Kentucky Historical Marker #2158
Shake Rag. This African American community was founded in the 1800s. Bordered by the river and High, Ky., and 7th Sts, the area grew to include hundreds of residents, two schools, businesses, and churches. The architecture of Shake Rag shows a growing middle-class community. (Reverse) The lives of residents revolved around church, school, and family activities. The congregation that became State Street Baptist was organized in 1838. State Street School was founded in 1883; the Carver Center began in 1946. The Southern Queen Hotel served black travelers. Shake Rag is a reminder of progress residents made despite social and economic hardship.
201 State St., Bowling Green, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2159
Alma Wallace Lesch. A pioneer of the contemporary crafts movement, Lesch was an internationally exhibited textile teacher and artist, noted for work with fabric and found objects. Wrote influential book, Vegetable Dyeing, in 1970. Named Master Craftsman by World Crafts Council in 1974; received Ky. Governor's Award in 1987. Over. (Reverse) Born in McCracken Co., Lesch lived and died in Bullitt Co., where she worked from her home studio. A founding member of the Kentucky Guild of Arts and Crafts, Lesch was one of five U.S. artists to have fiber work in the first World Crafts Exhibition (1974).
Highways 44 & 61, Shepherdsville, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2160
L&N Railroad Bridge. The railroad bridge over the Green River stands a quarter mile to the southwest. Constructed 1857-59 by engineer Albert Fink, the bridge was at the time the largest iron bridge in the United States, with a total length of 1,800 ft. Stonemasons John W. Key & sons built the piers from local limestone. (Reverse) The L&N railroad bridge became vital in the Civil War. Two battles were fought here for control of this major link. Confederate General Simon B. Buckner ordered Key to destroy two spans to prevent Union use. Bridge repaired by Union and later reengineered.
KY 31W at Green River Bridge, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2162
Schnitzelburg / Dainty—A Schnitzelburg Street Game. Once part of Germantown, area’s growth occurred after completion of 1891 Goss Texas Ave. streetcar loop. Part of Alexander Spotswood 1000-acre land grant; region platted 1866 by D.H. Meriwether. Landmarks include Louisville Cotton Mills, St. Elizabeth’s Church, Heitzman’s Bakery. #1 Citizen honored annually. (Reverse) Introduced to Louisville in 1800 by German immigrants, Dainty is played with a 5” stick, and a 3’ stick. The 5” stick is placed on the ground, hit with the longer, then hit, airborne, as far as possible. Game revived in 1971 by George Hauck & Charlie Vettiner. The World Championship Dainty Contest is celebrated each July.
1000 Goss Ave., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2163
E.K. Railway - Hunnewell. Development of Greenup’s iron resources in the mid-1800s relied heavily on the E. K. Railway and its extension near the Greenup furnace. The furnace and the new town that developed near it were renamed Hunnewell in honor of businessman Walter Hunnewell. The furnace closed in 1889, ending the brief Iron Age of Hunnewell.
Ky. Hwy. 3306N, Hunnewell, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2164
Baseball Great. Jackie Robinson (1919-72) began his professional baseball career while a lieutenant at Camp Breckinridge, 1944. The next year Branch Rickey, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager, signed the four-sport letterman from UCLA for Montreal Royals, top Dodger farm club. In 1947, Robinson promoted to Dodgers team, breaking Major league color barrier. Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
S. Third St., ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2165
St. John the Evangelist Church. In 1848-49, German-Catholics of Mother of God Church, Lewisburg, founded Stes. Peter and Paul School. In 1854, St. John Parish was created. Fr. Wm. Robbers (pastor 1879-1903) was nationally prominent figure in the German-Priests’ Society. Parish moved here in 1914 with completion of current school building by architect J.F. Sheblessey. (Reverse) Fr. A. Goebel (pastor 1909-54) oversaw construction, completed, 1924, called masterpiece of Ludewig & Dreisoner, St. Louis. Stained-glass windows, Dr. Oidtmann; organ, W. Holtkamp; Bells, replica, Aachen Cathedral, Germany. Noted missionaries Bp. E. Fedders, Fr. A. Fedders, Fr. H. Hanses associated with parish.
