Kentucky Historical Marker #2137
Ann I. Baker (1873-1931). Born in Kansas, Ann Baker came to Paducah in 1899 to work for her father, Henry Baker, at Ayer-Lord Tie Co. (railroad crossties). She retired from there, 1930. Marine Ways named a boat, A.I. Baker, for her. Organized Paducah Business and Professional Women's Club, 1920. Baker was elected president and served three years in that office. (Reverse) Ann Baker had idea for professional women's club in Paducah. Business Women's Club held first meeting, Sept. 1920, chartered Oct. 1920. Name changed to Paducah Business and Professional Women. Baker also served as first president of Ky. Federation of BPW. She was generous contributor to charitable and welfare institutions.
125 Kentucky Avenue, Paducah, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2138
Main Building. Opened in 1882 and known as the Main or College Building, it contained classrooms, offices, and a chapel for student assemblies. Designed by architect H.P. McDonald and built of brick fashioned from campus clays and stone at a total cost of $81,000. Gracing the roof of the building was a tower crowned by a cupola, 157 feet in height. Class of 2004. (Reverse) Main Building - A post office and bookstore opened in 1918 and a cafeteria in 1919. In the spring of 1948 the building, for the first time, housed only administrative departments. Interior renovations were carried out in 1929, 1939-40, and 1964. A fire on May 15, 2001, nearly destroyed the buidling, requiring extensive renovation. Class of 2004.
UK campus, Limestone St., Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2139
Major League Baseball. Brothers John (1896-1968) and Joe (1900-1970) Heving of Covington made it to the big leagues. John began major league career, 1920, as catcher, while Joe made his debut, 1930, as pitcher. Several teams benefited during their careers of 8 and 13 seasons. The brothers played together on local teams, including the Golden Rods, when in town. Presented by City of Covington.
Covington, 6th & Philadelphia Sts., ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2141
Farnsley-Moremen House. For most of the 19th century this house was center of prosperous Ohio River farm with an active riverboat landing. Built circa 1837 by Gabriel Farnsley (1800-1849). House and 200-acre farm site purchased, 1862, by Alanson Moremen (1803-90). Riverboat landing known as "Soap Landing" in late 1800s. Presented by Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing, Inc.
The Farnsley-Mormen Landing, 7410 Moorman Rd., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2142
Jennie C. Benedict. Noted chef, caterer, and author was born 1860 in Louisville. She began her career in 1893 and in 1900 opened Benedict's restaurant and tearoom on South 4th Street. Entrepreneur Benedict was invited to join Louisville Board of Trade, 1903. Best known as creator of "benedictine," a sandwich spread that remains a Kentucky food specialty. (Reverse) A founder of Louisville's Business Women's Club by 1899; published Blue Ribbon Cookbook 1902. As social reformer for women and the poor, Benedict collaborated with Jennie Casseday in founding King's Daughters & Sons Training School for Nurses at City Hospital; and an infirmary for women.
W. side of 4th St. between Chestnut and Muhammad Ali, Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2143
Race Track, 1924-1928. The race track named "Raceland" was known as the "Million Dollar Oval." A record crowd of 27,000 packed the grandstand for the inaugural Raceland Derby in 1924. That race featured Ky. Derby winner "Black Gold" and four other Run for the Roses entrants. (Reverse) Town's name was changed from Chinnville to Raceland ca. 1924. The track's 350- acre complex, complete with 22 stables, a rail spur, and its own jail was built by J.O. Keene, who later built Keeneland in Lexington. Last season of racing was 1928. Track was sold and torn down in 1937.
Raceland, near Driving Range at Clubhouse, U.S. 23, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2144
Civil Rights Struggle, 1954 / Wades: Open Housing Pioneers. Louisville suburbs were racially segregated when African Americans Andrew and Charlotte Wade moved to Rone Court on May 15, 1954, two days before the Supreme Court condemned school segregation. Neighbors burned a cross and shot out windows, and the Wades endured harassment until June 27, when the house was dynamited. (Reverse) Amid Cold War fears, the Wades’ civil rights were ignored. Focus shifted to alleged communism of whites Anne and Carl Braden, who had bought, then transferred house after no one would sell to the Wades. A sensationalized sedition trial ensued; street was renamed; culprits were never prosecuted. By 2000, however, 4010 Clyde Dr. was part of diverse neighborhood.
