My apologies for the somewhat irregular posting schedule. A lot has been going on!
Category: Uncategorized
No Destination: Jacob Spears
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| Jacob Spears Marker, Bourbon Co., Ky. |
My biggest mistake in driving with no destination was going down the road next to the above marker, not recognizing the “stone castle” and completely missing the Jacob Spears distillery. Fortunately, you can see someone else’s pictures here. From historic marker 2295:
Named after Bourbon Co. because of quantity and quality of whiskey produced within its borders. Made from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn, with less wheat, rye, or barley, yeast and limestone water. Distilled at no more than 160 proof and aged in charred oak barrels. In 1964, Congress recognized bourbon as a distinctly American product.
(Reverse) Stone Castle, 1 mile south, built 1790 by Thomas Metcalfe for Jacob Spears. A Pennsylvanian who settled in Paris, he was innovative farmer & one of first distillers of bourbon whiskey. Still standing on this farm are a springhouse and a storehouse for his bourbon whiskey. It is the most complete distiller’s complex still in existence today.
In fact, it was Jacob Spears who first used the term “Bourbon” to describe his whiskey. Now, I think I’m sufficiently inspired to go sip some Makers 46.
No Destination: “Aunt Julia” Marcum
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| Historic Marker, Williamsburg, Ky. |
According to the Kentucky Encyclopedia, Julia Ann Marcum was raised in Tennessee. Her family sympathized with the Union cause and for this their home was attacked in September 1861. Julia fought off a Confederate soldier with an ax until her father shot the soldier dead, but during this fight Julia was badly wounded. Although she worked for a time as a schoolteacher, she ultimately became permanently disabled as a result of her war wounds. She moved to Williamsburg upon her retirement and became the only female ever admitted to the Grand Army of the Republic. Historic Marker #672 reads:
Only woman, as a fighter, to receive a U.S. pension: special Act of Congress, 1884. Marcum home in Tenn., a depot for southerners going north to Union army. She lost eye; badly wounded defending home against marauders; then the family came here. Unionist father killed in action. Her life devoted to patriotic, religious work. Died in 1936, age 91, military funeral.
No Destination: State Reception Room
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| State Reception Room, Frankfort, Ky. |
The State Reception Room on the second floor of the Capitol in Frankfort is a spectacular, highly ornamental room used for state functions. Modeled in the style of Louis XIV of France and likely after Marie Antoinette’s drawing room at Versailles. The Versailles connections do not end, however, as the painted walls duplicate tapestries found in the French palace and mirrors on either end of the room multiply the chandeliers and create a “Hall of Mirros” effect. The room also features (not pictured) a handmade Austrian rug which apparently fills the floor. The windows and balcony face north toward old Frankfort and the Kentucky River.
No Destination: State Legislature
For regular readers, you know that I’ve visited our beautiful State Capitol in celebration of its bicentennial. For the next couple of posts, I’m going inside the Capitol to show some off its interior. The Commonwealth’s two legislative bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate (together, the General Assembly) meet in opposite ends of the Capitol.
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| Kentucky House Chamber, Frankfort, Ky. |
The chamber of the House is pictured above. It is here that the Governor gives his annual State of the Commonwealth Address.The beautiful chair behind the lectern is the Speaker’s Chair. In ordinary session, it is occupied by the Speaker of the House. During joint sessions, however, the gavel and seat is turned over to the Senate President. During the Governor’s address, President Williams can be seen rocking from left to right in the chair (which has uneven legs). The docent on hand during my visit informed me that, despite multiple attempts to correct the problem, the chair cannot be leveled.
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| Kentucky Senate Chamber, Frankfort, Ky. |
The Senate Chamber has thirty-eight mahogany desks – one for each member. During the bicentennial celebration, access to the Senate floor – unlike the People’s House – was restricted to a small area in the back of the chamber. Like the House, it is very Romenesque in design and features a very large and very beautiful original skylight.
No Destination: Pineville Preacher
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| Pineville Preachin’, Pineville, Ky. |
On a Sunday afternoon drive through Pineville (Bell Co.), I happened to notice some singing coming from the corner of the courthouse square. With guitars in hand (non-instrumentalists held Bibles), the crusade had begun. To be sure, there was some fire and brimstone outdoor preaching on this hot day. There was also the laying of hands and purging of sins. While I didn’t hear it, I’m sure the “Do Not Enter” sign was worked into the message.
