Before and After Renovation – 146 East Third Street, Lexington, Ky. Author (left) and Linda Carroll (right)
A growing engineering firm is moving from one restored property on East Third Street to another, larger space. Both properties have been beautifully restored, but that hasn’t always been the case.
The new office at 146 East Third Street was acquired by the current owners, John Morgan and Linda Carroll, in 2009. On August 3, 2011, the structure was part of a #BGTdeTours walking tour of East Third Street. Following that deTour, I wrote this writeup:
Walking into 146 is like walking into a true construction zone. Originally built in 1847, this property was sold in 1849 to Daniel Wickliffe, the editor of the Lexington Observer and Reporter. Wickliffe would later serve as the Secretary of State under Governor Robinson. In the mid-1900s, the property was a Moose Lodge and was later converted into apartments. Morgan & Carroll acquired this property in late 2009 and have not yet begun restoration, so many remnants of its days as a tenement remain.
And a construction zone it was. The building was in less than stellar shape, but a complete transformation has taken place. Four years after first exploring 146 East Third Street, the #BGTdeTours program is returning to see the amazing restoration.
Built in 1847 by George W. Brush, the residence was acquired by Daniel Wickliffe two years later. Mr. Wickliffe served as the editor (and later both editor and proprietor) of the Lexington Observer & Reporter newspaper. The property would pass through a few more families, but would in 1955 be acquired to serve as the local Moose Lodge.
The Loyal Order of Moose is a fraternity that was founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1888. Lexington’s local order seemed to have dissolved but was reestablished about 1944 with a lodge on East Main Street before it was moved to 146 East Third Street. And though the structure has for many years not served the Order of Moose, you can look for some decorative touches that honor the structure’s historic past during Wednesday’s deTour.
IF YOU GO
BGT deTour Respec, Inc.
August 5, 2015
Gather at 5:30 p.m.
146 East Third Street, Lexington
Free and open to the public. An AfterHour at Columbia’s Steakhouse follows with a percentage of proceeds supporting the Blue Grass Trust.
Cadets Parading along Main Street in 1914. Looking east from Main and Broadway, the buildings depicted
are the site of the present-day Triangle Center. UK Libraries.
One can easily get lost in the archives of a library’s special collections department, especially those of us who are self-professed “history geeks” or, more nicely put, have “history in our genes.” No matter how you want to label the history junkie, we are a breed that loves discovering new things from our past.
So when a library unveils a ‘new’ digital collection of dry plate, silver nitrate glass negatives dating mostly from ca. 1898-1918, we get a little excited. It takes awhile to sift through the new 3,854 items added to the University of Kentucky’s Special Collections, and I’m not near finished.
But there are some real gems in this glass negative collection that show special moments in the history of both the University of Kentucky and of Lexington. You can explore the entire collection by clicking here. A few gems I found follow.
A neighborhood battle of tug-of-war at the Clifton Pond, near site of UK’s W.T. Young Library. UK Libraries.
The area around the Lincoln School, in Lexington’s Irishtown, ca 1912. UK Libraries.
Students exercising at the Lincoln School in Lexington’s Irishtown, ca. 1912. UK Libraries.
Soldiers ‘breaking camp’, ca. 1918, along Main Street. Buildings on opposite side of the street are the vacant Centrepointe block. UK Libraries.
And a hat tip to Curiosities & Wonders, the blog of UK Libraries Special Collections, for updating us on the happenings in that most excellent of departments!
We just can’t let this incredible piece of googie architecture become part of ‘Lost Lexington’.
So here’s what I’m proposing: ORDER a copy of LOST LEXINGTON by clicking here and I’ll donate 20% of the sale price (that’s $4.00 per book!) toward the preservation fund! I’ll keep this offer open now through the end of the month!
This offer is only good for those who can pick up the book locally, but if you really need it shipped then contact me about it!
Or, if Lost Lexington isn’t your fancy, you can donate directly to the the preservation of the Peoples Bank by clicking here!
Published posthumously by the late Professor Carlton Jackson of Western Kentucky University, this biography of Colonel George M. Chinn is a must-read for those who appreciate Kentucky history. Chinn was active in so many aspects of 20th century Kentucky and, though he is a figure often overlooked by many, is worthy of honor and recognition.
