Key. I was shocked to learn the size of the original Key family lands – was that why he left his father’s Overton County home? I have found deeds where he passed land to his sons but have yet to find when and from whom he actually acquired it.

One interesting transaction I found was an 1890 deed to the school district. There is a story about a school that stood between the well-known Campground and Martha Washington Schools. It may have been called Crooked Hickory, but the details are very sketchy. Finding that deed, and having a general understanding of the lay of Key’s lands seems to validate the story.

However, Stephen Key’s grandson Billy would have been in school about the years 1891 – 1898 and there are no stories of him attending Crooked Hickory as he grew up in Key Town. Still, Stephen’s willingness to share a part of his land with the school board would seem to give some indication to the man’s priorities.

Rest assured, I will continue to work on this subject and we’ll revisit it when I have more to share!