A Future for Ridgeway

Harrison County Heritage Council

11/12/2013

A remarkable past…

Circa: 1817/1818

Built by Colonel William Brown:

U.S. Congressman, War of 1812

Veteran, respected Central

Kentucky Attorney, and friend to

many state leaders, including Henry

Clay

Some other events in Ridgeway’s past…

• Since purchase in 1794, agriculture has been a constant force in the prosperity of Ridgeway

• Plantation home to over 30 slaves leading up to the Civil War

• Several of those slaves emancipated by the Brown family as they migrated to Illinois in 1832

• Dr. Frazer continued the enslavement of individuals while supporting the Union

• Civil War: farm part of Union Camp Frazer from 1861 through 1862, being destroyed by Gen.

Morgan

• William T. Handy turns a portion of the farm into a training area for his famous trotting horses

• Mr. Handy names the house Chestnut Hall

• After Mr. Handy’s death in the early 20th century, the house becomes known as the Handy House

• 2002: Purchased by the City of Cynthiana and Harrison County to form the Flat Run Veterans

Park

• 2005: Placed on the National Trust of Historic Places by Governor Fletcher

Ridgeway’s Reach – Connecting to our Nation’s History

Married to Harriet Warfield.

Harriet became close friend of a

young Mary Todd who migrated to

Illinois to live with her sister and

later married Abraham Lincoln.

&

Sister of Dr. Elisha Warfield

Friend of the Todd family – Delivered Mary Todd Lincoln

Owned the famous racehorse Lexington – sired current

line of thoroughbreds1779-1833, Colonel

in the War of 1812,

Attorney, Elected

to the Sixteenth

Congress (March 4,

1819-March 3,

1821)

Friend & Colleague of Henry Clay. Served

together in profession and in Congress

working on the Missouri Compromise.

Colonel William Brown: Builder of Ridgeway

Capt. James N. Brown: Native of Ridgeway

Son of Colonel Brown. Helped family relocate to Illinois while maintaining ties with

Ridgeway. Fought alongside Abraham Lincoln in the same unit during the Black Hawk

War, where they became fast friends. As the Brown and Smith families settled their new

Illinois land, Abraham Lincoln worked on their farm, clearing land. As Lincoln worked

the Brown farm, he would have conversed with the newly emancipated slaves from

Ridgeway.

In 1858, Lincoln wrote to James,

not only outlining his firm beliefs

concerning slavery, but proving

his beliefs with a scrapbook of

his speeches – the only known

scrapbook of its kind.1806-1868

Attorney, Illinois State

Representative for

Sagamon County,

President of Illinois

Agriculture Society

"I believe the declara[tion] that

'all men are created equal' is the

great fundamental principle upon

which our free institutions rest”

After Lincoln’s assassination, Mary Todd

Lincoln requested that James N. Brown

be one of the pallbearers for the body’s

final leg of the journey home in

Springfield.

James N. and Polly Ann (Smith) Brown’s

children are buried at Ridgeway. Others are

suspected to be in the family plot – as well

as a potential slave cemetery nearby.

Orville Hickman Browning

1806-1881

Cynthiana native

and Nephew of

Colonel William

Brown. “Read the

Law” with his uncle

at Ridgeway.

Close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Also fought in the same unit during the

Black Hawk War. Appointed to fill U.S. Senate seat left vacant by death of

Stephen Douglas. Later served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior under

President Johnson, 1866-69.

Famous line about Kentucky during the War was written to Browning,

1861: “I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose

the whole game.”

Orville’s wife, Kentucky native Eliza

Caldwell Browning was Lincoln’s longest

female friendship…lasting from the 1830s

through his Presidency. The Brownings

were called to the White House for

personal comfort after the death of Willie

Lincoln and handled the funeral

arrangements.

Architectural Significance: Pioneer Home

Progress to Date & Coming in the Near Future:

An Exciting New Era

Progress to Date:

• Roof installation is imminent: material on order – funds provided by grant from Verizon (money designated for Ridgeway improvements – would have to be returned if not used on Ridgeway)

• Security: Windows/doors boarded up

• Landscaping designs for back garden provided by Bourbon County landscaper with Cynthiana family ties

• Donations coming in through PayPal and Book Sales

• New PR/Marketing Plan in place (Ridgeway) to garner more exposure and secure statewide/national donations (Social Media/News pieces/Promotional)

Renewed Interest

• Over a dozen new Board Members in the HCHC – combination of consistent leaders

of the efforts (Marilynn Bell, et al) with new members interested in saving Ridgeway

• Among some of our new members: Cynthiana carpenters, electricians, educators,

landscapers; Cheri Daniels, Historian/Genealogist, Kentucky Historical Society;

