Odd Fellows Lodge, New Castle

The Odd Fellows Lodge in downtown New Castle was constructed in the mid 1800s and has been continually owned by an African-American fraternal organization since that time. It is one of only two New Castle Main Street buildings with its original storefront. The lodge had a very large membership and served the community by hosting events such as high school graduations during the days of school segregation. Despite this proud history, the Odd Fellows Lodge in New Castle is in bad need of many repairs including work on the roof and exterior brick mortar. Sadly, there are no funds available to complete the work. The city of New Castle has secured a grant to purchase and renovate an adjacent building that will open as a restaurant in 2006. Without the needed repairs, the Odd Fellows Lodge will continue to decline adversely affecting the remainder of the Main Street district and erasing an important African-American landmark from downtown New Castle.

Masonic Temple, Paducah

In 1904, three African-American Masonic lodges came together to construct a massive building in the heart of one of Paducah's traditional African-American neighborhoods. With more than 4,000 square feet on each of its three floors, the building was not only home to several lodge groups, but also held two street-level retail spaces that housed everything from liquor stores and cleaners to doctor's offices and funeral homes. On the second floor, there were professional offices, during WWII the USO headquartered there, and meeting space was available for others including the first integrated Boys Club in the state. The Masonic Temple in Paducah has declined for many years to the point where roof deterioration has caused the second floor of the three-story building to collapse. A local preservation contractor has developed a stabilization plan for the building but at this time no funds are available to implement that plan. Local preservation groups have worked with the Masonic Temple's private owner to help find options for development. The private owner is very interested in working with developers/investors who will commit to saving the historic building. With a location only 1½ blocks from the McCracken County Courthouse, the building holds much potential for reuse as offices and business related retail ventures.

Rural Cemeteries, Statewide

Cemeteries hold important stories in Kentucky communities. They are usually tied to a specific resident family, former church congregation, or long ago settlement. The choice of stones, inscriptions and design can tell much about a community or family. Today, many rural cemeteries are threatened by neglect, unimaginative development, and vandalism. Education about how to care for cemeteries and the legalities of these sacred sites is important to ensure their future. Local historical societies, genealogy groups and preservation organizations are all interested in the future of rural cemeteries. Many of these groups are working to document these sites and educate the public about their value, but much more attention is needed.

The East End Neighborhood in Fayette County is an extremely important African American neighborhood and community. Developed after the Civil War by newly freed slaves, it evolved over a period of 50 years into a thriving neighborhood and commercial area. The architecture of the area reflects this extended period of development as you can find a 1860s shotgun house situated right next to a brick bungalow built in the 1940s. Community institutions such as the Charles Young Community Center, Lyric Theater, Greater Liberty and Shiloh Baptist churches, and African Cemetery No. 2 serve as part of the backbone of this cohesive community. Like many urban neighborhoods, the East End continually strives to maintain the viability that makes this neighborhood remain livable. The historic elements of the East End neighborhood have been, and continue to be, neglected and discarded. Inappropriate roads threaten to isolate this neighborhood from other parts of the community and inappropriate building infill negatively impacts the neighborhood. Neighborhoods like the East End of Lexington need to be appreciated for their history, encouraged to preserve what makes them unique, and nurtured as they continue their evolution.

100 Block West Main Street, Louisville

The nationally recognized Victorian commercial architecture of Louisville's Main Street is a vibrant part of the local and regional business, civic and public communities. Despite the resurgence of the nearby West Main Street Preservation District in recent years, buildings in the 100 Block of West Main Street have been left behind. The buildings, dating to the latter half of the 19th century, are largely empty and are deteriorating at an accelerated rate as signaled by the collapse of the corner building at 101 West Main in May 2001. Today, a significant financial commitment, leveraged by state and federal historic preservation tax credits and other incentives, will be required to return the buildings of the 100 Block of West Main to viable use. This block of Main Street should not be allowed to suffer demolition by neglect.

Owens Hotel, Horse Cave

The Owens Hotel stands as a reminder of railroad traffic that brought tourists and salesmen to the city of Horse Cave. Unfortunately, the Owens Hotel, located in the city’s historic National Register district, has deteriorated greatly in recent years due to abandonment, neglect and a series of fires. The City of Horse Cave received a grant and acquired the Owens Hotel property with the intention of recruiting a developer to resurrect this building from its ashes. Additional grant funds were obtained to help secure a financing package for the future developer. Potential developers, however, have fallen through, and unused grant funds have been lost. The City of Horse Cave voted in January to advertise for bids to demolish the building. At a meeting in mid-February, the city council temporarily postponed that advertisement as concerned community members are searching to find a solution for the dilemma, however demolition is certainly a possibility. Members of the community are interested in assisting in the next era of the Owens Hotel’s life, but substantial investment funds are urgently needed to secure the future of the only remaining railroad hotel in the Cave Region.

Patterson House, Henderson

The mid-19th century Patterson House in Henderson stands within view of the Ohio River on land that was the former town square but now is a gateway to a historic residential area. The home was purchased in 2004 by Henderson County Fiscal Court. The court's initial plan was to tear down the Patterson House for additional parking to serve the Henderson County Judicial Center. These plans resulted in the creation of a community preservation organization in Henderson that is working to raise awareness of the town's historic resources. The Administrative Office of the Courts then informed officials that there is no need for additional parking space at this time, so the Henderson County Fiscal Court will be moving to sell this “surplus” property. Historic preservation tax credits and other incentives could be available to aid in rehabilitating this property for a use in the Henderson community.

Oldham House, Lexington

The Oldham House in Lexington’s South Hill neighborhood is a two-story Federal-style brick house. Samuel Oldham, a former slave who bought his freedom as well as the freedom of his wife and children, built the home in 1835. While many neighboring homes have been restored or renovated, the Oldham House has been empty for several years. In 2000, the city condemned it for human occupancy and some individuals have set fires inside and vandalized the home in its vacancy. Despite this mistreatment, many of the interior spaces have not been vandalized and some original windows and baseboards are still in place. Breathing life back into the Oldham House will not be inexpensive, but historic preservation tax credits and other incentives would be available and the benefits would be rewarding to the entire neighborhood. The Oldham House is currently for sale and in need of an owner willing to work through the challenges of restoring an older home. For more information on purchasing the Oldham House, please contact the Reinhold Group in Lexington.

Columbia and Arcade Theaters, Paducah

The Keiler family of Paducah built two grand theaters in downtown Paducah in the early 20th century. The Arcade, built in 1911, was the first theater in Paducah built specifically for motion pictures. The building also housed shops and faced an interior courtyard that led up to the theater’s entrance. In 1927, the larger, grander Columbia Theater was built. The brick building’s façade is composed of blue and white terra cotta tiles. The original Columbia marquee was 50 feet tall and lit by 5,000 light bulbs. These theaters closed in the 1980s and are currently owned by the City of Paducah. The city is soliciting proposals from interested parties to renovate the two theaters so that they can once again be assets to the community. For more information on the Columbia and Arcade Theatres please visit www.paducahmainstreet.com. 

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