North Middletown Precinct

BB-301

Duncan Place; ca. 1800

Spears Mill Road

 

This interesting and once fine weatherboarded house consists of a central two-story log section flanked by one-story wings, one log the other frame. There are several large stone chimneys and some early Federal woodwork. Known as the old Duncan Place, this was the homestead of early settler Major Jere Duncan, shown here on the 1861 map. Duncan and his son James were early and extensive stockbreeders from at least the late 1840's until the former's sale in 1867.

 

Perrin, pp. 70, 71, 458, 463.

BB-339

L. W. Kimes/Mrs. Forgis (Elizabeth) Trimble House; probably early 19th century and later Church Street.

 

An early log structure with exceptionally wide beaded floorboards was incorporated in this frame dwelling, which was probably enlarged before the Civil War, as indicated by a remaining Greek Revival mantel. The Italianate bracketed cornice probably dates from after the Civil War, and there were early 20th century alterations.

 

Constructed in the first decade of the nineteenth century, the house was purchased by the Montague family about 1840. L. W. Kimes is listed here in 1861, while Mrs. Elizabeth Trimble, widow of Forgis Trimble, is identified as the owner on the 1877 map.

 

Whitley; Perrin, p. 136; Evans, #3.

BB-335

William H. Settles/Henry S. Caywood House; ca. 1839, mid-19th century, and after 1901

College Street

 

Within the rear service area of this impressive two-story frame dwelling with an elaborate Ionic portico is a three-room log house. Several additions and a comprehensive turn-to-the-century enlargement and remodelling in the Colonial Revival manner reflect the numerous owners of the property. The resulting house is basically irregular, but like several homes in the North Middletown area it was given not only grandeur but an illusion of symmetry when enlarged by local architectbuilder William K. Hagan about 1905. A narrow central projecting pediment is carried on colossal clustered Ionic columns with much entasis. An additonal column at the northwest corner carries across the front line of the south wing, and the horizontal is further sustained by the elegant balustrade that connects the columns on the second story. The extended eave-brackets take the place of modillions in the cornice, but they have an Arts and Craft effect of structural honesty. The interior features large rooms opening widely into each other through sliding doors several handsome classical mantels, and fine bevelled-glass panels in the Federal style.

 

It is believed that the log section of the large house was built in 1837. The house was designated on the 1861 map as the property of William H. Settles, who was listed as a blacksmith in the 1875-76 and 1883-84 Kentucky State Gazetters. Considered one of the -best blacksmiths in the county, he was also a carriage builder, and his shop and carriage factory were situated behind the house.

 

From 1901 until his death in 1959, this was the home of State Senator Henry Stanton Caywood (1875-1959), successful landowner, livestock dealer, financier, and philanthropist. Born in Montgomery County, he attended the Kentucky Classical & Business College in North Middletown. In 1896 he became the proprietor of a general store in North Middletown, which he operated for a decade, while also farming and acquiring land. Financially successful, he was active in the North Middletown Bank and the People's Deposit Bank and Trust Co., in Paris. He became involved in local political organizations, and was elected to the Kentucky Senate.

 

Whitley; Perrin, pp. 136, 492 and 550, 538; Kerr, IV, 98-99; Bodley-Wilson, 111, 306-309 with portrait of Caywood.

BB-273

Stoner Side, James and Victor M. Kenney House; ca. 1790-1810

Paris-North Middletown Road

 

In an idyllic setting overlooking a gentle bend of Stoner Creek, this fairly large two-story residence is unusual for its early date, because it is of frame construction. Although somewhat altered by the removal of the ell, the house retains its overall proportions and a number of original features such as rectangular facade windows of twelve over twelve pane on the first floor and twelve over eight sash on the second floor.

 

The early frame dwelling was probably built for James Kenney, a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia. It is believed that Kenney and Michael Stoner, for whom the creek was named, settled in this area as early as 1785. A successful farmer and one of the largest hemp producers in the county, Kenney was one of several distinguished citizens, including William Garrard and U. S. Senator John Edwards, who supported a 1794 legislative bill that permitted a lottery to pay for the proposed opening of the Licking River to navigation. He was an original trustee of the Bourbon Academy in 1798. One of his sons, Victor, inherited the farm, and is indicated here on both the 1861 and 1877 maps. On the latter the site is labelled Stoner Side, a farm of 450 acres.

 

Perrin, pp. 85, 91, 100, 112, 461, 599.

BB-305 Thomas Rodgers House; 1780's and later North Middletown Road

 

Situated above Rogers Creek, this very early dwelling has an unusual combination of log and stone construction. The two-story, singlepile stone section has small and few windows typical of the earliest construction. Constructed on the hall-parlor plan, the two-story log section with a slightly higher roof has an immense stone chimney at the gable end. A frame or log link the same roof height as the stone unit connects the two blocks.

 

Built about 1780 by Thomas Rodgers, one of the first settlers in the area, it is a significant representation of early construction techniques. The farm later was acquired by Kinzea Stone II, who resided at Hidaway (BB-468) on the Paris-North Middletown Road. Stone is indicated as the owner on the 1861 map.

 

Whitley; Perrin, pp. 85, 461.

BB-358

J. McCray House; ca. 1800

Paris-North Middletown Road

 

A good illustration of saddlebag construction, this quaint weatherboarded structure has two one-and-a-half -story pens connected by a large center stone chimney. There is a curious gap between the pens at the rear elevation, as well as a lower roof on one block. A modest porch extends across the front, and there is an attractive Italianate porch at one back corner. A one-story lean-to stretches across the rear of the dwelling. In close proximity are several frame and stone out buildings. The site is identified as the J. McCray farm on both the 1861 and 1877 maps. The house was heavily damaged by fire in 1982.

 

Perrin, p. 792.

BB-300

Ashland, Benjamin F./Alexander Hawes Bedford House, Muckross Farm; early 19th century Spears Mill Road

This well-built one-story brick house exhibits a Flemish bond facade with jackarches over the openings, and an impressive entrance with a six-pane semicircular fanlight and reeded frame. In addition, the gable-end of the main block and the side of the ell, which face the entrance lane were also executed in Flemish bond brickwork. A long one-story brick wing has been added to one side, and there is a handsome late Italianate porch across the front of the main block.

The impressive Federal dwelling may have been built for Benjamin F. Bedford, who is listed here in 1861. His youngest son, Alexander H. Bedford, acquired the farm, and is indicated at this location on the 1877 map with 235 acres. Bedford, a farmer and noted stockraiser, called the place Ashland.

Whitley; Perrin, p. 449.