Every historic building has a story to tell
Chances are, last time you needed an onion or potato, or perhaps some canned green beans, you did not head outside and descend into your root cellar. Once a staple of most farms and rural properties, root cellars provided storage year-round for root crops (for both human and livestock consumption) and other fruits and vegetables. (read more)
Categories: Kentucky architecture, Outbuildings
Tags: cellar house, historic outbuildings, root cellar, warmhouse
Four years ago, a long vacant historic frame building on East Third street collapsed. I wrote about the former store/residence the day after it crashed creaking and groaning to the ground, but I had been wondering about the building for years before its demise. As is often the case, I learned more about the building (read more)
Category: Fayette County
Tags: Consolidated Drug Store, Lexington's East End, Thomas J. Danahy
Route 11/15 through Stanton, the county seat of Powell County, is named College Avenue. There’s a proliferation of such street names in Kentucky, for prior to the state providing reliable secondary education for the state’s children (ages 12-18), all manner of institutions sought to fill the gap. And on College Avenue in Stanton is the (read more)
Categories: Powell County, Schools
Tags: education, Presbyterian Church, Stanton College Academy
I am a big fan of the public library system in the United States (or, “li-berry” as I pronounced it as a child). Reading is integral to my existence, and wherever I’ve lived or visited, I seek out the local library. Andrew Carnegie – or rather, the Carnegie Foundation of New York – helped fund (read more)
The Kentucky State Fair began on August 15 of this year, with raucous Midway rides, eager 4-Hers, livestock, concerts, and politicians. This year marks the 115th “official” fair – the Kentucky legislature provided money for a state fair in 1902, hence the “official” tagline – but state fairs have been held in the Commonwealth since (read more)
Category: Kentucky history
I’ve never been what you might call a “minimalist.” The stuff – some might call it clutter – that surrounds me helps me tell my story – whether it is through an old book, a photograph, a quilt, or a rocking chair. This material culture – objects made by humans – gives me context and (read more)
Category: Material Culture
Tags: #babyblankets, #materialculture, #textiles
Hickman, in far western Kentucky, is located on five bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Trade along the river propelled the community, originally known as Mills Point, into a thriving town by the mid-19th century. At that time, most of the town’s buildings were located in “lower section” of town – a location along the river (read more)
Categories: Fulton County, Kentucky architecture
Tags: Dr. James M. Hubbard, Hickman, Neoclassical
On a hot sultry Saturday afternoon in May, we welcomed a very special visitor to our home – well, it may be more accurate to say that our visitor returned home. For the first time in over 45 years (since the house and farm were sold out of the immediate family), my cousin Peggy came (read more)
Category: Kentucky architecture
I love looking at real estate advertisements for historic homes – sometimes it is just as gratifying as looking at the buildings in person, especially when the location is far from the Bluegrass. The ones that really tug at my heart are the houses whose charm and historic architectural character is matched only by the (read more)
Category: Bourbon County
Tags: Charles E. Butler, James E. Paton
I can’t say that I am a person who never forgets a face. It is rare, however, for my memory to lose hold on a historic building I’ve glimpsed – especially one that possesses some indefinable quality or architectural merit. If I am lucky, I tuck the image away in a folder (all electronic, of (read more)
Categories: Jefferson County, Louisville
Tags: Parkland neighborhood, Stewart's Department Store, West End
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