627 Pike St., Covington, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2166
Gilded Age Mansions / Chateauesque Architecture. In the late 1800s, Louisville had gained a reputation as the “City of Beautiful Homes”—many of the city’s prominent citizens making their homes on fashionable Third Avenue. The collection of grand mansions and comfortable homes constitutes one of the richest examples of Victorian domestic architecture in the U.S. (Reverse) Alongside the impressive examples of Romanesque, Victorian Gothic, Italianate, Queen Anne, Beaux Arts and Eclectic styles found in Old Louisville is Chateauesque, a rare, French-inspired design exemplified by steep-pitched gables, heavy ornamentation & intricate detail. Architects often added Moorish elements & terra-cotta arabesques.
1228 S. Third St., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2167
Emma Guy Cromwell (1865-1952). The first woman in Kentucky elected to statewide office, Cromwell was elected sec. of state in 1923. She held many political positions during a long career. Chosen state librarian in 1896 by legislature; was elected treasurer in 1927. Served as dir. of state parks, dir. of archives & state librarian. (Reverse) A political pioneer, Cromwell encouraged women to follow her in “bla[ing] a trail for a new day for women when they can stand side by side with men in governing our great country.” She called Simpson, Allen, and Warren counties “home” but lived her adult life in Frankfort, where she died, July 19,1952.
122 West State St., Frankfort, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2168
Froman’s Road and Station / McGee’s Stone Castle. One mile to the northwest, Paul Froman, grandson of pioneer Joist Hite, cut his wagon road in 1781 from the Salt River stations near Bullitt’s Lick to his new station (1782) on the east side of Froman’s Creek. First improved road south of Towne branch of Salt. New fort sped settlement of central Nelson County. (Reverse) Paul Froman’s in-laws, Thomas, John, and Patrick McGee, jointly acquired the 1000-acre Froman claim. Patrick McGee, mason, hunter, land-locator, salt-maker, ferry and tavern operator, built Stone Castle beside Froman’s Station before 1790. One of first stone houses built after settlement of central Kentucky.
Ky. Hwy. 31E, Bardstown, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2169
Kentucky Kernel. Preceded by several earlier student newspapers, the first Kentucky Kernel appeared September 16, 1915. An eight-page weekly by 1923, after a varied publication schedule it became a daily newspaper in 1966. Housed in several campus locations before moving to the Grehan Building in 1951. Class of 2005. (Reverse) Initially University-centered, by the 1960s the Kernel increased coverage of issues beyond the campus such as civil rights, politics, and student protests. Established as an independent newspaper in 1972, it became one of Kentucky’s highest-circulating newspapers and the recipient of numerous awards for journalistic excellence. Class of 2005.
UK campus, Grehan Building, Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2170
Thelma Stovall (1919-1994). Entered political service in 1949 when she was elected to the Kentucky state legislature. For the next 34 years, Stovall served Kentucky in a variety of elected & appointed positions, including secretary of state, state treasurer, labor commissioner, & as the first woman elected lt. governor in Kentucky. (Reverse) As lt. governor, she was elevated to acting governor several times & took advantage of the position. In 1978 she championed the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was not well received by the legislature. In 1979 she was more successful in securing passage of a bill for property tax reform.
