USA > Kentucky > Fayette County > Lexington > Guide to Lexington, Kentucky : with notices historical and descriptive of places and objects of interest, and a summary of the advantages and resources of the city and vicinity > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 2460
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/guidetolexington00ranc_0
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LEXINGTON KENTUCKY
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THIS STATION, rude as it ap pears, was one of the strong UM of its day in Kentucky and enjoyed the very superior advantage of a never-mailin. supply of water inside a walls, a feature lacking i Bryant's Station, and which. nearly pressed total to as he -
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@. A VIEW is here pre sented of Lexington as it appeared three years after its settlement, or about the close of the American Revolution, und ten years before Kentucky Lecame State. It shows th the foreground the block Được, which had then become an angle of the fort and also the spang which emptied into the branch."
1695736
LEXINGTON A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
GUIDE TO
LEXINGTON Ky. KENTUCKY,
With Notices Historical and Descriptive of Places and Objects of Interest. and a Summary of the Advantages and Resources of the City and Vicinity,
BY
G. W. RANCK.
AUTHOR OF HISTORY OF LEXINGTON, O HARA AND HIS ELEGIES. SKETCHES OF KENTUCKY HISTORY, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
TRANSYLVANIA PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY: LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY. 1893.
THIS LITTLE BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
TO
THE LEXINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AT WHOSE REQUEST IT WAS WRITTEN.
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
SCLEXINGTON 2
No American city of its age can more juster claim the attention of a: tourist than Lexington. It is rich in historic associations, is a complete epitome of Old Kentucky life and manners, and is surrounded by all the i- tractions of a region which, for pistorai beauty and fertility. is gasurprise! upon the face of the globe. Mimost In its suburb, is the site of Bryant's Station, sc celebrated for the siege it wasrained at the hands of the Prints : and the Indians a hundred years ago, noted cid Boonsborough, and the tragic battle field of Blue Licksare not far aberant, and within half an hour - ride from the city stands the highest pier bridge in the world in the mods: o the wild and magnificent scenery of that wonderfully picturesque river- he battlemenred Kentucky.
Lexington the seat of justice of Fayette County, and the social :1 commercial capital of the rimou, "Blue Griss Region." is situated in was: Bancroft styles. "the unrivaled valley of Elkhorn creek." and is by rai .. ninety-four miles east of Louisville and eighty miles south of Cincinnati. Her population is about twenty thousand. The streets, which are 'ait off at right angles, are adorned with handsome business houses and prix it residences, and the splendid macadamzed roads, which radiate from for city in every direction, lead the tourist to landscape- strikingly Eng - 1 h appearance, dotted with veritable "O.d Kentucky Hones," and with exten- sive stock-breeding establishments, where herds of thoroughbred cattle grazie, and from whence have gone forth most of the motel blood hardy of America. The annual sales of horses and Little held Here are the most ex- tensive of their kind in the world.
Lexington has ten newspapers. four of which are daily; twenty-two churches, and twenty -three educational institutions, including one university . a new State College, a Commercial College. three large female sem .- ante -. and dourishing public and private schools. Her railroad facilities have lately been greatly increased, and the outlook of the city is exceedingly en- couraging. Trade which has heretotore been heaviest in grain. groceries. dry goods, Whisky, hemp and live stock is opening new channels and esteul Angand taking on a far more enterprising phi. Within a few man as Chamber of Commerce, telephones, street ralironi, electric lights and
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
free mail delivery, have gone into operation. new public buildings are to be- erected, new factories are being established, and the demand for houses is. unprecedented Lexington is becoming more and more important as a rafiroad center, and her superior advantages at this respect will make her for the second time the capital of the State. Coal is abundant and cheap) : the neighboring counties teem with it, and with iron and Poker of the most valuable kinds and the fat and fertile region surrounding her will feed a vast population. The irdecements to make her a manufacturing city are plain and strong, and everything invites the capitalist to investment.
BUILDING STONE.
Lexington enjoys superior advantages in the quality, variety and supply of building stone. two kinds of which are worthy of special mention. One which abounds alrost in the suburbs of the city. is very fine magnesian lime- stone, resembling the famous Caen stone of Normandy. It is popularly known as "Kentucky Marble." and is the stone of which the Clay monument was bul.t. The other is known as Superior Freestone, and is quarried at Far mers Station, a short distance out on the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and is the material of which the new Court House and pavements on Main street are being constructed. It is ot two colors, butf and a bluish gray, presents a handsome appearance, and is of uniform texture, even, true. and smooth It is said to have been in use more than fifty years without showing signs of disintegration.
