The next episode of KET’s Kentucky Life spotlights Kentucky’s oldest continuously-manned fire department in Paris, artist Jonathan Queen’s whimsical paintings of classic toys, and the interesting backstory behind the Florence “Y’all” water tower.

The episode airs Saturday, Aug. 1, at 8/7 pm and Sunday, Aug. 2, at 4/3 pm on KET, and Monday, Aug. 3, at 7/6 pm on KET2. 

First, Kentucky Life heads to Paris to visit what’s believed to be the oldest continuously-manned fire department in Kentucky—and they have the memorabilia and photographs to prove it! The Paris Fire Department was formed in 1874, and its Station 1 building includes a museum of early firefighting tools and a fire alarm system purchased in 1892 that was still in use until 1971.

Then, Kentucky Life visits with artist Jonathan Queen, who uses classic toy imagery as metaphors for complex themes in his whimsical paintings and public murals, many of which can be found in Cincinnati.

Finally, Kentucky Life delves into the interesting backstory behind the famous Florence “Y’all” municipal water tower, which rests alongside I-75 in northern Kentucky. Originally emblazoned with the words “Florence Mall,” Mayor Diane E. Whalen explains how the mall’s signature phrase eventually came to be changed—and why it was a bargain to do so.

Kentucky Life is a KET production, produced by Chelsea Gorham. Segment producers for this episode are Matt Grimm, Frank Simkonis, and Valerie Trimble.

This year is Kentucky Life’s25th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, the program will include special Memory segments, in which each of Kentucky Life’shosts—Byron Crawford, Dave Shuffett and Doug Flynn—will revisit some of their favorite stories over the years. 

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than one million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.