Kentucky Historical Marker #2303
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. On June 6, 1822 a small band of Baptists formed a covenant to organize the church. The group built a meeting house that was used until 1903. The building was razed & a new sanctuary dedicated in 1905; it is still in use today. James Fishback was first pastor, 1822-38. In 1872 this church helped establish Midway Baptist Church.
1220 Old Frankfort Pike, Versailles, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2304
Wolf Pen Corridor. Settled in the late 1700s and part of Jefferson County’s third major settlement. Rich farmland & water traffic attracted a community of tradesmen, farmers, millers, and African Americans. This corridor includes Wolf Pen & Mint Springs Branch Roads, Chamberlain Lane, & Wolf Pen Mill, one of the oldest industrial sites in Jefferson Co. (Reverse) Under the leadership of Marcia Kleinman Goldstein (1931-2007),the Wolf Pen Preservation Assn. was founded to protect the historic, cultural, environmental, and scenic resources of the Wolf Pen Corridor. For 30 years, she was a tireless advocate for wise stewardship of land and believed “indeed this is worth preserving.”
Roundabout at Chamberlain Ln. & Wolf Pen Branch Rd., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2305
Ashland Park/ Olmsted Brothers. In 1904, descendants of Henry Clay hired famed landscape architects, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and John Charles Olmsted, to design Ashland Park neighborhood on the 600-acre estate. Constructed over a 15-year period, development was completed around 1930. The brothers designed U.S. Capitol & White House grounds, and the Chicago World’s Fair 1893. (Reverse) Olmsted Brothers in KY.- This landscape design firm from Brookline, Mass. helped design the park system in Louisville and the grounds of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. In Lexington, they consulted on the master plan for the University of Kentucky, Ashland Park & Transylvania Park neighborhoods and Woodland Park.
median on South Hanover, Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2306
Sadieville Rosenwald School. One of 158 Rosenwald schools built in Kentucky, ca. 1917-1920. Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald developed plans to build schools throughout the South. This one-teacher school cost $2500 and was funded by African Americans, the Scott Co. Board of Education, and the Rosenwald Fund. (Reverse) Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church- Prior to the establishment of Sadieville, the African American church was organized in 1872. The lot was deeded to trustees of the congregation by Thomas J. & Josie Burgess on Nov. 13, 1884, “for the purpose of erecting a house of worship.” It is the oldest surviving church in Sadieville.
714 Pike St., KY 32, Sadieville, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2307
Iroquois Amphitheater. The official amphitheater of Ky., it was built in 75 days by 275 WPA employees. It opened with a sold-out production of Naughty Marietta on July 4, 1938. The main attraction was the dazzling water curtain. In 2000, the amphitheater began an $8.9 million restoration, preserving portions of the original structure. (Reverse) Works Progress Admin., 1935-1943- Created by Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. At its height, the WPA employed 73,000 Kentuckians in literature, construction, and arts projects. Among the most prominent projects in Louisville were the runway and Art Deco building at Bowman Field and the Iroquois Amphitheater.
1080 Amphitheater Rd., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2308
Lakeland Asylum. In 1873, the fourth Kentucky state mental hospital was established here. From a single brick building housing 370 patients, grew a campus of 15 buildings and 5000 patients, including a working farm & orchards. Buildings constructed in Tudor and Classical Revival styles and exemplified exceptional institutional architecture of the day. (Reverse) Daily routine of patients began with medication, followed by the men working on the farm & grounds, while the women worked in the kitchen, laundry & as seamstresses. With fewer patients and buildings in disrepair, a new facility was built in 1986. The old campus was demolished in 1996. Site is now on E. P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park.
2201 Lakeland Rd., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2309
Albert B. "Happy" Chandler, 1898-1991. This Henderson County native was state senator and lt. gov. before becoming governor in 1935 & 1955. U.S. senator, 1939-45. As baseball commissioner, he approved contract making Jackie Robinson first modern black major league player in 1947. Chandler was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. (Reverse) This colorful orator and two-term governor was born near Corydon, Ky. As governor, Chandler was the driving force behind establishment of the Univ. of Ky. Medical Center, later named in his honor. Buried at Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Versailles. Park Field in Henderson was site of the 1996 Bambino World Series dedicated to “Happy” Chandler.
