The Lexington History Museum will open its newest exhibit, Lexington: 1810, at Noon today!
The exhibit notes the life and times of the Town of Lexington 200 years ago. Barely 30 years old, the town was the largest in the West with a population of more than 4,300. Ironically, 1810 was Lexingtons zenith year. As river trade opened up, the landlocked town went into commercial decline, a trend only overcome in the years following World War II.
”1810 is a fascinating year for Lexington,” observed Bradley C. Canon, Ph.D., the retired University of Kentucky political science professor who conducted research for the exhibit. “Lexington saw itself as one of the great cities of the nation, if not the world. The year represented the citys vision of itself that continues today.”
Displays include newspaper articles from The Kentucky Gazette and The Lexington Reporter, a book published in Lexington that year, and a letter written by Henry Clay while he was serving as a Congressman in Washington, D.C. The latter two artifacts are on loan from the Special Collections & Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries. The newspaper articles are from the Kentucky Room, Lexington Public Library.
Lexington: 1810 will run through June 2010, after which it will be replaced by Lexington: 1910, recounting the city 100 years ago.
Located at 215 W. Main St., The Lexington History Museum is open Friday-Monday, Noon-4 p.m. 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.
In the spirit of Lexington 1810, today’s This Day in History features someone who would have seen Lexington as it was 200 years ago.
William Taylor Barry was born in Virginia on February 5, 1784. As a child, William moved with his family to the young Fayette County. He attended Pisgah Academy, the Kentucky Academy in neighboring Woodford County, and Transylvania University, a college that was in its infancy. Barry was admitted to the Fayette County bar following his graduation from William and Mary College and legal studies with Judge John Rowan, one of Kentucky’s finest legal minds. Rigorous studies of the law paid off, as he was appointed Commonwealth Attorney shortly after he began practicing law in Kentucky.
His career in law and politics wouldn’t end there. Barry was elected to the Kentucky house in 1807 and he went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from August 8, 1810, to March 3, 1811. William served in the War of 1812, when military service demanded that he turn his attention away from politics. For a small man, the Jeffersonian Republican was a powerful speaker and was known for his political know-how and way with words. Following his brief military service, Barry was reelected to the Kentucky house. Confident in his abilities, the members of the house sent him to the U.S. Senate, but he resigned and returned to Kentucky in 1816 after one session.
As a powerful voice in Kentucky politics and great legal mind in his own right, William Barry worked with Judge Jesse Bledsoe to develop a first-rate law curriculum at Transylvania University, his alma mater. From 1817 to 1821, he served in the Kentucky Senate and during his tenure Kentucky was faced with a bank panic, major financial crisis, in which both prominent Kentuckians and ordinary citizens alike were losing their wealth and possessions. Following the panic, Barry spoke out for the Relief party which called for bank reform and debtor relief legislation. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1820 and served until 1824 alongside Governor John Adair. During their administration the Bank of the Commonwealth was founded, in part because of Barry’s “fiery stump speeches.” As Lieutenant Governor, Barry was involved in a committee which examined the public school systems of the other states. His committee’s Barry Report recommended that Kentucky establish a free public school system for all children.
Barry’s diverse political career would end with his appointment as ambassador to Spain. However, this would come following political scandal. He was a staunch supporter of Andrew Jackson (political rival of Henry Clay) and in 1829, Jackson appointed him as postmaster general. Within two years, however, accusations of corruption and favoritism within the Jackson administration led to congressional investigations in 1834-36. Such political calamity would ruin his physical and mental well-being and he died suddenly on August 30, 1835 in Liverpool, England as he was traveling to his new assignment. He was buried in the Frankfort Cemetery.