The voices recalled for me the sound of the preachers who would shout in the commons area at the University of Kentucky, but these Pineville folk were not going to Lexington. They simply took their Sunday morning message out into their own community. And, while my form of worship isn’t necessarily on my knees in the middle of the street, these people seemed genuine. Religion is important in Kentucky; I’ve had the opportunity to visit some gorgeous churches on my journeys but this was the first time I’d witnessed (while on a No Destination drive) public displays of religion.
No Destination: Eades Tavern
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| Eades Tavern, Paris, Ky. |
Duncan Tavern, though Paris’ most famed tavern, is not Paris’ oldest. Eades Tavern is just a few doors down High Street and is just a few years older. The two taverns, opened just six years apart, were great competitors for a number of years vying for the right to sleep and board the area’s guests. Historic Marker #1824 reads:
This log building lined with adz-hewn cherry was built as a tavern. In 1795 it became first post office in Paris. Thomas Eades then served as tavern owner and postmaster. Robert Trimble had home and law office here before becoming U.S. Supreme Court justice, 1826. It became site of Lizzie Walker’s private school. Listed on National Register of Historic Places, 1973.
Justice Trimble represented the Paris area in the Kentucky House of Representatives and served as chief justice on the Kentucky Court of Appeals; he is buried at the Paris Cemetery. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President John Quincy Adams to fill the “Kentucky vacancy” and upon recommendation of Secretary of State Henry Clay. Yes, that’s right – there used to be a “Kentucky seat” on the Supreme Court!
walkLEX: Horsemania 2010
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| “Ashland Stud” Artist: Christy Buckner of Lexington, Ky. |
Now through October 15, there are some extra horses around Lexington. Repeating the success of the first Horsemania in 2000, LexArts is bringing back the horses in Horsemania 2010! These fiberglass horses are painted or otherwise decorated by local artists and can be seen around downtown (and elsewhere!).
I’ve not gotten to all the horses yet, but I have begun taking pictures and posting them to flickr. I’ll keep adding pictures there so check it out there? Have you seen the horses? Which is your favorite?
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No Destination: Louisville Zoo’s Cemetery
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| Cemetery at the Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Ky. |
In the middle of the Louisville Zoo is a family cemetery. The old cemetery is a quiet respite in the middle of a modern, busy cemetery. Although it does not hold the grandeur of Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery, it is a fine old family cemetery. A marker, Salute to a Pioneer Family, rests near the Phillips-Durrett-Clark Cemetery and reads:
The American branch of the Phillips family began with Jenkin Phillips, born in 1744 in Loudon Co., Virginia. He fought with George Washington and helped survey what was then called Kentucky County for Patrick Henry and the Commonwealth of Virginia. For his services, Phillips was deeded 1,00 acres of land radiating out from this spot. At the time of his death in 1822, the family owned land extending from this area into southern Indiana.
No Destination: St. Francis Catholic Church
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| St. Francis Catholic Church, Georgetown, Ky. |
Between Georgetown and Frankfort sitting to the right atop a small hill rests a beautiful Catholic Church. The St. Francis Catholic Church represents the oldest Catholic congregation in the Commonwealth (first Mass was held on Dec. 1, 1793) and the church building dates to 1820. It is the second oldest Catholic Church west of the Alleghenies. Interior features evidencing the historic nature of the church include the kneeler stretching across the front of the church and doors to the pews. It is named after St. Francis de Sales.
The rural church is not ordinarily left open for contemplative prayer, but is available for scheduled tours. I happened to visit on a day when the church was having a picnic. So I was able to stroll into the church for a little prayer (and photography)! It is absolutely beautiful.
Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin was the congregation’s resident pastor for many formative years; Rev. Badin was the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States. Born in Orleans, France in 1768, he was ordained May 25, 1793 by Bishop Carroll of the then-Diocese of Baltimore. Soon thereafter, Rev. Badin was appointed to the Mission of Kentucky.
A convent was located here until from 1875 to 1896 when it was moved to the Cardome Center, just north of Georgetown.