Colonel M. Chinn was described as a Renaissance man which is an accolade that always piques my interest. As put in the book, Chinn had “‘multiples lives,’ and … excelled in all of them: football player (baseball, too, when called upon), coach, tour guide, restauranteur (in his cave), government sergeant at arms, civil rights leader (except the time he rejected the collection of black newspapers, bodyguard, military man, weapons expert, librarian, author, director and deputy director, [Kentucky Historical Society, head of military museum in Frankfort, raconteur, and, overall ‘good old boy.'”
Yes, Colonel Chinn (a military rank, though he no doubt also was a member of the Honorable Order as well) was both a Renaissance man and a maverick. His story, as told by Jackson, is an informative tale of Kentucky’s history during the 20th century and an even more informative tale of how that history is told.
As director (and deputy director) of the Kentucky Historical Society, Chinn was regularly called upon to interpret and guide the telling of Kentucky’s story. One way he accomplished this was through the development of the historic marker program which has successfully (albeit with more than a handful or errors) told about Kentucky’s people and places in nearly 2,500 spots along the state’s highways.
Mercer County historic marker of New Providence Church. Growing the historic marker program was a major focus of Col. Chinn’s directorate at KHS.
But Chinn was quick to point out that most of the historic markers placed were in central Kentucky, which mirrored the “blue blood” makeup of the historic organizations including KHS. China sought to broaden the reach and scope of the organization by reaching out to those in the western and eastern reaches of the Commonwealth. Further, Chinn’s qualifications made him not a ‘professional historian’ which left him at odds with many, including the esteemed Dr. Thomas Clark.
Chinn’s service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War were all discussed leaving no doubt of the Colonel’s commitment to America. His understanding of weaponry – described by Jackson as a “primitive genius” – kept him active in the Marine Corps, despite a weight that far eclipsed the Corps’ standards. China developed the M-19 automatic grenade launcher during the Vietnam conflict and which weapon still was in service during the recent conflicts in Afghanistan.
China Gas Station and entrance to Chinn’s Cave in Brooklyn (Mercer Co.), Kentucky. UK Libraries.
And when not overseas or away from home, Chinn retired to his wife, Cotton, at their Mercer County home which overlooked the palisades. The home’s construction and design, as described in Kentucky Maverick, was unique. But Chinn’s time was spent below the home in his cave that opened up onto Highway 68. There he engaged in many entrepreneurial efforts – both legal and illegal.
Reading Kentucky Maverick: The Life and Adventures of George M. Chinncontains many interesting stories that are beautifully woven together into an interesting read. Jackson gives the reader a better understanding of the history behind the Kentucky Historical Society and an appreciation for how politics can seep into everything.
And as we approach autumn and a new football season, I truly enjoyed the full accounting of the great game played in Cambridge when ‘underdog’ Centre from Danville defeated the mighty Harvard – C6, H0 – in the game of the century. But whether you anticipate the pigskin or not, the stories of this Renaissance man will intrigue any Kentuckian.
Disclaimer: The author was provided a courtesy copy of this book. This review followed.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And it’s true. I recently had the opportunity – along with others wanting to support the worthy cause of preserving and relocating the Peoples Bank now located on South Broadway in Lexington – to explore the innards of this mid-century ca. 1961 Charles Bayless-designed commercial structure. So here are a few picture collages from my trip inside the Peoples Bank!
Each exposed piece of vintage wallpaper was reminiscent of Mad Men while you could just image those gathered in the bank lobby on modern furniture around a retro fireplace.
The space is incredible and I hope that its preservation is a success. All signs of late are positive, but your help is still needed. The Warwick Foundation (which is spearheading the fundraising efforts, with the help of some other incredible organizations and individuals, for preservation/relocation) has set up a web portal where you can do just that … donate toward the final goal!
Concerns about potential demolition emerged when a grassroots organization – People for the Peoples – announced on Facebook that a demolition permit had been obtained and that demolition would begin the following morning. The late-night post prompted me out of bed to get this Kaintuckeean post written hoping that the parties might give the Peoples Bank a chance.
Fortunately, all parties have graciously and cooperatively moved forward with a common aim toward preservation. But that ultimate goal still needs additional public support! Help out here!
That goal that all are working toward won’t just preserve this landmark building, but it will also create a Peoples Portal that will serve as a central entry to the Rupp District where themes of respect and inclusion will dictate programming. It will be a place where values can be shared and opinions exchanged in a thoughtful and creative way that would be a tremendous asset for the Lexington community.
