Rough River Lake Heritage Trail
Transcription
Rough River Lake Heritage Trail
Heritage Trail Site Information Rough River Lake Heritage Trail What is it? There is more to Rough River Lake than water. Come experience the heritage of Breckinridge and Grayson Counties. Take a drive back in time as you learn about the past. The Heritage Trail is a driving trail that is open 365 days per year. Drive to all the sites or just a few, that is up to you. Many of the sites are not regularly staffed, so please call individual sites for hours of operation. Help preserve the sites for future generations- Take nothing but memories and leave nothing but footprints. Enjoy a day or a week learning about the heritage of Breckinridge and Grayson Counties. Rough River Lake Heritage Trail For more information contact: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rough River Lake 14500 Falls of Rough Rd. Falls of Rough, KY 40119 Phone: 270-257-2061 Fax: 270-257-2623 Website: www.lrl.usace.army.mil/rrl Friends of Rough River Lake, Inc. 654 Out Post Rd. Leitchfield, KY 42754 Phone: 270-257-0744 Email: [email protected] Website: www.friendsofroughriver.org Grayson County Courthouse The Grayson County Courthouse is located in the center of Leitchfield. It has burned twice, June 3, 1896 and April 3, 1936. All records were destroyed both times. During the Civil War twenty-two Kentucky Courthouses were burned, including nineteen in the last fifteen months: twelve by confederates, eight by guerrillas, and two by Union accident. The current courthouse was built in 1937. 2. Green Farm Mill 55 Jennie Green Rd. Falls of Rough, KY 40119 270-879-3468 N 37°35.338’, W 86°33.117’ Green Farm Mill In 1829 Willis Green, a veteran of the War of 1812 and an attorney originally from Madison County, KY, purchased the two hundred acres that would become the cornerstone of Green Farm. Green moved there soon after purchasing the property and built a house, part of which remains in the present Green Farm mansion. In addition to the existing gristmill and sawmill, he expanded the enterprises to include a wool carding mill and a general store. Over the next 140 years, three generations of the Green family transformed a profitable water-powered industry at the falls of Rough River into a business dynasty that spawned a family-owned town, Falls of Rough, Kentucky. Rough River Lake Heritage Trail Kickoff The Heritage Trail Kickoff is the third Saturday in May from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On this day, each site will be staffed to help you learn about its historical significance. Visit all the sites, or just a few, that is up to you. It does not matter which site you begin or end with. Come and enjoy our history! Grayson County 1. Grayson County Courthouse 10 Public Square Leitchfield, KY 42754 Judge Gary Logsdon 270-259-3159 N 37°28.821’, W 86°17.634’ Rough River Lake Heritage Trail Kickoff Third Saturday in May 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information contact: U.S.A.C.E., Rough River Lake- 270-257-2061 Friends of Rough River Lake, Inc.– 270-257-0744 3. Jack Thomas House 122 East Main St. Leitchfield, KY 42755 270-230-8989 N 37°28.801’, W 86°17.534’ Jack Thomas House The Jack Thomas House is the oldest house in Grayson County still standing. The rear portion of the house was built in about 1815 by Jack Thomas, the first court clerk of Grayson County. Later, about 1825, he connected the house to a new Greek Revival style house that he erected on East Main Street. The house was purchased by the Grayson County Historical Society in 1981 and is today operated as a research library, museum, and tourist attraction. The house is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4p.m. There is a $4 fee to tour the museum (waived during the Heritage Trail Kickoff Event). 4. Pine Knob Community 1227 Pine Knob Rd. Caneyville, KY 42721 270-879-8190/270-991-8191 (cell) www.pineknob.com N 37°29.008’, W 86°30.712’ Pine Knob Store The Pine Knob Store: Built in 1938 this store is no longer open to the public. The present owners, Larry and Jackie Shepherd make the store their home. This store was originally owned by the playwright's Grandfather and Father. The memories of the long ago tales and folklore overheard while the men folk played checkers around the pot-bellied stove are responsible for much of the context of the outdoor plays at Pine Knob Theatre. The Pine Knob School: This school built in 1925 has 4 classrooms, a partial basement to house the furnace, and a stage for performing. The school is not open at present to the public, but it can be viewed from outside. The building is original and is used for the Theatre rehearsals and storage. The last public school was held here in 1959-60. 5. Rough River Dam State Resort Park 450 Lodge Rd. Falls of Rough, KY 40119 270-257-2311 N 37°36.897’, W 86°30.507’ Rough River Dam State Resort Park Stop by Rough River Dam State Resort Park and visit a Historical Cemetery where a Revolutionary War Soldier, George Eskridge, is buried. On the day of the Heritage Trail Kickoff Event, the park will present a special program at 11:00 am (CST). 6. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rough River Lake 14500 Falls of Rough Rd. Falls of Rough, KY 40119 270-257-2061 N 37°37.055’, W 86°30.208’ Rough River Dam Rough River Lake was authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1938. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, built, and operates the project to reduce flood damages downstream from the dam. Construction began in November 1955, and the lake became operational in June 1961. Behind the project office you will find a reconstructed log cabin. This cabin is typical of what the settlers of Kentucky would have lived in. Most cabins were one room, approximately sixteen feet by sixteen feet. Cabins were commonly built of tulip poplar logs with wood shakes or shingles. Generally, settlers chose a south-facing slope 7 2 8 12 3 1 used by the judges since 1869. It is made of Italian wood with decorative carvings. The Archives is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 9 Walnut Grove School The Archives, located in the basement of the courthouse, was started in 1985. County records from 1800 to the present are in the Archives. Some of the records are marriages, Breckinridge County became a county in 1799. The first courthouse was a log cabin built in 1801. The second courthouse was built in 1816. The third courthouse was built in 1869 and was a 2-story brick building. It burned in 1958. The fourth and present courthouse was built in 1959. It is a 2-story brick building with a basement. Breckinridge County 8. Breckinridge County Courthouse & Archives 208 S. Main St. Hardinsburg, KY 40143 Karen Schafer 270-756-6112 N 37°46.864’, W 86°27.714’ Breck. County Courthouse The Walnut Grove School is one of the only three one-room schools in Grayson County in a state of preservation. These schools typically educated children from the community from grades 1 through 8. This Walnut Grove School is the last of three erected in this community from about 1870 through 1911. The school was closed in 1957. The school was donated to the Grayson County Historical Society in 1979. 