thekaintuckeean – Page 70 – The Kaintuckeean

Nat Northington

At the Kentucky-Charleston Southern football game, I examined the program and read about UK’s “History and Traditions.” I noted one I had not seen before: Nat Northington.

Nat Northington

Nat Northington was the first African-American football player to sign with an SEC school (UK) when he did so in 1965. Two African-Americans signed with Coach Charlie Bradshaw to the 1967 squad, the other being Greg Page. Page was paralyzed during a preseason practice and died from complications 38 days later; the university opened a residential apartment community bearing Page’s name in the 1979.

As a result of Page’s injury, only Northington would play football for the Wildcats during the 1967 season. He therefore became the first African-American to play in an SEC game when Ole Miss came to Lexington’s Stoll Field on September 30, 1967. It would take another three years before UK’s basketball team would sign an African-American player.

Sources: ESPN, UKAthletics, Lex H-L. Photo: KYVL.

Save the Pennington House

Pennington House, London, Ky.
Photo by Tom Eblen, Lexington H-L. Used c Permission.

Surface parking lots and parking garages are necessities – we have to park our vehicles so we can shop, eat, etc. (absent public transportation options … of which there are few in Kentucky). Downtown Lexington is filled with surface lots which always raises the question for me, “What used to be there?”

London, Kentucky – with its new courthouses – knows the answer to that question and has the opportunity to stop the destruction of the pre-Civil War Pennington House. The issue is before the Laurel County Fiscal Court: Should the county acquire the property for a surface lot? (The source of funds appears to be excess funds from the courthouse construction; the desire to spend comes from the “use it or lose it” mentality).

In the words of Realtor Chris Robinson, the answer is no. “Any community can have a gravel parking lot. Only London can have the Pennington House.” Although eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, the effort has never been made for the Pennington House. As a result, some of its story is more difficult to find. But it appears that this house has survived threats before. London experienced five large-scale fires in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1909 and 1910. In 1974, a tornado missed the house by 100 feet. But the threat of demolition for a parking lot may be the home’s greatest threat to date. If you are from Laurel County, speak loudly to your local officials. Let’s do what we can to save this London treasure.

Sources: Tom Eblen (Lex. H-L); Tara Kaprowy (Sentinel Echo); Nita Johnson (Sentinel Echo)

Election Results

Yesterday, I reminded you that politics is the damnedest in Kentucky. But today, I want to draw our attention outside of Kentucky (yes, a first for this blog). You’ve probably figured out by now that history is important to us. Particularly preserving history.

And that is what the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations did yesterday. You see, they had a ballot measure which would effectively do this: Rhode Island ~~and Providence Plantations~~ to their state’s name. Remember, America was founded as a number of small colonies (Jamestown, Plymouth, etc). In Rhode Island, these included (i) Rhode Island and (ii) Providence Plantations.

Opponents of the state’s name thought the word “plantation” was a reminder of slavery and were offended by it. These opponents are clearly not historically savvy – plantation simply meant “a newly established colony.” Plus, in all of the state’s early slavery debates it was Rhode Island (not the anti-slavery and anti-slave trade Providence Plantations) which favored the position of slave traders.

History won (with 99% of precincts reporting), 78%-22%. We still have a State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Politics the Damnedest… in Kentucky

In February 1902, Judge James H. Mulligan (1844-1915) delivered his poem In Kentucky to a banquet of state legislators at Lexington’s Phoenix Hotel. The poem is most often quoted for its last line describing politics in Kentucky as “the damnedest.” It being election day, I thought it appropriate to share the full text. Oh, Be informed and VOTE!

The moonlight falls the softest

In Kentucky;

The summer’s days come oft’est

In Kentucky;

Friendship is the strongest,

Love’s fires glow the longest;

Yet, a wrong is always wrongest

In Kentucky.

The sunshine’s ever brighest

In Kentucky;

The breezes whisper lightest

In Kentucky;

Plain girls are the fewest,

Maidens’ eyes the bluest,

Their little hearts are truest

In Kentucky.

Life’s burdens bear the lightest

In Kentucky;

The home fires burn the brightest

In Kentucky;

While players are the keenest,

Cards come out the meanest,

The pocket empties cleanest

In Kentucky.

