No Destination: Jacob Spears

Jacob Spears Marker, Bourbon Co., Ky.

My biggest mistake in driving with no destination was going down the road next to the above marker, not recognizing the "stone castle" and completely missing the Jacob Spears distillery. Fortunately, you can see someone else's pictures here. From historic marker 2295:

Named after Bourbon Co. because of quantity and quality of whiskey produced within its borders. Made from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn, with less wheat, rye, or barley, yeast and limestone water. Distilled at no more than 160 proof and aged in charred oak barrels. In 1964, Congress recognized bourbon as a distinctly American product. 

(Reverse) Stone Castle, 1 mile south, built 1790 by Thomas Metcalfe for Jacob Spears. A Pennsylvanian who settled in Paris, he was innovative farmer & one of first distillers of bourbon whiskey. Still standing on this farm are a springhouse and a storehouse for his bourbon whiskey. It is the most complete distiller’s complex still in existence today.

In fact, it was Jacob Spears who first used the term "Bourbon" to describe his whiskey. Now, I think I'm sufficiently inspired to go sip some Makers 46.

No Destination: "Aunt Julia" Marcum

Historic Marker, Williamsburg, Ky.

According to the Kentucky Encyclopedia, Julia Ann Marcum was raised in Tennessee. Her family sympathized with the Union cause and for this their home was attacked in September 1861. Julia fought off a Confederate soldier with an ax until her father shot the soldier dead, but during this fight Julia was badly wounded. Although she worked for a time as a schoolteacher, she ultimately became permanently disabled as a result of her war wounds. She moved to Williamsburg upon her retirement and became the only female ever admitted to the Grand Army of the Republic. Historic Marker #672 reads:

Only woman, as a fighter, to receive a U.S. pension: special Act of Congress, 1884. Marcum home in Tenn., a depot for southerners going north to Union army. She lost eye; badly wounded defending home against marauders; then the family came here. Unionist father killed in action. Her life devoted to patriotic, religious work. Died in 1936, age 91, military funeral.

No Destination: State Reception Room

State Reception Room, Frankfort, Ky.

The State Reception Room on the second floor of the Capitol  in Frankfort is a spectacular, highly ornamental room used for state functions. Modeled in the style of Louis XIV of France and likely after Marie Antoinette's drawing room at Versailles. The Versailles connections do not end, however, as the painted walls duplicate tapestries found in the French palace and mirrors on either end of the room multiply the chandeliers and create a "Hall of Mirros" effect. The room also features (not pictured) a handmade Austrian rug which apparently fills the floor. The windows and balcony face north toward old Frankfort and the Kentucky River.

No Destination: State Legislature

For regular readers, you know that I've visited our beautiful State Capitol in celebration of its bicentennial. For the next couple of posts, I'm going inside the Capitol to show some off its interior. The Commonwealth's two legislative bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate (together, the General Assembly) meet in opposite ends of the Capitol.

Kentucky House Chamber, Frankfort, Ky.

The chamber of the House is pictured above. It is here that the Governor gives his annual State of the Commonwealth Address.The beautiful chair behind the lectern is the Speaker's Chair. In ordinary session, it is occupied by the Speaker of the House. During joint sessions, however, the gavel and seat is turned over to the Senate President. During the Governor's address, President Williams can be seen rocking from left to right in the chair (which has uneven legs). The docent on hand during my visit informed me that, despite multiple attempts to correct the problem, the chair cannot be leveled.

Kentucky Senate Chamber, Frankfort, Ky.

The Senate Chamber has thirty-eight mahogany desks - one for each member. During the bicentennial celebration, access to the Senate floor - unlike the People's House - was restricted to a small area in the back of the chamber. Like the House, it is very Romenesque in design and features a very large and very beautiful original skylight.

No Destination: Pineville Preacher

Pineville Preachin', Pineville, Ky.

On a Sunday afternoon drive through Pineville (Bell Co.), I happened to notice some singing coming from the corner of the courthouse square. With guitars in hand (non-instrumentalists held Bibles), the crusade had begun. To be sure, there was some fire and brimstone outdoor preaching on this hot day. There was also the laying of hands and purging of sins. While I didn't hear it, I'm sure the "Do Not Enter" sign was worked into the message.

