This Day in History — October 29, 1921

On October 29, 1921, the Centre Praying Colonels defeated Harvard in what has been called the “upset of the [20th] century in college football.” In 1921, Harvard was king of the gridiron. Undefeated since 1918, the Ivy-league team beat Centre at home in 1920. When the Harvard captain offered Bo McMillin, Centre’s captain, the game ball, McMillin declined by saying, “We’ll be back next year to take it home with us.” The following year, a rematch was scheduled, again at Harvard. The game was a tie, 0-0, at halftime. Centre was able to score the only touchdown of the game and Bo McMillin rushed to the endzone. The Praying Colonel’s defense was able to hold off the Crimson’s offense to prevent a Harvard touchdown. MIT students who had come to cheer against Harvard stormed the field, lifting McMillin onto their shoulders as they tore down the goal posts. News of C6H0 reached Danville and Centre students reveled in it. They painted C6H0 on everything in sight, even a few cows. The last remaining evidence of this is at the campus post office, a reminder of the glory days of college football.

On the 75th anniversary of the game, Centre challenged Harvard to a rematch, but they declined.

Join us for “Scary Night at the Museum” THIS Saturday!

Saturday, October 24 from 5-7, the Lexington History Museum will be holding its 2nd Annual “Scary Night at the Museum”. The event is free, open to the public and will offer both scary and non-scary activities for families. Ghosts of Kentucky’s past may just be coming to haunt the hallowed halls of the Lexington History Center, located at 215 W. Main Street. A “Haunted Museum” attraction will be sure to chill guests to the bones! There will be Appalachian “Haint” tales by Octavia Sexton, storyteller as well as a costume contest for all ages! For our younger guests, and those who enjoy Halloween, but not haunted attractions, we will offer spooky craft activities and games in the Clay-Davis Hall.

Scary Night at the Museum
October 24, 5-7
Haunted Museum tours, Scary Storytelling, Crafts, Games and Refreshments

Thank you to donations by community partners: Target, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Cinemark Theaters, Qdoba, and Babycakes!

This Day in History — October 4

Few animals can capture the attention of Americans quite like a Thoroughbred horse. Horse racing puts these majestic creatures on a national stage as spectators from all over cheer on their favorite picks. One of the most beloved Thoroughbred horses in American racing history is Secretariat. Secretariat, sired by Bold Ruler out of Somethingroyal, was foaled on March 29, 1970, at the Meadow Stud in Doswell, Virginia. The foal was won by Penney (Chenery) Tweedy in a coin toss for Bold Ruler’s stud fee and he was trained by Canadian Lucien Laurin and mainly ridden by fellow Canadian jockey Ron Turcotte, along with apprentice jockey Paul Feliciano (first two races), and veteran Eddie Maple (last race). Secretariat would go on to race for Tweedy’s Meadow Stud and stood approximately 16 hands 2 inches tall, and weighed 1,175 pounds in his racing prime.

Though he was a very accomplished horse, he didn’t even win his first race! He finished fourth in six furlongs at the Aqueduct in New York. Nearly two weeks later, he would win his second race at that very track and would go on to win his next seven. At three years old, in 1973, he was named Horse of the Year. He lost the race just before the Kentucky Derby, but that didn’t stop bettors from giving him 3-2 odds over Sham. On May 5, 1973, Secretariat won the ninety-ninth Kentucky Derby in 1:59 2/5, setting the current derby record for the distance of 1 1/4-miles. Two weeks later he won the Preakness, and on June 9, 1973, he won the third race of the Triple Crown, the Belmont, by thirty-one lengths, setting a world record of 2:24 for a mile and a half — a record that stands today. Secretariat became the first Triple Crown winner since Citation had won all three races twenty-five years prior.

Secretariat was retired in 1974. He went on to sire over three hundred sons and daughters and his blood flows through many notable race winners, such as 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. In 1989, he developed a very painful hoof condition and the decision was made on October 4 to euthanize him. He was buried at Claiborne Farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky and was mourned by millions there. His legacy continues with celebrations in Bourbon County and the filming of a new Disney film entitled Secretariat.

