Images d'Amérique : KentuckySéries

Cette série explore la riche histoire et la culture de l'État américain du Kentucky. À travers des centaines de photographies d'époque soigneusement sélectionnées et des légendes perspicaces, elle dévoile les histoires uniques de ses villes, traditions et sites emblématiques. Découvrez le passé du 'Bluegrass State', de ses avant-postes militaires à la célèbre Route du Bourbon et à son héritage musical.

Ordre de lecture recommandé

Villa Hills
Deborah Kohl Kremer
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Although the small town of Villa Hills was incorporated into a sixth-class city in 1962, the area where the city sits was home to luscious farmland dating back to the time when Kentucky was still part of Virginia. The development of Villa Hills is the story of the birth of a suburb. It is the perfect example of population sprawling away from the larger cities, as people looked for a more rural setting to raise their families. In the late 1950s, what they found was unincorporated Kenton County, bounded by the tiny town of Crescent Springs and the Ohio River. At this pivotal time in the area's history, farmers were beginning to sell their land and builders were breaking ground on three-bedroom ranch homes and four-bedroom two stories. Images of America: Villa Hills presents the history of the farmers who worked the land, the Benedictine sisters who established a monastery, and the young families who worked together to build the city now known as Villa Hills.
Logan County
Mark Griffin
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Logan County's rich and tumultuous history is explored, highlighting significant events such as the Second Great Awakening at the Red River Meeting House and the lawlessness of Rogue's Harbor. The narrative includes tales of Jesse James's bank heist in Russellville and the political intrigues surrounding four governors and a failed campaign. Additionally, the book documents the lives of everyday farmers cultivating tobacco and the establishment of the Shaker community at South Union, offering a comprehensive view of the county's past.
Remembering Kentucky's Confederates
Geoffrey R. Walden
130pages
5 heures de lecture
The book explores the complex loyalties of Kentuckians during the Civil War, highlighting the state's unique position as a border slave state. With a divided populace, around 40,000 residents chose to fight for the Confederacy, and upon their return, these soldiers were celebrated as heroes. As the number of living Confederate veterans decreased, communities across Kentucky erected monuments in their honor. This work provides a comprehensive overview of Kentucky's Confederate soldiers and the units they served in during the War Between the States.
Bowling Green Since 1950
Amy Hughes Wood
130pages
5 heures de lecture
The last 50 years of the millennium brought changes no oracle could have foreseen. In 1950, most families did not own a television set, many did not own a car, and most women did not drive. Segregation was practiced throughout the country, while Americans lived in the shadows of the cold war and nuclear proliferation. Bowling Green in 1950 was a microcosm of America at large. Ladies wore hats and gloves; men wore hats and ties. Businesses prospered and failed, schools were built and students were graduated, political issues were debated, and churches were erected. Bowling Green was Our Town, U.S.A.
Gallatin County
Melinda Sartwell
128pages
5 heures de lecture
Tucked away on the banks of the Ohio River, Gallatin County is a hidden gem that embodies the essence of historic Kentucky regions. Formed in 1798, the county boasted a desirable combination of rolling farmlands and favorable river frontage that was vital for early pioneers as they moved west to settle the frontier. The county's location along river and shipping routes between Cincinnati and Louisville provided both a bustling economy and a rural lifestyle for its residents. The decline in river traffic and the construction of Interstate 71 in the 1960s largely left the county behind and dramatically impacted the local economy. As homage to its pioneering roots, Gallatin County has revitalized its economy with a busy marina, two major employers (Gallatin Steel and Dorman Products), and the spectacular Kentucky Speedway while retaining its rural historical charm.
Elsmere and Erlanger
Elsmere and Erlanger Historical Societie
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Elsmere and Erlanger are sister cities in Kenton County, Kentucky. Both cities had their beginnings as farmland. With the completion of the Queen and Crescent Railroad (now the Norfolk Southern), the population of the cities grew. Developers from Cincinnati and Covington came to Erlanger and Elsmere, called South Erlanger, and formed the Erlanger and the Woodside Land Syndicates in the 1880s. The land syndicates, headed by George C. Bloss, began selling lots in 1887 for $16 per front foot, which included a year of free commuter travel to and from Cincinnati. The images selected for Images of America: Elsmere and Erlanger reflect the rich history and diversity of both towns.
