Kentucky Historical Marker #2242
Male and Female School Site. The Columbia College Joint Stock Company formed in 1853 to build the M&F School. It was conveyed to trustees appointed by Transylvania Presbytery and opened in 1855. The building was a Union Camp during the Civil War. Classes resumed after the war. In 1908 a public grade and high school replaced the M&F School on the same site. (Reverse) This horse-mounting block is a survivor from many that were along this road and in the field beyond. Houses built in the early 1900s now occupy former pastures where horses grazed while their riders attended the M&F School on the hill. This subscription school provided both boys and girls a quality high school education.
305 E. Guardian, Columbia, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2243
Columbia-Union Presbyterian Church. Active Presbyterian congregations formed early in the county’s settlement:1803 on Col. Casey’s farm & 1827 in Columbia. Church was built in 1857 and has had continuous services ever since. County and city congregations merged in 1912. Columbia-Union Presbyterian Church became the official name in 1925. Over (Reverse) The original sanctuary’s slave balcony was removed in 1885. Civil War involvement includes bullet molds found in the attic, a steeple/ lookout to watch for rebel raiders, and doors that were used as stretchers for the wounded in a skirmish with John Hunt Morgan’s troops in 1863. Limestone steps are original.
304 Burkesville St., Columbia, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2244
John Todd Stuart, 1807-1885. Abraham Lincoln’s friend and 1st law partner was born on Nov. 10, 1807, in Fayette Co. The son of a Presbyterian minister & Mary Todd Lincoln’s aunt, Stuart graduated from Centre College in 1826. Two years later he became a lawyer in Springfield, IL. Met Lincoln when an officer in Black Hawk War and encouraged him to study law. Over. (Reverse) Lent Lincoln law books and they were law partners, 1837–1841. He was a Whig in IL legislature and US Cong. Backed John Bell over Lincoln in 1860 election and went to Cong. as Democrat in 1862. Was frequent White House visitor despite disagreeing with some of Lincoln’s policies. Was pres. of Natl. Lincoln Monument Assoc.
Main Street, Danville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2245
Mount Zion Presbyterian Church. Historic mountzion meetinghouse built 1804 at crossroads of wagon trails. A plain hewed log house 24x42 with shingle roof, plain pulpit & common seats. In 1810 Muhl Co Court named it in surveys of 3 precincts. Circuit riding missionaries from Philadelphia served the group until Rev. Isaac Bard came in 1822. Over (Reverse) Deeded in 1822 by Thomas Irvin to congregation of Mountzion Society. Organized Dec.1, 1823 by Rev. Bard with Andrew Glenn, William Young and John Culbertson as its elders. Revolutionary & Civil War soldiers rest beside slaves in the cemetery. An original axe-hewn floor beam with wooden peg is exposed to view in the basement. Over
Hwy. 62 E, Central City, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2246
Eastern Kentucky Railway-Hitchins. Here the EK had a junction with the Elizabethtown, Lexington & Big Sandy Rwy that connected with the Ashland Coal and Iron Rwy in Denton. January 1882 both would become part of Chesapeake & Ohio Rwy. The EK and C&O shared a depot here. In December 1932, the EK ceased operations. Presented by EK Railroad Society, C & O Historical Society, & In Memory of Gary Mills.
KY 773, Hitchins, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2247
Camp Swigert. Union Civil War training camp was organized Dec. 12, 1861. Made up of 20-25 acres. It became center of volunteer enlistees under command of Col. D. W. Lindsey. Recruits from surrounding counties, Frankfort & Louisville were assigned to form the 22nd Regt of Ky Volunteer Inf. Both black and white infantrymen stationed at Camp Swigert. Over (Reverse) Engaged in skirmishes in eastern Ky & West Va, followed by Middle Creek, Ky and Cumberland Gap,Tn. They moved through Tennessee and Mississippi. The 22 Ky Volunteer Inf. Regt. consolidated at Baton Rouge, La in March 1864 into the 7 Ky Veteran Inf. Non-veterans were mustered out in Louisville on January 20, 1865. Over
US 23, Wurtland, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2248
Hampton Court. Attorney Charles H. Stoll began development in 1907 after orphan asylum razed. Built first luxury apartment building in Lexington known as “Stoll Flats” #310. Court named for Hampton Halley Lisle, Stoll’s son-in-law. In 1909, Col. Milton Young, former owner of McGrathiana Farm, bought the court and divided it into 25 lots. (Reverse) In 1910, Young contracted for The Hanover #75, designed by well- known architects Messrs, Rowe & Gianini. Court developed until 1936. Four houses on Fourth Street end attributed to N. Warfield Gratz, including his home. Stone gates at either end of court are in Tudor Revival style. Listed on National Register of Historic Places. Over
Hampton Court (off of 3rd St. between Jefferson & Broadway), Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2249
Ham Brown Log Cabin. Prior to the Civil War, Ham Brown was “a free man of color.” On May 21, 1866, he purchased the cabin in Bloomfield and it remained in his family until 1980. Ham, a shoemaker, and Adeline Brown had seven children. Vacant and in disrepair, the cabin was moved to Walnut Groves farm and restored in 1998. Cabin was built ca. 1850 as slave quarters.