Clyde Drive and S. Crum's Lane, east of I-264 underpass, Shively, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2145
McCoy House. After Hatfields burned the McCoy home, January 1, 1888, Randolph and Sarah McCoy never returned to Blackberry Creek. Governors of Ky. and West Va. urged Hatfields and McCoys to move away from each other. McCoys purchased house near river bank on East Main St., and Randolph operated a ferry across the Big Sandy River. Dedicated June 10, 2004
Pikeville, 235 Main Street, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2146
Arthur H. Davis. One of the earliest landowners in the Jackson Purchase, Davis represented Calloway (now Marshall) County in the state legislature, 1824. Davis also served as justice of the peace and sheriff of Calloway County. He installed the first court of Graves County and served as a general in the Kentucky militia.
Junction of Houser Rd. and KY 58 near Benton, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2147
Mae Street Kidd (1904-99). Born in Millersburg, Kidd devoted much of her life to civil rights causes. Served as representative in Ky. state legislature, 1968-85, earning her nickname, “Lady of the House.” Kidd led Ky.’s ratification of 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to U.S. Constitution, ending slavery and giving citizenship and voting rights to African Americans after being in effect for 112 yrs. (Reverse) Kidd sponsored bills that resulted in laws that ensured equal and open housing for all Kentuckians. Also first woman elected sec. of Democratic caucus. Among honors: King/Kennedy Award, NAACP Unsung Heroine Award, and Louisville Mayor’s Citation for Outstanding Community Service. Buried Zachary Taylor National Cem., Louisville.
Millersburg, Main St., between center gates and Seventh St., ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2148
James Morrison Heady (1829-1915). The Blind Bard of Kentucky was blind by fifteen and deaf before forty. Neither condition limited his contributions. As friends read aloud, he embossed notes on the Diplograph machine he invented and built. He invented the Talking Glove with the alphabet printed on it so others could communicate by touching the letters. (Reverse) Heady’s other inventions included the pull-chain home farm gate, furniture, utensils, and games. Built a steam-powered embossing press for American Printing House for the Blind, and wrote and published prose, poetry, and songs. Entombed with his parents in the Elk Creek Cemetery.
Elk Creek, at Cemetery, 286 Plum Ridge Rd., ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2149
Ora Porter (1880-1970). Ora Porter, born in Butler Co., in 1880, moved to Bowling Green at age 10. She graduated from Tuskegee Institute School of Nursing and was among the earliest registered nurses in Ky. She was an organizer of the George Washington Carver Community Center, the Interracial Commission, an active campaigner for civic improvement. Died, 1970.
700 block of College St., Bowling Green, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2150
Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002). Born in Maysville, Rosemary Clooney topped the charts with “Come On A-My House” in 1951. Other hits include “This Ole House” and “Hey There.” Her first film, The Stars Are Singing, premiered at Maysville’s Russell Theater in 1953. She costarred with Bing Crosby in the 1954 classic film White Christmas. (Reverse) Throughout a singing and acting career that spanned six decades, the acclaimed “girl singer” remained connected to her hometown. In 1999, “Rosie” launched the Rosemary Clooney Music Festival in Maysville, the site of her birth, marriage, and final resting place.
9 East Third Street, Maysville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2151
Civil War Fortifications. Reports of Kirby Smith’s CSA troops approaching Cincinnati caused panic in September 1862. Gen. Lew Wallace led Union troops and volunteers from rural Ohio (known as “Squirrel Hunters”) across Ohio River on a hastily constructed pontoon bridge made of coal barges. Marching south to Ky. hills, they fortified area at Newport, Covington, Forts Mitchell and Wright. (Reverse) Some 50,000 guarded approaches to Cincinnati. After CSA Gen. Henry Heth tried this strong defensive line, the rebel army retreated. Lew Wallace later wrote Ben Hur, published in 1880. Pontoon bridge was laid in shadows of stone piers of John Roebling Suspension Bridge, prototype of his Brooklyn Bridge.