And a special thanks to my Twitter-turned-real- friend Mick Jeffries who was on the scene and caught this picture of yours truly inside this magnificent space. I’m just glad I didn’t break the camera.
Jonathan Miller’s “On Your Own” Will Launch on Friday. BGT.
Small African-American hamlets like Kinkeadtown and Cadentown used to dot Fayette County’s map, but have long since been absorbed into the larger community.
On Friday evening, the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation will host an exhibit during Gallery Hop that will explore the rich architectural heritage of African Americans in Lexington with a focus on these communities and the legacy of Vertner Tandy.
In addition, Jonathan Miller’s “On Your Own” will launch on Friday evening with 20% of profits from Gallery Hop sales being donated to the BGT. The collection of short stories “follows the kind of people you know, but reveals the thoughts and feelings they might never tell you. Like the sun providing a rare glimpse down the clear water of a well, the clarity of prose in On Your Own allows us to witness people as their deeper realizations become known.”
Outside the Tandy House at 642 W. Main St. in Lexington.
The exhibit centers on architect Vertner Tandy. Vertner Tandy was born in Lexington in 1885, and went on to become the first licensed African American architect in New York and the first African American to become a member of the American Institute of Architects.
A historic marker on Lexington’s West Main Street marks Tandy’s family home:
Born in Lexington, son of Henry A. Tandy, respected African American contractor. Attended the Chandler School, Tuskegee Institute, Cornell Univ. 1st registered black architect in New York State, where he built landmark homes & buildings. A founder of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest African American fraternity.
Tandy designed many NYC landmarks including Mother Zion AME Church, St. Phillips Episcopal Church, and the Abraham Lincoln Houses on 135th Street. Lexington’s Webster Hall, 548 Georgetown Street, was also designed by Tandy.
This post was originally written in 2015 and entitled “Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back”, but was updated in 2020 following the Historic Properties Advisory Commission voting 11-1 to remove the statue of Jefferson Davis from the rotunda of the Capitol. Changes are in bold.
It is not often that I review a book that came to print more than thirty years ago, but events of late have brought Jefferson Davis to the forefront of our national psyche. In Kentucky, we are asking whether a statue of Jefferson Davis should or should not be removed from the rotunda of the state capitol. In South Carolina today (2015), the Rebel flag is likely to be permanently removed from the grounds of the state capitol in Columbia.
Back in Frankfort, Davis’ statue stands in a ring of four around a larger, central statue of Abraham Lincoln. The other three Kentuckians recognized in the statuary collection are Ephraim McDowell, Henry Clay, and Alben Barkley. That is, until Davis’ statue was removed. On June 12, 2020, the statue was removed following an emergency meeting of the advisory commission which oversees the rotunda. The recommendation and motion to remove the statue was made by the state curator, Carol Mitchell. Following discussion, the motion carried 11-1. The statue will ultimately be relocated to Jefferson Davis’ birthplace in Fairview, Kentucky, where it can be appropriately contextualized.
But it is the fifteen foot tall statue of Jefferson Davis that is drawing attention. The question and discussion is good: should Kentucky recognize and honor in her seat of government a man who was a traitor to the United States by leading a rebellion against the Union for the cause of enslavement of millions of Americans?
In considering the question, I wanted to better understand Jeff Davis. I turned to a book on my shelf that I had not before read: Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back. Written by Kentucky-native Robert Penn Warren, this 114-page short history of Jefferson Davis was first published in 1980.
Both Davis and Warren are natives of Todd County, Kentucky. In late 1978 and nearly nine decades after the former Confederate president’s death, Jefferson Davis’ U.S. citizenship was posthumously restored. Warren took the opportunity to recall Davis’ life and legacy which he intertwined with his own memories of Todd County.
It is in Todd County that the great obelisk to Jefferson Davis stands. The building of the obelisk in Fairview, Kentucky was begun in 1917 and suspended during the war effort (World War I). At the age of about twelve, Warren was driven by his family to see the construction site. His conflicted opinion of both Davis and the monument follow as he was unsure “about the mystery of the pain, vision, valor, human weakness, and error of the past being somehow transformed into, glorified into, the immobile thrust of concrete (not even the dignity of stone).”