The voices recalled for me the sound of the preachers who would shout in the commons area at the University of Kentucky, but these Pineville folk were not going to Lexington. They simply took their Sunday morning message out into their own community. And, while my form of worship isn't necessarily on my knees in the middle of the street, these people seemed genuine. Religion is important in Kentucky; I've had the opportunity to visit some gorgeous churches on my journeys but this was the first time I'd witnessed (while on a No Destination drive) public displays of religion.

No Destination: Eades Tavern

Eades Tavern, Paris, Ky.

Duncan Tavern, though Paris' most famed tavern, is not Paris' oldest. Eades Tavern is just a few doors down High Street and is just a few years older. The two taverns, opened just six years apart, were great competitors for a number of years vying for the right to sleep and board the area's guests. Historic Marker #1824 reads:

This log building lined with adz-hewn cherry was built as a tavern. In 1795 it became first post office in Paris. Thomas Eades then served as tavern owner and postmaster. Robert Trimble had home and law office here before becoming U.S. Supreme Court justice, 1826. It became site of Lizzie Walker's private school. Listed on National Register of Historic Places, 1973.

Justice Trimble represented the Paris area in the Kentucky House of Representatives and served as chief justice on the Kentucky Court of Appeals; he is buried at the Paris Cemetery. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President John Quincy Adams to fill the "Kentucky vacancy" and upon recommendation of Secretary of State Henry Clay. Yes, that's right - there used to be a "Kentucky seat" on the Supreme Court!

walkLEX: Horsemania 2010

"Ashland Stud" Artist: Christy Buckner of Lexington, Ky.

Now through October 15, there are some extra horses around Lexington. Repeating the success of the first Horsemania in 2000, LexArts is bringing back the horses in Horsemania 2010! These fiberglass horses are painted or otherwise decorated by local artists and can be seen around downtown (and elsewhere!).

I've not gotten to all the horses yet, but I have begun taking pictures and posting them to flickr. I'll keep adding pictures there so check it out there? Have you seen the horses? Which is your favorite?

www.flickr.com

No Destination: Louisville Zoo's Cemetery

Cemetery at the Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Ky.

In the middle of the Louisville Zoo is a family cemetery. The old cemetery is a quiet respite in the middle of a modern, busy cemetery. Although it does not hold the grandeur of Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery, it is a fine old family cemetery. A marker, Salute to a Pioneer Family, rests near the Phillips-Durrett-Clark Cemetery and reads:

The American branch of the Phillips family began with Jenkin Phillips, born in 1744 in Loudon Co., Virginia. He fought with George Washington and helped survey what was then called Kentucky County for Patrick Henry and the Commonwealth of Virginia. For his services, Phillips was deeded 1,00 acres of land radiating out from this spot. At the time of his death in 1822, the family owned land extending from this area into southern Indiana.

No Destination: St. Francis Catholic Church

St. Francis Catholic Church, Georgetown, Ky.

Between Georgetown and Frankfort sitting to the right atop a small hill rests a beautiful Catholic Church. The St. Francis Catholic Church represents the oldest Catholic congregation in the Commonwealth (first Mass was held on Dec. 1, 1793) and the church building dates to 1820. It is the second oldest Catholic Church west of the Alleghenies. Interior features evidencing the historic nature of the church include the kneeler stretching across the front of the church and doors to the pews. It is named after St. Francis de Sales.

The rural church is not ordinarily left open for contemplative prayer, but is available for scheduled tours. I happened to visit on a day when the church was having a picnic. So I was able to stroll into the church for a little prayer (and photography)! It is absolutely beautiful.

Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin was the congregation's resident pastor for many formative years; Rev. Badin was the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States. Born in Orleans, France in 1768, he was ordained May 25, 1793 by Bishop Carroll of the then-Diocese of Baltimore. Soon thereafter, Rev. Badin was appointed to the Mission of Kentucky.

A convent was located here until from 1875 to 1896 when it was moved to the Cardome Center, just north of Georgetown.

Laurel County Courthouse - London, Ky.

