KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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Baseball Great
(Marker Number: 1762)

County: Union
Location: 2-1/4 mi. from Morganfield at entrance to Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center, US 60

Description: Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) began his professional baseball career while a lieutenant at Camp Breckinridge, 1944. The next year Branch Rickey, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager, signed the four-sport letterman from UCLA for Montreal Royals, top Dodger farm club. In 1947, Robinson promoted to Dodgers team, breaking major league color barrier. Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

(Subjects: African American | Baseball Hall of Fame | Camps | World War II)

Baseball Great
(Marker Number: 2164)

County: Union
Location: S. Third St.

Description: Jackie Robinson (1919-72) began his professional baseball career while a lieutenant at Camp Breckinridge, 1944. The next year Branch Rickey, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager, signed the four-sport letterman from UCLA for Montreal Royals, top Dodger farm club. In 1947, Robinson promoted to Dodgers team, breaking Major league color barrier. Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

(Subjects: African American | Baseball Hall of Fame | Sports)

Bell Mines
(Marker Number: 633)

County: Union
Location: Sturgis, US 60

Description: John Bell, 1797-1869, of Tenn. owned mines two miles south of here. In 1860 he was nominated as candidate for President by the Constitutional Union Party. He campaigned to preserve the Union and carried Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia against Abraham Lincoln. Later Bell advocated secession. He was Congressman, 1827-41, and member U.S. Senate, 1847-59, from Tenn.

Camp Breckinridge
(Marker Number: 1424)

County: Union
Location: Main entrance to Camp Breckinridge, US 60

Description: Army post built in 1942, on 36,000 acres, at a cost of $39,000,000. Named for John C. Breckinridge, US Vice President, 1856-60; Confederate Secretary of War, 1865. Created as infantry training center for up to 40,000 men. Used during WW II, 1943-46, as prisoner of war camp for as many as 3,000 enlisted men of German Army. Camp deactivated in 1949. Over.

(Reverse) Camp Breckinridge - During Korean War, 1950-54, camp reopened for training of infantry. From 1954 to 1963 used for summer training of 4,500 National Guard troops. Disposal of camp by Army began in 1963. Dept. of Labor obtained 853 acres for Job Corps Training Center opened in 1965. Remaining acreage acquired by individuals, city of Morganfield and state of Kentucky. Over.

(Subjects: Breckinridge, John Cabell | Camps | Korean War | World War II)

Civil War Action
(Marker Number: 187)

County: Union
Location: Old Caseyville, KY 130

Description: Every inhabitant of this pro-southern town was taken prisoner by the crew of a Union gunboat, July 26, 1862. All were released except 19 men who were taken to Evansville, Indiana, as hostages to guarantee payment of $35,000 damages done by rebel guerrillas.

(Subjects: Civil War)

Earle C. Clements (1896-1985)
(Marker Number: 1844)

County: Union
Location: Morganfield City Park, KY 56 East

Description: This Union Countian became governor following service in World War I, then as sheriff, county clerk and judge, state senator. As governor, 1947-1950, Clements spurred massive industrialization effort as well as road and state parks development. Resigned to serve a term in U.S. Senate; ally of Lyndon Johnson. Later Ky. highway commissioner.

Forrest Reconnoitered
(Marker Number: 612)

County: Union
Location: Morganfield, US 60, 641

Description: CSA General Nathan Bedford Forrest, on reconnaissance and foraging mission toward the Ohio River Nov. 24 to Dec. 5, 1861, passed here with 300 cavalry on way to Caseyville. There he found large supply of hogs and took some along. After he left, USA picked up remainder. While returning to Hopkinsville Forrest captured horses, cattle and more hogs. Map on other side.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forrest, Nathan Bedford)

Forrest Reconnoitered
(Marker Number: 616)

County: Union
Location: Sturgis, US 60, 641

Description: CSA Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and 300 cavalry sent on foraging and reconnaissance mission from Hopkinsville reached Ohio River at Caseyville, Nov. 30, 1861. See map on other side. He found large supply of hogs, taking some along. After he left, USA got the rest and much whiskey. While returning to Hopkinsville Forrest captured horses, cattle and more hogs.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forrest, Nathan Bedford)

George Huston
(Marker Number: 1787)

County: Union
Location: 205 N. Brady St., Morganfield

Description: A Harvard graduate and lawyer who specialized in land litigations, George Huston helped found city's first bank in 1869. He owned and enlarged this antebellum house from the early brick section where Dr. Brady, Huston's father-in-law, lived. At Civil War's end, Union soldiers camped here. In 1846 ex-President Tyler stayed here while Huston checked his land boundary.

