USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 31
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On the 7th day of August a contract was entered into by and between the city and Collins & O'Byrne for the grading of Second Street, commencing at Green, and running to the east line of Thomas Ryan's property on Alvasia street.
On the 8th day of August the historic high bank of earth stand- ing on the river front, between third and fourth cross streets, known as "Fort Nigger," was excavated and thrown back into a hollow or ravine lying between said bank and Water street.
On the 19th day of August an ordinance was passed directing and ordering Water Street, between Second and Third, to be graded, guttered, curbed and graveled a width of fifty feet.
On the same day an ordinance was passed directing Second Street to be opened one hundred feet in width, from Green Street to the eastern limit of the Alves' enlargement, near the residence of
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James P. Breckinridge, and that it be established a public street and known by the name of Second upper cross street.
On the 29th day of October a contract was awarded Dr. P. Thompson and John W. Alves, for paving on the south west side of Center Street, from the intersection of Green, to the north east cor- ner of Dr. Thompson's property.
November 6th an ordinance was passed to pave on Main from Upper Sixth to Eighth cross street ; to plank from Eighth to Upper Eleventh; to pave from Lower Second to Fourth ; to plank from Fourth to Lower Eighth on Main Street ; to pave between Upper First to Lower Third, or Powell Street, on Elm.
During this year the handsome residences of Dr. P. Thompson, Thomas Soaper, A. H. Talbott (now G. I. Beatty's), A. T. Leslie and John E. McCallister were built.
On the 24th, 25th and 26th evenings of October the "Black Crook," a gorgeous spectacular drama exhibited to a multitude of delighted people on the Public Square.
November 1st, the old "South Kentuckian " building, which stood on the corner of Main and First cross streets, was torn down and two small brick store rooms afterwards built in its stead. This building was one of the primitive land marks, and around it clustered memories most dear to many of the older inhabitants. It belonged to Governor Dixon.
1868.
On the 20th and 21st evenings of January, Rear Admiral Semmes delivered his entertaining lecture, " The Cruise of the Alabama."
February 19th, an act of the Legislature was approved, incorpor- ating William Bierschenck, Jac Reutlinger, Jac Peter, Felix Fry, J. J. Deihl and P. Hoffman trustees of the Henderson German School. This school was established, but a few years afterwards merged into the public school.
Saturday night, 19th, a demand was made upon Jailer J. W. Wil- liams for the person of one Jack Burle, by an organization called and known as " Kuklux." Upon a positive refusal to comply, an attempt was then made to force an entrance. Judge Cissell, then Circuit Judge, who lived only a short distance from the jail, was notified and in a short time appeared upon the ground, and by the use of good argument succeeded in persuading the mob to retire.
Many of the purchasers of the Public Square having refused to pay for lots purchased at the public sale, the Mayor was instructed
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to enter suit, which was done. The Court held the sale to be void upon the ground the city had no right to sell, and therefore could make no title.
March 3d, a contract was made and entered into betwen the city and Haffey & Stapp for grading and paving with stone, between the Main wharf and Clark's tobacco factory on Second Street.
On the 7th day of April the Superintendent of Gas reported net receipts of the works for the preceding months of January and Feb- ruary, $899.60.
At a meeting of the City Council held June 2d, the new wharf was received and guaranteed for ten years, by the city paying $500 per annum to the contractors, Messrs. Haffey & Stapp.
On the 2d day of June the Mayor had read to the Council a lengthy message urging their careful attention upon certain proposi- tions regarded as of material interest to the city at that time. Among other things he called attention to the important and responsible trust committed to them. He dwelt at length upon the paramount import- ance of a good system of public schools by which the children of the city could be educated at a comparatively small cost, many of them at no cost at all. He recommended the appointment of a suitable committee to thoroughly investigate the system of public schools as adopted in other cities, and then the propriety of submitting to a vote of the people the proposition to borrow a sufficient amount of money for the purposes in view.