Let me start by saying that the Kentucky Almanac led me astray on the Rockcastle County factoid. There appear to be a number of counties that are not named after people, i.e. Ohio and today's entry, Laurel County.
Downtown London is really nice. Its very clean, and contains a nice mix of older and new buildings. London's appreciation for aesthetics is really evident in the courthouse pictured above. It is the third courthouse to sit on this site, after a second was destroyed by fire. This Georgian-style courthouse was built in 1961, yet looks much, much older.


London is also home to a Federal building and courthouse, pictured above. The old Federal building is to the left, and a new Federal Courthouse fits in perfectly with the surroundings. Then, across the street sits. . .


This insanely huge judicial center. I don't know if the massiveness of the building is really conveyed by this picture, but I can't imagine that enough business is conducted in Laurel County to necessitate this thing. Maybe I'm wrong.

No Destination: Choctaw Indian Academy

Choctaw Indian Academy, Scott County, Ky.

I'm realizing that photographs of historic markers probably aren't as enjoyable for you as pictures of buildings, landscapes, etc.  So I tried to make this one a little more artistic. And if I for a minute actually thought that the old academy still existed, I would have trekked the two miles to find it. That said, I figured it was long gone. I may be mistaken as I was able to find pictures at www.thepeopleofthehuntingground.com.

The History of Scott County, Kentucky provides an account of the indian school:

Lafayette in his tour of the country in that year, (1825) visited it at Blue Springs, and a great feast was prepared for him by the neighborhood, the ladies making a cheese for the occasion weighing 500 pounds. In 1831 the school was removed from Blue Springs to White Sulphur Springs, which was also on a farm owned by Col. Johnson . . . There were generally from two to three hundred Indian boys in attendance, and it brought a considerable revenue to Col. Johnson’s exchequer. Some of the boys afterward filled prominent positions in the country—several became preachers of the Gospel.

Several other of the indian boys would becomes chiefs of their respective tribes. The Col. Johnson mentioned above was Col. Richard Mentor Johnson who would serve as Vice President from 1837-1841 during the administration of President Martin Van Buren. There is some controversy surrounding Johnson's establishment of the school and his intentions; it seems that he was quite good as securing government contracts, including the establishment of the school.

An 1838 student log shows students from several tribes: Choctaw, Potawatomi, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Prarieduchien, Chicaga, Miami, and Quapaw. The school ultimately closed when financial support from the tribes dried up (they were being forced west into Oklahoma). The OSU Digital Library is a  tremendous source of information about the Academy.

My flickr for Choctaw.

No Destination: First Camp Site in Kentucky

First Camp Site in Kentucky, Pineville, Ky.

Near the entry to Pine Mountain State Resort Park is a marker designating the First Camp Site in Kentucky:

Dr. Thomas Walker and 5 companions, employed by the Loyal Land Company, came into this region April 14, 1750, to locate lands for settlement in these western reaches of Virginia. His 1750 journal relates that he established a camp at this spot and spent 3 days here, hunting and fishing. He then moved on to the river, which he named Cumberland River. Walker preceded Daniel Boone in Kentucky by 16 years.

So many Kentuckians are familiar with Daniel Boone, but few are aware of Dr. Walker. Walker's naming of the Cumberland River preceded the naming of the pass his group took to enter the area, a pass later named Cumberland Gap. Walker was also the first American to discover a use for coal.

After returning from his exploration of the "western frontier" of Kentucky, Walker returned to Virginia. In 1957, he became Thomas Jefferson's guardian as the young Jefferson's father had passed away.Walker, having a grant of 800,000 acres in what would become southeastern Kentucky, remained in Virginia.

Rockcastle County Courthouse - Mt. Vernon, Kentucky

Rockcastle County is an interesting place. It's one of two counties in Kentucky not named for a person (Okay Peter, what's the other county?), as it's named after the Rockcastle River, which is in turn named after the castle-like rock formations that surround it. One quarter of the county is in the Daniel Boone National Forest, and the drive through Rockcastle on the old Dixie Highway is pretty scenic. The most notable area of Rockcastle is probably Renfro Valley, a country music Mecca that I've really wanted to visit for a show, but have never found the time.
This courthouse seems relatively modern and pretty nondescript. I can't find much information about it - the Kentucky Encyclopedia mentions that the first log courthouse here burned in 1873. Can anyone help me fill in the blanks?

