Throwback Thursday: Remembering the Country Ham Motel

Seventy-six years ago, a new motel opened at the intersection of First and State Streets in downtown Bowling Green. Now we would call it where State Street meets the 31-W Bypass. The motel had an unusual theme. It was the largest display of country ham in the whole country. First opened in 1949, this is the story of the Country Ham Motel and the unique heritage that country ham represents across all Kentucky and the southern United States.

Jimmie Siddens was the proprietor of the Country Ham Motel. Its location was prime real estate along the Dixie Highway, the only way to travel by road between Nashville and Louisville. The hotel’s lobby had a huge display of country hams hanging in the window. Not only could travelers stay overnight, but they could also pick up an assortment of aged country ham and sausage at a great price.

Postcards from the 1950s show the view of the motel from the Bypass, cured hams hanging across the main entrance. A Bowling Green Daily News ad from 1974 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the motel with a huge sale and free birthday cake when you visit the store. The Country Ham Motel shut down, the building being used as a couple other businesses over the years before it was ultimately demolished in 2015.

Country ham is part of the legacy of southern comfort food and Kentucky’s culinary story. Country ham represents some of the best southern recipes, and nowadays it’s hard to find any locally-cured country ham. The nearest is Broadbent Hams in Kuttawa, Kentucky, which is owned and managed by Bowling Green local Josh Poling, who also owns Hickory & Oak restaurant and its all-new Broadbent Room.

In fact, the Broadbent Room’s décor mirrors the old Country Ham Motel, with hams hanging along the walls and a Country Ham Motel sign. Josh Poling understands the importance of keeping country ham’s legacy alive and curating delicious recipes with new generations of eaters. The Broadbent Room captures the essence of the historic Country Ham Motel, while bringing special events to life that combine local music, art, and culinary elements together. This summer, the Broadbent Room is hosting small rounds of live tunes. You can buy all sorts of Broadbent Ham products online, knowing you are supporting Kentucky cured ham and keeping stories of the Country Ham Motel alive.