• Archive
  • Apply
  • About
  • Donate
  • Merch
instagramfacebook
← Back to 1986

Scottsville | Lynne Roberts

by Lynne Roberts
Ofter people stop by to watch or just admire Napier’s work, such as these two. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
The Lumber Co. where Napier buys his supplies is right down the street from his workshop, so he usually walks if he needs something. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
At the end of his workday Napier makes sure everything is clean and in its place, ready for the next days work. This includes sweeping out sawdust. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
Working with sawdust, glue and stains for cabinets make it necessary for Napier to clean under his fingernails. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
Napier likes to be with people and he doesn’t find it hard to get a conversation going. He was on his lunch break. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
Napier measures the saw blade before he cuts lumber for cabinet doors. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
Napier measures to see where to drill the holes for the handles on a set of drawers. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”
Unfortunately there is no info with this photo.
Napier decided his own hours for work and breaks. He decided it was time for lunch. People sometimes ask- What trade school did he go to? But carpenter Hubert Napier didn’t go to a school to learn his trade or have a parent influence him in the business. “I just learned on my own, just got started.” At 22, he started carpentry work- building houses and doing finishing work because he likes to work with wood and his hands. Napier, now 67, mostly remodels local houses and builds cabinets. “I just like people,” he said. “I like to be out in public.” Napier, who lives on the outskirts of Scottsville, loves the town. “It don’t take much money to live here. You make enough to get by on,” he says. Usually working alone, Napier sets his own hours. He leaves when he gets tired or if his work is finished. Along with his wife, Dema, 62, he lives near his three daughters and two granddaughters. He’s always mentioning them. He is comfortable with his family and friends in the small town. His cabinetry workshop depicts his nature- kind, clean and quiet. “Nearly everybody knows me,” he says. That is because he has had a busy career. He says he has built anywhere from 75 to 100 houses in the area. “There are things people want me to build,” he said. “It looks like I’m gonna have to get busy.”

Join Us

Take part in next year's workshops in photography, video and design.

Learn More

Follow Along

Keep up with the Mountain Workshops throughout the year.

Have info on a story or found an issue?

Contact Us

©2026 Mountain Workshops & Western Kentucky University ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.

Mountain Workshops Director
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11070
Bowling Green, KY 42101

We educate and inspire visual storytellers and create a valuable cultural archive of Kentucky life.

The Mountain Workshops is an extension of the School of Media’s Photojournalism program and is part of Potter College at Western Kentucky University.

We respect your privacy. Read our policy here.