Hidden in the hills of Martin County, Himlerville (now Beauty) stands alone in Kentucky as the only location with a direct and authentic connection to Holocaust history and Jewish immigrant heritage on Kentucky soil. It deserves a prominent place in Kentucky’s cultural memory—and as efforts continue to restore the Himler House, the Commonwealth of Kentucky should step forward and offer its support.
This story begins with Martin Himler—a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant who built a coal town like no other in Appalachia—and the home he left behind.
The importance here is not just about saving an old building. It is about preserving the only known Holocaust-related cultural heritage site in the state and preparing for the global attention that will soon follow.
Founded by Himler in the early 20th century, Himlerville was a cooperative mining town. Its residents—many of them fellow Hungarian immigrants—shared ownership of the Himler Coal Company and built a thriving community grounded in democratic ideals, Hungarian culture and economic self-determination.
Though Himler left the region before World War II, his life remained intertwined with Jewish resilience and Holocaust history. As an officer in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the CIA, Himler interrogated more than 300 Nazi war criminals following the war. This contribution, for which he was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, ties Himlerville to the global legacy of Holocaust justice.
No other site in Kentucky possesses this combination of:
- Jewish immigrant founding and cultural legacy
- Physical location rooted in authentic, lived experience
- Direct personal contribution to post-Holocaust justice
While educational programs, exhibits and oral history collections across the state honor Holocaust memory, Himlerville is unique. It is a place where the story lived, not just where it is taught.
And now that story is reaching an international stage.
Acclaimed Appalachian filmmaker and East Tennessee State University professor Stokes Piercy has been awarded a 2025–26 Fulbright Scholarship to produce a feature-length documentary titled “Himler: From Coal to Colonel.” This film will trace Himler’s journey from immigrant coal entrepreneur to decorated WWII intelligence officer. It is a story that bridges continents—Appalachia and Hungary—and links local memory to global history.
Piercy’s film, backed by one of the most prestigious academic honors in the world, will spotlight eastern Kentucky before a worldwide audience. With the documentary in production and international interest building, restoring the Himler House becomes an opportunity for education, cultural tourism and rural revitalization.
The Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society has already laid the foundation. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is under consideration as a National Landmark. Original building materials have been preserved. Community support is strong. What is needed now is for the state of Kentucky to offer meaningful assistance—financial and institutional—to complete the restoration.
Supporting this project is a wise investment. It would affirm Kentucky’s commitment to preserving diverse histories, uplifting rural communities and honoring those who stood for justice in the darkest hours of the 20th century.
There is only one Himler House, one Himlerville, and with the world soon watching, Kentucky must not let this chance slip away.
Let us restore the Himler House as a symbol of what Kentucky remembers, values and shares with the world.