AS A POPULAR RESORT.
Owing to her central location, splendid railroad facilities, historic attrac- tions, and fine hotel accommodations, Lexington is by far the most popular place in Kentucky for the holding of conventions. re-unions, festivals, mass meetings, and gatherings of all kinds. The number and variety of the as- semblages that convene in Lexington is remarkable and steadily increasing. The exceeding healthfulness of the city; it's pure air; grateful temperature and line society, have always made it a favorite summer resort for visitors from the extreme South who are minunidl also of its blue grass bill of fare. for it is doubtful if there is another equal body of land in existence that pro- duces so many of the luxuri - and substanmus er Ine as the region around Lexington. The city is destined to reap no small advantage from the stream of travelers, tourists, and strangers, which will grow larger and larger as her attractions become more widely known.
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GUIDA TO LEXINGTON.
CED
VULLEN
PHI|. .
THE WILDERNESS SPRING. : Where the City was Named.,
Tourists and visitors will be interested in the romantic, but perfectly authentic, incident which occurred at this spot, which is located at the west end of Pepper's distillery. on the old Frankfort road. in the suburbs of the city. The history of Lexington, which commences with the opening of the American Revolution, furmakes the anomalous instance of a city named tour reass before it was settled. About the fish of June. 1 ;;; , at nightfall. a party of daring pioneers, headed by the . ebrated Indian Eghters. Robert Patterson and Simon Kontor, campei at what was afterwards called "Rovar's Spring," which, after the life of more than a century, is a copious as ever. It is now encircled by a wall. Delighted with the prospect andul them, they determined to make a "settlement' around the very spot where they were then encamped and Hey named it "Lovington " as they exenedi. discussed the thrilling new, which had so slowly penetrated the depths Of the densp wildernes, of Kentucky of that momentous battle between "une Rebels" and "the Red Coars" which had been fougut six weeks before in the
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
Colony of Massachusetts. This, then, was the first city ofmed after that historic feld, and constitutes the first monument ever erected upon this con- tinent to the first martyrs to the cause of American Independence. ani os such was toasted at Lexargion. Mass .. oui the ryth of April. ro;s. at the great centennial celebration of that battle. The hunters who canmal at the Wil- derness spring had derd'y named their future cin when they were dispersed by the stages, who, leagueing with the British fled Kent : kv with their raging bands, and four years elapsed before the settlement of Lexington was effected.
WHAT IS THE BLUE GRASS REGION ?
Is a question stringer, almost invariably ask. Strict speaking the Blue Grass Region of Kentucky is quite extensive, but the term, in its pop- ular sense, applies only to the remarkable body of land in the center of the State, which comprises six or eight countles surrounding Lexington. This favored district, which a scientific authority has styled "the very heart of the United States." is underlaid by a peculiar. decomposable Limestone, which imparts by the sol an unsurpassed fertility, and gives to our grass, known to botanists da Por Profesis, a richness and permanent luxuriance which it attains no where else. Herce the term, "The Blue Grass Region," 1 synonim for the acme of fertility of a district, which also bears the proud distinction of "the garden spot of the world." But why our rich grass is called "blue" when it never is blue, is one of the unsolved problems. It is always green, except when in bloom, when the heads have a brownish- purple tint. If, however. the term "Blue Grass" is meant for an abbrevia- tion of blue limestone grass, then it will do, for certainly it only reaches it highest perfection on our wonderful blue limestone soil. Propagated without cultivation. it comes up thick and juicy early in the spring. ripen< in June, renews its growth in autumn, and. retaining i's verdure in spite of snow and ice, furnishe- abundant and unequaled pasturage during the en - tire winter. It is believed to be indiginous.
POPULATION AND MANUFACTURES
It is stated on scientific authority that the State of Kentucky lies in the center of the region now holding, and dealned always to road, the massor American population. The location of Lexington in the very centre of population makes it therefore practically certain that manufactures from this city will always command the sendest markets with the last carriage.
GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
THE BLOCK HOUSE.