Covington's Sisters of Notre Dame
Wm Michael Hargis
130pages
5 heures de lecture
For more than 135 years, the Sisters of Notre Dame have been an integral part of the fabric of life in Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati region. Best known for their dedicated service as Catholic school teachers and administrators, the Sisters of Notre Dame have embraced numerous opportunities to minister to the people of the region and beyond. From operating orphanages, senior care centers, and hospitals to medical research, foreign missions in Uganda, and urban education centers in the inner city, the Sisters of Notre Dame have touched the lives of tens of thousands of people by their example of self-sacrifice and dedication to helping others. Their highly recognizable convent of St. Joseph Heights on the Dixie Highway stands as a visible reminder of the religious heritage offered to all by the Sisters of Notre Dame of the Covington Province.
Worthington and Springdale
Carol Brenner Tobe
128pages
5 heures de lecture
The Jefferson County communities of Worthington and Springdale are located on Brownsboro Road, 12 miles east of Louisville. The area's abundant water sources and fertile soil attracted the earliest settlers in the late 1700s, and farms, mills, and blacksmith shops sprang up along the streams. The Brownsboro Road (originally called Brownsboro Turnpike) served farmers selling their produce, as well as the wealthy "gentleman farmers" who built fine homes in the rural countryside. The fertile soil was particularly suited to growing potatoes, and the Worthington Potato Growers Cooperative handled thousands of barrels daily. The community came together to construct churches and a fine stone school building, establish a cemetery, and organize a fire department. The historic African American community of Taylortown survives in the Taylortown African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, established in 1868. Today, suburban sprawl has erased all but a few vestiges of the once-thriving farming communities.
Louisville's Fern Creek
Cheryl Brandreth
128pages
5 heures de lecture
Located in southeastern Jefferson County, Louisville's Fern Creek community was settled in the 1780s with land grants given by Virginia for military service. The construction of the Louisville-Bardstown Turnpike encouraged Fern Creek's growth as farmers settled the land along the route. Originally known as Stringtown for the appearance of the houses that sprang up along Bardstown Pike, Fern Creek is named after the creek that meanders through the area. Due to the abundant sources of water throughout the southeastern portion of Jefferson County, several mills operated in the area, most notably in Buechel, on Cedar Creek, and on Floyd's Fork. The erection of mills provided early settlers the means to grind corn and wheat. Originally an agricultural community of fields, orchards, and stables, Fern Creek established the Farmers and Fruit Growers Association in 1880 and the Jefferson County Fair Company, which operated at the Fern Creek Fairgrounds until 1928.
Fort Thomas
Bill Thomas
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,4(5)Évaluer
Fort Thomas, located high on a bluff in Northern Kentucky, is a beautiful community with many older homes, wooded hillsides, parks and playgrounds, and five miles of Ohio River shoreline. Until the arrival of the U.S. Army in 1888, this was a rural area with few residences or businesses. The construction of the Fort Thomas Military Post brought with it a streetcar line, the thriving Midway business district, and rapid population growth. Incorporated as the District of Highlands in 1867, the community voted to change its name to Fort Thomas in the early 1900s in honor of the military post and Gen. George Thomas, a famous Union general during the Civil War. Today Fort Thomas is best known throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky for its excellent schools; Highlands High School especially has a solid reputation for academic excellence and outstanding athletic teams. Images of America: Fort Thomas highlights the historic homes of the community as well as a number of businesses that have come and gone. Also featured are churches, schools, major historical events, and community leaders from the past.
Jeffersontown
Beth Wilder
130pages
5 heures de lecture
3,4(3)Évaluer
The history of Jeffersontown traces its origins to the late 1700s as a vital stop for pioneers heading to Louisville. With its fertile land attracting settlers, Abraham Bruner established the area as a city in 1794, initially named "Brunerstown." Officially incorporated in 1797 as "Jeffersontown," it quickly evolved into a bustling center of commerce, with businesses flourishing in its square and nearby. The narrative highlights the city's continuous growth and development, showcasing its significance in the region's history.