801 Taylorsville Rd., Bloomfield, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2250
Homer C. Ledford. Homer Ledford (1927-2006) was a master craftsman, musician, and teacher. Born in Tennessee, he came to Kentucky to attend Berea College & graduated from Eastern Ky. University. Ledford founded the Cabin Creek Band in 1976 & led it for 30 years, entertained on four continents, and performed for five of Kentucky’s governors. (Reverse) Ledford crafted thousands of musical instruments. His banjos, violins, guitars, mandolins, and dulcimers are sought by musicians worldwide. The Smithsonian Institution houses three of his creations— a fretless banjo, an Appalachian dulcimer and a dulcitar, which he copyrighted. He played 13 musical instruments.
College St. in College Park, Winchester, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2251
John Paul Riddle, 1901-1989. Aviation pioneer graduated from Pikeville College Academy in 1920. Flew plane under Pikeville’s Middle Bridge on July 4, 1923. Trained as a pilot in U.S. Army, he & T. Higbee Embry founded the Embry-Riddle Flying School in Cincinnati, 1925. Incorporated four years later as part of AVCO, which later became American Airlines. Over Founded the Embry-Riddle School of Aviation in Miami, Fla. During WWII, trained pilots for U.S. and Britain. Later became Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. Inducted into the Ky. Aviation Hall of Fame and Fla. Aviation Historical Society. Received British Empire award and honorary degrees from Pikeville College & E-R Aeronautical Univ.
Main and Division Streets, Pikeville, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2252
Aero Club of Louisville. Much of the early aviation history in Louisville is the result of the Aero Club of Louisville. Founding fathers included pilots returning from WWI & businessmen who saw the potential of aviation beyond military applications. A.H. Bowman, Sidney Park, and Louisville mayor Huston Quinn were among the 18 men who founded the Aero Club. (Reverse) “Aviators and aerial observers of the World War formed the Aero Club of Louisville yesterday, to use Bowman Field, recently accepted by the War Department as a flying field for reserve officers in the Air Service” (Courier-Journal, Oct. 26, 1922). Bowman Field is one of the longest continuously operating airports in the U. S.
3400 Moran Ave. at Bowman Field, Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2253
Kentucky Southern College. They whom a dream hath possessed Liberal Arts & Sciences. Sponsored by Long Run Assoc. of Baptists. Opened : September 7, 1962. First trimester plan in Kentucky. Its innovative residence house system & Interrelation of the Disciplines curriculum combined in unifying world knowledge with Christian perspective. Over (Reverse) They whom a dream hath possessed Dr. Rollin S. Burhans, president. College required honor system. Outstanding faculty. 350 graduates. November 1967, students’ Save Our School campaign raised $1.3 million. College closed on August 9, 1969. Incorporated into University of Louisville. Over
University of Louisville, Shelby Campus, Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2254
Home of Anne & Carl Braden. 4403 Virginia was longtime home of Anne and Carl Braden, early white allies of the southern civil rights movement. Segregationists marched here in 1954 after the couple helped an African American family desegregate a local suburb. Though they became controversial figures, the Bradens then fought to keep this area multiracial. Civil Rights Landmark- In the 1960s this home became a waystation for national reformers such as Rosa Parks, Angela Davis & Rev. M. L. King Jr. It was also a meeting place for young activists who led sit-ins. After Carl’s death in 1975, Anne continued organizing for racial justice, peace & workers’ rights until her death in 2006.
