Demolition Files: Hilldale, the James Harrison Moore House, Harrodsburg, Kentucky

The Moore family of Mercer County, described in a historic account as an “influential Southern family,” left behind many examples of their prominent roles in business, banking, law, medicine, and farming in Kentucky – including a street named after the family and some lovely dwellings. Mooreland captured the hearts of many in its gut wrenching decline and virtual abandonment, but it is now under restoration. The fates were not so kind to another Moore family home, known as Hilldale, as it was demolished last week.

Once occupying a 17-acre hill above what is now known as Mooreland Avenue (named for the family, of course), the 2.5 story brick house  was built in 1891 for James Harrison Moore. The picturesque setting was in vogue for “suburban villas” like Hilldale.

The drawn-out, slow death of a building touches everyone around it, even outsiders (like me). I photographed Hilldale from the public right-of-way a few years ago, because even from my vantage point, the house didn’t look good. And last week, images of the house being torn down on social media confirmed my fears.

The house, with its mansard-roofed tower and large polygonal bay, was not as elegant nor as ostentatious as some examples of late 19th century domestic architecture in Kentucky. But years of neglect cast a careworn appearance across the large house, until its original dimensions and stylistic details were hard to see.

A wrap-around front porch likely once added a welcome bit of whimsy and openess to the expanse of brick walls (and the house appeared to have a quite a footprint). Its turned and chamfered posts were jacked up and placed on brick piers, likely in the 1950s/1960s.

The acreage of the property shrank in the 1940s, with several lots carved out of the north side of the site. But several historic outbuildings remained on the parcel, including what looked like a secondary domestic building (perhaps for a cook), a meathouse, a garage, and a barn.

The house was built toward the end of James Harrison Moore’s life. Born in 1819 in what would become Boyle County, he recieved his medical degree from Transylvania in 1841. He practiced medicine in Mississippi (were the family owned land) before returning to Harrodsburg and going into business with his brother  – “in trade” as one source records. Moore also farmed and dabbled in banking.

Moore died in 1905, and his obituary in the Harrodsburg Herald stated that “he has always been a successful farmer and trader and exceptional fine business man.”

I don’t know the circumstances that led to the loss of this house – except to describe them as unfortunate. Some of the building materials may be repurposed, and for that small mercy I am glad. Demolition by neglect always causes my blood pressure to rise, but adding potentially salvageable materials to a landfill adds insult to injury.