McCoy House in Pikeville
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
After their original home on Blackberry Creek in Hardy was set on fire and destroyed by a group of men from the Hatfield family in 1888, members of the McCoy family relocated to Pikeville and eventually lived in this home on Main Street. The McCoy patriarch, Randolph McCoy, worked as a ferry operator during these years with his wife Sarah. Today the former McCoy home is the location of Chirco's Restaurant. The home includes a historical marker and is listed as a state historical landmark. Parts of the original home have been preserved and the owners frequently allow diners and visitors to explore the landmark.
Images
McCoy House historic marker
The McCoy House at it appears today, now remodeled as an Italian restaurant
Inside view of the home
Another look at the inside of the home
A look at the dining area of the home/restaurant, which features photos and memorabilia related to the feud
Pictures which adorn the walls of the home
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
On New Year's Day in 1888, reportedly just after midnight, the original McCoy home located on Blackberry Creek in what is now Hardy, Kentucky, was attacked by a group of men from the Hatfield family. The home was set on fire and completely destroyed, with only the well which sat next to the home on the property surviving. Randolph and Sarah McCoy lost two of their children in the attack. Calvin and Alifair McCoy perished and matriarch Sarah McCoy was brutally beaten and nearly killed as well. With nothing left of their home, Randolph and Sarah fled into the woods to escape.
As a result of the increasingly violent nature of the feud, the governors of both Kentucky and West Virginia urged members of the Hatfield and McCoy families to relocate and distance themselves from one another. With this in mind, Perry Cline, a lawyer and distant relative of the McCoys who also had a history of run-ins with the Hatfields, helped Randolph and Sarah relocate closer to his own home in Pikeville. The McCoys soon purchased a home on Main Street, close to Scott Avenue. Perry Cline helped Randolph find a job operating a ferry on the Big Sandy River nearby. The two stayed there until their respective deaths before then being buried in the Dils cemetery nearby.
Today, the McCoy home is still standing on Pikeville's Main Street and is recognized and marked as a state historical landmark. The home has since been remodeled and a significant portion of the home is part of Chirico's restaurant. The owners of the home and restaurant preserved portions of the original home, which can be seen in the accompanying photos. In addition, the dining area of the restaurant contains a plethora of framed pictures and memorabilia relating to the feud and is on display for diners. Though typically restricted by the restaurant's owners, diners and visitors are frequently given permission to view and tour what other parts of the former McCoy home.
As a result of the increasingly violent nature of the feud, the governors of both Kentucky and West Virginia urged members of the Hatfield and McCoy families to relocate and distance themselves from one another. With this in mind, Perry Cline, a lawyer and distant relative of the McCoys who also had a history of run-ins with the Hatfields, helped Randolph and Sarah relocate closer to his own home in Pikeville. The McCoys soon purchased a home on Main Street, close to Scott Avenue. Perry Cline helped Randolph find a job operating a ferry on the Big Sandy River nearby. The two stayed there until their respective deaths before then being buried in the Dils cemetery nearby.
Today, the McCoy home is still standing on Pikeville's Main Street and is recognized and marked as a state historical landmark. The home has since been remodeled and a significant portion of the home is part of Chirico's restaurant. The owners of the home and restaurant preserved portions of the original home, which can be seen in the accompanying photos. In addition, the dining area of the restaurant contains a plethora of framed pictures and memorabilia relating to the feud and is on display for diners. Though typically restricted by the restaurant's owners, diners and visitors are frequently given permission to view and tour what other parts of the former McCoy home.
Sources
Brackney, Peter. Hatfield and McCoy History Still Alive in Pike County. May 30, 2012. Accessed June 12, 2019. https://www.kaintuckeean.com/2012/05/hatfield-mccoy-history-still-alive-in.html.
“McCoy House,” ExploreKYHistory, accessed June 12, 2019, https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/789.
“McCoy House,” ExploreKYHistory, accessed June 12, 2019, https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/789.