US 60, Corydon, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2310
Linden Grove Cemetery. Founded in 1843 on land owned by the Western Baptist Theological Institute, this is the final resting place of American veterans since the War of 1812. In 1997, the GAR and veteran’s monuments were placed on the National Register of Historic Places and, in 2001, the cemetery was added. (Reverse) Buried here are Thomas Kennedy, original land owner of Covington; B. F. Howard, founder IBPOEW; U.S. Congressmen John W. Menzies, William E. Arthur, William W. Southgate, and John G. Carlisle. Carlisle also served as Lt. Gov. of Ky., U.S. Senator, U.S. Speaker of the House, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
West 13th St., Covington, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2311
Congressmen Buried in Evergreen. John Wooleston Tibbatts, Democrat, served in Congress from 1843-1847. He sponsored bill to annex Texas. He voted to declare war on Mexico, then enlisted & fought in Mexico. Thomas Laurens Jones, Democrat, served in Congress 1867-71 and 1875-77. Unsuccessful as Democratic nominee for Ky. governor in 1883. (Reverse) Albert S. Berry was Newport mayor prior to serving in Congress, 1893- 1901. Later became circuit judge. Brent Spence, lawyer & banker prior to serving in Congress, 1931-1963. George Baird Hodge elected to CSA Congress, 1862. Served area before & after Civil War in Ky. legislature.
25 Alexandria Pike, Southgate, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2312
Battles of Cynthiana. 1st Battle of Cynthiana- During CSA Col. John H. Morgan’s 1st KY Raid, on July 17, 1862, 875 CSA hit town via the Georgetown Pike. 350 US troops & Home Guard defended town from houses. Morgan attacked across Licking River and outflanked US troops, who gave up after 2 hours. Approx. 40 CSA, 90 US killed & wounded. Morgan was surprised because the US defense was unexpectedly strong. (Reverse) 2nd Battle of Cynthiana- In mid-1864, Morgan raided KY from VA. Discipline had broken down and some CSA robbed a Mt.Sterling bank before coming here on June 11. CSA defeated Union defenders and burned part of town to drive defenders out of houses. Morgan’s men were routed the next day north of town. Defeated, the CSA fled back to VA. For more information, see ExploreKYHistory: The Battles of Cynthiana
US 27 near John Hunt Morgan bridge, Cynthiana, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2313
Lexington Historic Distillery District. Started in 1869 by the Headley and Farra Company. Continued by James E. Pepper & Company in 1879. In the late 1800s, the James E. Pepper Distillery sold whiskey to over 90 brokerage houses across the U.S. It sold under a number of different names & labels. In 1933, purchased by Schenley Products Corp. of NY. Presented by Lexington Directions Inc. (Reverse) Water from Town Branch provided steam power and McConnell Springs provided water for the whiskey. The distillery closed in 1962. The Distillery District was a major whiskey producer for over 100 yrs. with storage capacity for 150,000 barrels of bourbon. It remained in service until 1976. Presented by Lexington Environmental Commission
899 Manchester St., Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2314
Scotia Mine Disaster. One of the worst mine disasters in U.S. history. Faulty equipment ignited methane & coal dust due to lack of proper ventilation. On Mar. 9 & 11, 1976, twin explosions took the lives of 26 coal miners and federal mine inspectors in the Scotia mines located nearby. This led to the passage of the Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977. (Reverse) In honor of those who lost their lives: R.M. Sammons, K. Kiser, G. Tussey, D. Gibbs, J. Williams, T.R. Scott, E.S. Combs, R. McKnight, D. Widner, E. Galloway, K. Turner, W. Turner, L.D. McKnight, G. Barker, D. Boggs, J. Hackworth, V. Coots, J. Sturgill, C. Polly, R. Griffith, M. Sturgill, D. Creech, L. Peavy, J.W. Sturgill, I.G. Sparkman, and J.B. Holbrook.
Hwy 119, Eolia, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2315
Margaret I. King Library. Margaret Isadora King, 1879-1966- Salutatorian of the class of 1898, King became the first librarian of the University in 1912. She expanded the collection from a single room to over 400,000 volumes by 1948. She also served as an instructor in both Library Science and English. Class of 2009 (Reverse) Opened in 1931, and named to honor Margaret I. King in 1948, the King Library served as the main library for the University of Kentucky until the William T. Young Library opened in 1998. Class of 2009
UK campus, Margaret I. King Library, Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2316
Christ Church Cathedral. First Episcopal church in Ky., founded in 1796. Present Gothic structure, completed in 1848, was built by John McMurtry. Thomas Lewinski, architect. The Rev. James Moore was first rector and first president of Transylvania Univ. The Diocese of Ky. was divided into two dioceses in 1895. Christ Church became the Cathedral of the new Diocese of Lexington. (Reverse) Early Parishioners- Henry Clay, statesman and orator,known as “The Great Compromiser”; John Bradford, editor of the first newspaper in Kentucky; John Wesley Hunt, merchant and financier; John Hunt Morgan, “Thunderbolt of the Confederacy”; Laura Clay, women’s rights advocate. All worshipped at and contributed to the growth of Christ Church.
