The leaves were falling and fall was definitely in the air at The Historic Market Fair at Locust Grove in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the favorite annual events for re-enactors and visitors alike, Saturday was hampered by rain and cold temperatures. But Sunday dawned with sunshine and warmer temperatures and the crowds came out to shop, view the entertainers and the tactical battle between the British and the Continentals.Photos Now Loaded!
It was a cold weekend for the Salt festival held at Big Bone Lick State Park. The Festival is a combination of re-enactors from The Kentuckee Primitives and Clan Desdin. Modern music mixed with native and face painters and hot dogs and lemonade were only a short distance from salt making and campfire cooking. Photos now loaded.
The 153rd Commemoration of the Battle of Perryville
Natives emerged from the woods to take aim at the settlers fleeing from Squire Boone’s Painted Stone Station in 1781. Men, women and children fleeing their homes with all of their possessions were attacked, some killed, some taken prisoner while most were able to make there way to the more heavily populated Linn’s Station.
And in the re-enactment held on September 11-13, 2015 the weather cooperated, as visitors to Red Orchard Park got a glimpse of living history. All Photos Now Loaded!
Fort Boonesborough hosted Indians, settlers, longhunters, sutlers and visitors on September 26 and 27, 2015. The great Siege took place in September of 1778 when Shawnee Chief Blackfish and 400 warriors arrived at the fort. Negotiations with Daniel Boone and the settlers failed and hostilities broke out. The Siege of 1778 lasted 11 days before heavy rains discouraged the Indians and they dispersed into the night. All photos now loaded.
The Battle of Blue Licks
Hear ye, hear ye...... It’s a traditional early trade fair. Complete with entertainment, children, livestock, soldiers, sailors, families, taverns and wonders of all kinds. Take a look at The Fair at New Boston - 2015. All Photos Now Loaded!
The 233rd Commemoration of the battle of Blue Licks took place on August 15 & 16th. This battle was one of the final battles of the Revolutionary War in Kentucky and killed over 70 prominent Kentuckians.
History in Our Own Back Yard
The Roebling Murals in Covington, Kentucky
An artist’s view of history is elegantly displayed on the flood walls along the Ohio River in Covington Kentucky. Stretching over 20 feet are murals with years ranging from 8000 BC to 2003. The scenes depict life along the river and some of the historic events that took place there. The scene above is from George Rogers Clark’s second excursion into the Ohio Country in November of 1782. The murals are a wonderful gift from Covington to visitors from both Cincinnati and Covington, They can be viewed as you exit the Roebling Suspension Bridge or from behind the Embassy Suites in downtown Covington. A must see for history buffs in the area. See more of the murals...
Sons of the American Revolution Holds 125th National Congress in Louisville, KY with a Memorial to George Rogers Clark
The drums beat, the fifers played and the flags unfurled at Historic Locust Grove on Saturday June 27, 2015. As part of the 125th Congress visitors were given choices of events to attend over the weekend. And about 150 of the National members and their wives choose this ceremony at Locust Grove.
Members of many of the Kentucky Chapters carried the various revolutionary era flags onto the field and members of the Kentucky militia fired a 21 gun salute in a coordinated firing with an 18th century replica cannon provided by The Painted Stone Settlers of Shelbyville, KY.
Throughout the weekend members could choose various tours throughout the city. The Kentucky Derby Museum, The Imax theater at The Louisville Science Center, The Kentucky Show at the Kentucky Center for Performing Arts were just a few of the options for the visiting SAR members.
The Siege of Fort Randolph, in Point Pleasant WV tells the story of the fort, the visit and death of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk and the ensuing Indian attack.
Women On The Frontier April 18-19 Fort Boonesborough State Park
Rebecca Boone A Portrayal by Bonnie Strassell
Presented by The Painted Stone Settlers
On April 2, 2015, Bonnie Strassell appeared in Shelbyville, Ky as Rebecca Boone. The evening was sponsored by The Painted Stone Settlers and was held at the Stratton Community Center. In addition to the performance visitors were treated to refreshments and “Beyond Photography” a series of art prints by Jim Cummings.
Strassell’s portrayal captured the life story of one of the Kentucky frontiers little known “second bananas. Rebecca Boone followed her husband Daniel from settlement to settlement and raised their 10 children. Learn more.....
Participants and visitors gather to learn about colonial era dyeing from Carol Jarboe. Although there were lots of walnut dyed garments on the frontier, Jarboe contends that there was also a desire, especially among the women, to create a bit of color in their lives. Click here for photos.
Boone Trace Expedition
A Look at The War of 1812
By Kathy Cummings
Interested in learning more about the War of 1812? We had a chance to listen to author Eddie Price last month in Shelbyville, KY. In 2012 Price published his historical novel “Widder’s Landing”. His research for the book was extensive. As a former history teacher, he took a thorough look at the time period. Not a detail was missed in this 564 page work.
Since the publication Price has been touring as a part of the speaker’s bureau of The Kentucky Humanities Council.
By Kathy Cummings
On March 26, 2015, Curtis Penix and Givan Fox concluded their two week hike of the Boone Trace. Penix, an avid hiker decided to pursue the hike in memory of his 5X great grandfather Joshua Penix. His planning began months ago as he compiled information on the route taken by early settlers to Kentucky.
