Category: Uncategorized

Camping at Boonesborough

Our Campsite at “Sycamore Hollow” at Fort Boonesborough State Park. Author’s Collection. 

It wasn’t until earlier this summer that I attempted camping for the first time. At the urging of the now six-year-old Lil’ Kaintuckeean, we pitched a borrowed tent in the back yard. Despite the storm that night, our rain fly kept us dry and we both managed to stay through the night in the backyard tent. All much to my wife’s surprise.

More recently, I endeavored to take the Lil’ Kaintuckeean and his Lil’er Sister on an overnight camping trip … away from home.

Along with a friend and one of his progeny, we found the destination of the primitive camp grounds at Fort Boonesborough State Park. Tents were pitched under the protective state historic marker, “Sycamore Hollow.” Although the roadside markers traditionally are found only roadside, here was one in the center of our campground!

The area surrounding this marker was known as “Sycamore Hollow.” Daniel Boone and his small gropu camped here ca. April 1, 1775, and began construction of rough log huts. When Col. Richard Henderson arrived on April 20, 1775, fear of flooding caused him to have the location of the fort moved 300 yards to higher grounds.

We ran no risk of flooding during our dry stay, but it was an incredible feeling to camp on the very same steps where Daniel Boone once laid his head.

Of course, at Boonesborough, history is everywhere. The fort was the first town chartered in the Kentucky territory, in an act by the Virginia legislature in October 1779. It was established in 1775 by the Transylvania Company, the North Carolina outfit established by Richard Henderson. The Transylvania Company hired Boone to lead the expedition into the Kentucky wilderness.

Illustration of Fort Boonesborough in 1778. George W. Ranck, 1901.

In was on the banks of the Kentucky at Boonesborough that Boone’s daughter, Jemima, as well as the Callaway girls were kidnapped by an Indian raiding party and later rescued.

The Kids Enjoying Fort Boonesborough in
Madison County. Author’s Collection.

Fast forward to 1974. In that year, the Commonwealth opened the recreated fort a short distance from where the original fort once stood. Now in its 40th year, the recreated fort remains in excellent condition and is well-operated for those visiting to learn of Kentucky’s history.

I hadn’t been to Fort Boonesborough since probably the fourth grade, but I found the living history museum to be engaging and utterly fascinating. Three settlers’ homes were laid out so that one could see how the settlement evolved with comforts being added over time.  Craftsman were on hand to explain to adult and child alike the intricacies of gunsmithing, woodworking, and other trades.

Walking the Trails at
Boonesborough. Author’s
Collection.

And of course, the trails between campsite and fort made for great adventure!

Although we could certainly endeavor to improve our creature comforts at the campsite, the two kiddos and I had a successful and fun weekend of camping and exploring Kentucky’s early history. The campgrounds and fort are open year round, though the fort is only open on the weekends beginning November 1 (winter hours).

Like most of Kentucky, Fort Boonesborough is time well spent!

Lexington Food Trucks – There’s An App For That

Follow That Food Truck! is a free iPhone app.

One of the most exciting new developments in Lexington these days is the growth of our culinary culture. Every time I turn around, a new restaurant is popping up. And, believe me, I’m doing my best to try them all.

But there’s one particular niche of this new dining market that has really caught my attention–the food trucks. These restaurants-on-wheels have become commonplace around the streets of Lexington, ushering in a new era of eateries that didn’t even exist here just three years ago.

As fans of the food truck hunt, my friend Erik Rust and I recently began seeking these trucks out and chronicling our finds on the website lexingtonfoodtrucks.com. Before we knew it, our site had grown to host descriptions and contact information for over 30 local food trucks. Hard to believe there are that many trucks thriving in this town of 300,000.

korean beef bulgogi from fork in the road
steak chimichurri by the gastro gnomes

Everything from BBQ to Mexican to Greek to Cajun can be found on a given weekend on the streets of Lexington.

Diners can find tacos for as cheap as $1.50, or gourmet meals for $15. It’s kind of amazing actually.

Erik and I quickly learned, though, that the tricky thing about food truck dining is knowing where to find them. Blue Stallion and Country Boy host a truck almost every night, but the rest of them can be tough to track down.


