TOMPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site will commemorate two historical occurrences near the park’s Monroe County location in southeastern Kentucky during the weekend of Oct. 17-20, 2008.
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) will travel to Old Mulkey Meetinghouse on Friday Oct. 17 to dedicate the tombstone of Ephraim Dicken. The U.S. Veteran’s Administration has provided a military tombstone for Ephraim, which will be placed in the American Revolutionary War Soldier Memorial Cemetery at Old Mulkey and unveiled during ceremonies on Oct. 17.
Ephraim, who served three tours of duty during the American Revolution, was wounded with a sword, taken prisoner and suffered from small pox. He survived all this to be present at the Siege of York when Cornwallis was taken. The Virginia militiaman eventually settled in Kentucky where he was one of the original members of The Church of Christ on the Head of the Big Barren at Mill Creek, the place now known as Old Mulkey. Quite an entrepreneur, Ephraim acquired a permit to operate the original ferry across the Cumberland River and operated tobacco warehouses nearby. Two of Ephraim’s daughters married “McMillans” and the area was given the name it carries to this day, McMillan’s Landing. Ephraim’s final resting place is unknown; however popular belief has him buried in the Dicken-McMillan-Chappell Cemetery overlooking the Cumberland River.
The ceremony consists of several elements, including: a call for colors (there are 8 flags, most of which are from the Revolutionary War era), a fife and drum tribute by SAR, a floral tribute, a burial flag folding ceremony and a gun salute. Descendents of Ephraim Dicken are encouraged to attend. The public is invited to observe this educational ceremony, which will begin at 12:30 pm in the cemetery at the park. Seating will be limited.
Then on Monday Oct. 20, Daniel Boone is expected to visit the meetinghouse. Boone was instrumental in bringing settlers into the area now called Monroe County. It was his stories of fertile fields and abundant wildlife that attracted these adventurous men and women to the new frontier. John Mulkey, a close friend of the Boone family and preacher for which this meetinghouse is named, was one of those men. The Monroe Arts Council is bringing Daniel Boone back to visit Monroe County and the church his family once attended through a presentation of Kentucky Chautauqua on Oct. 20. Scott New, of Cumberland Gap, Tenn., will portray Boone. The presentation will begin at 6 pm CT at the meetinghouse and is open to the public.
Contact Sheila Rush at 270-487-8481 or sheila.rush@ky.gov for additional information about these events.
The oldest log meetinghouse in Kentucky was built in 1804 during a period of religious revival. Many Revolutionary War soldiers and pioneers, including Daniel Boone’s sister, Hannah, are buried here. The structure has 12 corners in the shape of a cross and three doors, symbolic of the Holy Trinity. The site is about 25 miles south of the Edmonton exit on the Cumberland Parkway. Take KY 163 from Edmonton to Tompkinsville. Take the Old Mulkey Road or KY 1446 about two miles past Tompkinsville to the site. From I-65, take the Cumberland Parkway to Glasgow, follow KY 90 from Glasgow, and turn south onto KY 163 to Tompkinsville.
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.