By the time this construction had begun, the former Confederate president had been laid in the ground some twenty years earlier. In his life, Jefferson Davis served valiantly in the Mexican War leading a regiment of the Mississippi Rifles, most notably, at the Battle of Buena Vista. For his valor and success on the field of battle, President James K. Polk promoted Davis to the rank of brigadier general. But Davis “decorously [threw] back into [Polk’s] face with a lesson in constitutionality: no one but the governor of Mississippi could legally promote a colonel of the Mississippi Rifles.”
Davis’ commitment to states rights and to Mississippi were without doubt. The resurrection of such a commitment to the ideal with today’s Tea Party movement would have seemed odd to Robert Penn Warren, just as he observed the oddity of it 150 years ago:
How odd [the overemphasis on states’ rights] seems now – when the sky hums with traffic, and eight-lane highways stinking of high-test rip across hypothetical state lines, and half the citizens don’t know or care where they were born just so they can get somewhere fast.
Warren notes, too, that it was this commitment to state that, in part, might have cost the South the war. Just as the new colonies declaring their independence from England could not survive under the Articles of Confederation, the Confederacy was doomed because of its form. While Lincoln could order men to fight for the Union, Davis possessed far fewer powers when he served as President of the Confederate States.
It is the conflict of the man Jefferson Davis – his weakness, his ideals, his weak role in an institution that was structurally defective, his military success in the Mexican War, his personal love and loss – that make Robert Penn Warren’s book a beautiful story. And it is through the lens of history, circa 1980, that Warren makes what I think may be a profound point: if Davis “were not now defenseless in death, he would no doubt reject the citizenship we so charitably thrust upon him.”
The monetization of America would have distressed Davis (just as it would both Lincoln or Grant) such that Warren questioned whether any of these men would accept a “nation that sometimes seems technologically and philosophically devoted to the depersonalization of men? In a way, in their irrefrangible personal identity, Lincoln and Grant were almost as old-fashioned as Jefferson Davis.”
But in discussing Davis’ views on Lincoln’s emancipation of the slaves, Warren didn’t delve deep enough for our more modern lens. Davis was a slaveholder, true, but he believed in a lesser and a superior race thinking that it was a moral duty of the superior race to care for those in the lesser class. This omission leaves a chasm in the person of Davis. This superior-inferior representation and description by Warren went too far in restoring Davis to a better light than is appropriate.
On Bolivar Street, impressive old tobacco facilities still stand harkening back to an era not so long ago in Lexington’s history when burley tobacco was a chief industry. Although burley tobacco is still grown in the region, it is not the cash crop it once was. Most of the buildings necessary for the industry have been abandoned, demolished, or torn down.
The University of Kentucky acquired one of these old tobacco facilities in 2011 to house its School of Art and Visual Studies (SAVS) program. Beginning in the fall of 2015, students will move into their new facility on Bolivar Street. Previously, SAVS had been located in another tobacco facility – the Reynolds Building – that is located at the end of Scott Street. (Sadly, it is anticipated that the Reynolds Building will soon be demolished.)
Prior to any construction of the building that would become SAVS, the site was the home of the Lexington Spoke Company’s manufacturing facilities. The 1890 Sanborn map, below, shows the facility as it stood on Bolivar Street. The empty space along Bolivar was then a cemetery, already kept in poor condition. And the pond was the location of many Christian baptisms.
SAVS moves into a building that was constructed in three main phases. The three-story 1899 structure was the first tobacco re-handling plant built by a major national tobacco manufacturer in Lexington. The company was Liggett and Meyers. A 1903 addition was “constructed of brick, and consists of 21 bays fronting Bolivar Street, 200 feet long and 80 feet wide.” This 1903 addition with its 21 bays fronts Bolivar Street to the northwest of the 1899 structure.
In 1904, Ligget and Meyers also constructed extant tobacco warehouse that stands on the southwest corner of Bolivar and South Upper (this old warehouse is not attached to the rehandling facilities and is not part of SAVS). In 1916, a final addition to the complex was added parallel to and immediately behind the 1903 addition.
The plant remained in operation until the 1960s and was sold by the tobacco company in 1973. It served as office space and storage for many years until it was converted into loft apartments in the early 2000s.
