Franklin Grade and High School, Franklin

The Franklin Grade School, an African-American school for students in the city of Franklin, was formed in 1870. In the school's early years, both children and adults attended. Classes moved into Williams Hall in 1872, a wood frame building that had been converted for the school's use. A list of students dated 1896 shows an enrollment of 106. Two high school grades were added in 1926, and two more by 1930. In 1939, a consolidated school was built to educate all the African-American students living in Franklin as well as those in Simpson County. The structure was sold, and has been used for a variety of commercial purposes since 1939. Although the building has served many uses, the second floor has been largely unchanged since functioning as a school. Blackboards still hang on the walls, remnants of a stage remain and an original staircase is in place. The current owner needs to sell the property due to health reasons, and at least one potential buyer plans to raze the property, now located in a warehouse district. A fundraising effort is now underway by the African American Heritage Commission and the Simpson County Tourism Commission for the purchase and upkeep of this rare property.

Kentucky's Metal Truss Bridges, Statewide

During the last quarter of the 19th century the metal truss in both cast and wrought iron emerged as the standard in bridge design. The introduction of steel further strengthened the individual members of these structures and after 1895 all metal truss bridges were constructed of steel. Prior to 1912 and the establishment of the Kentucky Department of Highways, local communities needing the crossing contracted with bridge companies and selected the structure based upon designs advertised in a catalog. By 1930, the DOH was building most of the bridges needed in Kentucky. In 1982 when a Transportation Cabinet inventory was conducted, a total of 651 metal truss bridges were documented. Since that time the numbers have dwindled greatly. Many of the problems associated with 19th century metal truss bridges can usually be attributed to lower sufficiency ratings for heavier weight loads and their narrow width, which can create hazardous driving conditions.  However, much like wooden truss, covered bridges,Kentucky's metal truss bridges are disappearing from the roads and byways of the state. Preservation Kentucky encourages the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to develop a Management Plan to reuse the remaining metal truss bridges.

Old YWCA Building, Louisville

The Old YWCA Building, an eight story, neo-classical structure, has been known by many names since its construction in 1924. The building began life as the Elks Club Building designed by Joseph and Joseph, a noted Louisville architectural firm. There were many public spaces in the Elks Club, including a ballroom, meeting rooms, telephone booths and a gym. The top floor was home to the Lodge Room, a private space only for Elks members that included a glass ceiling and Corinthian pilasters. Four years after opening, the Elks sold the property and the structure served as home to the Henry Clay Hotel for next 35 years. In 1963, the building was sold to the Young Women's Christian Association who operated there until 1985. Louisville Metro has held title to the building since the late 1980s and has advocated and partnered with private parties on several reuse proposals. However, none of those proposals have become a reality and the building has declined significantly. The renovation costs for the structure would be significant, but with the federal Historic Rehabilitation tax credits for preservation and re- development, breathing life back into the property is still a possibility and the old YWCA Building could once again be a significant addition to the central business district in Louisville.

1914 Building - St. Camillus Academy, Corbin

Every school has an image that defines it publically. For many schools that image is the facility itself. The emotional "face" of St. Camillus Academy is the 1914 building, used for instruction as well as living space for boarding students and resident nuns. The academy served students from the Corbin community as well as many students from around the world. As a result of the changing mission of the school away from a residential facility in the mid 1980s and later as the high school closed in 1996, the 1914 structure has been relegated to a minor use building, even as its presence dominates the campus. An additional school building was built in 1973 and new housing has been constructed for the few remaining resident sisters this past year. Current plans are to expand the 1973 building for the elementary school's needs, but no plans are in place for the use of the 1914 building. An active alumni association seeks to play an active role in saving this "face" of St. Camillus, but the owners do not currently have plans in place for the preservation and use of this historic building.

Fort Bryan Station, Lexington

In Kentucky's pioneer days, stations were the formal settlement areas. Only two of Kentucky's major pioneer forts still hold undisturbed answers to the state's history, Bryan's Station and Logan's Fort. The Fort Bryan settlement included a forty-four cabin stockade and two-story blockhouse-style fort. A Revolutionary War battle occurred outside the fort in August 1782. However, these European-American settlers were not the land's first visitors. A spring near the fort also contains artifacts from Kentucky's earliest Native American period. Although the fort buildings have not survived to the present day, a cemetery and many archeological resources are in place on the site and around the spring. Those resources have been largely undisturbed because of the lack of development in the area, however that may not continue to be the case. Lexington is continuing to expand its urban service area, and the property on which the fort stood has been slated for potential inclusion. As more development occurs in the vicinity, not only could the property be subdivided, but as population in the area grows, services such as road expansion would be necessary. Preservation Kentucky urges proper planning to institute protective measures for this site.