4403 Virginia Ave., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2255
Churchill Downs. Home of the Kentucky Derby, the oldest continuously held sporting event in America, for 3-year-old thoroughbreds. Aristides, owned by H.P. McGrath & ridden by black jockey Oliver Lewis, won the 1st Derby in 1875. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of explorer Wm. Clark, named and modeled the Ky. Derby after English Epson Derby. (Reverse) The track, owned by the Churchill family, was named in the 1880s. Twin spires, designed by J. Baldez, were built in 1895. Pari-mutuel betting machines were introduced in 1908. Other track events were state fairs, band concerts, auto and airplane races, military horse and tank shows, and a train wreck. First radio broadcast, 1925; first television broadcast, 1949.
700 Central Ave., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2256
Clark County Courthouse. Clark County, named in honor of Revolutionary War hero General George Rogers Clark, was created in 1792. A two-room log cabin courthouse built here in 1794 on land donated by John Baker. Replaced by two-story brick bldg. in 1797. Third courthouse, built 1821, was where Henry Clay argued his last case before a jury, 1849. (Reverse) Today’s courthouse, designed by noted Lexington architect John McMurtry, was completed in 1855 at a cost of over $40,000. Clock tower raised and courtroom moved upstairs in 1889. Courthouse was expanded in 1938 by addition of a rear block matching the front. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Courthouse, 34 S. Main St., Winchester, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2257
Private Ambers Sapp. Displayed great coolness & courage under heavy enemy barrage when he went forward without hesitation to destroy enemy wire entanglements & continued this extremely hazardous work until killed on Aug. 17, 1918 near Frapelle, France. Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for “extraordinary heroism in action.” Buried in Elizaville Cem.
Hwy 170, Elizaville Cemetery, Elizaville, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2258
Lewis and Clark in Kentucky (replaces marker #1451, Lewis & Clark Expedition). Louisville- Louisville & Falls of the Ohio played key role in 1803-06 Lewis & Clark Expedition to the Pacific. William Clark and first members enlisted here; Lewis & Clark met in Louisville Oct. 14, 1803; left area Oct. 26, 1803 & returned to Louisville Nov. 5, 1806. Over. (Reverse) William Clark (1770-1838)- Born in Va.; bro. of Geo. Rogers Clark; came here in 1785. In Ky. Militia & US Army, where he met Meriwether Lewis. Together they led 1803-1806 mission to Pacific. Stayed in govt. service; moved to St. Louis in 1808. Over.
Wharf at 4th Street, Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2259
Diamond Caverns. On July 14, 1859, a slave was lowered into a pit discovered on the farm of Jesse Coats. He saw glistening calcite crystals that he thought were diamonds. The first public tour was made by a wedding party on August 19,1859. Guidebooks were written about the cave and its beautiful limestone formations. Over (Reverse) The cave is famed for its pristine cave formations, and was shown with Mammoth Cave in the late 1800s. Mammoth Cave Railroad ran nearby. Passages found in 1936 doubled the length of the cave. It is the second-oldest show cave in Kentucky and the fourth-oldest continuously visited commercial cave in the United States. Over
1900 Mammoth Cave Pkwy., Park City, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2261
Mary Todd Lincoln House. Built in 1806 as an inn. Became home of politician & businessman Robert S. Todd in 1832. Mary Todd, his daughter, born in Lexington on Dec. 13, 1818, moved to IL in 1839. There, she met & married Abraham Lincoln. They visited here in fall of 1847. The Todds moved away after Mr. Todd died in the 1849 cholera epidemic.
578 W. Main St., Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2262
Stoll Field. In 1880 the first college football game ever played in the South was held here at what was eventually named Stoll Field. It was dedicated in 1916 at the Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt game and was named in honor of alumnus and long-term Board of Trustees member Judge Richard C. Stoll. The field was the setting of early football games and an integral part of student life. Class of 2007. (Reverse) McLean Stadium- This field, which once pastured President Patterson’s cows, was used for military training during WWI and in 1924 it held McLean Stadium. It was named for Price McLean, an engineering student who was fatally injured in a football game in 1923. McLean Stadium was the site of Kentucky football games until they were moved to Commonwealth Stadium in 1972. Class of 2007.
UK campus, Stoll Field near Patterson Dr., Lexington, KY, United States