I love tourist camps and roadside motor courts from the early 20th century, and bemoan the fact that these establishments had all dwindled out of existence before I was born. Or they were not the sort of place my mother would allow us to patronize, which is also highly likely – we were more of a Holiday Inn family. (During a family trip out west some years ago, I drove my nearest and dearest close to crazy by my desire to stop and photograph each such example along old Route 66. They were remarkably good-natured about it until it started pouring down rain.) Remnants of the early automobile age can still be found in many places, even in rural Trimble County, Kentucky.
Cabins for the weary traveler? Photograph courtesy Amber Stimpson.
To my utter and complete disappointment, I have not seen this site in person. My very lucky co-worker did, and when she shared the photos with me, my storytelling cortex shifted into overdrive. What was this place? Who started it? What relation did it have to US 42 and the nearby Little Kentucky River?
A farmhouse at the site. Photograph courtesy Amber Stimpson.
As always, I am hopeful someone reading this will instantly recognize these buildings and share their knowledge with me!
There’s also an old filling station…Photograph courtesy Amber Stimpson.
If you are that person, you can comment on this post or email me at gardens2gables@gmail.com.
Are they perhaps homes for farm workers that were known to migrate throughout the south to pick produce? We have camps such as these where I live with similar small houses.
I think it was for travelers – I hope to learn more and have a follow-up post~!
How interesting! I can’t wait to read what you learn! We did the same on a Route 66 trip a few years ago.
I’ve seen these cabins. I think they were or are for fisherman to rent out. Pretty spare cabins.
Pat
tourist cabins late 1930’s for travelers from Cincinnati to Louisville in summer
my family owned the property for 130 years
I live in Trimble County and I know I’ve seen a discussion about this place on Facebook in recent years, but I can’t find it right now. In the meantime, Hilda Parrish at the Trimble County Historical Society is the local go-to person; there’s a phone number for her given here: https://www.trimblelibrary.org/local-history–genealogy.html
Thank you!
Laura: Check @ the TRIMBLE CO PUBLIC LIBRARY – Kentucky Room for HISTORIC KENTUCKY – James Archambeault -(2006) page 128 for picture of CABINS –
this is my FAMILY FARM in TRIMBLE CO KY – how much do you want to know – house built 1898-99 – owned by my great grandparents – John/Florence Welch – then their daughter Effie Welch McEndre (John) then my Father Howard/Gertrude McEndre and then my brother Rand McEndre and mine Ann McEndre Cheek – the property was sold in 2020 after 130 years – 3 centuries – 4 generations
contact me @ areynolds44@yahoo.com
Thank you so much! I sent you an email.
these were tourist cabins for folks who traveled from Cincinnati/Louisville via US 42 in the 30’s – the large white building was a gas station, grocery, restaurant closing in late 1930’s – the farm was called HALF WAY INN – (1/2 way between Cinn/Louisville)
see CONCRETE POST to L in pict of house – this was the marker of where one company ended work on US 42 and another company started
I don’t think I’ll be able to find that Facebook discussion I mentioned in my previous comment, but I also recalled the property had been sold recently and was able to track down the Zillow listing, which has a little bit of information about its historical use plus additional photos: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5007-Highway-42-E-Bedford-KY-40006/236307275_zpid/
Do we have any info on the history of the property??? Like how long has the main house been there – and placement of the small buildings – totally make a difference in what I would guess at!!!!
my family owned the property for 130 YEARS – i can give you all the history – reach out