Henderson Depot, Henderson

The Henderson's Union Station Depot was listed on the Kentucky's Most Endangered Watch List in 2002 and has been elevated to the Most Endangered List for this 2003 edition. The depot was built in 1901 to service the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. While following the basic depot plan, the Henderson Depot is highlighted by classical details and features a square, three-story observation tower and an elaborately detailed arch entryway. Located nearly equidistance from Louisville and Cairo, Illinois, Henderson served as a major railroad terminal point for the region throughout the first half century of its service. Since the depot was saved from demolition in the late 1970s, several renovation options have been explored, including moving the structure, but at this time none of those options have come to fruition. In an era when Federal Transportation Enhancement funds have saved many depots across the state, particular issues with this building and its location will require an extra measure of creativity to find its preservation solution.

Pleasant Vale, Boyle County

Pleasant Vale, circa 1784, was the home of the Samuel McDowell family from 1784 to 1845. McDowell was an early Kentucky District Court judge, framer of the first Kentucky constitution and the father of noted physician Ephraim McDowell. The home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a two story, five bay brick Federal design with a Greek Revival portico and pediment. Pleasant Vale has been vacant for many years and suffers greatly from neglect. Continued exposure to the elements only worsens the status of this treasure as window, door and roof repairs are all needed. A proposed bypass would be located near the structure, causing a possible threat but also a possible reuse for Pleasant Vale as a Visitor's Center.

The Neal Building, Carlisle

The Neal Building in downtown Carlisle exemplifies the struggle of many small town business districts today, replacing community standards with viable new businesses. The Neal Building was built in 1883 by J. T. Sims as a retail space with Mozart Hall, a performing arts theater on the second floor.  The retail area held, at various times, a hat shop and a bowling alley.  From the middle 1930s the building became a country grocery store, Neal's Square Deal, "Where Ma Saves Pa's Dough." Eugene Neal, passed away in 2002, ending an era in downtown shopping. Fortunately, his widow, Dorothy, sees the benefit of preserving this structure for the community and has donated the building to the Nicholas County Historical Society Plans are to open a museum, arts and welcome center while retaining the country store atmosphere as a replica of a dying breed.  Resources are limited, however, and financial capital must be raised to renovate and support this structure, an anchor of downtown Carlisle.

Quonset Auditorium, Bowling Green

The Quonset Auditorium was built in Bowling Green during 1946 as a location for concerts and professional wrestling matches. This structure was not intended for long term impact, but did impact Bowling Green and the region as white and black audiences were treated to music by performers such as Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Richard and Fats Domino as well as wrestlers like Andre the Giant, Gorgeous George, Ada Ash and Bambi. The Quonset was sold in 1959 and has been used as a service station and tire store. The property has recently been sold to Bowling Green Municipal Utilities who plans to expand their water treatment plant located adjacent to the property upon taking possession in November. Issues surrounding the former Quonset Auditorium bring to light society's hesitation to declare building from the recent past worthy of preservation. If post-WWII structures like the Quonset Auditorium continue to disappear from the landscape the built environment of future generations will greatly impacted.

Dickerson-Fennell Building, Newport

The Dickerson-Fennell Building and several other 19th Century Commercial buildings in downtown Newport are under threat demolition for the construction of a Transit Center for the Transportation Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK).

Built for the Dickerson Fire Insurance Company in the late 1800s this building was featured in an 1887 panoramic map of Newport and is the tallest 19th Century commercial structure in Newport.

Newport's East Row Historic Foundation has opposed the location of the Transit Center since it's announcement in 2000. The East Row Historic Foundation has proposed 20 alternative nearby sites that wouldn't require the destruction of Newport's Historic Character. All alternative sites have been rejected by TANK.

Recently, the FTA denied Federal funding for the project because TANK has yet to conduct a Section 106 review of the project. TANK recently announced they intended to proceed with the project using only local funds. Eliminating the need for a Section 106 review.

2004 Kentucky's Most Endangered List