The site of this quaint old pioneer structure which stood on the art. west corner of Main and Mill streets will aktive be regarded with interest. . it is the place where the first permanent settlement of Lexington was made, and the scene of some of the most thrilling episo les of the days of the pianders. In the spring of Inmy Colonel Robert Pattinson who had never forgotten the beautiful tract he had helped to name, set out from Harmals- burg with a little company of adventurers "to go up and possess the land."
and about the beginning of April they erected the now noted block house. This lonely little outpost, which was watched by the Indians with unrelenting hatred. and which often sheltered the celebrated Daniel Boone, was conse- crated by suffering and blood and its founder. Colone! Patterson, who was also the founder of Cincinnati and Dayton. figured in nany of the most perilous and romantic incidents which adorn the annals of the "Dark ind Bloody Ground. The spot upon watch the block house stood is now beck- pied by the Carty Brildin s
HEALTH.
[he while of Lavington must be internal non are significa. Lact that the State of Kentucky has a mortilly designed to it hy the star.s. ties of the United States census as low as eleven per thousand, which. seem- almost incredibly salat, but is byrne out by the livets.
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
LEXINGTON'S WATER SUPPLY.
The water resources of Lexington are inexhaustible. and the abundance of its natural supply is one of the most remarkable features of the place. The city rests upon extensive trata of carernous limestone, which abound with underground lakes and streams, which are easily tapped. A number of wells connect with these subterranean supplies. One of them "of soft water . on the MeMurtry iot, and sixty feet deep, was provided with a large steam pump. which was in cor stant operation eighteen hours per day for many yearss without perceptably reducing the supply. Another at the Lunatic Asylum was wink about a hundred feet. when the augur dropped into a cavity and the water rose fifty feet in the bore. Twowells at the ice factory here supply water enough to run two engine- and make twenty or thirty tons of ice per dav. and the wells used by the railroad companies easily provide water suf- ficient for all the engines used to draw the fitty or sixty passenger and freight trains that daily arrive and depart at this place. The multitude of large and copious spring- in and about the city still further indicate the extent of our subterranean water resources. It is from springs that all our extensive dis- tillerie« get their water supp'y, each of them using ?oo,cco gallons daily. to say nothing of the amount used by malt houses. dairies and other industries. The capacity of some of these springs is wondermit. The stream from Rus- sell Cave Spring has sufficient volume to turn a mill. The water that flows from Davis Bottom Spring and its connecting springs is simply enormous. and the depth of the noted Wilson Spring, near the city, is so great that it has been called the "bottomless spring." It is claimed that the united capac- ity of Wilson's spring and the two known as "Aters" is great enough to fur- nish eighty seven gallons of water a day to each of twenty thousand person: by the natural flow of the water and without the use of a dam. Others assert that an abundant supply of water. capable of indefinite augmentation. could be obtained close to the city by suitably collecting and storing the waters of Wolf's Run. its neighboring streams. the numerous and copious springs, in- cluding Wilson's, that feed them, and the immense amount of surface water supplied by winter rains and melting snows, that could be gathered by ex . cellent natural drainage in the extensive area which embraces these springs and streams.
There are still others who claim that the water supply that can be ob- tained through surface drainage on the Wickliffe farm, in the suburbs or Lexington, would be ample for the whole ery. It is evident from these facts that the water resources of Lexington are varto ., and inexhaustible and. capable of a development to meet all the demands of mills, manufactories and progress.
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
THE CARTY BUILDING, Site of the Block House ..
On the south west correr of Main and Mill streets attracts the attention. of visitors and strangers, as the site of the famous block house where the settlement of Lexington commenced, and as the seat of the Commercial College of Kentucky University and of the Young Men's Christian Asso.
ciation. The Hourishing Commercial College with its two large hall corps of teachers, and crow ds of plus, Finishes one of the most animal. ! sights of the city. Over three hundred young men from twenty-two States have graduated from this College in elever months. fr claims the largest attendance of any institution of its kind in the West of South, is the only Business College connected with a chartered University of note and high standing and the only one whose halls are especially designated for instruc.
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ULIDE TO LEXINGTON.
tion in all departments of Business Education. E. W. Smith, Principal; Wilbur R. Smith. President
The Young Men's Christian Association which freely and cordially invires visitors and strangers to simre its benefits and hospitalities. occupie. a large and handsomely furnished ball on the second floor of this building It has a library, many newspapers on the, magazines, and popular periodi- cals, aal is a "" .- " institution. President. R. S. Bullock; General Secre- tary, C. S. Ward; Maj. H. B. Mcclellan, W. R. Milward. R. H. Courtney, A. J. Campbell, Wilbur R. Smith and others are also officially connected with it.
