A HISTORIC KENTUCKY PLANTER'S HOME

The original one story vernacular Federal home that was later 

enlarged with a Greek Revival

 two-story home addition.

When I landed here in Kentucky I felt like I was in another land. I arrived from a long stint in the areas of  New Mexico and Oregon and found that the architecture here was so different. In fact different from any place I had lived such as the Midwest and the far West. Since part of my background includes Historic Preservation, my eyes couldn't get enough of  Kentucky's old building stock.

One of the houses that initially stood out was this early 1800s home. I call it a "planter's home." It is very historic --  it sits alone on a hill overlooking a large parcel of land.  Although I have lived in the area for a few years I  have never seen any signs of occupancy. 

The original one-story home with two-story home attached

I would love to open one of the doors and take my own personal tour of the interior. But this is not to be. It is not a house that folks can walk the grounds or open the doors. It just stands there holding secrets in its own private memories.

Even the few locals I asked about the house didn't really know anything.

Front facade of the two-story house 
with portico entrance porch

Close-up of front portico Greek Revival porch

Obviously this was the home built by wealth. I recently found out that the one-story house was originally owned by Joseph Miller, the son of the founder of Richmond, Kentucky. Another family member owned it by 1850 when the tw0-story house became part of the one-story. 

Named "Hedgeland" from my research online -- could not find out why it was called this.

These photos are five years old. There is probably  more information in other archives but for now it might have to wait awhile before I get back to it again. 

I wrote this post today as I felt that I owed it to the home.

Sometimes a certain place or places can grab you with questions and this was one of those places for me.

COUNTRY PLANTATION HOMES -- CENTRAL KENTUCKY

Paint Lick Area, Kentucky --  Greek Revival Style Influence
Early 1800s

Greek Revival Influence
Paint Lick Area, Kentucky
Early 1800s

Georgian Influence

Early 1800s

Central Kentucky

SIMPLE SOUTHERN WOODEN COUNTRY CHURCH -- A HUNDRED YEARS OLD

OLD VERNACULAR COUNTRY CHURCH

On a soldier blue sky day, I found this intriguing southern wooden church in the area of Paint Lick, Kentucky. And, at the same time a large ferocious dog found me as I opened up my truck door to go have a "look see."  Whoa, I thought and "go home" I shouted at the dog as his bark almost turned into a snarl. I must have some look of authority as the dog backed off and slowly trotted away -- but from a distance he never let me out of his sight. Oh well, I thought, just another day in  my life of finding and taking photos of unique places and people of the folk kind. I headed toward the church but kept an eye on Rover as I walked. 

The church was apparently deserted from the broken panes in various windows and the lack of worn footpaths around the church.

The church was certainly a simple style and could have been featured in a movie about early settlements. It did have some traits that added a bit of a flair to it. Its front facing gable fell under the Greek Revival influence and its doors and windows were certainly Gothic Revival style. 

Vernacular builders borrow styles from the past -- ones that they are familiar with. Greek Revival was popular in the mid 1800s as well as the Gothic Revival style.The vernacular builder or builders would have been local folks with their own interpretation of what the church should look like. Their pick of 'familiar to them" styles formed the mixture found in the this church's simple look. 

The colored glass panes are considered a "poor man's"  style for church windows as the more "well-to-do"  had stained glass. 

STONE PLATE IN CHURCH FOUNDATION

I noticed that a stone slab had been inserted in the chiseled limestone foundation. It read 1st Baptist Church, W.D. Thompson, Pastor 1901. I believe this stone was placed in the foundation as it was being built and is more than likely the age of the building. 


There was an old white wooden outhouse that belonged to the church sitting nearby. I wanted to take a photo of it but I could see that Rover was getting restless and I thought I had better move on. I filed a note in my mind as I drove away -- that if I ever got back this way to remember to bring Rover a bit of appeasement -- possibly some dog biscuits.