Carroll County
Phyllis Codling McLaughlin
130pages
5 heures de lecture
In 1794, the town of Port William was established at the confluence of the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers just two years after that portion of Virginia known as Kentucky County officially became the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 1838, officials carved Carroll County out of portions of Gallatin and Trimble Counties and renamed the town Carrollton in honor of Charles Carroll, the last surviving man to have signed the Declaration of Independence. Over the years, Carrollton became well known for solid wood furniture and bourbon whiskey, and in the 1900s it became one of the top marketplaces for burley tobacco. For decades, Carrollton and Ghent, a city to the east, were common stops for steamboats and river barge traffic. Though still mostly agricultural, the county, halfway between Cincinnati and Louisville, is home to several steel and chemical plants, as well as General Butler State Resort Park.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Martha Evans Wiley
128pages
5 heures de lecture
3,3(4)Évaluer
Best known for its pivotal role in opening up the western frontier and its association with explorers and pioneers, the legendary Cumberland Gap has long been celebrated in music and literature. To better preserve that history, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park was authorized in 1940 and now covers more than 24,000 acres in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. Daniel Boone is remembered here, as well the Native Americans who used the path through the mountains for trade and warfare, the Civil War soldiers who took turns guarding this strategic portal, the geologists and industrialists who saw the potential for development, the businessmen who built one of the nation's first roads for automobile travel, and the displaced residents who gave up their homes for the park. The dream of a few dedicated individuals to one day restore the historic Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap came true in 2002 after decades of planning, and visitors can once again walk in the footsteps of the pioneers. Photographs spanning more than a century bring to life the fascinating stories and history of this pass.
Christian County
Chris Gilkey
128pages
5 heures de lecture
In the years since Christian County was founded more than 210 years ago, the rural area--including many small communities and the county seat of Hopkinsville--has become a historic treasure of various architectural styles. Water-powered mills are representative of the first local industry. Blacksmith shops, followed by several small craft shops, preceded the largest 19th-century industry: the manufacturing of Mogul brand farm wagons. A plow factory and a butter manufacturing facility were also two of several short-lived industrial attempts to make a great financial success. Throughout the 20th century, changing social and economic growth brought the demolition of many priceless architectural examples. This title presents a close observation of many of these vanished landmarks, with old churches, public buildings, country stores, schools, and road toll gates providing a glimpse into the county's past.
Breathitt County
Stephen D. Bowling
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Bardstown
Dixie Hibbs
128pages
5 heures de lecture
A visitor to Bardstown today can view as many as 300 buildings listed on the National Register and marvel at their age and condition, but the original state of many of these landmarks has long since been altered or forgotten. Fire destroyed many buildings during the late 1800s, and commercial progress in the 1900s prompted the demolition of more than 100 of the area's homes and businesses. In this remarkable new volume, the search of public and private collections for photos of local landmarks and events has resulted in the lost puzzle pieces needed to complete the history of Bardstown's physical heritage. In 190 rare photographs, Bardstown reveals the people and places who have contributed to its growth and gives readers the opportunity to witness the changes that have occurred throughout the history of this close-knit, Southern community. Images in this collection include recently discovered photographs of the tragic Shepherdsville Train Wreck of 1917; the effects of Prohibition on a community with 12 distilleries; the changing faces of My Old Kentucky Home (the inspiration for Kentucky's state song); and unique views of the fires that destroyed Heaven Hill Distillery and the Talbott Tavern.
Mt. Washington
Bobby K. Darnell
128pages
5 heures de lecture
3,0(1)Évaluer
When pioneers first ventured off the Wilderness Road in the late 1700s looking for a more direct route to Louisville, they came upon a pleasant area between the Salt River and Floyd's Fork. It provided rich soil for farmland, virgin timber for building, plentiful game, and numerous springs. As roads from Bardstown to Louisville and Shepherdsville to Shelbyville and Taylorsville were forged, the area was nicknamed "The Crossroads." In 1818, the community was named first Mt. Vernon and then Mt. Washington. The town grew tremendously, outgrowing all of its neighboring cities in Bullitt County for decades. As many as five hotels existed in the mid-1800s, and a private school named Mt. Washington Academy, greatly praised as "The Athens of this Place," drew students from miles away.
Newport
The Sin City Years
Robin Caraway
127pages
5 heures de lecture
Located in Northern Kentucky, Newport is a small, historic river town bustling with business in a respectful and developing community. While it is now known for its charm, Newport once had a dark and sinister past known as its “Sin City years.” Newport earned its reputation for vice, crime, political corruption, bootlegging, casinos, brothels, and bookie joints early in the city’s history. During the Civil War, soldiers stationed at the Newport Barracks were offered entertainment from various saloons and bordellos located in the city. At the turn of the 20th century, John Thompson, a Newport native, invented the Thompson Machine Gun. The “tommy gun” was made infamous by gangsters during Prohibition. Citizens of Newport, fed up with the city’s sordid reputation, eventually banded together to drive out the vice and reclaim their city. After a long struggle, Newport is now a pleasant and enchanting community.