Christopher Starr, Real Estate Developer and 3rd Great Grandson of Colonel Brown –

Boston, MA

• Mr. Starr’s 20+ years experience includes adaptive re-use projects and a current $80

million revitalization project in Belmont MA

Coming in the Near Future:

• Electricity estimates coming in for immediate future work

• Adventures in Preservation has selected Ridgeway as a summer 2014 venue to replace the windows

• Grant applications in process (Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation/Kentucky Colonels, etc.)/Tax Credits for park and house development

• Fundraising sites: GoFundMe and Kickstarter projects in development

• Kentucky Bride Magazine has expressed interest in Ridgeway as a venue and is ready to promote once we are ready

• Educational curriculum being developed for local teachers

Future Plans: Flat Run Veterans Park & Ridgeway

A Future to Benefit Cynthiana/Harrison

County

• Ridgeway Community Center: Adaptive Re-use

• Sustainable revenue producing venue: Provides local venue for weddings,

civic events, sports banquets/celebrations

• Park Administration offices

• Adds depth to our community and park – appeal for new businesses/families

• Educational for the study of Kentucky’s diverse history – Diversity Garden

Ridgeway Community

Center: Adaptive Re-use

• Adaptive reuse is conventionally defined as “the process of adapting old structures for new purposes.” While we will find new uses for Ridgeway, the historical character of the structure will be maintained as outlined in the lease.

• Cynthiana/Harrison County is desperately in need of such a space for meetings/events/offices – adaptive re-use fills that need while preserving/honoring a pioneer structure.

Sustainable Revenue

Producing Venue

• Weddings/Anniversaries/Birthdays

• Civic/Sporting Banquets/Award Ceremonies

• Meetings/Exhibits/Art Classes

• Ghost Tours

• Park Festivals/Battle of Cynthiana Events

• Capacity: Dining space (80-145 seated); Reception (240+ standing)

Office Space for Park

Administration

• Second floor contains many

office/storage areas for venue

and park administration

• Vantage point from Ridgeway

extends the entire length and

breadth of the park

Adds Depth/Value to Park

and Community

• Adapting a historic structure for new purpose that serves

the community demonstrates value of local heritage plus

good stewardship of local officials.

• Beautiful and functional space at the top of the ridge

provides an aesthetic focal point for festivals and park

events – Makes Flat Run Veterans Park a community

centered space, not just another collection of ball fields.

• Appeals to new families and businesses thinking about

making Cynthiana/Harrison County their new home.

Educational Benefits for

Regional Students –

Diversity Garden

• Ridgeway’s rich and complex history is a perfect

representation of Kentucky’s agricultural prominence and

border state struggles during the Civil War

• Multiple lessons can be taught about slavery in Kentucky, as

well as the Battles of Cynthiana, the Horse Industry,

Tobacco, and the Settling of Kentucky.

• With the Brown Family connections alone, Cynthiana’s

prominent role in the development of the Bluegrass region

can be taught alongside the histories of the Clay, Warfield,

and Todd families. Restore Cynthiana to its place in History.

Other Examples of Successful

Restorations/Community

Additions in Kentucky

• Ward Hall – Georgetown: Restoration a long term project

with community activities tied to fundraising efforts and

tourism – historical significance: architectural/Greek

Revival

• Farmington – Louisville: Home of Joshua Speed, close

friend of Abraham Lincoln: Exhibits feature this

connection and the friendship’s influence on Lincoln and

national policies. Weddings a part of their revenue source.

Our Request

Moving Forward

• Allow the HCHC to move forward on fulfilling the stipulations of

the remaining lease. Roof, porches, foundation exteriors, windows,

doors, and siding to be finished by lease deadline of December

2015. Once this is completed, the remaining lease agreement will

stand – through December 2060.

• Honor the commitment made to the citizens of the city/county

by allowing this lease to reach its term – 2000 signatures

Other Considerations

• Tearing down a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places puts future grant acquisition for park improvements in jeopardy.

• $9000 Verizon grant was stipulated for improvement on Ridgeway – all remaining funds not used in this manner are required to be returned to Verizon.

• All remaining funding raised by the HCHC will remain with the HCHC for use on other projects as a 501c3 whose mission is tied to heritage preservation in Cynthiana/Harrison County.

• Cemeteries on property are still a concern – at least one can be proven a “Pioneer” cemetery by the state. Proof of one exists with tombstones, but protection will remain an issue despite Ridgeway’s restoration or demise.

Questions?

The Harrison County Heritage

Council thanks you for this

opportunity!

Got any other historically/culturally significant

structures that need help? Talk to us! Our mission

is based on an initiative to assist in efforts relating

to the preservation and/or restoration of

historically/culturally significant structures in

Cynthiana and Harrison County.

harrisoncoheritage@gmail.com