I’ve been a volunteer at the Lexington History Museum since 2007. In that time, I have seen exhibits come and go, thousands pass by the reception desk, and have been involved in some wonderful projects. Preserving Lexington’s history, though extremely fun, is not an easy task, then again, I do not think anyone said it was. I was approached by a community member in August to talk about the museum and about Lexington for the Review Lex series and I was proud that the museum was featured as one of the first stops along the journey. Frankly, I was also very nervous (and you can tell when you listen to me speak) and I was thankful that Jamie Millard, the museum’s President and CEO was in his office so he could provide the intro for the clip.
I love Lexington. I love waking up to a crisp Spring morning in the Bluegrass, driving down Winchester Road and smelling the glorious aroma of roasted peanuts*. Horse farms, Keeneland, the FEI World Equestrian Games, Red Mile: I love the horse industry and its impact on the history of Lexington. I love First Presbyterian Church, the oldest church in Lexington. I love it all.
What does this have to do with Lexington’s history? Everything, really. At the end of the day, it is my love for this city that makes what I do at the Lexington History Museum very special. I want to share it with you.
What do YOU love about Lexington?
*By the way, the now Jif plant was formerly Big Top Peanut Butter and was owned by William T. Young. You can see an original can of Big Top peanuts and an unopened jar of Big Top Peanut Butter on display in Athens of the West.
By 1830, America was solidifying its claim to the western reaches of North America and it was apparent that carriages and wagons were not the only mode of transportation that could be used. On the East coast, the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was working to connect the city of Baltimore with the Ohio River in the west. Lexington, too, needed access to trade and with the charter of the Lexington & Ohio Railroad, it was attempt to attain that.
On January 27, 1830, the Lexington & Ohio Railroad was chartered. This would allow trade goods to bypass the competitive town of Louisville and give Lexington direct access to the New Orleans market. The L & O charter named over twenty of Lexington’s most influential citizens as its proponents with Elisha Winters and General Leslie Combs as the lead organizers.
Learn more about what happened after the charter by reading our August 15 blog post.
Want to know more about railroad history in the Bluegrass? Visit our Bluegrass Railway exhibit at the Lexington History Museum.
December 16, 1980, Colonel Harland Sanders, one of the most recognizable faces in the fast food industry, passed away at the age of 90. Originally from Indiana, the Colonel moved to Corbin, KY in 1930, where he opened a service station which was located where the first Kentucky Fried Chicken was opened. Out of the back, Sanders had a lunch counter which could only seat six. It became so popular that expansion was necessary.
The Colonel opened Sanders Cafe, which could seat 142, by 1937. It was there that the flavor combination that we enjoy in Kentucky Fried Chicken was born. The chicken was so immensely popular and his business expanded even more. Though secret about the exact recipe, Sanders was quoted in saying that the spice blend consisted of spices everyone had on the shelf. He also was innovative in the frying process by using a pressure cooking. His chicken was truly unique.
Business was going very well until a fire destroyed the cafe in 1939. He rebuilt the business as a restaurant and motel, but when construction of Interstate 75 led to the bypass of Corbin, business steadily declined. At the age of 66, Colonel Sanders began to franchise his chicken. The first franchisee was Pete Harman out of Salt Lake City and by 1959, more than two hundred Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in the United States and Canada sold food under the Colonel Sanders trademark. Kentucky Fried Chicken became a force to be reckoned with the in the fast food industry. His daughter Margaret suggested that the chicken be available for take-out, which revolutionized the way consumers accessed the product.
Why is Harland Sanders a “colonel” anyway? In 1934, Governor Ruby Laffoon granted Sanders the honorary title of “Kentucky Colonel.” In 1950, he was recommissioned by Governor Lawrence Wetherby. After this recommission, he began to look the part, by growing a mustache and a goatee and by wearing a white suit and string tie.
In 1960, Sanders moved the headquarters of Kentucky Fried Chicken to Shelbyville, near Louisville. On February 18, 1964, Sanders sold his franchise business to former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack Massey for $2 million. Sanders was retained on salary as spokesman for Kentucky Fried Chicken and his face was everywhere! Kentucky Fried Chicken is not just popular in the Bluegrass state or even the United States. It’s even popular globally, especially in Japan.