This Day in History — September 20

On September 20, 1863, Benjamin Hardin Helm, a Brigadier General for the Confederate States of America, was killed in the Battle of Chickamauga in Georgia. Hardin was born June 2, 1831 to John Larue Helm and Lucinda Barbour Hardin in Bardstown, Kentucky. His received his early education at the Elizabethtown Seminary and Kentucky Military Institute in Frankfort. It became apparent early on that Benjamin would be successful in the military. He enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1847, where in graduated ninth in his class in 1851. He served as Second Lieutenant in the 2d Regular U.S. Cavalry on the Texas frontier at Fort Lincoln for six months and then resigned from the Army at his father’s request.

Helm continued his education by studying law at the University of Louisville, graduating in 1853 and attending Harvard Law school for an advanced course before settling in Elizabethtown to practice with his father until 1856. From law, the natural progression was to seek political office and in 1855 he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, where he served one term. For three years following, Benjamin Helm served as commonwealth attorney for the 3rd district.

Helm married Emilie Todd, the half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln on March 20, 1856. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln offered his brother-in-law the position of paymaster of the Union army with the rank of major. Helm declined the offer, however, and turned to the Confederacy and began recruiting. He was appointed colonel of the 1st Regiment of the Kentucky Confederate Cavalry in September 1861. Helm served bravely for two years until he was struck down in the Battle of Chickamauga.

This Day in History — August 15

As America expanded into “the West,” so did Kentucky. In fact, Kentucky was the West from the earliest days of the United States. When new territory was acquired beyond the Mississippi River, Kentuckians felt the need to move as well. With this expansion (and population boom,) came the need for more modes of transportation. Travel by water had quickly taken off, with the invention of the steam ship. In fact, in 1816, Henry Miller Shreve launched his steamboat Washington, which completed the voyage from New Orleans to Louisville, Kentucky in twenty-five days. As technology improved, so did the time of travel, by the 1850s, that same trip would only take four days.

But because Kentucky is by all purposes land-locked, the Commonwealth needed a fast way of moving over the land. Carriages, stagecoaches and wagons were all population methods, but were not very fast. What Kentucky needed was a railroad. Iron rails were made for faster transport and on January 27, 1830 the Lexington & Ohio Railroad was chartered. The charter allowed the L&O to build lines from Lexington to major cities along the Ohio River.Construction began and the L&O Railroad was able to start operating as soon as fifteen miles of track had been laid. A horse-drawn car began operating out of Lexington on August 15, 1832. The iron rails had been imported from Liverpool, England and shipped to Lexington from New Orleans to Louisville. The first locomotive was introduced in 1833 by Barlow and Bruen of Lexington and the track to Frankfort was finally completed in 1834.

LEXINGTON HISTORY MUSEUM, SMITHSONIAN TO OBSERVE MUSEUM DAY

LEXINGTON, KY. — The Lexington History Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and other museums across the nation will celebrate Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. “

Museum Day is a wonderful way for Americans to celebrate their vast cultural heritage,” noted Jamie Millard, President & CEO of the Museum. “Here in Lexington, we celebrate that heritage at the Lexington History Museum every day.”

A special Museum Day pass is available at the website, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/Lexington_History_Museum.html. The pass is good for free admission on Sept. 26. Because the Lexington History Museum is admission free, visitors presenting the pass will receive a 10% discount on any items purchased in the Court Square Trader Museum Store. The store features a large selection of books, signature clothing, and other items related to the history of Lexington, the Bluegrass, and Kentucky.

Located at 215 W. Main St., The Lexington History Museum is open daily, Noon-4 p.m., through October 2009. It also opens early Saturdays at 10 a.m. Admission is free. For more information call 859-254-0530 or visit www.LexingtonHistoryMuseum.org.

The Lexington History Museum engages all people in the discovery and interpretation of the history of Lexington, Ky., and the Bluegrass Region.