We are attempting to solve this problem with a new iPhone app that we just launched in Lexington. The free app is called Follow That Food Truck! and it uses GPS to display the location of all active food trucks. Several trucks have signed on already and more are adding each day.

Whether this new food truck movement in our town is a response to the lean business strategies of the economic recession or whether it’s the way of the future for culinary startups is hard to say, but it has definitely taken hold here.

I encourage you to check out a food truck or two this weekend and take in a new dining experience. You can find all of the trucks on our website or on the app in real-time. It’s a great way to support the local economy. And besides, it’s totally worth it.

This post is a guest post by Josh Boldt, cofounder of lexingtonfoodtrucks.com.

Lexington’s Downtown Lakes and Waterways

A satirical “Lake Centrepointe” rendering. Centrepitte.

Political blog Barefoot & Progressive (B&P) recently posted about a “crowdfunding campaign to build ‘Lake Centrepointe’.” B&P was highlighting the independent, crowdfunding campaign to create a “people-made oasis of calm in the middle of the city [with] opportunities for sailing, swimming, fishing – or doing nothing at all.”

The B&P article didn’t delve into the history books, but a similar proposal was actually made by developers in the 1980s (though B&P has previously mentioned the subject of Lake Lexington).

Rendering of Lake Lexington, proposed in the 1980s. Barefoot & Progressive.

Lake Lexington would have created a visible and usable water feature of the historic Town Branch. I’ve made mention of this in my forthcoming book, Lost Lexington, which will be released in November:

[Lake Lexington] would have been a largely rectangular lake in the area roughly bounded by the Jefferson Street viaduct to the east, Main Street to the north, what is now the Oliver Lewis Way Bridge to the west and Manchester Street to the south. Developers of this proposal envisioned having Rupp Arena reoriented toward the new lake. A few slips included in the design suggested the possibility that sailboats, canoes or even some motorized vessels might take to Lake Lexington.

But just because two lakes (one imaginery and one not produced) haven’t materialized doesn’t mean that something isn’t afoot.

The Break Room at Pepper, part of the Distillery District. Behind the fence is the Town Branch.
Behind the building is a great patio overlooking said creek. Author’s collection.

Perhaps the most exciting news in terms of Lexington’s waterfront is what is presently occurring in the Distillery District. Multiple businesses are in the works with patio seating overlooking Lexington’s historic waterway.

The Break Room, Ethereal Brewing, Middle Fork Kitchen, and the Barrel House Distillery are truly making something of this incredible part of town that not long ago was just an industrial wasteland. And behind that wasteland was the historic (and surprisingly beautiful and peaceful) Town Branch.

And speaking of crowdsourcing, there is a public art project underfoot. There’s about 20 days left to help put a massive mural along the old barrel warehouse. Imagine the public art that could be fit on a 270-foot wide canvas?

20,000 square feet of public art. In one location. In Lexington. Where do I sign up for that? Actually, click on the crowd sourcing box on the right to find out more about the project and how you can help out.

Some Respite in Casey County

Early morning fog over a pond at Camp Wakon’da Ho in Casey County. Author’s collection.

A church retreat found me and the Lil’ Kaintuckeean bound for rural Casey County (not that there is much of an urban center, with all due respect to those in Liberty). The destination was Camp Wakon’da Ho which is located in the small unincorporated community of Yosemite, Kentucky.

Oddly, I’d passed through Yosemite once before and then remarked it to be “a beautiful site.” Of the two camp sites owned by the Christian Church in Kentucky (Disciples of Christ), this was the first time I’d visited. My home church utilized the camp site on a hot and steamy August weekend for a retreat; it was a lot of fun with fellowship, food, worship, and relaxation.

Like much of Casey County, Camp Wakon’da Ho also offered breathtaking vistas.

The valley containing the Camp from atop the
adjoining hills. Author’s collection.

The rolling hills of the region prompted the naming of the Yosemite community by the daughter of logger Eugene Zimmerman who established the community as part of his business. The topography reminded Miss Zimmerman of the Yosemite valley in California.

Waking in the morning, I could exit my cabin and gaze out upon a wooden cross that stood next to a small fishing pond. In the still still waters, I could find the reflections of an old wooden barn and the magnificent trees.

As said by Martin Luther, “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.”

