Washington Historic District (Washington, Kentucky)
October 27, 2023
The Washington Historic District in Washington, Kentucky was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and its borders were increased in 1976.[2] The buildings of Washington range from simple log cabins to late Georgian and early Federal styles constructed of home burned brick laid in Flemish Bond. Many houses have double doors at the entrance and a reeded roll length wise under a four light transom.[1]
Roughly bounded by Hoppe St., Bartlett Lane, and city limits on E & W, (original), and extending N & S along U.S. 62 & 68, (increase) Washington, Kentucky
The significant architecture of Washington covers the period 1765–1850. Taking into account the time lag between architectural styles fashionable on the Atlantic seaboard and in the frontier, the lack of refined, period examples within the town that can be found elsewhere in the state becomes understandable. Eighteen buildings were earmarked within the boundaries of the original historic district (approved January 21, 1970). They included the most important buildings historically and architecturally, for example:
The Paxton Inn (c. 1810), a brick three-story Federal style example of an early Kentucky public inn
Albert Sidney Johnston House, representative of simple early frame domestic buildings in Kentucky, is reputed to be the birthplace and childhood home of Confederate States of America Army General, Albert Sidney Johnston
Federal Hill (1800), is a two-story brick house with transitional details of Georgian and Federal styles built by Colonel Thomas Marshall and completed by his son. Another son, John Marshall, became the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801-1835).
Marshall Key House (1807), a two-story brick house, has a Federal style main body with a Georgian style doorway. The builder was Colonel Marshall Key, who moved to Kentucky in 1795.
Arthur Fox House (also Fox-Bickley House, c. 1785), a two-story frame and nogging clapboarded structure, was built by one of the original trustees of Washington.
The rich variety of buildings include a "flat-boat house", the only surviving example of this unique kind of structure, a bank, an inn, row buildings, churches, a school building, a group of log, frame, brick, and stone homes along with several types of outbuildings.
Early historyedit
The founding of Washington dates back to May 1775, when a group of ten men arrived from farther east in Virginia to survey and improve lands. One of the men, Jonathan Higgs, built a cabin near the present east end of York Street in Washington. The most influential of the group was Simon Kenton, who cleared about an acre of land at a site about 1.5 miles from Washington.
In 1785, Simon Kenton sold 700 acres to two Virginians, Arthur Fox and William Wood, who decided to lay out a one-mile square grid-iron site, sell lots, and turn a profit. The town was named "Washington" with the intention that it might become the national capital and was the first town in America to be so named.
Washington's early commercial success stemmed from its location. Those settlers who landed at Limestone and who wished to travel to the Kentucky interior had to negotiate a steep hill to the plateau three and one-half miles away where Washington stands. This required a full day to drive a heavily loaded wagon the short distance and therefore most elected to stop overnight at the town before continuing the inland journey.
High periodedit
Washington was once the second largest town in Kentucky as reported by the first federal census of 1790 which lists four hundred sixty-two residents living in one hundred nineteen houses. It became the county seat in 1788 when Mason County was formed
By 1794, when the Mason County Courthouse was built, the town had already become one of the most dominant in the state. The resulting influx of lawyers and others concerned with court activities led to the establishment of a number of taverns and inns. The Washington post office was designated as the mail distribution center for the entire Northwest Territory including the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Declineedit
After the start of the 19th century, Washington experienced a slow decline. One traveler passing through on November 25, 1818, described the town as being "laid out on a large plan but not thriving". Disaster struck in April 1825, when a fire destroyed thirteen buildings including two taverns.
A second misfortune occurred in 1820 when the Lexington and Ohio Railroad was laid out from Lexington to the Ohio River bypassing Washington, a serious blow to the future economy of the town. Outbreaks of cholera in 1832 and 1833 and significantly reduced the population. The nearby town of Maysville, however, experienced rapid development between 1830 and 1850, surpassing the growth of Washington. The inevitable happened in 1847 with the decision to transfer the county seat from Washington to Maysville.
Archaeological reportedit
An archaeological survey was completed during the summer of 1975. The physical survey and historical research of others led to the discovery of additional historic sites and artifacts both inside and outside of the original historic district boundary.
The surface collection of artifacts within the township provided a good chronological overview of the areas cultural remains and their development. A total of 1,858 artifacts were recovered from the surface, and represent occupational periods from c. 1785 through more recent times. Pearlware, ironstone, and various heavy stoneware - including American blue on grey - were collected throughout the township. Recovered glass artifacts included basal fragments of bottles bearing pre-1860 pontil scars, dark olive or "black" glass, canning jar fragments, and a considerable amount of the sun-colored amethyst glass characteristic of the period 1880–1914. Metallic artifacts include hand-wrought pieces, small iron chains, a boot scraper, and 19th century building hardware.