This Day in History — August 12

Matthew Kennedy, Jr., an architect who designed some of the most important buildings in early Kentucky history, was born August 12, 1781 in Virginia. The son of Matthew and Jane Buchanan Kennedy of August County, Virginia, he moved to Kentucky at fifteen, settling in Lexington around 1796. It is believed that Matthew began building around 1800, though none of his work prior to 1814 has survived. After he had obtained notarity with his work, he adopted the title “Architect” and was the first to Kentuckian to do so.

In Kentucky’s infancy, a committee was appointed to choose the new capital for the Commonwealth. Several men, including Robert Todd of Fayette County, debated towns such as Lexington, Frankfort, Louisville, Leestown, Legerwood’s Bend (Mercer County) and Delany’s Ferry and Petersberg both in Woodford County. In 1814, Matthew Kennedy’s design was chosen and he built the second Kentucky statehouse in Frankfort.

In 1816, he returned to Lexington to oversee construction of Transylvania College’s main building in Gratz Park. Matthew’s design was chosen over Benjamin Latrobe, an architect who was designing on an international level. In 1824Kennedy went on to design the Grand Masonic Hall in Lexington and his last major public building was the medical hall for Transylvania which he contstructed in 1827.

In addition to buildings for public use, Matthew Kennedy also developed a distinct style for residences. He constructed his own house circa 1815. The 2 2l/2 story late Federal style house brick house with a raised basement and covered by a hipped roof was a template for his other residential construction. None of his public buildings survive, but many of his residences, including the Matthew Kennedy House at 216 North Limestone in Lexington, still exist. He built a large number of these houses in the Bluegrass region from 1816 until his retirement in the early 1840s, including Grassland in Fayette County and houses in Frankfort, Bardstown and Lebanon.

Matthew Kennedy died on April 17, 1853 and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

Lexington History Museum Introduces Scholar-trips Program

LEXINGTON HISTORY MUSEUM LAUNCHES ‘SCHOLAR-TRIPS’ PROGRAM

LEXINGTON, KY. — The Lexington History Museum has launched a new program to assist local schools in funding field trips for students.

“Our ‘Scholar-Trips’ program will assist budget-challenged schools by funding the cost of the bus ride,” said Foster Ockerman, Jr., chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Museum. “The Museum offers a variety of educational programs relevant to Kentucky history at all grade levels — and all programs are free,” he added.

The “Scholar-Trips” program offers a limited number of roundtrip bus grants that will be awarded on a need basis to schools in Fayette County. Interested teachers can email debra@lexingtonhistorymuseum.org for an application. The deadline is September 30, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year.

Funding for the program is provided by the Edward T. Houlihan III Fund, established in memory of the Museum’s first president. Donations to the Houlihan Fund to expand the “Scholar-Trips” program are welcome and tax-deductible under U.S. Internal Revenue Service regulations.

Located at 215 W. Main St., The Lexington History Museum is open daily, Noon-4 p.m., through October 2009. It also opens early Saturdays at 10 a.m. Admission is free. For more information call 859-254-0530 or visit www.LexingtonHistoryMuseum.org.

The Lexington History Museum engages all people in the discovery and interpretation of the history of Lexington, Ky., and the Bluegrass Region.

SPOTLIGHT: Kentucky’s Lewis and Clark Connection

Kentucky’s Lewis and Clark Connections
by Natasha Collier

In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed from the Falls of the Ohio near Louisville, Kentucky and set out on an expedition that would become a journey of the American Spirit. Over their three year experience, the team charted the course that would lead the way for those who packed up to move west with Manifest Destiny guiding them. One detail of this story often goes unmentioned. Kentucky played a large part in the Lewis and Clark adventure. It is believed that nearly half of the members of the expedition were from Kentucky or had Kentucky connections. The core of the Corps of Discovery, the heart of the Lewis and Clark group, were from the Louisville area. The nine men who made up the group’s nucleus were known as the “Nine Young Men from Kentucky” and laid the foundation for one of the most historic journeys ever taken.

