Oldest Catholic Church in Eastern Kentucky

St. Therese Church - Heidelburg, Ky.

When considering the role of the Catholic Church in Kentucky outside the "golden triangle," one immediately thinks of the central Kentucky region around Bardstown and Lebanon where many Catholics settled in the nineteenth century building a strong church and faith.

Original Church on Contrary Creek, ca. 1925

One, however, does not immediately think of the hills of eastern Kentucky. Although Catholic families can trace themselves to eastern Kentucky communities long before, it was not until 1927 that a Catholic church was established in eastern Kentucky. In Lee County's Heidelburg community, four families established St. Therese at Contrary Creek "down in the holler." Families worshipping there had as much as a two hour trek by foot to reach the small church by Contrary Creek.

Forged by Fire: Ashland's Calvary Church

Calvary Episcopal Church -
Ashland, Ky.

Thomas Underwood Dudley, the second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, emphasized growth among the Episcopal church among the populations in eastern Kentucky and among African Americans. Despite the segregationist views prevalent in his day (and his own background as a Confederate veteran), Bishop Dudley sought an integrated church: "God hath made of one blood all nations of men."

Efforts to grow the Episcopal Church in eastern Kentucky included the first recorded service in Ashland being presided by Bishop Dudley on February 2, 1885. From that service, a mission was formed in the diocese and from this group grew the Calvary Church. In March 1887, the Rev. W. H Hampton was called as the first minister of the parish. On September 8, 1888, Bishop Dudley laid the cornerstone and Rev. Hampton preached the first sermon in the Calvary Church which opened on Easter Sunday, 1889 for a congregation of 300. Architectural notes are limited, but this structure was described as an "eclectic brick and shingle" church.

Henry Clay Law Office

Henry Clay Law Office - Lexington, Ky.

Historic preservationists are often faced with a difficult question: which version of history should we preserve? A great illustration of this question exists on Lexington's North Mill Street. The Henry Clay Law Office, which is the home of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship, is a one story brick building adjacent to First Presbyterian Church. Henry Clay had the building constructed in 1803 as his law firm while he and his wife, Lucretia, lived across the street.

The building served as Clay's law office until September 1810. While there, Clay was elected to the successive terms in the Kentucky legislature from 1803 to 1809 and was twice named (1807 and 1810) to fill unexpired terms in the United States Senate. Clay, the "Great Compromiser," continued to grow in stature and prestige after he left his Mill Street office.

Veiled and Unveiled: Hunt-Morgan House Gets a New Historic Marker

Veiled Historic Marker - Lexington, Ky.

This evening, the new historic marker at Lexington's Hunt-Morgan House was formally unveiled. The old marker, the venerable #3, was over fifty years old, difficult to read, and factually inaccurate. Thanks to some generous gifts and the good work of the Blue Grass Trust and the Morgan's Men Association, we now have a much more informative history in front of the beautiful 1814 Federal at the northwest corner of Second and Mill streets:

HUNT-MORGAN HOUSE 1814 Federal-style home, named Hopemont, retains original architectural features, including a cantilevered staircase & fanlight window. Saved from demolition by the Blue Grass Trust in 1955. Built by John Wesley Hunt (1773-1849), a philanthropist and the first millionaire west of the Allegheny Mountains.

(Reverse) Inherited by daughter, Henrietta Hunt Morgan, mother of Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan (1825-1864), known as the “Thunderbolt of the Confederacy.” Birthplace of John Wesley Hunt’s great grandson, Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866-1945), known as the “Father of Modern Genetics” and the first Kentuckian to win a Nobel Prize (1933).

More text and photos after the jump...

Dr. Walter Warfield Building Central to Lexington Commerce

Dr. Walter Warfield Building - Lexington, Ky.

John Jordan, Jr. was a major nineteenth century Lexington merchant who owned most of the property fronting the courthouse square along Upper Street. The block between Short and Main streets was known as Jordan's Row. At the northern end of the block is the Dr. Walter Warfield Building which was built around 1806.

