Train derails in Harrodsburg

Photo from The Harrodsburg Herald

On Thursday evening, July 22 at approximately 5:15, a train passing through Harrodsburg suddenly had a massive derailment just past the Alexander & Royalty Funeral Home. Law enforcement and railroad personnel on the scene said the main focus was on clearing the capsized cars and determining the condition of the tracks. Cornishville Street and West Lane were the only available crossings, according to the Harrodsburg Police Department.

Photo by Keith Rightmyer

“Around 5 p.m. this evening a Norfolk Southern train derailed seven cars in Harrodsburg,” said Jeff DeGraff, Norfolk Southern Media Relations. “The cars are reported to be empty and there were no injuries.”

Photo from Facebook (unsure of original origin)

“Norfolk Southern crews and contractors are assessing the situation and beginning repair work,” DeGraff said. “At this time, the cause is under investigation.”

Photo from Boston's Way Food Truck at Lemons Mill

In 2017, Norfolk Southern replaced every railroad crossing in Mercer County. At that time, up to 27 trains traveled through the area every day, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Last year, the railroad struck a deal with the City of Harrodsburg to close the crossing on Broadway Street.

Photo from WLEX-18

Photo from WLEX-18

Photo from WLEX-18

Josh Crager posted this drone footage of the capsized train cars on his YouTube channel.

Sandra DeFoor School of Nursing

The Harrodsburg Herald

Congratulations to Campbellsville University for the opening of the Commonwealth Credit Union Center For Health Services and the Sandra DeFoor School of Nursing.

The Harrodsburg Herald

 

Flag Retirement

 

The Harrodsburg Herald

Flag retirement ceremony at the Old Mud Meeting House.

Feeders Pet Supply

 

The Harrodsburg Herald

A new business has opened in Harrodsburg, Feeders Pet Supply. It is located in the shopping center between Kroger and Save-A-Lot.

Father Gabriel at St. Andrew Catholic Church

Photo from Bill Huff

This is Harrodsburg's St. Andrew Catholic Church priest, Father Gabriel, with Cheryl Huff, Mary Ann Bauman, Larry Bauman, and Linda Curtsinger. Unsure who the babies are.

Sinclair Service Station

Photo from the collection of Jerry L. Sampson

Here is a great photo for everyone, courtesy of Jerry L. Sampson. This is a 1950s or early 1960s photo from the corner of Lexington Street and Greenville Street. Sinclair was eventually torn down and used by Charlie Carr to park cars when he owned the service station. This is the current site of King's Work Graphics and at one point, this was also the location of Green's Bait Shop. 

The two-story brick building on the right side is the former office of Dr. HD Rightmyer, family dentist, and my late father-in-law. This building was converted to offices in 1953. In 1976, the brick building was demolished to install a car wash. The alley behind the Sinclair went toward the back of Harrods Theatre, Gem Drugstore, White Cottage Restaurant, and several offices.

Gateway to Harrodsburg

What do you think about reconstructing this gate for the 250th-anniversary celebration?

Photo from Images of America: Harrodsburg

This stockade gate once greeted travelers to Harrodsburg via Lexington Road. A replica of the Fort Harrod entryway, the gate served as a reminder of the town's pioneer heritage. It was a gift from the Woman's Club of Harrodsburg and was erected in 1929 and removed in 1936. A plaque read: "As the friendly gates of Harrod's Fort were open to pioneers, so too these gates today are open to you - enter and abide."

Historical postcard from author's personal collection

Harrodsburg needs to seriously think about reconstructing this gate, if not on Lexington Road, then on another main road into Harrodsburg. We will be entertaining many new tourist as we creep closer and closer to 2024!

Bowman Station

The following photos are by Clay Lancaster and they show the log home and smokehouse from the Bowman Station farm near Burgin, Kentucky and were taken in 1981.

Photo by Clay Lancaster

Col. John Bowman first came to Kentucky in the spring of 1775. In the fall of 1779, Col. John Bowman and Col. Abraham Bowman were instrumental in the founding of Bowman's Station on Cane Run in present-day Mercer County. Originally housing seven families during the "Hard Winter" of 1779–80, the settlement grew to thirty families during the next year. Bowman's position was reaffirmed by Governor Thomas Jefferson and he used the settlement as his base of operations. He was often traveling to organize the defense of Kentucky County

Photo by Clay Lancaster

Smokehouse from the John Bowman Station

The first county-lieutenant and military governor of Kentucky County during the American Revolutionary War, Col. Bowman also served in the American Revolution, many times as second in command to General George Rogers Clark.  They fought together during the Illinois Campaign, which, at the time, doubled the size of the United States.

Photo by Clay Lancaster

The Bowman brothers were among the earliest settlers in Kentucky and were excellent horsemen. They became known as the "Four Centaurs of Cedar Creek".

John Bowman (1738 - 1784)

Abraham Bowman (1749  - 1837

Joseph Bowman (c. 1752 - 1779)

Isaac Bowman (1757–1826) 

Photo by Clay Lancaster

Fourth of July 1949

Photo from Judith Moore Cheney taken by Catherine Moore

Fourth of July 1949, Mercer County Courthouse Square:

Drummer Boy -  Bobbie Sue Gabhart

Betsy Ross - Judith Moore Cheney

American K9 - Frosty the dog

Statue of Liberty - Ann Gabhart

Indian Boy - Tucker Moore

Uncle Sam - Elizabeth Ann Van Arsdal

Photo from Judith Moore Cheney taken by Catherine Moore

 

First Child of European Heritage Born in Kentucky

Wow! I found this letter from Robert McAfee regarding the first child of European heritage born in Kentucky.

Kentucky Historical Society

According to the Draper Manuscripts - the premiere, primary source for pioneer history - they interviewed Elizabeth Pogue Thomas (daughter of Ann McGinty). She ascertained the interviewer that Harrod Wilson was the first child of European heritage born in Kentucky and he was born at Harrodsburg.

However, according to Collins' History of Kentucky, there were three possibilities for the first child:

1.) Elizabeth Thomas arrived at Fort Boonesborough in September 1775 and her family moved to Fort Harrod in February 1776. She said Harrod Wilson was the first child born in Kentucky. She stated the baby was about six months old when her family arrived at Fort Harrod in February 1776. He was the son of Hugh and Christina Wilson and was born in the fall of 1775. Christina Stagner Wilson was the daughter of Barney Stagner, who was keeper of the spring at Fort Harrod. Hugh Wilson killed on March 7, 1776 and almost immediately, Christina married James Berry.

2.) Chenoa Hart was the daughter of Nathan Hart (and one of his slaves) and was born at Hart's Station (one mile from Boonesborough), but no date of birth given. Thomas' recollection of her time at Boonesborough was that the "colored woman" of Hart had no children while she lived there.

3.) William Hinton was born at Harrodsburg, but no date was given, and he died in 1838. I have found very little information on this person.

We may never know exactly who the first child born in Kentucky was, but I believe Elizabeth Thomas's first-hand account. There is quite a bit of information available on Harrod Wilson.

Kentucky Historical Society