Leader William Clark was born at his family’s homestead in Caroline County, Virginia on August 1, 1770. He was the ninth of ten children and the youngest of six sons. Exploration was in his blood. His oldest brother, General George Rogers Clark was an Indian fighter in several skirmishes including Lord Dunmore’s War and surveyed for the Ohio Company in Kentucky. He became a delegate for Harrodsburg in the Kentucky Colony of Virginia and is credited with the foundation of Louisville. George definitely set the precedent for explorers in the Clark family.

William was educated formally in Virginia and his family moved three miles southeast of Louisville when he was fourteen years old. It was at “Mulberry Hill” where his practical education began. William became skilled in surveying, wilderness living, running a plantation and even cartography. By the time he was twenty-one, he was proficient as a surveyor, frontiersman, planter and soldier. The men in the Clark family were no strangers to war. His five brothers had all fought in the Revolutionary War, with two giving their lives to their country. According to the William Clark biography by the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission, he “might have served under his brother George in a 1786 militia expedition against the Wabash River Indians, but it is certain that he served in John Hardin’s 1789 expedition against the White River Indian towns, Charles Scott’s 1791 expedition against the Ouiatanon Indian towns, and assisted with the defense of the settlements against Indian attack.” Regardless, his skills were highly praised and on March 7, 1792, he became a second lieutenant in the infantry of the army.

William Clark’s involvement with Indian affairs would continue with territorial expansion into the Northwest Territory and he was present at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. 1803 would be the year that marked William Clark’s place in history. He was invited to become a member of a group that would map a route to the Pacific Ocean. Meriwether Lewis, who was formerly a subordinate of Clark’s, had become private secretary to Thomas Jefferson and suggested that he be a part of this mission. In July, Clark received a letter that he was called to be a member of the Corps of Discovery. By October, he began recruiting men from the Louisville area to take part in the expedition and met Meriwether Lewis there. On October 26, 1803 Lewis and Clark, who complemented each other very well, set off on the three-year journey. This journey was just another occasion showcasing the spirit that Kentuckians have long-since possessed. The Unbridled Spirit of a journey which that made history.

Lexington History Museum Trustees Elect Ockerman Chair

LEXINGTON HISTORY MUSEUM TRUSTEES ELECT OCKERMAN CHAIR

LEXINGTON, KY. — The Lexington History Museum Board of Trustees elected Foster Ockerman, Jr., to serve as its chair. He was elected to fill the position vacated with the death of James F. Glenn, M.D.

Ockerman, a founding trustee and general counsel for the Board from 1988, is a Lexington attorney, noted legal expert on non-profit organizations, and a local historian. He is author of First United Methodist Church Bicentennial (1989), former chair of the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board that approves all state nominations to the National Registry, and is a former chair of the American Bar Association’s Tax Exempt Organizations Committee. He also serves as counsel to the Courthouse Square Foundation.

Ockerman is the Museum’s third chair, the first being Dr. Thomas D. Clark, whose lifelong dream was to establish an admission-free museum dedicated to Lexington’s fascinating history.

Also elected at the June 30, 2009, trustees annual meeting were Stephen Amato, vice chair; Isabel Yates, secretary; and William Ambrose, treasurer. New trustees elected were Kent Masterson Brown, Thomas Dupree, Jr., Burt Hutchinson, Barry McNeese, and Rev. Troy Thomas.

Located at 215 W. Main St., The Lexington History Museum is open daily during the summer vacation period, Noon-4 p.m.; open early Saturdays at 10 a.m. Admission is free. For more information call 859-254-0530 or visit www.LexingtonHistoryMuseum.org.

The Lexington History Museum engages all people in the discovery and interpretation of the history of Lexington, Ky., and the Bluegrass Region.

This message is composed with the Courier New typeface designed by IBM in Lexington, Ky. The Lexington History Museum is the repository for the Historic IBM Typewriter Collection, which includes the world’s first commercially successful typewriter, as well as the first and last production models manufactured in Lexington.