(Subjects: Civil War)

Lincoln Spoke Here
(Marker Number: 1329)

County: Union
Location: Morganfield, Courthouse lawn, KY 56

Description: Abraham Lincoln's only political speech in his native state, here, 1840, at age 31. An elector from Illinois, he campaigned for Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison. From Shawneetown, across river, Lincoln led parade. Young ladies rode on floats drawn by white horses. Cannon for salute burst upon firing. Its breech is at Kentucky Historical Society.

(Subjects: Harrison, William Henry | Kentucky Historical Society | Lincoln, Abraham)

Morgan Springs
(Marker Number: 1547)

County: Union
Location: Main St. in front of City Hall, Morganfield, KY 56

Description: Under the municipal building lies the old Morgan Springs, named for General Daniel Morgan of Revolutionary War fame. Water from spring furnishes a portion of the supply used by fountain in front of building. The city of Morganfield was established in 1811 on part of a military grant that was given to Daniel Morgan; Morganfield named for him.

(Subjects: Morgan, Daniel | Revolutionary War | Springs)

Nally Spa
(Marker Number: 1588)

County: Union
Location: Jct. KY 56 & 758

Description: Four miles south of here stood the old Chalybeate Springs Resort Hotel featuring Sulphur Water Springs and a fresh water spring on its grounds from 1850 to 1890. The fresh water spring was renamed "Nally Spa" in 1975 to honor Union Countian James P. (Jimmy) Nally.

(Subjects: Springs)

Richards Home Site
(Marker Number: 842)

County: Union
Location: E. of Boxville, KY 56 & 983

Description: Lewis Richards, born Va., 1754. Sergeant with Gen. George Rogers Clark when he built first blockhouse at site of present Cincinnati. Went on, in attempt to save Kentuckians captured by English and Indians, 1779. Unable to overtake them, destroyed the Indian villages at Chillicothe and Piqua. Richards was a volunteer at battle of Blue Licks, 1782. Died here in 1846.

(Subjects: Blue Licks, Battle of | Clark, George Rogers | Indians)

St. Vincent's Academy
(Marker Number: 1717)

County: Union
Location: Between Waverly and Morganfield, near Jct. US 60 & KY 141

Description: Sisters of Charity from Nazareth-Angela Spink, Frances Gardner, and Cecily O'Brien-arrived here, 1820. They began a girls boarding school on this site on land of Alvey family. With aid of Father Elisha Durbin, school gained renown. It operated until 1967. First Catholic cemetery in county joins the school site. Buried here are several Revolutionary War soldiers.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War | Schools | Sisters of Charity of Nazareth)

The Robert E. Lee Won with Sturgis Coal
(Marker Number: 1092)

County: Union
Location: Sturgis, US 60

Description: Nearby coal fields supplied fuel to power steamboat Robert E. Lee in race against the Natchez , 1870. Greatest race in river history began in New Orleans and ended at St. Louis. Robert E. Lee won the championship of Mississippi River by 6 hours and 15 minutes. Both steamboat captains were natives of Kentucky.

(Subjects: Steamboats)

U.S. Treasurer
(Marker Number: 211)

County: Union
Location: N. of Sturgis, near Jct. KY 109 & 130

Description: Samuel Casey, 1788-1859, Treasurer of U.S., 1853-59, under Presidents Pierce and Buchanan. He resided 1811-59 in Caseyville, three miles west. Elected clerk of Circuit and County Courts; later, 1830-32, member of the State Senate.

Union County, 1811
(Marker Number: 1250)

County: Union
Location: Morganfield, Courthouse lawn, US 60, 641

Description: The 55th Kentucky county created, it was formed entirely out of Henderson County. "It was possibly so named because of the unanimity of its citizens for division of the old county." Morganfield made county seat. Named for Gen. Daniel Morgan, who owned the land. Officer throughout the Revolutionary War, from 1775 at Quebec to 1781 at Cowpens, S.C.

(Subjects: Morgan, Daniel | Revolutionary War)