He also recommended the building of a Court room, Council rooin and prison, all to be included in one building. He recommended the organization of a good fire and hook and ladder company, with necessarry apparatus for controlling this devastating element. He recommended the general and permanent improvement of the streets of the city. He recommended the opening of Second Street to the city limits and its improvement. He recommended a good plank or gravel road to the cemetery. He recommended a liberal policy to- ward market men and by proper encouragement thus aid in building up a market, where the citizens could be provided at a reason- able cost. He also recommended that the outstanding indebtedness in scrip and judgments held by the purchasers of Public Square lots be funded by the issue of a sufficient number of interest bearing bonds.
The message was received and referred to a committee of the whole to consider and report at some future meeting of the Council.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
June 25th the following resolutions were adopted :
"Be it Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be and they are instructed to report to the Council at its next regular meeting, or as soon thereafter as practicable. the best means of issuing the bonds of the city. and state the amount of bonds that ought to be issued. the denomination thereof, the rate of interest they ought to bear, the time they ought to mature, the prob- ability of selling said bonds and for what amount, and all other facts in rela- tion thereto which in their judgment may seem proper.
"Be it resolved further, That the Mayor appoint a committee of five either of Councilmen or other citizens. any three of whom may act. who are request- ed to ascertain and report to the Council, at their earliest convenience, upon the best manner of establishing a public school in Henderson, and they will state particularly what sum it will require to build and put in operation said school, the cost of conducting the same, the best system of its government in all particulars, the character of building required, and all facts in relation to the subject they may deem proper "
On the fourth day of August this committee reported, recommend- ing the preparation and passage of an act by the Legislature, giving the city full power to issue bonds and erect suitable buildings in which to carry on public schools ; also, to authorize the city to 'borrow money by issuing her bonds, etc.
Concerning the proposition to fund the outstanding indebtedness of the city, January 19th, 1869, an act was drawn and adopted by the Council authorizing the Council to issue the bonds of the city for that purpose. This act was passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor June 16th.
The Mayor was instructed to have printed and engraved $50,000 of city bonds and report his acts. July 6th, the bonds were reported to the Council, and upon motion the Mayor was directed to advertize requesting all persons holding scrip, judgments or other evidences of indebtedness against the city to come forward and report, and if satis- factory to take up the same by substituting in lieu thereof the bonds of the city payable thirty years after date bearing ten per cent. interest. This proposition proved a great success. All creditors were satisfied, and in three weeks' time, or as soon as the work could be completed, the Mayor had taken in, by substituting bonds, the entire outstand- ing scrip, judgment, and Public Square indebtedness, amounting to nearly $50,000.
On the seventh day of September the Mayor reported in full his acts, and upon full investigation by the Finance Committee, the same was unanimously approved by the Council.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Prior to this time the city had no money, and could borrow none, but few citizens outside of the Council knew this. There was an im- mense amount of improvement going on, and other work being con- tracted for at each meeting of the Council. Progress was the motto, and a trust to luck for the money to foot the bills was the understand- ing. It has been said the city at one time could not borrow money. To verify this : On the 3d day of November, 1868, the city needed $5,000. Application was made to both banks and moneyed men, but it could not be had. It was necessary to raise this amount or else let the whole business go to the wall. Seeing this, Mayor Starling and Councilmen William F. Reutlinger, and Leroy Martin, borrowed on their individual credit the amount of five thousand dollars, and relieved the city, taking a pledge from the Council that the amount should be refunded from the revenues to be collected. Several times during the year the members of the Council borrowed sums of money on their individual credit and loaned the same to the city, to enable her to carry on public work then under contract.
Under the funding act the city was relieved, and soon after a Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners was organized, under a special act of the Legislature, with power to hold and use the various reve- nues specified for the purpose of reducing the outstanding debt and paying interest.