Dr. Warfield was a noted surgeon from the Revolutionary War from Maryland who ultimately settled in the Bluegrass as a "highly esteemed and excellent citizen." As with any "esteemed and excellent citizen" of the day, Warfield amassed significant land holdings in the region.

From his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Christian Dickerson, Warfield purchased 1,000 acres in 1805. This land was situated in what is now both Fayette and Scott counties. Ms. Dickerson had inherited the land from her father (William Christian) in 1786; he had acquired the land (and 8,000 other acres) by grant from Virginia Governor Patrick Henry in 1779. After being sold, inherited, and divided, these acres have had a storied history with storied names in the equine industry. Today, however, much of Warfield's acreage is now owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as part of the Kentucky Horse Park.

"The Worst Kept Secret in Lexington" - First National 21C is Coming to Town

Steve Wilson at the 21C Announcement - Lexington, Ky.

When Mayor Gray took to the podium, he formally announced what he described as "the worst kept secret in Lexington: 21C is coming to town!" Gray spoke of a decision made by the directors of the Fayette National Bank one hundred years ago this month (April 25, 1912). They opted to erect a fifteen story skyscraper at the northeast corner of Main and Upper Streets. The building would be the tallest in Kentucky outside of Louisville.

Gray took a pause from his remarks as the bell at the old Courthouse rang ten times as if to honor each of the decades since that 1912 decision.

After Mayor Gray left the podium, owner/visionary/philanthropist Steve Wilson took the podium. Amid laughter, he discussed the ubiquitous red penguin that marks the 21C brand. Wilson and his wife/business partner Laura Lee Brown knew that a red penguin wouldn't fly in Lexington so he quickly presented to the assembled crowd the Italian designed blue penguin (pictured above).

Forsythe-Shewmaker House in Mercer County on National Register

Forsythe-Shewmaker House - Salvisa, Ky.
Photo: NRHP Application, Ky. Heritage Council

On the banks of the Salt River in Mercer County, Andrew Forsythe built his two-story brick home as the centerpiece of his farm around 1830. In the Federal-Greek Revival style, Forsythe's home also incorporated a number of French considerations which would have been quite en vogue at the time such as the parlor wallpaper being imported from Paris.

Forsythe was born in 1795 in Mercer County. He was the grandson of one of the five McAfee brothers who settled the area around what is now Salvisa. From the age of 17, Forsythe ventured in the transport of goods utilizing the many waterways around Mercer County. He would often "fill a flat boat at Oregon with produce, take it down to New Orleans, sell it and then walk home." He would also transport items via horseback to eastern Kentucky and to Maysville by road.

Lexington's History Encapsulated in First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church - Lexington, Ky.

Under an old Virginia law, the city or town acting as county seat could only have a church of the Anglican persuasion within her limits. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and others located their houses of worship outside of the city limits in order to circumvent the establishment law.

In 1784 Virginia, the area known as Kentucky today remained part of Virginia. Lexington had already been established as the county seat of Fayette and thus the establishment law applied here as well. Circumventing it, the people of Mount Zion Presbyterian Church established their church home beyond the city limits on a 190-acre tract in the vicinity of today's Agriculture Experimental Station at the University of Kentucky, near the corner of South Limestone and Huguelet.

Mt. Zion counted among its members some of Lexington's most prominent eighteenth century names: Robert Patterson and John Maxwell. By 1792, a location closer to town was sought and found by the courthouse square at Cheapside. Yet it was the same convenience and centrality which brought the Presbyterian congregation to the center of town that took it away -- the noise was just too great. So in 1808, the church again relocated to the corner of Broadway and Second streets where it constructed a temporary one-story meeting house.

Gr8ness! GO Big Blue! #BBN

Senior Night (2012) - Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

Tonight, the University of Kentucky Wildcats will face the Jayhawks of Kansas in the National Championship game. Having defeated two Kentucky schools en route (Western Kentucky and Louisville), only one more hurdle stands in the way of bringing Kentucky back to hang a NC banner. GO CATS!