No Destination: Georgetown

Downtown Georgetown, Kentucky

I've already mentioned a number of locations in and around Georgetown - the College, the Japanese Garden, Ward Hall - but I haven't discussed Georgetown itself. Originally named Lebanon, the town was renamed after George Washington in 1790 (present day Lebanon, Ky. wasn't named until 1815).

Although founded by Rev. Elijah Craig and his fellow Baptists, its modern history goes back a little further. In 1774, John Floyd led the first whites into the area during a surveying expedition. Floyd and his men discovered the Royal Spring (which was Georgetown's primary water source for years). Although Floyd claimed the surrounding 1,000 acres, he never settled the land. John McClelland began establishing a fort in April 1775, but the site was abandoned after an Indian attack in 1776. The white man did not return until Elijah Craig came in 1782.

The community remained a sleepy neighbor to nearby Lexington for many years. Georgetown, however, grew drastically when Toyota located its North American manufacturing facility here. Most notably, all Toyota Camry's are manufactured in Georgetown. The town is also the home of the Cincinnati Bengals' summer training camp.

Pictured is the downtown business district, called the Oxford Historic District. It is known for its beautiful examples of late Victorian and Greek Revival architecture. Check out all of my pictures of Georgetown on flickr.

No Destination: St. Matthew AME

St. Matthew AME Church, Midway, Ky.

In historic Midway is the St. Matthews African Methodist-Episcopal Church. Its historic marker, unveiled in 2008, reads:

St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church. Est. in 1860. Served as a recruitment office during Civil War. Lot was purchased May 9, 1854, for location of first church building. Rev. Moses Burks was 1st minister of the old frame church. In 1886, Rev. J. Frazier & members erected brick church that later burned with old frame church. Present church was built in 1892.

It is a beautiful, well-kept structure that congregants should be proud of. Unfortunately, with the exception of the marker I can find no history on the building or the congregation.

No Destination: Nat'l Bank of Cynthiana

Adaptive Reuse in Cynthiana, Ky.

For my regular readers, you know I love historic preservation. A key part of preservation is adaptive reuse, which simply means utilizing existing structures for purposes other than those which were originally intended. Although some historic significance is lost, often the historic streetscape is not disturbed. A great example of adaptive reuse in Cynthiana is the old National Bank of Cynthiana which today houses a diner smartly named "The Vault" as well as the visitor's center.

No Destination: Carnegie Library (Middlesboro)

Carnegie Library, Middlesboro, Ky.

The Carnegie Library in Middlesboro is one of 35 libraries built between 1899 and 1914 by the Carnegie Foundation. [*] Completed in 1912, the keys to the structure were never turned over to the city because the municipality could not gather the $1,500 (10% of the cost) necessary to receive the structure under the terms of the Carnegie grant. As a result, the building stood vacant for several years. Ultimately, the Bell County library moved into the building. Other tenants have included the police department, a classroom building for the overcrowded schools and as a bandage preparation facility for the Red Cross during World War II.

Today, the old Carnegie Library houses the county's historical society and museum.

As Carnegie said, "The[ libraries] only help those that help themselves. They never pauperize. They reach the aspiring, and open to these the chief treasures of the world—those stored in books. A taste for reading drives out lower tastes." Despite not funding their share of the library, the people of Middlesboro did want the facility [PDF of letters by citizens to Carnegie, compiled by J. Jeffrey of Western Kentucky University].

No Destination: Site of Fairfield

Site of Fairfield, Bourbon Co., Ky.

US-27 between Paris and Cynthiana is filled with historic markers. At each sign, I dutifully pull over to explore.  Historic Marker #82, Site of Fairfield:

One mile northeast. Built by James Garrard, second Governor of Kentucky, 1796-1800; reelected 1800-04. Bourbon County's first court held here, 1786. Near here, Mt. Lebanon, Kentucky's earliest Governor's mansion.

Mt. Lebanon was actually Gov. Garrard's residence, constructed by him in 1782 on the Stoner Fork of the Licking River. He is buried at Mt. Lebanon. Fairfield was Gov. Garrard's son's home and was adjacent to Mt. Lebanon. Many Garrard family members - a major family in Kentucky's history - claimed Fairfield as their birthplace.