As I proceed with this itemized history, the reader will see what an amount of public work was done, and will agree with a previous statement made, that the substantial and solid growth of the city dates back to the new charter of 1867. No one will ever know, but those who were actively employed, the immense amount of labor entailed upon the Councils of 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70 and '71, the manner in which they managed public affairs, conducted the multiplied improve- ments of the city, including streets, wharves, and public buildings, the levying of taxes, the collection of revenues, etc., etc.
August 4th, 1868, the Market House had become too small, and another section, nearly equal to the original in size, was added to it.
August 25th, pavements around the Court House, on First and Main Streets, and on First to the river, and on Lower Main, were or- dered laid down,
The extension of the gas mains and erection of street lamps was ordered in every direction where it was judged by the Council the extension would pay ten per cent. upon the investment.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
September 15th, a contract was made with Collins & O'Byrne to grade, gutter and curb Green Street, from First to Upper Third Street, to completely finish Main from Second to Lower Fourth Street. Clay and Fagan Streets were received and ordered opened sixty feet wide to the cemetery.
October 6th, a contract was entered into with Haffey & Stapp to grade and pave Third Street to low water mark, in the same manner the Main wharf had been done.
November 17th, Second Street was purchased through the Breck- enridge property, and ordered opened to the limits of the city at the bridge.
In July, 1868, an organization known as the " Kuklux " appeared upon the streets of the city at night, alarming many citizens of the city, and committing, in one or more instances, acts contrary to law and order. It was said-with how much truth, however, is not known -that many of the best citizens of the city were members of the clan, and that its organization was intended to assist good government and the enforcement of the laws, that that portion of the organization were as much opposed to anything in the shape of outlawry as any citi- zen who refused to countenance the movement. Yet the movement was regarded generally as a dangerous one, calculated to do no good, but, on the contrary, to become the source of great evil. The Coun- cil regarded it as dangerous to the peace of society, ill-timed, and ab- solutely unnecessary, unlawful, and uncalled for, and therefore deter- mined, at all hazards, to suppress it, first by persuasion, if possible, if" not, then by force, no matter how that force was secured or from whence it came.
On the twenty-seventh day of July the following ordinance was passed :
" Be it ordained by the Mayor and Common Council: First-That it shall be unlawful for any person to appear on the streets, alleys or highways of the city in mask or with his face or person so disguised that he cannot be recognized by casual observation of his acquaintance, and for each offense said person shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dol- lars to be recovered by warrant or other fines.
" Second-It is hereby made the special duty of the Marshal and police to arrest all parties violating this ordinance, and for this purpose they shall have the power to call to their assistance any citizen of the city, and for a failure of the Marshal or police to faithfully discharge their duty, he or they shall be fined twenty-five dollars, and for a failure of such citizen to aid in ar- resting such person or persons, violating the first section of the ordinance, he or they shall be fined ten dollars
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" Be it further ordained, that the Mayor forthwith issue a proclamation calling upon all citizens to desist from appearing in disguise by day or night, disturbing the quiet of the city, and to warn them that if persisted in imme- diate measures will be taken to punish_them." .
Whereupon the Mayor issued the following proclamation :
" To all whom it may concenr:
. Your attention is called to the above ordinance, passed by the City Council at its meeting of Monday night last. In accordance therewith, you are earnestly requested to desist from any further such exhibitions of masks. guns. weapons and pretenses of authority unknown to and unrecognized by the law, as have attended your frequent appearances in the streets of the city within the past few weeks. The object of your organization and its plans and purposes I do not know. nor do I propose to inquire. That it is calculated in its effects to do great and irremediable injury to the best interests of the com- munity, no right-thinking and prudent person will deny, and it will. if con- tinued. result in mischief, no one who has regarded the rise and progress of similar organizations in other localities, can doubt. If it be said it was organ- ized to reform abuses, which its members imagine exist in the community. I answer the laws are in full force and will be vindicated hy a prompt resort to the remedies whenever they are known to be violated, besides the administra- tors of the law are men of your own choosing. If they fail to do their duty the remedy is in yours and the hands of other citizens, and it is with you and them to apply it. If your organization has for its object nothing beyond the indulgence of what you may regard as a little harmless pleasantry, through the media of masks and horns and howls, I answer, that such exhibitions are unseemly, annoying and mischievous, for they have been accompanied more than once with the display and use of weapons and the utterance of threats against those who are entitled to the protection of the law, and have resulted, too, in terrifying many peaceable and well disposed citizens.
