One of the things I love most about my profession is the chance to travel around Kentucky and talk to people about the historic places they hold dear – and see the buildings that make those places. So I am very excited to introduce my friend and guest author, J. Eric Thomason, an 8th generation Kentuckian, and the 5th generation to reside on his small farm in Warren County, Kentucky.
My first guest author, J. Eric Thomason.
Many years ago, I worked for a preservation non-profit group – my first venture in the field of historic preservation. It was the beginning of the fall semester at Transylvania University in Lexington, and a freshman stopped by our office to ask if we had any internship opportunities. Unpaid serfdom was a more accurate description of what was on offer, but the young student of history agreed to the unpaid and erratic work.
Historic multi-purpose barn on a stone foundation (a semi-banked barn, given its lower level) in Warren County, Kentucky. Photograph by J. Eric Thomason.
We went on several adventures during that semester and the next, and my unpaid intern became a good friend. Eric graduated from Transylvania University in 2003 with a degree in history – and his love of Kentucky, local, architectural, and family history is inspiring to me.
Edgar Herbert Thomason in front of his store (circa 1920) in Hungry Hill (Costellow/Pauline), Logan County, Kentucky. Photograph from the collection of J. Eric Thomason.
As the descendant of two storekeepers (see above photo of one of those forebears) and generations of Kentucky farmers, Eric gravitates to old store buildings and historic barns. But he also introduced me to the Bethel Dipper in Russellville, Kentucky, so his historic architecture tastes are not narrowly focused!
Roadside architecture at its tastiest. Russellville, Kentucky.
I’ve been lucky enough to wander parts of Allen, Warren, and Logan counties with Eric – it’s always great to be in the car with someone who understands the urgency of the sudden, nail biting stop or the slow drive in reverse down a country road to check out a potentially interesting building.
A frame, front gable general store building in Montpelier, Adair County, Kentucky. Photograph by J. Eric Thomason.
When Eric isn’t risking life and limb to capture a good photograph or story, he enjoys reading, gardening, and exploring Kentucky and the South. When we’re together, if we’re not talking buildings or plants, we are absolutely silent – because we are both engrossed in a book.
I know that you will enjoy hearing Eric’s stories from South Central Kentucky. Stay tuned for his first contribution on Monday, May 11, 2020!
Interesting !