The “Walter Scott” Cabin Author’s Collection.

Each of the cabins bears a historic name related to the Restoration Movement from which the Disciples of Christ originates. Of course, that Movement began here in central Kentucky!

We stayed in the Walter Scott Cabin. And no, he wasn’t the author of Ivanhoe though both shared the same name and both were from Scotland. The Walter Scott for whom my cabin was named was an evangelist who helped to separate the Restoration Movement from the Baptists. He spent most of his ministry in Ohio, but spent his final years leading a school for women he established in Covington, Kentucky.

Kentucky’s beautiful landscapes offer so many spots for camping which can provide peaceful respite from your daily life.

For more on Camp Wakon’da Ho’s, go to its Facebook page.

It’s time to take steps toward protecting our history

This was Friends of Nicholasville NOW’s Facebook status in early August:

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Post by Friends of Nicholasville NOW!

“3 steps forward, 2 steps back.” The three steps forward are easy to find in downtown Nicholasville.

New restaurants, bars and coffee shops are opening while old favorites continue to succeed. And last Friday evening, eight venues along Main Street featured the work of local artists at our town’s second Gallery Walk.

In short, it is a good time for downtown Nicholasville.

But those two steps back were too easy to find in that Facebook update…

During a Gallery Walk, my kids examined
the destruction along Main Street.
Author’s collection.

Rumors have swirled for several months that the building at 118-120 South Main Street, once the home of Ann’s Beauty Salon, would face the wrecking ball. Demolition began on a Friday morning last monthjust hours before many descended on Main Street for the gallery walk.

By the time the galleries opened, only the façade of the old structure remained. Demolition continued over the weekend. By Sunday, only a pile of rubble remained.

The demolition creates the second hole on a block that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Nicholasville Historic District (Caution: PDF)

In the Historic District’s nomination form, it is written that “the historic core of (Nicholasville) consists of a concentrated group of 19th and early 20th century commercial, governmental, residential and religious structures.” The District is a “well-preserved historic core of one of Kentucky’s oldest county seats.”

Importantly, the District “maintains a strong link to the past through its essentially unaltered town plan (a simple grid of streets with the courthouse on one of the quadrants of the principal intersection).”

And what was once Ann’s Beauty Shop was described in the nomination form as “one of the earliest remaining buildings in Nicholasville Historic District.”

The building at 118-120 South Main Street during its demolition. The structure
was the oldest commercial building in Nicholasville. Author’s collection.

The now-demolished structure at 118-120 South Main was originally constructed between 1825-1850. The 45-foot long three-bay, two-story log and frame building served as a commercial space on our Main Street for nearly 200 years.

Nicholasville was founded in 1798; its earliest map dates to 1802. That historic map identified the early in-lots on the “simple grid of streets” highlighted in the National Register nomination.

The lot of 118-120 South Main Street appeared on Nicholasville’s earliest map as Lot #38.

Map from the platting of Nicholasville, Ky., 1802. Jessamine Hist. Soc.

Decades later, the Sanborn Insurance Company drew its maps of communities across America. The earliest Sanborn map of Nicholasville dates to 1886 revealing that 120 South Main Street was occupied by a druggist and that a grocer operated out of 118 South Main Street.

Sanborn’s last map of Nicholasville was drawn in 1909. The 1909 map identifies a confectionary, bookstore and stationery shop in the old structure.

For all those years, the people of Nicholasville shopped and visited here. In its final chapter as a beauty salon, the structure was a gathering place where the community’s latest news and gossip was shared.

Admittedly, the structure wasn’t hugely significant in the long arc of history. Nor was it architecturally significant. But it contributed to both the character of the block and downtown Nicholasville at large. It was part of our community’s history.

It has been suggested that the cost to repair and repurpose the building would have been too great. This may be true, but we’ll never know.

Last year, the city rejected a historic overlay that would have required those proposing demolition in the heart of Nicholasville to show that rehabilitation wasn’t feasible. Creating such an overlay would have been a huge step toward protecting our community’s historic fabric.

Now, with another hole on our Main Street, is the time to renew the effort to preserve our history. Before it is too late.

A version of this column originally appeared in the Jessamine Journal on August 13, 2014. It should not be republished without permission.

