Author: thekaintuckeean

walkLEX: Adam Rankin House

Adam Rankin House

Erected in 1784, the Adam Rankin House is Lexington’s oldest house (though it is no longer in its original location). The House stood at 215 West High Street from the time it was built until the early 1970s when space was needed for “urban renewal.” The result of the “urban renewal” was the parking lot behind the PNC Bank (Gold Bank) building (another story).  Fortunately, a few wise minds prevailed (here and here) and the home was relocated to its present location on S. Mill Street.

This log house with clapboard siding was originally a two-story, three-bay home. The addition on what is now the home’s east side (pictured at right) is an addition which was erected within ten years of the original structure. It was at that time that the log home was first covered by clapboard. There is a very good architectural write-up on the house in Antebellum Architecture of Kentucky by Clay Lancaster (Univ. of Ky. Press, 1991 e).

I’ve always loved this house. It seems to have plentiful natural light (look at all those windows) and I’ve always loved the shutters on one side. *

walkLEX: Fifth Third Bank Pavilion

The Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Cheapside Park

Saturday was a beautiful day to be at the Lexington Farmer’s Market. My son and I also ventured down to Mayfest in Gratz Park. Of course, Farmer’s Market is vastly different as it now has a formal home in the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion. I’ve tried to follow the erection of the glass and steel structure in Cheapside Park, but I realize now that I haven’t posted on the final product.

While certainly not architecturally significant, it works and it provides a wonderful venue in central Lexington for events like the market and Thursday Night Live. Check out my older posts on the construction of the Pavilion:

  • from October 16 – the proposal
  • from January 26 – the Breckinridge statue is moved!
  • from February 6 – Breckinridge statue captured in film by Jamie Millard
  • from March 22 – the structure takes its form

Bicentennial Post

This is it… our 200th post! Celebrate! During the past 200 posts, we’ve explored many of Kentucky’s sites, its courthouses and its storied past. I’m looking forward to exploring more of Kentucky.

I remember shortly after moving to Kentucky, the Commonwealth celebrated her bicentennial. It is hard to believe that this was nearly 18 years ago! Last year, we celebrated the bicentennial of the birth of Kentucky’s favorite son, Abraham Lincoln. While this blog certainly doesn’t match up to those celebrations – we are pretty excited.

To celebrate, I’ve decided to update the map again. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but it is fun to see where we’ve been:

A couple facts to glean from the map:

  • Nate’s Kentucky 120 Project still leads the county-count; he’s been to 41 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. That’s 34%! There are 49 posts tagged as “Kentucky120“
  • I’ve been on No Destination in 31.7%, or 38, of Kentucky’s counties. I’ve tagged “NoDestination” on 115 posts.
  • There are 25 counties that we’ve both been to, so Nate has 16 unique counties and I have 13.
  • And don’t forget about Lexington – there are 25 posts tagged “walkLEX.”
  • We have 243 Facebook fans. Since our first post on 5/27/09, there have been 4.625 page views through 2,693 visits. Visitors hail from 48 countries and 45 of the 50 states+DC.
  • No one from Vermont, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Nebraska or Iowa has ever visited this blog. Hopefully, by mentioning these states we might get a visitor
  • Most of our visitors come from Kentucky. But people from Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia and California also frequent our site.

No Destination: First Courthouse

Replica of Kentucky’s original Courthouse

In Danville’s Constitution Square State Park sits a replica (erected 1942) of the original log courthouse for Virginia’s District of Kentucky. In the original, which was built c. 1784/85, the Constitutional Convention was held. This meeting led to the formation of Kentucky as an independent Commonwealth and a state of the Union, effective June 1, 1792.

The marker in front of this replica incorrectly states that the structure also housed the Supreme Court of Kentucky. In an attempt to see if people actually read my blog, please leave a comment to tell me why the marker is incorrect.

UPDATE (May 15, 2010): The marker is not entirely incorrect. The Supreme Court for the District of Kentucky was the appellate court for the District of Kentucky (part of Virginia) from 1785 until Kentucky became a state in 1792. And no one reads my blog as  evidenced by the lack of commenting…

No Destination: Hampton House

The Hampton House in Frankfort

Located at 101 West Main Street in Frankfort sits the Hampton House which is the city’s oldest surviving stone house in the city. It was built sometime before 1840 by John Hampton; the Walking Tour of Frankfort points to the erection of the home to be in 1815.  It is made of “patterned river limestone with jack arches over both the windows and doors.”

Hampton and his family operated a number of taverns in the area, receiving their first licenses around 1818. The home was enlarged around 1840 and was used as a boarding house in the 1850s.

In 1879, the Franklin County sheriff, Col. H.P. Williams, lived here and on at least one occasion entertained Judge John Elliot of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Col. Buford of Henry County stopped by during this visit and invited J. Elliott to go hunting with him. The Judge declined the invitation. Buford then invited the Judge for a drink; the judge again declined.

So Col. Buford shot and killed Judge Elliott. Buford later said that he shot the Judge because of a decision rendered by J. Elliott against Buford’s sister in the amount of $20,000. Buford was tried in Owen County, but was acquitted following an insanity plea. Held in Anchorage, Ky., Buford escaped to Indiana and could not be extradited due to weak extradition laws at the time.

No Destination: Pleasureville

Pleasureville Christian Church. Irony in the name? Perhaps.

Straddling the line of Henry and Shelby counties is the community of Pleasureville. The community first began under the name Bantaville when the area was settled by Dutch Huguenot families, including that of Abraham Banta, leaving Mercer County.