No Destination: A Renowned Piscator

"A Renowned Piscator" Historic Marker, Cynthiana, Ky.

In Cynthiana, a historic marker is dedicated to A Renowned Piscator. To be honest, I had to look this word up. It simply means "fisherman" or "angler." The marker reads:

Dr. James A. Henshall, 1836-1925, author Book of the Black Bass and others, brought fame to Kentucky's South Licking, Elkhorn, and Stoner streams. He came here to practice medicine. During Civil War healed wounds for men in Blue and Gray. Left, regained health, returned in 1880, wrote book. With U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, 1896-1917, he found new method for fish  propagation.

In fact, this native of Baltimore, Maryland's book (Book of the Black Bass) is considered by some to be "everything about the black bass just as Herman Melville's Moby Dick is all you want to know about whales." (Ken Duke, ESPN "Bassography").

In a nutshell, Henshall thought the small-mouthed black bass to be a fish with a lot of spunk - especially given its size. He set forth to improve its popularity among anglers and began raising the fish on ponds (this was a new idea in those days). Ultimately, he went to work for the U.S. Fish Commission and used his skills in creating hatcheries in Montana.

No Destination: John Hunt Morgan Bridge

John Hunt Morgan Bridge, Cynthiana, Ky.

General John Hunt Morgan, the Thunderbolt of the Confederacy, is a favorite Civil  War general among many Kentuckians. In Lexington, the statute of him upon his steed is the only one in Kentucky with a mounted Civil War soldier or officer.

In Cynthiana, site of two Civil War battles (both involved JHM), a bridge "honor[s] famous Confederate calvary leader." Opened to traffic on October 8, 1949, the General John Hunt Morgan Bridge was dedicated in 1950. It replaced a wooden, covered bridge which had been erected in 1837. Closed in 1944 and the flooring and sides removed, daring teenagers attempted to cross the skeletal remains of the covered bridge in 1946. Four drowned. In December 1948, that bridge was pushed into the river and construction began on the present bridge. [*] [*]

The bridge crosses the south fork of the Licking River.

Fourth of July Celebrations

On Friday evening, I enjoyed the sounds of the Lexington Singers and the Lexington Philharmonic at the Patriotic Concert held on the steps of Transylvania University's Old Morrison with the crowd filling Gratz Park. Saturday, July 3, included the annual downtown festival, parade and fireworks. Lexington always puts its best foot forward on the Fourth of July and I always love being downtown on this day. On this day, all of Lexington comes together to celebrate - in one place. The politics, the people watching, the food - everything makes for a terrific day.

I'm not posting any histories today, but I am encouraging you to post comments here about how you celebrated the Fourth of July. Also, check out all the pictures I took over the weekend in my flickr Fourth of July Festivities set.

And Happy Independence Day!

www.flickr.com

Happy Weekend; Happy Fourth of July on the Third

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Lexington is celebrating today (it started last night with a terrific Patriotic Concert). I'll be there taking pictures and uploading them to flickr when time permits (Already posted last night's pictures...enjoy)!

Lexington celebrates its Fourth of July activities today, July 3rd. There is a lot going on downtown. Come and see. [LFUCG]

Future of Centrepointe as permanent downtown greenspace? If we preserve it, will they come? [Lexington Streetsweeper]

An artshow at the Hopewell Museum, Paris, features Kentucky's artists of the past and present. Admission is cheap. [Tom Eblen]

Exhibit on Lewis and Clark Expedition housed is housed until mid-August at the Boone County Public Library. A lot of Kentucky connections [NKy]

Horse Mania and Horse Play foals will soon be appearing around downtown Lexington and in the libraries. [Herald-Leader]

Blogging with Substance

The Kaintuckeean has been awarded the “Blogging with Substance” award. Thank you to SSW of La Fin des Haricots for bestowing this high honor on us! To accept this award, we must (1) thank the award presenter, (2) share our blogging philosophy in five words and (3) bestow the award on ten other blogs. Having already thanked SSW, we now move forward to our other tasks at hand.