166 Market St., Lexington, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2317
Louisville Water Company. Filtration Plant- In the late 1800s, Louisville Water Company pioneered research in the filtration of drinking water. The Crescent Hill Filtration Plant opened in July 1909 as a result of the work of Chief Engineer Charles Hermany & George Warren Fuller, who developed “rapid sand filtration.” Fuller is known as the “father of sanitary engineering.” (Reverse) Reservoir and Gatehouse- In 1879, Louisville Water Company opened the Reservoir & Gatehouse as the first step to develop the purification process for drinking water. The Reservoir allowed sediment from the Ohio River water to naturally settle. Inside the Gothic-style Gatehouse are valves that controlled the flow of water into and out of the Reservoir.
Reservoir & Frankfort Ave., Louisville, Frankfort, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2318
Hazael Tucker Farm. The Tucker clan came to Jefferson County circa 1840. They were leaders in the local agricultural community. The farm possesses patterns of 19th century rural life architecture, farming practices evident in the surviving farm, and field patterns which are representative of a thriving 19th century Jefferson County farm. Presented by Hollenbach-Oakley, LLC
Tucker Station Rd., Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2319
John Samuel Darrough. Born in Maysville on April 6, 1841. His family moved to Iroquois Co., Illinois in 1852. He enlisted in 1862 and served in Co. F, 113th Illinois Infantry where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on Feb. 5, 1895. The citation read: “Saved the life of a captain.” He died on August 14, 1920. (Reverse) John S. Darrough received the highest military award for his actions on the Tennessee River at Eastport, MS. during the Civil War. On Oct. 10, 1864, while trying to dismantle bridge & railroad tracks, his regiment was attacked by a Confederate battery. Retreating under heavy fire, Darrough spotted a helpless comrade & rescued him.
Corner of 2nd & Limestone Sts., Maysville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2320
Cherokee State Park. Proposed in 1946 & opened in 1951, the only state park in Kentucky developed for African Americans. Closed by 1964, after Gov. Combs 1963 Exec. Order ended segregation in public facilities. 300 acres, beach, rental cottages, kitchen & dining hall, & picnic area. 2000 attended opening. Black families near and far vacationed here. (Reverse) Known as the state park for Kentucky’s “Negro” citizens. Cherokee Park was a product of “Jim Crow” segregation. Built when African Americans fought to integrate recreation facilities in Louisville and other parts of Kentucky. Some thought park overdue. Others thought Cherokee an obstacle to full equality.
Cherokee State Park, Aurora, ,
Kentucky Historical Marker #2321
Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton. African American Jockey- On May 11, 1892, at the age of 15, he became the youngest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. He rallied Azra to an impressive victory at 2:41.5. Won over 24 stakes races from 1891-98. He rode in 3 more Ky. Derbies, 1893-97. In the fall of 1893, he was honored with the Churchill Downs jockey crown. (Reverse) Born in Kansas City, Mo. in 1876, he followed his brother into the riding profession. At age 12, he went to Chicago to become an exercise rider. With his first win in 1891, he came to Louisville to ride for Bashford Manor Stables, which stood here from 1887-1970. Had 4 major victories in 2 years he rode for them. He died in 1917.
2100 Bashford Manor Lane, Louisville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2322
Lillian H. South, 1879-1966. A native of Warren Co., Ky., she exerted a powerful influence on public health in Ky. South earned her MD in 1904 and returned to Bowling Green to practice medicine, establishing St. Joseph’s Hospital in her family’s home on 12th St. She served as state bacteriologist from 1911-1951. (Reverse) Dr. South earned national acclaim with her research on hookworms, which led to her election as the 1st female VP of the AMA in 1913. In 1922, she began the first lab tech training program in the US. She led the movement to ban the use of the public drinking cup. As early as the 1930s, she championed the use of vaccines. Sponsored by the Warren County Medical Society For more information, see ExploreKYHistory: Dr. Lillian South
Hospital Hill (Main St.), Bowling Green, ,