The Colonel was a very committed philanthropist, contributing money to religious charities, hospitals, medical research, education, the Boy Scouts, Junior Achievement, and the March of Dimes. Sanders died on Dec. 16, 1980, after which his body lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. He was buried in Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery.
Mary Todd Lincoln was born on December 13, 1818 in Lexington, Kentucky to Robert Todd and Eliza Parker Todd. Her mother’s family, the Parkers, and her father’s family, the Todds, were two of the most prosperous and well-known families from the Bluegrass region. Her grandfather, Levi Todd had helped establish Lexington and her father was involved in politics as a member of the Whig party and was also a merchant. Eliza Todd passed away in childbirth when Mary was six and her father married Elizabeth Humphreys. The Todds lived on West Main St in Lexington, today’s Mary Todd Lincoln House.
As a member of Lexington’s elite, Mary was afforded an in-depth education. She studied at Frenchwoman Charlotte Mentelle’s boarding school, which was located across from Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate. The Todd family lived less than two miles from the Clays was well acquainted with them. Though it is unclear whether Mary’s future husband would ever meet the esteemed politician, Clay once promised a young Mary that she would be among his first guests in Washington should he ever become president. After completing twelve years of school, Mary was one of the most well-educated women of her day.
But how did Mary Todd end up in Illinois in order to meet Abraham Lincoln? In 1832, Mary’s older sister Elizabeth married Ninian Edwards, son of a former governor of Illinois, and upon his graduation from Transylvania University, the couple moved to Springfield, which had become the new Illinois capitol. In 1839, Mary followed her sister to Springfield and at a dance, she met Abraham Lincoln, a junior partner of her cousin John Todd Stuart’s law firm.
Abraham and Mary were very different. Mary grew up very wealthy, whereas he grew up relatively poor and from a rural family. However, they shared a love of the written word and a deep interest in politics, and those among other things, linked them. The Todds did not necessarily approve of this backwoods nobody and tried to convince her that marrying Abraham was a mistake. They wed in 1842.
Mary’s new life as a lawyer’s wife seemed much different than the life of leisure she enjoyed in her youth. Abraham was often away working for long periods of time, which meant that Mary had to tend to household business as well as raising four sons. Though she lived a very domestic life, she also took great interest in politics and had very ambitious goals for her husband. Many say it was her ambition that took him to the White House. During her time as first lady, Mary worked hard to make the White House a fashionable place. She was often criticized for extravagant spending during the Civil War. She was also accused of being a Confederate sympathizer, because she was from Kentucky and her sister Emilie was married to Benjamin Hardin Helm, a Confederate general, who fell at Chickamauga. Mary invited Emilie to come stay with her in the White House in 1863.
Mary Todd Lincoln’s life after she became first lady was marked with tragedy. Her son Willie died of typhoid fever in 1862 at age eleven and the stress of the war burdened her as she saw the toll it took on her husband. Upon his assassination in 1865, Mary never recovered from shock. She struggled financially, fighting for Abraham’s pension, but living on the money from his estate. Her son Tad died of pneumonia, which only added to the grief and pain she felt. Robert Todd, her son, decided that it was best she stay in an asylum, but she fought for her freedom and was released after several months. Though she lived for nearly two decades after her husband’s death, Mary never recovered from the anguish that she felt upon his murder.
Mary Todd Lincoln died on July 16, 1882, and was buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.
To learn more about Abraham Lincoln in Lexington, please visit our exhibit “Lincoln and His Wife’s Hometown” which discusses Mary and her family’s interaction with her husband during his four visits to Lexington.
November is American Indian Heritage Month and our Play-date with History workshop will feature an array of Native American-themed activities. Beginning at 12 p.m. and concluding at 2 p.m. Play-date will allow children to make coil pots, dream catchers, listen to Native American legends, and perform authentic dances. Play-date With History part of our ongoing educational programming is free and will take place in Clay-Davis Hall. For any questions, please contact Debra Watkins, Museum Manager at debra@lexingtonhistorymuseum.org.
