Together in Preservation: Gratitude and Giving Back
Happy Thanksgiving from the Blue Grass Trust!
We Are Grateful for Your Support
As we gather for Thanksgiving, we’re filled with gratitude for our members and supporters. Our recent Member and Guest Party was a joyful reminder of the incredible community that powers our preservation mission. Thanks to your dedication, we’ve made tremendous strides this year, from advocating for historic protections to launching new educational programs and services. With your ongoing support, we can continue this essential work and achieve even more in the coming year.
As we reflect on this season of thanks, please consider supporting our Hard at Work Annual Fund to sustain these vital efforts. Wishing you and yours a warm and happy Thanksgiving!
EDUCATION
Upcoming December 2024 deTour
📅 Date: Wednesday, December 4th
⏰ Time: 6PM
📍Where: Gray Design Building, University of Kentucky College of Design
349 Scott St, Lexington, KY 40508
Join us for a special deTour of the newly completed Gray Design Building, a brilliant example of adaptive reuse. Originally built in 1917 as a tobacco warehouse, this 100,000-square-foot structure has been transformed into a modern, cross-disciplinary hub. Completed in 2024, it now houses open studio spaces, state-of-the-art fabrication labs, classrooms, offices, and event spaces. Students from architecture, interiors, historic preservation, product design, landscape architecture, and biomedical engineering all collaborate and learn in this dynamic space. Situated at one of Lexington’s key gateways, this project is a celebration of innovation and preservation.
Parking Information: The parking lot adjacent to the Gray Design Building is monitored by UK Parking and Transportation Services until 7:30 PM. Vehicles without an 'E' pass may be ticketed. Guests are encouraged to park in The Cornerstone Parking Garage (corner of Euclid and S. Limestone) and enjoy a short walk to the building. Metered spots along Scott St. are also available and closest to the building.
November deTour Recap: Moveable Feast
On Wednesday, November 6th, we gathered for a meaningful deTour at Moveable Feast Lexington, set in a beautifully preserved historic home in Lexington's East End neighborhood. This special organization provides nutritious meals five days a week to low-income residents in Lexington-Fayette County. Their clients include those who have HIV/AIDS and those receiving support from Bluegrass Care Navigators (formerly Hospice of the Bluegrass)—serving some of our community’s most critically ill and vulnerable citizens, as well as their caregivers and dependent children.
Attendees explored the rich history of the space and witnessed how this adaptively reused building continues to make a profound difference in Lexington. Thank you to all who joined us for an inspiring evening celebrating the power of preservation and purpose!
ADVOCACY
Photograph of Stone Tavern, 1940
(University of Kentucky Special Collections, Clay Lancaster Kentucky architectural photographs)
Saving the Lewis O’Neal Stone Tavern
5023 Old Versailles Rd.
The Blue Grass Trust has been actively working with Commonwealth Property Solutions, the recent purchaser of the long-neglected 1826 Lewis O’Neal Tavern, to protect this National Register-listed asset. A coaching inn that serviced horse caravans transporting goods from Louisville to Lexington, it is one of the only extant stone taverns in the region. Dr. Leonard has met with the new owner to discuss rehabilitation strategies, historic tax credit incentives, and the possibility of resale. He has also produced a detailed history of the building and Slickaway/Fort Spring, the settlement in which it is located (available on our Advocacy webpage). We are confident that this rare resource – with some vision and creativity – can be brought back to its former glory. Preservation-minded developers and investors who are intrigued by this unique opportunity may contact Dr. Leonard directly.
Historic Hemp Warehouse in Peril
707 N. Limestone
Built in the late 1880s, Hemp Warehouse No. 3 is situated along N. Upper on the former site of the Brucetown Hemp Factory. It is the last surviving structure of its kind in Lexington's urban core. William Wallace Bruce, the son of a prominent British ropemaker, established this hemp operation on the Maysville Turnpike (N. Limestone) in 1847. A four-time council member and alderman, he was reputed to be the largest taxpayer in the county due to his commercial success. In 1881, Bruce transferred the factory to his son-in-law, W. J. Loughridge, a key participant in the industrial development of the Loudon area. Loughridge continued to modernize production at the factory, which remained in operation until around 1914.
The new owner of the 707 N. Limestone parcel (which encompasses the hemp warehouse) applied for a demolition permit in late September. Since then, we have been exploring a range of adaptive reuse possibilities, including subdividing the property and selling the warehouse portion. We have solicited estimates from contractors, investigated funding opportunities, and reached out to numerous local developers and individuals in the hemp industry. A full history of the structure and a rehabilitation overview are available on our Advocacy webpage. Individuals may contact Dr. Leonard to discuss the document and the prospect of acquisition. Help us save this important remnant of Lexington's industrial heritage!
DIRECT SERVICES
Out and About in the Community
Rehabilitating Willis Green’s “Waveland”
This fantastic late-Georgian residence in Danville was constructed around 1797 for Willis Green, a Revolutionary War veteran and surveyor from Viriginia who had ventured west to investigate land claims and selected two thousand acres for his own use. Green was also a notable political figure, as he represented Kentucky County in the Virginia legislature and participated in two of the state constitutional conventions held in Danville. The house showcases some of the finest woodwork in the area. While its foundation was laid using slave labor, Green reportedly recruited artisans from Philadelphia to craft the moldings and mantles in black walnut. Neoclassical detailing and motifs reminiscent of the style of Robert Adam are present throughout.
In 2013, this National Register-listed property was put up for auction in deteriorated condition. Fearing a possible demolition, the Blue Grass Trust teamed up with the James Harrod Trust, the Crutcher Family Foundation, and First Southern National Bank in Stanford to acquire it for $87,200. We then placed a conservation restriction on the building to ensure its survival and sold it on to its current owner, who has been overseeing a long-term rehabilitation. Recently, it obtained a new roof, which required the temporary dismantling of the chimneys. The first-floor joists have also been reinforced, as many are suffering from dry rot. During our October site visit, we discussed rehabilitation next steps and historic tax credit eligibility.
A new video that delves deeper into the house's history is available here.
Preservation Matters
Historic Tax Credits
This issue of our Preservation Matters magazine highlights the significant impact of historic tax credits in preserving Kentucky's architectural heritage. Kentucky's Historic Preservation Tax Credit, alongside federal incentives, has played a critical role in revitalizing both commercial and residential properties throughout the state. The issue features insights from Craig Potts, Kentucky’s State Historic Preservation Officer, who provides an overview of how tax credits make historic preservation financially feasible, turning preservation efforts into realistic, impactful projects.
Through various case studies, this issue showcases successful restorations funded by tax credits, from the Blue Grass Trust's own Hopemont rehabilitation to projects across Clark, Fayette, and Bourbon counties. These stories illustrate how historic tax credits not only preserve Kentucky's rich past but also stimulate local economies by encouraging property investment and neighborhood revitalization.
With Your Help, We Can Continue to Leave a Legacy
Your contribution makes a meaningful difference—not only in preserving historic buildings but in keeping our shared history alive for future generations. What we keep, keeps us. Join us in giving to the Blue Grass Trust today and help create a lasting legacy for our community. Please consider giving to the Blue Grass Trust today and creating a lasting legacy for our community.