Orators are the grandest

In Kentucky;

Officials are the blandest

In Kentucky;

Boys are all the fliest,

Danger ever nighest,

Taxes are the highest,

In Kentucky.

The bluegrass waves the bluest

In Kentucky;

Yet bluebloods are the fewest

In Kentucky;

Moonshine is the clearest,

By no means the dearest,

And yet, it acts the queerest,

In Kentucky.

The dove’s notes are the saddest

In Kentucky;

The streams dance on the gladdest

In Kentucky;

Hip pockets are the thickest,

Pistol hands the slickest,

The cylinder turns quickest

In Kentucky.

Song birds are the sweetest

In Kentucky;

The thoroughbreds the quickest

In Kentucky;

Mountains tower proudest,

Thunder peals the loudest,

The landscape is the grandest – and

Politics – the damnedest

In Kentucky.

Dixiana Farm Mansion Burns.. and Some History

Postcard of Dixiana Farm, Lexington, Ky.

A sad news update on a building I’ve never noticed… an early-Saturday-morning fire consumed and destroyed the mansion at Dixiana Farms (f/k/a Hamilton Stud) in Lexington. WKYT’s video is here. Firefighters stood by waiting on water tankers to deliver water to the scene as no hydrants were near. Located off Russell Cave Road, it appears that parts of the mansion predated the Civil War (the oldest parts destroyed). Dixiana Farm was founded in 1877 by Barak G. Thomas (1826-1906), a major in the Confederate army who later was elected sheriff of post-war Fayette County. Major Thomas, in ailing financial and bodily health, sold the farm in 1897 [fn] and retired to his ‘city home’ at 194 West Main Street (n/k/a 646 West Main Street after renumbering in 1907). [fn] Barak G. Thomas passed in 1906. [NYTimes obit]

Dixiana Mansion, Lexington, Ky.

Ultimately, in 1909 Dixiana Farm was purchased by James Ben Ali Haggin (a major name in Lexington history) who owned the adjacent, more prestigous Elmendorf Farm. Haggin converted the great Thoroughbred farm to tobacco land and Dixiana was used for that purpose until Haggin sold the farm in 1925 to James Cox Brady (then one of the thirty richest men in America) who restored Dixiana to racing prestige. There is a lot more history here and here. Most recently, the property was purchased for $13 million in 2009 by Bill Shively..

I only wish I had seen the mansion before it burned. So much history…

UPDATE (2-17-2012): The history of the farm in this post is correct, but I was today advised by Dixiana Farms that the mansion pictured above remains standing. It was actually the Domino Stud Farm mansion that burned in early 2010. The two farms – Dixiana and Domino – were separated in the 1940s but reunited under both original acreage and name in 2009. Here is a photo of the Domino Mansion, courtesy of Dixiana Farms, as it appeared before it was lost to fire. Stay tuned as plans are pending with regard to this historic landmark:

Photo: Dixiana Farms

My New Kentucky Home (& Post 300)

At this appointed hour, my wife and I are closing on our new house. The coming days will be filled with painting and unpacking, organizing and settling in. What that means for? Probably not a lot of posts. (Hopefully, Nate can pick up some of the slack!) This is a really exciting time for us – and I know our little Kaintuckeean will enjoy finally having a back yard to call his own!

But revel in this: this is Post #300! On my flickr account, I’ve had my pictures viewed 12,644 times (most of these around July 4 and the World Equestrian Games). @kaintuckeean on Twitter, there have been 1,424 tweets and I’ve amassed 254 followers. And on Facebook, the Kaintuckeean group has 328 fans. We have 8 Google Friends (c’mon people!) and 70 active feeds according to feedburner. But you can follow/friend/flickr us any or all of the above ways – but what is most important is that you comment!!

I really love this state, its people and its history. I’m not a native, but I’ve been here long enough that I cannot imagine calling anywhere else home. I hope to explore even more of our great state and to figure out other ways to share these explorations with you. But nothing encourages me more than your comments (leave them here, on Facebook or on Flickr). I’ve also got some great friendships that I’ve developed through twitter. Well, thanks for taking an interest in the Kaintuckeean!

Maker’s Mark Tasting

Maker’s Mark Tasting @ World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Ky.

