Casey – The Kaintuckeean

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.

No Destination: Liberty

This sleepy town of about 2,000 is – and always has been – all about its name: Liberty. A number of Revolutionary War veterans received land grants in the area and named their community after that which they had sacrificed. Liberty was selected as the county seat in 1808 and was finally incorporated in 1830.

Looking down Main Street from the courthouse, I noticed a small park (Veteran’s Park) with many waving American flags. In that park, too, was an exact replica of the Liberty Bell (sans the infamous crack). The original bell, which hung in Independence Hall arrived in America from its manufacturer (the Whitechapel Bell Foundry) in 1753. The Liberty replica was also cast by Whitechapel and, with its African teak headstock, weighs 2,700 pounds. It is dedicated to the “Citizens of Liberty” (a great double entendre).

Casey County Courthouse – Liberty, Ky.

I’ve driven through Casey County a couple of times, but have never been downtown. The courthouse is pretty sweet, though it appears to need a little restoration, which I doubt will ever happen based on the huge new judicial center across the street. When we arrived in Liberty, it was getting ready to storm, and the downtown area was ominously quiet. I love storms, which is probably one of the reasons that I enjoyed photographing Liberty so much.
This courthouse was built in 1888, and was preceded by a different brick building and a log building. According to this historical marker, the use of stone trim and its asymmetrical design are unique for a courthouse.

No Destination: Lincoln & Casey Counties

Not only was Stanford a surprise, but several areas of historic Lincoln County prompted me to stop the car.

A historic marker noting the site of McKinney’s Fort: a fort established in 1792 which became an important stop on the Cumberland Trace. The area is now known as McKinney’s Station.

Once in Casey County – just just north of Yosemite – we crossed over an unimpressive tributary of the Green River. A tree under which the cattle relaxed was, however, a beautiful site.

On the return home – but once again in Lincoln County – I spotted a town I wanted to visit: Chicken Bristle. Driving through, there was no sign evidencing the name of this small community. In this rural area, I was surprised to see an old A.M.E. [African Methodist Episcopal] church. I supposed that Chicken Bristle might have been one of the black communities that dotted the region in years past. Sure enough, Chicken Bristle was one of three black Lincoln County communities founded in the post-Civil War era.

Also in Lincoln County was the small community of Hustonville – site of what must be a crazy-scary year-round haunted house.