Local History

Stifle shoe, sugar nipper, bowl adze, timber scribe. All those phrases name objects that are on display in the foyer of the library throughout August as part of our Local History celebration. Local greenhouse owner Joe Barnes has loaned the library some of the most curious and unusual old farm tools you'll ever see. We send out a huge “thanks” to Joe for that and we encourage you to look at the display that next time you visit. The display is worth a special visit. One of the tools is timely: a bed bug gun. Who knows, we may be seeing infomercials for those.

On Dec. 11 The Advocate-Messenger carried a story concerning a 105 Howitzer which is to be placed at the Veteran's Wall in Danville. I spoke with the gentleman who is responsible for the placement of the Howitzer, inquiring if he was aware of its history as it pertains to Danville. He was not aware of the history. I was privileged to be a part of this history, dating back to the 1950s when I was part of the Danville National Guard. Our unit was known as the 441st Field Artillery unit located on Sixth Street in the old county garage.

Sun Staff Report Harry Enoch, Clark County author and historian, released his newly published book of local historic places to a warm reception at this month's Second Thursday program at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum. "Where In The World? Historic Places in Clark County, Kentucky," sold about 60 copies Thursday night. Published by the museum, the 197-page book includes more than two years of Enoch's regular column, "Where in the World," which is published in the Winchester Sun. Aside from 100 articles published between Jan. 6, 2005, and Aug. 23, 2007, the book also contains a number of pictures and illustrations.

A Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) project and a joint project of KHS and the Kentucky National Guard recently received Leadership in History Awards from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). His works, "Kentucky's Abraham Lincoln" and "Bataan: The Harrodsburg Tankers: A Time for Courage, a Time for Heroes" received Awards of Merit from AASLH. A special project of KHS and the Kentucky National Guard, the DVD title "Bataan: The Harrodsburg Tankers: A Time for Courage, a Time for Heroes" was produced by KHS Senior Associate Editor James Russell Harris, principal historian and writer; Guard representatives Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dewey Pope, of Winchester, director and editor, and Command Historian John M. Trowbridge, research assistant and publicist.

FRANKFORT - A Kentucky Historical Society project and a joint project of KHS and the Kentucky National Guard recently received Leadership in History Awards from the American Association for State and Local History. "Kentucky's Abraham Lincoln" and "Bataan: The Harrodsburg Tankers - A Time for Courage - A Time for Heroes" received Awards of Merit from AASLH. "Kentucky's Abraham Lincoln" consists of four interpretive components that explore the importance of Kentucky and Kentuckians throughout Abraham Lincoln's life, and place the state's bicentennial commemoration in historical context.

PERRYVILLE - One of the oldest houses in town will be transformed into a visitors center promoting both the city and the Perryville Battlefield if a grant application proves successful. The Johnson House, located at the corner of Buell and Second streets in the heart of Perryville, is the target of a $260,000 federal grant application through the state Department of Transportation. Boyle Fiscal Court signed off on the application Tuesday. Chris Kolakowski, director of the Perryville Enhancement Project, said converting the Johnson House into a visitors center has been on the city's wish list since 1999.

School facilities tour is Thursday Clark County Public Schools will offer a tour of the district’s school facilities on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Anyone who wants to join the tour should meet at Shearer Elementary School at 5:15 p.m. There, visitors will board buses to the other facilities. For more information, call Paul Christy at 595-0029. Correction An ad published Oct. 28 stated: Wanted: Class rings. Cash paid on the spot $175. It should have read: Wanted: Class rings.

Starting this week, local history will only be one cell phone call away. On Friday, Winchester will open the state's first cell phone tour to kick off National Tourism Week and Historic Preservation Month. Kentucky's First Lady Jane Beshear will ring in the program at 10 a.m. on Depot Street. "This will truly give a voice to our historic buildings and sites," said Nancy Turner, director of the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission. "We are thrilled to offer this cutting- edge technology to our tourists and residents allowing them to access history at their own pace.

Librarians often go unrecognized in their communities. Being a reference librarian especially isn't a very high-profile job. Sun reporter Acquanetta Donnell sat with Andy Gary, reference librarian at the Clark County Public Library, last week and asked him to talk about his work. Q. Where are you from? A. I am originally from Jacksonville, Fla., but I have lived in Kentucky since 1972. I moved from the Gainesville area to Lexington a few days before Thanksgiving in 1972.

WMU hydrant flushing Winchester Municipal Utilities will be flushing hydrants Monday on Amiens Boulevard, Calmes Boulevard, Chardonnay Court, Crocus Court, Fontaine Boulevard, Foxglove Court, Foxglove Lane, Hibiscus Lane, Hollyhook Court, Honeysuckle Lane, Honeysuckle Court, Lafayette Boulevard, Lasalle Drive, Marquis Court, Marseille Boulevard, McClure Road, Monet Boulevard, Morning Glory Court, Orchid Court, Primrose Lane, Reims Drive and...