As for a blogging philosophy, we obviously love Kentucky. So too did Daniel Boone. In fact, he once said: “Kentucke, which I esteemed a Second Paradise.” The more we explore our Commonwealth, the truer we believe this claim. And so, our blogging philosophy: Exploring Kentucky, Our Second Paradise.

Now, to recommend ten blogs. First, there are several great Kentucky blogs (I hope to learn of more in the future!). It is true evidence that Kentucky, to so many, is truly a "Second Paradise!"

1. Unusual Kentucky is fantastic as the author finds the most bizarre Kentucky sites. His book, Weird Kentucky, is a must read!
2. My Old Kentucky Backroads is another site exploring Kentucky's backroads and finds unique, historic sites. 
3. LEXplore focuses on my friend's new discoveries in the Lexington area. A variety of history, business/restaurant and &c. It is a new site, but it has much promise! 
4. Bluegrass Romance Project is one of my new favorite sites. The author loves life and lives it passionately here. In so doing, she finds the amazing, unique Kentucky.
5. Genuine Kentucky is a beautiful site "celebrating the Bluegrass." That, they do!
6. Broken Sidewalk is bizarre only because the author remains intimately involved with the details of Louisville while living in Brooklyn, NY. In May, he took a hiatus from writing and has returned to a limited extent and I'm hoping for more!
7. The Bluegrass & Beyond is essential for Kentuckians. Written by Herald-Leader columnist Tom Eblen (a lover of Kentucky, of its history and its future), this site is a fantastic resource (and at times, inspiration).
8. UrbanUp is a Cincinnati blog, but it doesn't ignore the happenings in Northern Kentucky. 
9. The Lexington Streetsweeper is a little political, but it is striving for a better (and preserved) Lexington. 
10. History Burgoo is the official blog of the Kentucky Historical Society. Not surprisingly, it is quite an interesting read!

Happy reading!

Happy Fourth of July!!

The Fourth of July celebrations are upon us! As usual, I’ll be celebrating Lexington-style. I know there are lots of traditions around Kentucky on the Fourth of July and different communities have wonderful, unique festivities. Tell me what you and/or your community does to celebrate our Nation’s independence!

No Destination: Griffith Woods

Griffith Woods, Cynthiana, Ky.

745 acres of protected Harrison County land provides the purest glimpse of what Europeans first saw when the entered the Bluegrass region. This is what the land looked like when the Native Americans lived here. Griffith Woods is a cooperative effort between the Nature Conservancy, the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. It is the centerpiece of the Bluegrass Restoration Project, an effort dedicated to returning as much of the Bluegrass to its original state. This effort is particularly important as the Bluegrass region was listed as endangered in 2006 by the World Monuments Fund (of course, the WMF was referring to horse country, not the natural habitat).

Originally called Silver Lake Farm, both the farm and the Griffith family were key figures in the early days of both the Commonwealth and the county. In the early 1900s, owner and farmer William Griffith preserved a portion of his land which today stands as the largest oak-ash savanna in Kentucky. Many of the blue ash, chinquapin oak, bur oak, hickories and black walnut trees are over 300 years old. In fact, the world's largest chinquapin oak is at Griffith Woods. Fenced off, except for private tours, the view above is from the gate. There is also an  abandoned home/tavern which was built around 1822.[*] It appears that UK and the Harrison County Fiscal Court might restore the tavern as well. Check out my other pictures of Griffith Woods @flickr.

No Destination: Silas Baptist Church

Silas Baptist Church, Cynthiana, Ky.

In 1798, land was given to the Cooper's Run Church by Charles Smith, Jr. Two years later, 20 congregants left Cooper's Run to form Silas Baptist Church. For fifty years, the church worshipped in a log structure. In 1850, the present brick structure was erected (with significant remodeling done in 1902). It is the oldest, continuously operating church in Harrison County.

The church is a member of the independent, Elkhorn Baptist Association. Marker 1596 reads:

Organized by 20 members of the Cooper's Run Church in 1800, with the help of Ambrose Dudley, George Eve and Augustine Eastin. They built at this site on land given, 1798, by Charles Smith, Sr. The log structure was replaced by a brick house of worship in 1850 and redecorated in 1902. It is the oldest church in the county continuing without interruption.

Check out my other pictures of the Silas Baptist Church on Flickr!