Referencesedit
^ ab"National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form". National Register of Historic Places (original). National Park Service. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
^ ab"National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form". National Register of Historic Places (expansion). National Park Service. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
October 27, 2023
washington, historic, district, washington, kentucky, washington, historic, district, washington, kentucky, listed, national, register, historic, places, 1970, borders, were, increased, 1976, buildings, washington, range, from, simple, cabins, late, georgian, . The Washington Historic District in Washington Kentucky was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and its borders were increased in 1976 2 The buildings of Washington range from simple log cabins to late Georgian and early Federal styles constructed of home burned brick laid in Flemish Bond Many houses have double doors at the entrance and a reeded roll length wise under a four light transom 1 Washington Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtPaxton Inn in Washington Historic DistrictShow map of KentuckyShow map of the United StatesLocationRoughly bounded by Hoppe St Bartlett Lane and city limits on E amp W original and extending N amp S along U S 62 amp 68 increase Washington KentuckyCoordinates38 36 50 N 83 48 28 W 38 61389 N 83 80778 W 38 61389 83 80778Architectural styleGeorgian Federal original and Gothic increase NRHP reference No 70000253 and 76002274 1 2 Added to NRHPJanuary 21 1970 original May 28 1976 increase Contents 1 Architecture 2 Early history 3 High period 4 Decline 5 Archaeological report 6 ReferencesArchitecture edit nbsp Log cabin built from flat boat lumberThe significant architecture of Washington covers the period 1765 1850 Taking into account the time lag between architectural styles fashionable on the Atlantic seaboard and in the frontier the lack of refined period examples within the town that can be found elsewhere in the state becomes understandable Eighteen buildings were earmarked within the boundaries of the original historic district approved January 21 1970 They included the most important buildings historically and architecturally for example The Paxton Inn c 1810 a brick three story Federal style example of an early Kentucky public inn Albert Sidney Johnston House representative of simple early frame domestic buildings in Kentucky is reputed to be the birthplace and childhood home of Confederate States of America Army General Albert Sidney Johnston Federal Hill 1800 is a two story brick house with transitional details of Georgian and Federal styles built by Colonel Thomas Marshall and completed by his son Another son John Marshall became the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court 1801 1835 Marshall Key House 1807 a two story brick house has a Federal style main body with a Georgian style doorway The builder was Colonel Marshall Key who moved to Kentucky in 1795 Arthur Fox House also Fox Bickley House c 1785 a two story frame and nogging clapboarded structure was built by one of the original trustees of Washington The rich variety of buildings include a flat boat house the only surviving example of this unique kind of structure a bank an inn row buildings churches a school building a group of log frame brick and stone homes along with several types of outbuildings Early history editThe founding of Washington dates back to May 1775 when a group of ten men arrived from farther east in Virginia to survey and improve lands One of the men Jonathan Higgs built a cabin near the present east end of York Street in Washington The most influential of the group was Simon Kenton who cleared about an acre of land at a site about 1 5 miles from Washington In 1785 Simon Kenton sold 700 acres to two Virginians Arthur Fox and William Wood who decided to lay out a one mile square grid iron site sell lots and turn a profit The town was named Washington with the intention that it might become the national capital and was the first town in America to be so named Washington s early commercial success stemmed from its location Those settlers who landed at Limestone and who wished to travel to the Kentucky interior had to negotiate a steep hill to the plateau three and one half miles away where Washington stands This required a full day to drive a heavily loaded wagon the short distance and therefore most elected to stop overnight at the town before continuing the inland journey High period editWashington was once the second largest town in Kentucky as reported by the first federal census of 1790 which lists four hundred sixty two residents living in one hundred nineteen houses It became the county seat in 1788 when Mason County was formedBy 1794 when the Mason County Courthouse was built the town had already become one of the most dominant in the state The resulting influx of lawyers and others concerned with court activities led to the establishment of a number of taverns and inns The Washington post office was designated as the mail distribution center for the entire Northwest Territory including the present states of Ohio Indiana Illinois Michigan and Wisconsin Decline editAfter the start of the 19th century Washington experienced a slow decline One traveler passing through on November 25 1818 described the town as being laid out on a large plan but not thriving Disaster struck in April 1825 when a fire destroyed thirteen buildings including two taverns A second misfortune occurred in 1820 when the Lexington and Ohio Railroad was laid out from Lexington to the Ohio River bypassing Washington a serious blow to the future economy of the town Outbreaks of cholera in 1832 and 1833 and significantly reduced the population The nearby town of Maysville however experienced rapid development between 1830 and 1850 surpassing the growth of Washington The inevitable happened in 1847 with the decision to transfer the county seat from Washington to Maysville Archaeological report editAn archaeological survey was completed during the summer of 1975 The physical survey and historical research of others led to the discovery of additional historic sites and artifacts both inside and outside of the original historic district boundary The surface collection of artifacts within the township provided a good chronological overview of the areas cultural remains and their development A total of 1 858 artifacts were recovered from the surface and represent occupational periods from c 1785 through more recent times Pearlware ironstone and various heavy stoneware including American blue on grey were collected throughout the township Recovered glass artifacts included basal fragments of bottles bearing pre 1860 pontil scars dark olive or black glass canning jar fragments and a considerable amount of the sun colored amethyst glass characteristic of the period 1880 1914 Metallic artifacts include hand wrought pieces small iron chains a boot scraper and 19th century building hardware References edit a b National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form National Register of Historic Places original National Park Service Retrieved December 22 2011 a b National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form National Register of Historic Places expansion National Park Service Retrieved December 22 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Washington Historic District Washington Kentucky amp oldid 1169592867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