Recently, The Advocate-Messenger described a discussion of city commissioners about when the city began supporting charitable organizations. I do not wish to enter the political aspect of the discussion, but merely to report on the historical issue in virtue of the fact I have been writing the history of one such organization, namely, Family Services Association of Boyle County, which I believe to be the oldest non-church, wholly local charitable organization...

WMU hydrant flushing Winchester Municipal Utilities will be flushing hydrants Monday on Amiens Boulevard, Calmes Boulevard, Chardonnay Court, Crocus Court, Fontaine Boulevard, Foxglove Court, Foxglove Lane, Hibiscus Lane, Hollyhook Court, Honeysuckle Lane, Honeysuckle Court, Lafayette Boulevard, Lasalle Drive, Marquis Court, Marseille Boulevard, McClure Road, Monet Boulevard, Morning Glory Court, Orchid Court, Primrose Lane, Reims Drive and...

I've often mentioned the display cases in the front foyer of the Library, but the other day as I was walking through the Youth Department, I realized I had forgotten to mention display cases there that also deserve monthly attention. Really, if you want to give your spirits a lift and your artistic sensibilities a lively tweak, you owe it to yourself to go into the Youth Department to look at their monthly displays. They are on the left-hand side just past the J fiction section. Every month, I make a trip down there to look at them to cheer myself up. Some months I make a couple of trips because these displays are too much fun. The displays are of art projects and decorations children make during youth craft times or after story times.

On Dec. 11 The Advocate-Messenger carried a story concerning a 105 Howitzer which is to be placed at the Veteran's Wall in Danville. I spoke with the gentleman who is responsible for the placement of the Howitzer, inquiring if he was aware of its history as it pertains to Danville. He was not aware of the history. I was privileged to be a part of this history, dating back to the 1950s when I was part of the Danville National Guard. Our unit was known as the 441st Field Artillery unit located on Sixth Street in the old county garage.

Happy New Year. We hope you have a pleasurable New Year's Eve full of mirth and glad tidings from friends and family. Remember to sing “Auld Lang Syne” and to dig out those old Guy Lombardo recordings to see the New Year in with the proper musical accompaniment. The library is closed today and tomorrow, but we'll be open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2. Of course, it's customary to make personal improvement resolutions this time of year. Let me suggest one: Visit and use the library more.

Dozens of local residents, out-of-town visitors and dignitaries gathered Monday to celebrate the dedication of a new historic marker at the Willis Russell House on Walnut Street. Willis Russell, a well-educated and emancipated slave of Revolutionary War Capt. Robert Craddock, relocated from Warren County to Danville about April 1838. He taught African-American children in the pre-1795 log home he inherited when Craddock died in 1837.  Russell was educated in Craddock's home by French soldier Peter Tardiveau, a political interpreter for Gen. George Rogers Clark.

Our 10th annual Local History Week is now in full swing. Tonight's event, an 18th-century dinner cooked just the way it would have been cooked at Boonesboro, is sold out, but, there are a few tickets left to the Wednesday and Thursday night programs. On Wednesday, Aug. 29, Obidiah Ewing-Roush will portray Kentucky abolitionist John G. Fee. Fee was the son of a slave-holder, but became an abolitionist after he enrolled in the Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati. His father took him out of school and made him return to Kentucky.

Ten years ago, Clark County Public Library reference librarians Andy Gary and Jerry Dennis noticed a lot of traffic in the Local History Room the week before Labor Day. With many families getting together for the holiday, and people coming to town for the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival, Gary said he and Dennis realized it was the perfect time of year to celebrate Clark County history. They created the first Local History Week in 2002, highlighting not only the rich history of the area, but also the many research materials available at the library.

Stifle shoe, sugar nipper, bowl adze, timber scribe. All those phrases name objects that are on display in the foyer of the library throughout August as part of our Local History celebration. Local greenhouse owner Joe Barnes has loaned the library some of the most curious and unusual old farm tools you'll ever see. We send out a huge “thanks” to Joe for that and we encourage you to look at the display that next time you visit. The display is worth a special visit. One of the tools is timely: a bed bug gun. Who knows, we may be seeing infomercials for those.

From Monday, Aug. 27, to Thursday, Aug. 28, the library will be presenting the 10th Annual Local History Week. Local History Week is the library's celebration in conjunction with Winchester's Pioneer Festival that always occurs the last weekend of August. Monday through Thursday before Pioneer Weekend, the library sponsors lectures or performances by some of Kentucky's best historians, scholars and reenactors. There's always a great meal beforehand. For the past few years luscious meals have been catered by Winchester's Thompson Catering Service.