The Schools of Telegraphy and Phonography, drug establishment o: H. H. Barnes & Co. ; dental office of Dr. J. T. Hervey. and Cohen's cloth- ing store are in this building.
THE OLD FORT. (Sse Frontispiece)
Which comprised the whole of Lexington a hundred years ago, included the block house and the cabins of the early settlers, which were gradually connected with it as a defense against the Indians. The block house, which had formerly stood alone, had become in 1732 only one angle of the fort which rude, but powerful fortification, embraced a large part of Main street, between Mill and Broadway, now covered by business houses. It was once surrounded by Colonel Byn and his swarming bands of savage allies ; was the favorite retreat of General George Rogers Clarke, the "Napoleon of the West;" and was the rendezvous of many a sudden expedition against the murdering red-skins. Its garrison aided in the defense of Bryant's Station when it was besieged by the Indians under the notorious Simon Girty ; en- dured the horrors of the famous "winter of starvation," and shared in the ter- rible disaster of the Blue Lick-, which left so many widows and orphans within its walls. After this last-tiamed massacre an Indian, who had skulked behind the savage army to plunder the bodies of the slaughtered whites, was killed by one of the Lexington garrison, and the settlers, burning with indig- naron and wild with grief over their great calamity, mounted his head upon a pole, which they plated upow the roof of the block house. It was from this fort that Boone made one of his most remarkable rifle shots, killing an Indian who, on the site of the present jail, was kneeling to scalp a settler he had wounded. Tragedia blod is ad atten ded thrilling adventure, were of almost daily occurrence about the Old taht, and the hard-hips and the suf- ferings of the Puritans of Plymouth were fuly enled by the early settlers of Lexington.
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GLIDE TO LEXINGTON.
MORRISON COLLEGE.
This remarkable willing which made in the extensive campus at hend of Mill and Market streets rarely fails to attract the attention of the intelligent stranger as it was for many years the seat of famous all Transylvania University, which acquired it through the liberality of Co ... james Morrison, a wealthy curren in Lexington, and a munificent pador letters. Trans Nant: University was the first institution of learning esta- hashed In the West. having been chartered by the Legislature of Virginia a-
early as 1;So, and General Washington, John Adams and Aaron Burr con tributed to its endowment. It subsequently attained great prominence al influence, Its name was respected throughout America, and its celcome extended to Europe. It was vis ted by President Monroe, General Jackson Lafayette and Daniel Webster Arpong those who filled is there may mentioned Henry Cla: one of his low professor; De Heus, is not bad ant President Rutinerque, the eminem Scientist, and Dr. Ben. Dudie . Me
the names of William T. Barry, Richard M. Johnson, john Rowan Thema- F Ma -- hat and Richard Il. Medite it wasin the chauch of Morsista
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
College that Herry Clay was admitted to the communion of the Episcopal Church, which was then temporarily occupying it. In 186; Transylvania was merged in Kentucky University, which was founded by John B. Bowman, wrhlo wes for miny years its regent, and Morrison College is now the .seit of that well known and ably-equipped institution. Kentucky University consists of four colleges; is under the auspices and control of the Christian Church. and is steadily progressing, with Dr C. L. Loos as Presidem. Rich in istorie associations, in a splendid condition financially, and pro. viled with a corp, of first -class instructors, Kentucky University is an edu- rational attraction destined to draw increasing numbers of young men to her classic halls, and no city in the Union welcomes carriest students mon- heartily than Lexington.
BRYANT'S STATION
Celebrated as the place where. in 1;82. occurred one of the iros: remarkable sieges recorded in the history of savage warfare, is about five miles northeast of Lexington, and is quickly reached by the Kentucky Central Railroad o- by turnpike. Here a handful of pioneers, with desperate bravery and after many thrilling experiences, successfully defended the mude station of a hun- dred years ago against six hundred Indians under the able leadership of the notorious renegade, Simon Girty, The noted spring, aro ind which the sav- ages concealed themselves, and where the heroic women of the garrison faced a horrible death to obtain the water that saved the fort, still pour forth a grateful stream. The site of the old station is unmistakable, and the graves of some of its defenders can still be seen.