Top of Ohio River bank on Covington-Commons, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2152
Dr. James E. Randolph (1888-1981). Born in Missouri, Randolph earned a medical degree from Meharry College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1917. He moved to Covington in 1922 and opened an office on Greenup St., where he practiced for 59 years. He was the first African American physician at St. Elizabeth Hospital and the first to be admitted to the Campbell-Kenton Medical Society. (Reverse) Among Dr. Randolph’s several honors are the La Salette Academy’s Gold Medal for service to the community (1976) and the Eastside Neighborhood Park that bears his name (1974). In 1997, he was posthumously inducted into the Northern Ky. Leadership Hall of Fame. Randolph is buried at Mary Smith Cemetery in Elsmere, Ky.
St. James AME Chirch, 120 Lynn St., Covington, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2153
Polk's Infirmary / Mammoth Insurance Co.. Dr. John Polk, an African American physician in Lexington, practiced medicine at 166 Deweese St. before moving to 148 Deweese by 1921. Succeeding him in this building was Dr. J. R. Dalton. The infirmary served African Americans in area. In 1999, this former health center became the home of Lexington-Fayette County Urban League. (Reverse) Founded 1915 in Louisville, Mammoth Life and Accident Ins. Co. opened district office at 149 Deweese. It offered employment opportunities and fair rates to African American community. At its peak, Mammoth had 750 employees and sold policies in eight states. In 1992 Mammoth merged with Atlanta Life and the Kentucky offices closed.
149 Deweese St., Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2154
Erlanger Depot / Erlanger Proper Subdivision. The Cincinnati Southern Railroad built depot, and it opened in 1877. This is the last wooden depot between Cincinnati and Chattanooga. Passenger service between these two cities started in 1880. After depot had served for over 100 years, Norfolk Southern decided to close and destroy it. Instead, Erlanger Historical Soc. saved it; became a museum, 1990. (Reverse) Erlanger Land Syndicate filed plan with Kenton Co. Clerk of Courts in 1887. Original plat contained 220 building lots. This was an early planned community whose backers marketed subdivision aggressively. Began as a railroad community; matured as suburb along major highway. Historic District listed on the National Register, 2002.
3319 Crescent Avenue, Erlanger, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2155
George Short House / George W. Short (1805-1863). Built in 1841, this is one of the oldest homes in Greenville. Materials and its detailed interior woodwork came by flatboats from Cincinnati. George Short had the house built for Tabitha A. Brank in hopes she would marry him, but she refused. Tabitha was daughter of Ephraim M. Brank, hero in War of 1812. House listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1980. (Reverse) George W. Short was a prominent businessman, tobacconist, and a state legislator in 1849. He never lived in the house nor did he ever marry. He gave the house to his sister, Susan Ann Short Harbin. Her children became active civic leaders and benefactors of the Harbin Memorial Library.
151 North Main St., Greenville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2156
Woodland Farm. Formerly known as Clifton, home’s three sections built at different times. Thomas Barbour, a founder of Oldham County, established farm and built third portion of home ca. 1840. He sold farm in 1855 to Richard T. Jacob, who became lieutenant governor of Ky. Having been farmed for over 150 years, Woodland named to National Register of Historic Places, 1997. (Reverse) Eighteen Mile Island, part of farm, was first source of water for co. public water system in 1964. In 1997 Laura Lee Brown and James Steven Wilson founded a nationally recognized breeding farm for American bison. In 2003 farm placed under protection from development with Dept. of Agr. Purchase of Agr. Conservation Easement program.
Goshen, 4801 Greenhaven Lane, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2157
First Presbyterian Church. Church established 1804 on land given by early Presbyterians Col. and Mrs. William Campbell. Rev. Thomas Nelson was first resident pastor. Early visiting ministers included Rev. Terah Templin and Rev. David Rice. Early elders included Claiborne Rice, Hugh Martin and John Bone. Rev. Isaac Bard became pastor in 1823; first church built 1825 on Martin St. (Reverse) This Gothic-Revival structure was initiated in 1873 by building committee members Lewis Reno, M.C. Hay, John Barkley Sr., T.J. Slayton and W.H. Yost. Church dedicated on July 19, 1885, on South Main St. Rev. Robert G. Brank, grandson of church founder Col. Campbell, performed the dedication. Bricks made by John Barkley on his farm.
158 South Main Street, Greenville, KY, United States