" If, as many persons suppose, this organization was intended to keep in subjection, to order and law, and to enforce habits ofindustry and a respect for the observance of their contracts for labor, a certain class of our popula- tion, I answer, that class is ammenable to the law, and is entitled to the pro- tection of the law as much as any other, and that its members have been gener- ally well-behaved and orderly, and industriously engaged in maintaining them - selves and families. This intended or threatened interference with their rights, whether real or maginary, works a great injustice to that class, and will result in injury and damage to their employer, for some of them have been already, and many more will be, frightened into an abandonment of their contract for labor, leaving numberless fields untilled and crops unharvested. The tolera- tion of such an organization in our midst for any length of time will also have the tendency to induce some of our best citizens to seek more quiet and safer localities, while many who might otherwise be disposed to bring their capital to our growing and prosperous city for investment, will be deterred from do- ing so by its existence. Certainly its members, who probably have an equal interest with all our citizens in this matter, are not willing to see this result brought about by their agency.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
"Then. when it is considered how many outrages may be committed under the color and seeming sanction of this organization it is hoped that the most thoughtless of the members may be induced to abandon and discontin- uance it. A band of highwaymen taking advantage of the fact that this organi- zation exhibits itself unmolested in our streets, may any night, disguised as they are generally, penetrate the city and rob the banks and stores and escape un- harmed to their hiding places, and a cowardly villian, malignant and thirsting for blood, may safely and surely, under the assumed mask of this organization, take the life of a good citizen, whom he fancies has wronged him.
"Viewed in the length of all the consequences which will flow from it the organization is wrong, unnecessary and dangerous and ought to be aban- doned, or failing in that, suppressed. I therefore earnestly urge upon all its members, a prompt compliance with the ordinance above cited, lay aside for- ever your masks, make no more parades upon the streets and alleys of the city. and show yourselves supporters of the laws as they are. But if you will not do this, it will be my imperative duty to see the observance strictly en - forced, and I shall certainly do so to the extent of the powers vested in me.
Respectfully, E. L. STARLING.
This proclamation was received in good part so far as the fact could be known, and many of the leading members of the clan de- termined to abide by the advice given. There were others, though, who preferred to resist the authority of the law, and did turn out again. Mention has been made of the attack upon the county jail- Upon this movement being made the Council appropriated one thou- sand dollars and passed the following ordinance :
" Be it ordained, that the Mayor is authorized to employ such additional police as he may think necessary, for such length of time as he may see proper, and at a compensation not exceeding that received by the present police."
It was understood that this force should not be known and that its duties should be to detect members and report their names. The authority of the law began to close around the boys a little closer than they had suspected, and many interviews were held with the Mayor by those suspected of being members One youngster who was going to leave the city to make his home elsewhere, ventured as a friend to confess his connection with the clan and to furnish a full list of the membership.
Whether this young Kuklux told the truth or not has never been known. It is enough to know that the law-abiding portion of the clan saw the folly and danger to come out of such nonsense and were mainly instrumental, and finally succeeded in disbanding the or- ganization. They held their last parade with the distinct understand- ing that that was to be the last, proceeded to the lower end of the
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city, fired off their guns, pistols, etc., made peace with the world and nothing more has ever been heard of them as a military organization.
Good men belonged to the Kuklux beyond question, and upon going into it thought it a good thing just at that time. They soon saw the danger, however, and deserve credit for bringing about its disbandment.
It is due to the city to say that no single member of the Council entertained a desire to do more than his duty, they were opposed to the organization and determined upon its suppression, no matter the cost.
They recognized the fact that friends were in the ranks, and yet if these friends would not consent to be governed by good advice, and abide by the laws, then if they suffered from any source it was their misfortune and not the wish or fault of the Council.