One of the vendors unique to Kentucky set up at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington is Maker’s Mark. Its temporary building looks similar to those in Loretto and its product is available throughout the Games. In the Kentucky Experience, there are bourbon tastings where you can sample the three kinds of Maker’s. I enjoy bourbon, but Maker’s holds a special place in my heart. Oh…and I love Maker’s 46. (I’ve enjoyed it since it was first released a few months ago!) It is incredibly smooth and the perfect sipping bourbon. Maker’s Julep is a great blend of bourbon, sugar and mint – a wonderfully mixed mint julep straight from the bottle!

If you enjoy Bourbon or want to experience a taste of Kentucky, enjoy a Maker’s tasting. And invite me to enjoy it with you!

walkLEX: McCarthy’s Irish Bar

Headed South, Looking North; Upper St., Lexington, Ky.

I really enjoyed doing a little digging for the 123 West Main post, so I decided to do a couple more. Plus, I had fun taking a few photos in my car’s side mirror (and frankly, I only have to much to say about McCarthy’s). Popular with UK students, the Irish Bar is a great place to go for a Guinness. But I think I would have rather gone to the location in the early 1920s…

According to the Asa C. Chinn collection, the two addresses (117 and 119 South Upper) once housed the Walter L. Honaker Fish and Oyster House (119) and D. Addler & Son (117). How I wish we still had a fish and oyster house downtown… [rumor has it a raw bar is coming to 310 W. Short St.] My research ended here – I couldn’t discover anything else about either the oyster house or the jeweler. Does anyone know anything??

walkLEX: 123 West Main Street

One Hundred Block of West Main, Lexington, Ky.

One of downtown Lexington’s ugliest blocks is undergoing a great renovation (the Fayette Co. PVA photographed the block at its absolute worst!). The 100s block of West Main Street, pictured above, includes a number of what appear to be architecturally insignificant buildings. And across the street sits what is now CentrePasture. The block, like many others downtown, is filled with law firms and restaurants.

Two of the block’s most attractive buildings sandwich our subject property: 123 West Main Street. The site will soon be an upscale jazz club – called The Green Door – as part of the Bellini’s complex. It is great to see another business downtown and we hope it all the success – but let’s talk about what is behind the ugly brick facade.

The Lexington Streetsweeper has already done some of the legwork by cropping the 1920-1921 streetscape photos of Asa Coleman Chinn (cropping at right). The original photo can be accessed through the KYDVL and identifies 123 West Main Street as being the home of the Phoenix & Third National Bank.

Compare the old picture with the picture at the top of this post – you can see some of the architectural features peeking through. Sure, 123 W. Main will never again look like it did during the Roaring Twenties – but we will remain hopeful that some of the historical features that remain will be incorporated into the new design.

This beautiful bank was erected in 1907 after the Quinn House was demolished in 1906. The photograph of the Quinn House (at left) is from the Waller Bullock collection.

No Destination: Catlettsburg Depot

Railroad Depot, Catlettsburg, Ky.

Catlettsburg was once called where the “river meets the rail.” The Catlettsburg Rail Depot, originally part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, is no longer an active station. Until 1998, Amtrak used to stop at CAT on its Chicago to NYC Cardinal train, but the line now stops in Ashland. Amtrak also utilized Catlettsburg as the termini of the Hilltoper line (a line that operated from 1977 to 1979 – check out this story (and pics) of riding the line in 1979) It served as an active C&O passenger station from 1904 to 1958.

In his rail journal dated 2004, Dan Chazin called the abandoned Catlettsburg station a “small, unattractive station.” To be sure, it is an old (1904) station and its yellow brick is certainly not the most asthetically appealing rail station I’ve ever seen. That said, it is a classic rural rail station from that era. Given the loss of rail traffic – and rail stations – nationwide, the structure is significant. This is why I’m so glad to see that it has been, since 2006, the Russell E. Compton Civic Center and Museum. From the picture, you can see that work is being done to expand the role of the center in the community.

At the time of my visit, a rusty caboose sat next to the station. Within months, the caboose was restored and painted a bright red with sharp yellow trim. From the pictures at Ashland’s Daily Independent, they’ve done a great job restoring the caboose.

A number of my flickr Catlettsburg photos were taken at the depot.