A master craftsman who has built a banjo-making empire in rural Barren County has lost his business to a devastating fire.
Since 2001, Arthur Hatfield, owner of Hatfield Banjos, has been making and repairing banjos full-time and counts some of the nation’s best banjo players as his customers. Click here for a list of artists who use Hatfield Banjos.
His workshop, on Burton Ridge Road in the Rocky Hill area of Barren County, burned to the ground Friday night at approximately 7:30. A friend of Hatfield’s, professional banjo player Ed Stacey, posted on social media that the building was destroyed prior to the South Barren Fire Department arriving on scene.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. No injuries were reported.
(Headline photo: Arthur Hatfield working on a banjo in his shop in Barren Co., courtesy of Banjo Hangout)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