I-64 Rest Area, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2171
Thelma Stovall (1919-1994). Born in Munfordville, Ky., Thelma began working at Brown and Williamson Tobacco Co. at 15 to help her family during the Depression. There she met L. R. Stovall; they married in 1936. Thelma studied at UK, EKU and LaSalle Extension University. Her first elected position was as recording secretary for a union. (Reverse) A dedicated public servant, she held various appointed and elected positions, including sec. of state and state treasurer for over 30 years. In 1975, Thelma was elected Kentucky’s first female lt. governor. As acting governor in 1978, she fought for legislation in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Old Street, Munfordville, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2172
Senator Richard P. Ernst (1858-1934) / Ernst Mansion. Born in Covington, Ernst was a lawyer, banker, philanthropist, & women’s-rights proponent. Leader of the Covington YMCA for 42 years, he was a member of the Kenton Co. Bar Assoc. & Industrial Club. U.S. Senator, 1921-1927. Camp Ernst founder. Died in Baltimore 1934, interred Highland Cem., Fort Mitchell, Ky. (Reverse) Built for the John Matson family c. 1890, the mansion was the residence of Sen. Richard Pretlow Ernst, 1906-1934. A brick version of Richard Shaw’s Queen Anne with High Victorian Gothic or Neo-Grec elements. Home served as the Flannery Hotel, 1937-1975. Placed on National Register of Historic Places 1975; renovated 1982.
405 Garrard Street, Covington, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2173
First Unitarian Church. Founded in 1830, First Unitarian Church has been active in civil- rights movements as well as community-wide initiatives. Several fires have damaged the church, including one in 1985 which left only the stone walls. Each time it has been rebuilt by the congregation & continues to support many civil rights issues. See over. (Reverse) On January 12, 1895, Susan B. Anthony & Carrie Chapman Catt spoke at First Unitarian Church. This was a stop on their southern tour promoting women’s suffrage. Anthony’s speech on gender equity & political action was given in the church’s Sunday school room. Twenty-five years later women were granted the right to vote.
809 S. Fourth St. (corner of 4th and York), Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2174
Pope Villa. Built for Senator John and Eliza Pope. Designed by B.H. Latrobe (1764-1820), father of American architectural profession and designer to Thomas Jefferson. The Pope Villa has hidden first-story services, with rotunda and major rooms on second story. Latrobe’s most innovative surviving house. Restoration after a fire in 1987.
326 Grosvenor Ave., Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2175
Skirmish at Rolling Fork. Advancing Federals fired on Confederate troops led by Gen. John Hunt Morgan on December 29, 1862, during a rear-guard action. Acquaintances Col. John Harlan and Col. Basil Duke fought on opposing sides. Wounded during the clash, Duke recuperated at Bardstown. (Reverse) After the Civil War, Col. Harlan became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice & was known as the “Great Dissenter” for his persistent judicial opposition, including that against the “separate but equal” principle of segregation. Duke recovered from his wounds and became a lawyer & lobbyist for the L&N Railroad that he helped destroy during the war.
US Hwy. 62, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2176
Sally McCoy. Sarah Elizabeth (Sally) McCoy was the daughter of Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield. Her parents' love affair played a role in the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud. Although circumstances prohibited the two from marrying, the child was born in 1881 and lived with her mother and Aunt Betty McCoy. (Reverse) Sally McCoy contracted measles and pneumonia, and died a few months after her birth. The death of Roseanna McCoy's only child, Sally, was a contributing factor in the grief and sorrow that led to the untimely death of Roseanna. Sally was laid to rest in the cemetery at top of hill. Grave is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dedicated June 10, 2005
Ky. Hwy. 292, 4.5 miles east of Goody, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2177
Wilderness Road / Logan’s Station. Benjamin Logan left Boone’s Road, April 15, 1775, following trace that became the final segment of “Wilderness Road.” Logan’s path ran along an obscure trail from this area to Harrodsburg, then to Falls of the Ohio. The intersection of the trails became known as Hazel Patch, a junction 8 miles north of present-day London, Ky. (Reverse) Logan’s Station established May 1, 1775. Also known as St. Asaph, the fort quickly became an important frontier settlement. In May 1775, residents sent representatives to Boonesborough to assist in the formation of the proprietary government of Transylvania. Logan’s Fort later became the town of Stanford.
Main St., US 150, Stanford, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2178
Centerville Baptist Church. Established in 1867 under Rev. Thomas Gant after members left the fellowship of First Baptist Church, Paris, Rev. Elisha Green, pastor. Current church structure of wood mold brick built in 1904. Membership includes descendants of the original congregation.
246 Russell Cave Rd., Hwy. 353, ,