The source of the current name, Pleasureville, is believed to come from the presence of the community’s popular bordello (a source of pleasure, and likely of disease, for many).

I saw Pleasureville on the map and had to stop. Not since Preachersville have I found the name of a Kentucky community so unique. And obviously for quite different reasons!

No Destination: The Old Pollard Inn

Kentucky Historic Marker #798 (Old Pollard Inn)

I will allow the following history to speak for itself [cite] as it is quite an interesting read:

After crossing the Kentucky River from Owen County, [Confederate General John H.] Morgan and Hines were left without a guide, his having turned back due to lack of knowledge of Henry County roads or people. Travelling through the dark, winter night, they eventually grew tired and cold about 2 a.m. December 1st. Morgan and Hines stopped at what is now known as the “Old Pollard Inn,” just north of Highway 22 on Highway 421 outside New Castle. Even though they weren’t sure of where his sympathies lay, the tired men knocked on the door at Mr. Pollard’s.

The master of the house was quickly aroused, whereupon Hines explained their desire to be put up for the night. Mr. Pollard readily let them in, and showed them to the main room of the house. As soon as the lamp on the table there was turned up, Morgan and Hines were sure they were safe. On the table lay a newspaper of Confederate sympathy with the bold headlines proclaiming (incorrectly) that General Morgan, Hines, and seven others had escaped from an Ohio prison.

Their conversation at this point is best put in Captain Hines’ own words: “Glancing at the paper, I looked up and remarked, “I see that General Morgan, Hines, and other offices have escaped from the penitent-iary.” He responded, “Yes; and you are Captain Hines, are you not?” I replied, “Yes; and what is your name?” “Pollard, he answered.” “Allow me, then, to introduce General Morgan.” I found that I had not made a mistake.” Shortly thereafter, Morgan and Hines were resting comfortably in total safety.

Morgan and Hines arose late the next day. After a hearty breakfast, plans to move further on were discussed. The house sat just feet from the main highway, and leaving at such an odd time of the morning was sure to draw unwanted attention of the black workers. Having discussed all the factors, it was decided to remain until after lunch. Mr. Pollard furnished Morgan and Hines with cattle whips, as it had been decided they would travel onward under the guise of cattle buyers. Shortly after lunch, the “cattle buyers” set out for the next planned stop on their journey.

The Old Pollard Inn no longer exists, but the pictured marker remains. As for the Ohio State Penitentiary from where the escape was launched, it was demolished to make way for the Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

No Destination: Main & Cross Main (Main Cross)

Intersection of Main & Cross Main in New Castle

Pictured above is the sign marking the intersection of N. Main St. and E. Cross Main St. in New Castle, Kentucky. Historical significance: none of which I am aware. So why the picture and the post?

Well, you’ve probably figured out I love strange historical facts and findings. A common street design in this area was to have a Main Street with a “Cross Street” (aka “Cross Main” or “Main Cross”). The road was traditionally the main road to run perpendicular to Main Street. Why the picture? Because I’ve never noticed a street sign bearing the name.  Lexington’s “Main Cross Street” is now Broadway. Nicholasville’s “Cross Street” is now Walnut Street.

New Castle’s isn’t the only remaining “Cross” street. A quick google reveals several in Ohio and another in Louisa, Kentucky (Lawrence County).

No Destination: New Castle

New Castle, Kentucky

Marketed as “life in the s-l-o-w lane,” New Castle was founded in 1798 and incorporated in 1817. It has always been the county seat of Henry County. From its website:

The view from this Henry County “seat” hasn’t changed much in 200 years. Local traditions linger , even with Louisville just 35 minutes down the road. New Castle (pop. 919) is one of the smallest towns in Kentucky certified in both “Renaissance on Main” and “Preserve America” programs; we tend to our town with the same grit and teamwork it takes to farm. Nothing fancy here–a busy courthouse square, a few characters and a lot of lawyers (15 at last count.).

So in the past 200 years, not much has changed in New Castle. Except that there are more lawyers.  As for the origin of the town’s name, it is unknown. (Per Wikipedia and, more importantly, the Kentucky Encyclopedia.) I would suggest it is named after my favorite beer, Newcastle Brown Ale. The ale, however, wasn’t created until 1927 so I doubt that is correct.

No Destination: Gen. William O. Butler

Born in Jessamine County, General William Butler was a Mexican War hero who practice law and ultimately died in Carrollton.

The Presidential election of 1848 was full of Kentucky connections and is evidence of Kentucky’s political prowess of old. In the race, Zachary Taylor (interred in Kentucky) defeated Kentuckian Henry Clay for the Whig nomination. In the general election, Taylor/Filmore defeatedthe Democratic ticket of Cass/Butler.

Significantly, Butler represented Kentucky in the oft-forgotten 1861 peace conference which took place in Washington, D.C. as an attempt to stave off civil war. Another Kentuckian, Senator John J. Crittenden, emphasized his crazy proposals for six Constitutional amendments to prevent war. Of course, Crittenden would have permanently recognized slavery in the U.S.

Kentucky Historical Marker #634, the only state historic marker on the Carroll County courthouse lawn, reads:

Gen. William O. Butler, born Kentucky 1791, died here, 1880. War of 1812: River Raisin, Pensacola, and New Orleans. Gen. Andrew Jackson’s staff 1816-17. Cited for heroism in Mexican War 1846-48. Practiced law here. Congressman 1839-43. Defeated as candidate for Governor 1844, Vice President 1848 and US Senate 1851. A Kentucky Commissioner to Peace Conference in Feb. 1861.

Named after General Butler is a state park just southeast of Carrollton, as well as counties in both Iowa and Missouri.