7. Walnut Grove School Walnut Grove Rd. Caneyville, KY 42721 270-230-8989 N 37°26.638’, W 86°30.299’ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Continued to build their cabin to avoid the cold north winds in the winter and to take advantage of the southern breeze in the summer. For the Heritage Trail Kickoff Event, the Friends of Rough River Lake, Inc. will have vendors set up at the Project office making and selling historical crafts. Breck. Historical Museum Holt House 12. Irvington Railroad Station Museum 243 N. First St. Irvington, KY 40141 270-547-3835/270-6682179 N 37°52.948’, W 86°17.020’ Irvington Railroad Museum The Judge Joseph Holt House is a distinct historic site listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 based on its significance in national history, politics and architecture. Holt (1807-1894) was a prominent lawyer who achieved national prominence serving in the administration of President Abraham Lincoln, who appointed him the nation’s first Judge Advocate General in 1862. His most memorable role in this position came following the assassination of President Lincoln, when Holt presided over the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators. The house was constructed during this time of Holt’s national service, with the oldest portion dating to 185070. The family cemetery with Joseph Holt’s burial site is located on a small parcel adjacent to the home. The house and surrounding 19.5 acres were acquired by Breckinridge County Fiscal Court in December 2008 through a $158,000 Kentucky Lincoln Bicentennial Preservation Grant, and the site’s preservation and restoration has been named a Legacy Project of the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. To assist fiscal court in developing a long-term rehabilitation and reuse strategy, a steering committee has been formed including the state historic preservation officer and representatives of the Kentucky Heritage Council, Kentucky Historical Society, Preservation Kentucky, Kentucky Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, local leaders and elected officials, volunteers and advocates. At this time the house is not open to visitors, but you are welcome to stop by and take photos of the exterior. 11. Holt House 6205 Highway 144 Hardinsburg, KY 40143 270-756-2269 N 37°54.743’, W 86° 34.664’ County. Cloverport has a long history of river and railroad businesses. Its early history has been preserved at the local Cloverport Community Museum. The Museum is located in the old Railroad freight station and has a caboose available for touring. The Museum is open on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 – 4:00 (CST) April through October. May visit by appointment by contacting 270-927-6829 or 270-788-3237. The station is in the process of restoration by the Irvington Heritage Council as part of the city’s historic district. The city is a participant in the state’s Renaissance City/ Main St. Programs. The station was built by the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Railway in the mid 1920s, this railroad was absorbed the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1929. At one time there were three passenger trains daily in each direction which stopped in Irvington. A branch line to Fordsville had as many as two trains a day in that direction. This line was abandoned in 1941. The last passenger train stopped in Irvington in November, 1958. The station also received and shipped freight either by full or less than carload. Newspapers, mail, 10. Cloverport express all came in by rail and the station was Community Museum the focal point of the community. The station is 410 E. Houston St. open by request by calling Irvington City Hall Cloverport, KY 40111 270-547-3835 or Becky Brown 270-668-2179. It 270-927-6829/270-788-3237 N 37°50.288’, W 86°37.509’ Cloverport Comm. Museum is also opened during the annual Railroad Festival on the third Saturday in May and on Cloverport is a picturesque little town on the the third Saturday in December for the Ohio River in the northwest corner Breckinridge Christmas parade and bazaar. The Breckinridge County Historical Society Museum at one time was located in the former Tobin’s Dry Goods Store on Main St. but was moved to allow for the demolition of that building. It is now located in the historic Taylor House which was built by B.F. (Benjamin Franklin) Beard, President of the Bank of Hardinsburg around 1925. The bank closed in 1931, and Alfred Taylor purchased the house around 1931-32.. The house is still owned by his descendants. It houses artifacts from the entire county which includes a great collection of tools to household utensils, photographs, uniforms, dresses, books and manuscripts. The society was established over 25 years ago to preserve, protect and promote the county’s heritage so all may enjoy. The society holds monthly meetings, and many are held in the museum. They have an annual Christmas gathering at which one of the members is recognized for their efforts as historian of the year. The museum is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (April-October) and Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (June-Mid September). Admission is free. 9. Breckinridge County Historical Museum Taylor House 108 E. Third St. Hardinsburg, KY 40143 Robert Moorman 270-756-2867 N 37°46.800’, W 86°27.617’ Heritage Trail Site Information Continued deeds and wills. Also in the Archives is the chair 4 5 6 10 11 Rough River Lake Heritage Trail Map