According to the property’s application for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, the plant was built in an area that would become the city’s central tobacco warehouse district. Near the railroad, the decision to locate here made Liggett and Meyer “the leader in establishing a major architectural, cultural, economic and social trend in Lexington’s history, all centered on tobacco.”
And now, UK’s SAVS building will be a place where the University’s art program can thrive. As the Newtown Pike extension expands through the area, SAVS will become a gateway to the University of Kentucky.
The Ward Hall Preservation Foundation is pleased to announce that Matthew J. Mosca of Baltimore has been selected to conduct a historic paint finishes study on the external surfaces of Ward Hall. The results of this study will be used to develop historic specifications for the restoration of Ward Hall.
“I am thrilled that Mr. Mosca is interested in working with us at Ward Hall,” said David Stuart, Chairman of the Ward Hall Preservation Foundation. “In the world of historic paint analysts, he is truly among the very best. His work will enable us to move forward in the restoration process in the most historically accurate way possible.”
Matthew J. Mosca is a nationally recognized consultant in the field of historic paint research and restoration. He has over 40 years of experience in the field, focusing on identification of materials by microscopic and chemical means. He formerly worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and has served as an independent consultant since 1979. He has conducted complete research and restoration programs at nationally significant sites that have been recognized as major accomplishments by the American Institute of Architects, that National Park Service, and various other organizations. Previous locations of his paint research include Mount Vernon (VA), The United States Treasury Building (DC) and The Hermitage (TN).
“My first visit to Ward Hall, years ago, left me literally speechless,” said Mr. Mosca. “I have been really delighted to have worked on a number of great historic houses in Kentucky and am unabashedly excited by the prospect of working at Ward Hall!”
Funding for this project comes from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, as mitigation for the recent widening of US 460. The City of Georgetown will oversee the project and transfer of all funds.
“There may be no greater treasure in our city than Ward Hall,” said Georgetown Mayor Tom Prather. “We are pleased to be affiliated with this project and hope that it will aid in continuing to develop both Ward Hall and Georgetown a destination for those seeking to learn more about the history of our region.”
Congratulations to all the well-deserving people and groups being recognized by the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation with this year’s preservation awards. The awards were given during the BGT’s annual meeting on June 21, 2015.
Here’s the roundup:
Preservation Craftsman Award: Given to a building industry craftsman who has exhibited a strong commitment to quality craftsmanship for historic buildings.
Awarded to: Patrick Kennedy
Public Service to Preservation Award: Given to a government agency or official for service to preservation movement or to a specific project.
Awarded to: Chris Ford
Clay Lancaster Heritage Education Award: Given to an individual or group for service in researching and disseminating information about the Central Kentucky region.
Larry Isenhour, Awarded to: Collecting Kentucky (Gigi Lacer/Libby Howard) Community Preservation Award: Given to a non-governmental group or individual for service to the preservation movement or to a special preservation project.
Awarded to: St. Peter Claver and Chad Needham
Barbara Hulette Award: For efforts in preservation of Central Kentucky’s history, heritage, built environment, landscape, archaeological resources, sense of community or significant endeavors. Awarded to: Fielding and Nancy Turner
Lucy Shropshire Crump Volunteer Award: Given to an individual or group who has provided exemplary service to the Blue Grass Trust throughout the year.
Awarded to: Hunt-Morgan House Docents
Lucy Graves Advocacy Award: Given to an individual or group who has exhibited advocacy leadership in supporting the historic preservation movement in Central Kentucky.
Awarded to: Chuck Pittenger and Hayward Wilkirson
Skulker’s Clock, winner of 2015 BGT Landscape Preservation Award.
Clyde Carpenter Adaptive Re-use Award: Given to an individual or group for outstanding efforts towards the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of a building or buildings with Central Kentucky. Awarded to: National Provisions, Chase Taproom, and Seed Building in Winchester (Owner – Doug Owens)
Betty Hoopes Volunteer Service Award: Given to a volunteer or volunteers from the Antique and Garden Show Committee.
Awarded to: Kathy Chopra and Faith Harders
John Wesley Hunt Award: Given to an individual for lifetime service to the preservation movement in Central Kentucky.
Awarded to: Wendell Berry
Landscape Preservation Award: Given to an individual or group for the preservation, design, stewardship, restoration or enhancement of an historic cultural landscape in the Bluegrass.
Awarded to: Skuller’s Clock and the Legacy Trail
