Kentucky Heritage Council's Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Awards Announced

The Kentucky Heritage Council, which serves as our state historic preservation office, annually awards a number of awards to recognize "excellence in the preservation of historic buildings and Kentucky's cultural resources through investment, advocacy, volunteerism, building partnerships, public involvement, a lifelong commitment, or significant achievement." This year, 2013, marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the awards.

Ida Lee Willis (Photo: KHC)

Ida Lee Willis was the first lady of Kentucky (her husband, Gov. Simeon Willis, served from 1943-47) and was "directly responsible for saving the Vest-Lindsey House in Frankfort. She was named the first state historic preservation officer (SHPO) in 1966 after the enactment of the National Preservation Act.

Awards are divided into three categories. Preservation projects as well as individuals and groups are eligible for awards, but one individual is the recipient of the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award itself.

In 2013, that honor goes to Stephen L. Collins of Shelbyville.

Recipients of the Preservation Project Awards are: Cox Building (Maysville), Rockcastle River Historic Truss Bridge (Laurel, Rockcastle Counties), and Sadieville Rosenwald School.

Recipients of the Service to Preservation Awards are: Nancy Adams of the Pine Mountain Settlement School, Keith Nagle of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc., and the BGT deTours Committee!

Honorees will be honored at a reception on Thursday at the Governor's Mansion.

Note: Links above go to Kaintuckeean posts on these sites. Hopefully, I'll get to all of them!

A Thief is in Our Midst: Historic Iron Door Stolen from Hunt-Morgan House

CSI: Lexington. The Hunt Morgan House.

During the Civil War, General John Hunt Morgan and his cavalry engaged in guerrilla style warfare springing attacks and raids on Union troops, supply chains, and communities. He was once caught and imprisoned at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus (demolished, 1998, for the Nationwide Arena), though the General escaped.

The subject iron door

Apparently, however, a raid against his history as occurred at the Lexington property bearing his name. From the property owner, the Blue Grass Trust:

A circa 1800s iron prison door, weighing more than 400 pounds and approximately 6 to 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide, (pictured above, on its side) was stolen from the grounds of The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation’s Hunt-Morgan House. The iron door is from the Ohio State Penitentiary that housed General John Hunt Morgan during the Civil War. It was donated to the BGT by Burl McCoy of Morgan’s Men and has significant historical significance. The Blue Grass Trust is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the safe return of the iron door. Please call the BGT at (859)253-0362, or the LFUCG Division of Police at (859)258-3600 with any information, re: Case #2013-072783.

The Blue Grass Trust and Debra Hensley are offering a $500$1,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of this historic artifact.

Support @WestSixth! #NoMoreMagicHat

 

West Sixth Brewing Company is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the corporate conglomerate that owns the once small Vermont brewer, Magic Hat.

The suit alleges customers are confused by the West Sixth logo (compare the logos above and share your thoughts in the comments). The only confusion would be the increased sales Magic Hat would receive because customers thought they were buying Kentucky awesomeness.

Click the following link to sign West Sixth's online petition to Magic Hat to drop the lawsuit. [West Sixth]

Kentucky's Oldest Florist, Michler's

Michler Florist on Maxwell Street - Lexington, Ky.

Drive slowly down Maxwell Street and you may find one of the gems of Lexington. For generations, the Michler family has grown beautiful flowers and other flora in the greenhouses which now occupy land sandwiched better the University of Kentucky and downtown Lexington.

Michler Florist, or Michler's, is the Commonwealth's oldest continually operated greenhouse and florist.  Carl Michler, an immigrant from Württemberg, Germany, began to establish his greenhouses on the site in 1902. It was a family business and remains so to this day.