He was introduced to Neal Hammon, a historian who has done much work in defining the Trace, who in turn introduced him to John Fox, president of Friends of Boone Trace . Somewhere in the planning Fox’s son Givan decided to join in. Penix left Kingsport, TN on March 10. Fox joined in at Martin’s Station at Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia six days later.
The two gathered much media attention as the hike continued and posted daily
He has programs on many of the historical events that pepper his novel. He talks about “brush arbor revivals” when the great religious awaking spread through Kentucky. The New Madrid Earth Quake of 1811-12 had an important impact on the times as does the ongoing conflict with Great Britain. Not only does Price weave each of these historical events into his book he has become so well informed on The War of 1812 and Kentucky’s part in it that listening to him speak is a complete history lesson in itself. Check out his other speaking engagements at www.eddiepricekentuckyauthor.com or attend his next speaking engagement on April 1, 2015 at Historic Locust Grove in Louisvillle, KY. Click here for more.
updates and photos on a blog. The two concluded the walk on March 26 at Fort Boonesborough State Park. There they were met by media and members of many groups including The Fort Boonesborough Foundation, Friends of Boone Trace, The Society of Fort Boonesborough, The Madison County Historical Society and the Boone Society.Photos and extended story - Click here.
March is Women’s History Month
By Presidentail Proclamation
Scalped - The Story of Peggy Chenoweth
Rachel Jackson - The Gentle Wife of a Controversial President
Although their life was plagued with rumors of bigamy, the real story was much simpler. Rachel Donelson married Lewis Robards at the age of 17. His unreasonable jealousy forced her to separate from him and return from Kentucky to her family in Tennessee. She heard that he had filed for divorce. In 1791 she married Andrew Jackson. Two years later they received word that Robards had just then filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery. It seems he had previously obtained permission to file for a divorce but not done so. Now he filed, citing adultery since she had married Jackson.
We begin our series of articles on for Women’s History Month with the story of Peggy Chenoweth. Scalped in the spring house on her family’s property near Middletown, Kentucky in 1789 the Indians left Mrs. Chenoweth for dead. Instead she recovered and lived well into her 80’s. Read more......
Women’s History Month
Maggie Delaney,
Indentured Servant Tells Her Story
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society.
About Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as”Women’s History Week." Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as "Women’s History Week." In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as ”Women’s History Month." Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as ”Women’s History Month.”
From the Law Library of Congress' guide to the legislative history of Women's History Month.
Returning for the third time to Fort Boonesborough’s February Fireside Chats, Maggie Delaney did not disappoint. Carol Jarboe first debuted her presentation of the story of an indentured servant in 2009. Since then she and her husband Rev. John Jarboe have traveled thousands of miles to countless venues to deliver this tale.
It is an emotional tale of hardship in the early days of the American colonies. Not only does Jarboe go through a myriad of emotions she takes the audience through her emotional journey with her. Her story begins in Ireland and ends in America. It is one woman’s journey to find a better life for herself and her family. Learn more.....
Lyman C. Draper - From The Locust Grove Lecture Series
Jim Holmberg of The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, KY presented the program at the February Lecture Series at Historic Locust Grove. Lyman Draper was fascinated with the early settlement period of the Trans-Allegheny region and spent a life time collecting documents, stories and accounts from the area with a strong focus on Kentucky and Tennessee.
Although he spent his life collecting, Holmberg classifies him as “a procrastinator” who never really achieved his end purpose of compiling and writing. But regardless of whether or not he achieved his purpose or whether or not his methods
were ethical - he left behind a wealth of information that may never have been saved. Read more....
James Holmberg
History our own backyard!
Fort Boonesborough Hosts the first of the 2015 Fireside Chats
I, too, am a Kentuckian....Abraham Lincoln
Albert Roberts portrays an 18th Century Physician. During his performance Saturday night at Fort Boonesborough he selected a young boy from the audience to demonstrate his skills such as bloodletting and amputations to a full crowd.
For February we bring you a photojournalist’s look at The Abraham Lincoln Memorial at Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY The Memorial consists of a small amphitheater, the large Lincoln Sculpture and Four Bas Relief Sculptures of events from Lincoln’s life Learn more....
Behringer Crawford
The Behringer Crawford Museum
As trains were the order of the week we made a visit to the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park in Covington, Kentucky. But it wasn’t the Christmas display but the permanent display of trains, minatures and even a full size trolley car in the lobby that caught our photographers eye. The theme of the museum is Rivers, Roads, Rails and Runways and examines transportation in the Cincinnati area in a bygone era. A wonderful place for children the museum examines the steamboat with a room dedicated to that time period. Click here
Steaming into the new year!
People in the Spotlight
As always the holidays of 2014 meant trains, trains and more trains. Pioneer Times set up a display of a Holiday Wonderland complete with Toy Trains at the Oldham County Historical Society. The display was available during Light Up LaGrange and other events in the Rob Morris Chapel at the History Center Campus. Click here to view the trains and Christmas village.
Ralph Marcum: Renaissance Man
Author Charles Hayes takes a look at a multi talented Kentuckian in his new book“THE LIFE & TIMES OF RALPH MARCUM” Click here.