Coming in November: Lost Lexington

If you’ve been missing your Kaintuckeean updates, my apologies. I’ve been busy finishing up my first book, Lost Lexington, Kentucky, which will be on shelves November 4, 2014. It is published through History Press.

I’m really excited to have received the cover design for the book and to be able to share it with you! The book is a collection of the intriguing back stories of the Bluegrass treasures that have been lost to history.

You can pre-order Lost Lexington now on amazon (click here) or wait until it is on shelves and purchase it at one of our great local bookstores! #shoplocal

You can also LIKE the book on facebook at facebook.com/lostlexington where I’ll keep followers updated on book events, etc.

Cattletsburg Bank Collapses, Demolished

The Catlettsburg National Bank Building, at right
in 2010, collapsed on July 27, 2014. Author’s collection.

Early this morning, an exterior wall of a circa 1885 bank in Catlettsburg collapsed. About an hour and a half ago, demolition began.

I learned of this from Abandoned via Facebook:

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Post by Abandoned.

The old bank was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Caution: PDF). The application includes the following about the historic structure that is no longer part of Kentucky’s present:

Old Bank Building, late Victorian in style, was built by the Catlettsburg National Bank in 1885. Its outer dimensions are 33 feet by 100 feet. The stone walls of its basement are of pressed brick laid in diamond cement. Two stone lions flank the stone steps that lead to the recessed main door. The door is topped by a glass transom and framed by a brick archway. The windows were originally much higher; they extended to the arched brick lintels, and the pairs of windows at the extreme right and left of the enclosed photograph were originally single windows, with stained glass at the tops. The roofing material, Pennsylvania slate, is attractively arranged in a pattern consisting of curved and rectangular pieces. The ornate roof has dormers, spires, a minaret, and wooden embellishments. 

The Catlettsburg National Bank Building (aka Old Bank Building) was added to the 1973 at which time local historians felt “that if the building were properly restored, it would again be ‘altogether the handsome building in Catlettsburg.'”

In 2010, I visited Catlettsburg. The town is the county seat of Boyd County. The federal courthouse used to function out of Catlettsburg until it was moved to the larger city in the county, Ashland, during the 1980s. State court functions still operate out of the county seat. The first photo above is from that 2010 visit.

It was condemned in 2011 according to the Ashland Daily Independent. In February 2012, the same part which collapsed today collapsed and some repairs must have been made. As seen from Google Maps from April 2012:

Image of the Catlettsburg National Bank from April 2012 after a prior wall collapse.
Google Maps.

Enjoy a Simple Summer of Memory Making

The Lil’ Kaintuckeean Enjoying a Popcicle on a
Hot Summer Day. Author’s collection.

Oh the simple joys of summer as seen through a child’s eyes. It is always such joy to see the faces of my children as they’ve taken advantage of being outside and enjoying the warmth of summer.

Whether it be running in the sprinkler, eating a popsicle, or just interacting with their siblings or friends, watching the children play brings great joy. And the neat thing about honest summer play is that it is largely unchanged from generations past.

Kids still ride their bikes, still drink from hoses, and still get into trouble as always. Whereas it used to be a challenge to corral one’s children for mealtime or for the night, the struggle persists to keep the child active and outside and not dormant in front of a screen.

As a parent, it is much more fun to see my kids doing those summer things. Just watching them have fun is fun. My great grandfather used to say that “watching children is the best way to waste time.”

And it is.

Sometimes, of course, I struggle with allowing myself to waste that time. But it is so important to do so. To stop and to enjoy the moment. After all, isn’t that what I’m trying to get the kids to do by shooing them out the door and away from the television and their various iDevices?

Of course, there are so many risks outside, too. Bug bites once fairly innocent now might carry unpronounceable diseases. (Is it just me, or does anyone else want to say chupacabra whenever the Chikungunya virus is mentioned?) And then there is drinking out of the water hose.

I recently saw an adorable picture of a friend’s twin daughters drinking from the water hose. While wondering if the hose was BPA free, I laughed at the things we now think of. (And I already checked, Amazon.com does carry a BPA-free garden hose for this very reason so sadly someone else already thought of this and is profiting on it!)