During the year 1868, the residences of William T. Barret, now John H. Barret, Jr., A. S. Nunn, now Colonel Jackson McClain, Allen Gilmour, now Colonel W. S. Elams, E. L. Starling's store house, now James R. Barret's, and Robert Dixon's brick three-story livery stable were built.
1869.
The old Johnson two-story brick, corner First and Main, was torn down, and the real estate divided into nine lots, four fronting on Main Street and five fronting on First Street. The four fronting Main were sold for the following prices : $125, $100, $100 and $96 per foot. The five fronting First were sold for $73, $62, $60, $54 and $54 per foot.
February 2d, the first meeting of the City Council was held in the new Council room fitted up on the Public Square.
February 6th, D. R. Burbank paid $42.55 per hundred pounds for tobacco
Thursday, March 10th. Richard Powell, son of Governor L. W. Powell, was killed by Stanley Young on the pavement in front of Judge P. H. Hillyer's book store on Main Street, three doors above First.
The Episcopal Diocesan Convention met in St. Paul's Church in May, and was attended by Governors John W. Stevenson, Merri- weather and other distinguished gentlemen.
Saturday, August 7th, there was a total eclipse of the sun. This occurred between 4 and 5 o'clock, and so complete was the eclipse
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
chickens went to roost, to find themselves a short while after sitting in the broiling hot sun.
May 4th, an ordinance was passed, directing a fitty-foot fill to be made between Third and Fourth upper cross streets on Water, and the same to be guttered, curbed and graveled. There was no street there at the time, nothing save a great ravine, gradually eating its way into the Atkinson Square beyond the corner of Third and Water Streets. The fill was made, and the improvement has proved a blessing to the city.
June 8th, a book of laws and ordinances was ordered prepared for publication. This book was prepared by Captain R. H. Cun- ningham and printed by Ben Harrison. Work highly creditable to both gentlemen.
June 15th, an ordinance was passed, directing a fifty-foot street to be made along Water Street from the intersection of Fourth, to the intersection of Fifth upper cross street in front of the Hugh Kerr property. This fill was made and the street improved as that part between Third and Fourth.
August 31st, a compromise was effected with George F. Beatty, whereby the city became the purchaser of one hundred feet of ground in width, running through the old Ingram property, on First Street from Ingram to Adams Street.
August 31st, the city leased to D. R. Burbank for distilling pur- poses all that part of the river front lying below the salt wells and in front of lots Nos. 37, 40, 41. During the year Mr. Burbank built his twenty barrel distillery, the first of the kind ever built in the county.
October 19th, Plank Road, or the continuation of Third upper cross street, was received and established fifty feet wide.
1870.
The population of Henderson, as given by the official census, was 4,158, divided as follows : First Ward, 692 ; Second, 806 ; Third, 1,326 ; Fourth, 1,334.
March 11th, an act of the Legislature was approved, incorpor- ating W. B. Woodruff, Geo. M. Priest, E. W. Worsham, John C. Stapp and P. A. Blackwell under the name and style of the " Deposit Bank," with an authorized capital of $50,000.
June 7th, a contract was entered into by and between the city and railroad, authorizing the road to haul coal over Fourth Street to the river front and the privilege of building a coal tipple between the
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line of Water Street and the river. This expensive wooden structure was built, but proved worthless for the purposes for which it was in- tended, and was a few years after-torn down by order of the Council.
July 27th, the following assessments of property for taxation was reported : For school, $2,638,723. On this amount a tax of 30 cents on the $100 was levied to pay the interest on the bonds issued for erecting and furnishing the school building, and 15 cents for pay- ing salaries of teachers, etc .; for railroad, $2,863,133. On this amount a tax of 87 1-2 cents upon the $100 was levied for the pur- pose of paying the interest (and expenses of collecting) on the bonds issued to the E., H. & N. R. R. The city tax was fixed at 75 cents.
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