On November 19, 1898, Don Carlos Buell, Civil War general, died in Paradise, Kentucky. A West Point graduate, the Lowell, Ohio native distinguished himself during the Mexican War, rising to the rank of major. At the beginning of the Civil War, Buell was an early organizer of the Army of the Potomac and went on to lead the Army of the Ohio (which included Kentucky’s Union troops.) He was able to capture Nashville with little opposition. His troops participated in the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth, but he is most noted for helping secure Kentucky as Union territory for the remainder of the Civil War.
On Valentine’s Day 1862 Buell entered and took control of Bowling Green as Rebel forces under the command of General Albert S. Johnson retreated toward Nashville. By the fall, Confederate General Braxton Bragg had invaded Kentucky. Buell and his army had to defend Louisville, Kentucky and important transportation route of the Ohio River. His troops surprised Bragg at Bardstown, forcing him to divide his army, before engaging at Perryville on October 8, 1862. Buell cut off Bragg’s line of communication by moving to Danville as Bragg retreated to Harrodsburg. Bragg then retreated south out of Kentucky via the Cumberland Gap, solidifying Union control over the Commonwealth. Buell was scrutinized for preventing Bragg’s escape out of Kentucky, which called into question his loyalty. He resigned his commission on June 1, 1864 and made a permanent move to Kentucky.
In 1880, Governor Luke Blackburn appointed him one of the twelve members of the first board of trustees at the Agricultural and Mechanical College, formerly part of Transylvania University, now the University of Kentucky. Buell was appointed state pension agent and held this position until 1890. He died on November 19, 1898 in Paradise, Kentucky and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.
On November 18, 1790, George Robertson, jurist and congressman was born in Mercer County. He was educated in Mercer County before enrolling at Transylvania University, then studying law under Martin D. Hardin in Frankfort and Samuel McKee in Lancaster before being admitted to the bar in September 1809. He practiced in Lancaster and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1817 to 1821. He supported the 1820 Missouri Compromise, an agreement between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the U.S. Congress involving regulation of slavery in the new western territories.
Robertson served briefly as Kentucky’s secretary of state and in 1828 accepted appointment to the Commonwealth’s court of appeals, most of the time as chief justice. Resigning from the court in 1843, he practiced law in Lexington, often as a defense lawyer. One of his most famous defense cases was the trial of Abner Baker, who was convicted for the murder of Daniel Bates in Manchester in July 1845. He was unable to obtain a pardon for Baker from Governor William Owsley. Robertson was an instructor of law at his alma mater, Transylvania University from 1834 until 1857.
At the age of seventy-four, he was elected to the Kentucky court of appeals, where he served until a stroke forced his resignation in 1871. In this time serving on the court, published some radical opinions, such as drunkenness as a defense against a murder charged, which detracted from his otherwise favorable image. Robertson died on May 16, 1874 and was buried in the Lexington Cemetery.
Who was Lexington’s most famous madam? How did Mechanic Street get its name? This week’s episode will answer these questions as we take a look at the life of Belle Brezing in the first installment of our new series on Lexington People. We will also discuss upcoming museum events and museum news. After a long hiatus, The Bluegrass Historian podcast is back!
His career in law and politics wouldn’t end there. Barry was elected to the Kentucky house in 1807 and he went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from August 8, 1810, to March 3, 1811. William served in the War of 1812, when military service demanded that he turn his attention away from politics. For a small man, the Jeffersonian Republican was a powerful speaker and was known for his political know-how and way with words. Following his brief military service, Barry was reelected to the Kentucky house. Confident in his abilities, the members of the house sent him to the U.S. Senate, but he resigned and returned to Kentucky in 1816 after one session.