GRATZ PARK,
A perfect little gem of a place for public recreation, established through the efforts of Mr. H. H Gratz, of the Kentucky Gazette, is between Second and Third Streets, fronting Morrison College. It is classic ground, being the original site of Transylvania University; the home of its distinguished Pres- ident, Dr. Holly: the place where Jeferson Day's played and studied as a school boy and the scene of memorable events In which figured many of the noted characters of this country and of Europe. The off wen in onis park, from which Lafayette drank, was duy for the University about ninety years ago by John R. Shaw, the farm mts water wizard, and the most exced tric and unfortunate character known to early Lexington. The Park was named in honor of our highly esteened fellow-citizen. the venerable Ben- jamın Gratz, Esq.
GUIDE TO LEXINGTON
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THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church. Rev. W. F. V. Bartlett. pastor, is a new and handsome structure, with a tall and graceful spire, located on North Mill street, be- tween Second and Church streets. The Presbyterians organized the first church established in Lexington, and ISSt is the centermad year of its ex- istence. Colonel Robert Patterson, the founder of Lexington, was a main- ber of this congregation, which first worshipped in a rude log cabin. on ale southeastern corner of Walnut and Short and he and other members - quently attended services with rifles to their U anda, for the Christian proper of a hundred years ago had to Fterahy "waten" for Indiaust as well as "pray " The earliest pastor of the church was the mented, but Acenare. A Ter Racan, who died while en real Mecity of Jerusalem Dr. Juan Bisthe, . President of Transylvania Uunversity ; Rev W. L. McCalla. Chap- fare of the Navy of the Republic of Texas ; Rer. Nathan Har, the poweris
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GUIDE TO LEXINGTON.
exhorter. and the able divine, Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, were pastors of this church.
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-Rel. George F. Wilson, pas- tor-'s located on the east side of Market Street betwee : Seceed and Church streets. It was for a time called "McChord Church," in honor of its frs pastor. the able. scholarly and eloquent James McChord, whose remains are interred beneath the pu pit. Dr. Joan C. Young, Late President of Centre College, and Dr. Robert Davidson, author of the "History of the Presbyte- rian Church in Kentucky, were pastors of this church. The interior of the building I, charming for it- symmetry and elegance
THE LEXINGTON LIBRARY.
Located on the corner of Market and Church Streets, 's the oldest institu- tion of its kind in the Western country, having been founded in 179 ;. Itis more remarkable for the character than the number of the books it contains. abounding as it does in early and rare editions of works now scarcely at - tainable elsewhere for any consideration. Here the tourist can see the quaint old files of "The Kentucke Gazette." the first newspaper ever pub- lished in Kentucky, and the second one printed west of the Alleghany Mountains. It was established in Lexington by John Bradtori in its; while this city was a frontier station. before Cincinnati was founded. and while this State was still a part of Virginia. Librarian. MISS CARRIE LEWINSKI.
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WOOLEN MILLS
Lexington presents an inviting field for the establishment of woollen mills, as she is the centre of a distret which produces tive or six million pounds of wool annually, and has but two factories, and they with limited capacity devoted entirely to the production of jeans, varns and hosiery. Our grades of wool are principally quarter blood, mednum. and Cotswold combings, with some fine Southdown. all of which, owing to the smoothness and culture of our lands and the large extent of clean blue grass pasturage, is generally in superior condition. The shrinkage of our wool is much less than that of many other localities, and in the important item of price brings about the average of good Olno wool. Men of enterprise, trained and ex- perienced in this branch of industry, and with capital to back their shill. are badly needed here, and would be most corditily welcomed. Hundreds oi looms should be in operation in Lever I'm turning out thereis, carpes. knit goods, blankets. satinets, cassimeres, and every variety of coatings and suitings.
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GUIDE TO LENINGTON
JOHNS,
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
Its Memorable Sitel.
This handsome building is now in process of erection in the centre of the public square, a spot that has been a Court House site for nearly a tout- dred years, and where many events of historic interest have occurred In The Home Court House erected here in ty those two great political leaders. John Pope and Felix Grundy hotly discussed the merits of Federalism. and from its stens in 170+ Gen. James Wikinson, afterwards Commander in When at the American Are called for volunteers for Wayne's campal ganist the Indians A quaint old edifice erected in Soo preceded the on now being built and was rien in associations. In this house in the summer
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