Of course one summer adventure that we don’t get to enjoy quite like the old days is the amusement park. Sure, lastweek the great sights and sounds of the Jessamine County Fair are available locally. But next week, they’ll be gone. (You can still take advantage of the Bluegrass Fair in Lexington!)

Without hopping from fair to fair, the nearest amusement park is the old Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville or Kings Island north of Cincinnati. But it once was that all Nicholasvillians had to do was hop on the interurban rail line or the Greyhound bus to Lexington’s Joyland Park.

The Pretzel, ” That Funny Mysterious Dark Ride” at Joyland Park in
Lexington, Ky. University of Kentucky Archives.

Open from 1923 to 1964, Joyland Park was a regular destination for those who grew up in Nicholasville and Jessamine County. The park offered the region’s first public pool. Generations of Kentuckians learned to swim there at the free swimming lessons sponsored by Lexington’s newspaper.

In addition to swimming, the park offered a great wooden roller coast (The Wildcat), a carousel, a midway with 26 booths of games and other temptations, and several acres of picnic grounds. A venue on-site also brought to town some of the great musicians of the twentieth century early to mid-20th century.

I’ve discovered so many shared memories from those who visited Joyland Park as children on the many “I Grew Up In …” Facebook groups like the one for North Lexington.

What are your favorite summer memories? And what memories will you make this summer for yourself and for your family?

A version of this column originally appeared in the Jessamine Journal on July 9, 2014. It should not be republished without permission.

Art is winning in Lexington and Nicholasville

Lexington’s First National Bank (aka Fayette National Bank) Building
and Future 21c Museum and Hotel (Photo: Author)

In early June, the city council approved final terms on the 21c Museum and Hotel which will occupy that city’s oldest skyscraper, the Fayette National Bank Building. Since the approval, construction has been moving along in the historic structure.

Originating in Louisville, 21c already has locations in Louisville, Cincinnati, and in Bentonville, Arkansas. The fourth location will be in Durham, North Carolina, and Lexington will be the brand’s fifth. Construction has already begun to rehabilitate the Lexington landmark for its future purpose.

A 21c hotel, however, is far more than a place to rest one’s head.

The modern, award-winning hotels are well-regarded for the art museums at each location which are free and open to the public.

During the council debate on the matter, Lexington’s elected leaders heard from some constituents who don’t approve of the art that will be on display. Too risque. Too provocative. Too sexual, they argue.

But the project was still approved. Lexington’s leaders approved of the downtown development that would bring jobs, a proven hotel, and a collection of art (albeit controversial at times) to its Main Street.

But what is art?

It is defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”

Emotional power? Surely those objecting to 21c’s art have a strong emotional response to seeing it (or perhaps just hearing of it). It so moved them that they sought to take an active step in democracy by speaking to their elected leaders.

Have you been dramatically moved by a piece of art?

Perhaps it was a painting or a song or a sculpture or a book. Irrespective of form, art can carry us to new heights, can overcome our emotions and can make us dream new dreams.

It is a good thing that art won on Lexington’s Main Street.

Nicholasville’s First Gallery Walk in June 2014 (Photo: Author)

And it is a great thing that art won on Nicholasville’s Main Street in early June, as well.

At the close of business on June 6, the Polvino Family Art Center opened its doors. And with it came throngs of people for Nicholasville’s first gallery walk.

Twelve spots along Main Street saw artists showcasing their work and people filling sidewalks. Four restaurants along Main Street — Euro’s, the Nicholasville Cafe, Brewer’s, and Simi’s — each were open for evening dining.

It was so exciting to see all of the people walking along our downtown streets on a beautiful evening while patronizing our locally owned businesses.

When our Main Street’s streetscape was torn up several years ago for a beautification process, our community suffered. But I believe that through the years and through that pain, we are emerging as a better community.

I tip my hat to Constance Grayson and all of those involved in having the vision and the drive to turn that vision into a reality. The Creative Art League of Jessamine County has grown so much over the past few years and it has so much more potential!

I am excited about future gallery walks and the energy and beauty that they bring to Main Street, Nicholasville.

The next Gallery Walk along Nicholasville’s historic Main Street will be on August 8 from 5:00 to 8:00.

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Post by A Better Nicholasville.

A version of this column originally appeared in the Jessamine Journal on June 11, 2014. It should not be republished without permission.