KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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A Foster Inspiration
(Marker Number: 750)

County: Bracken
Location: Frankfort & 5th Sts., Augusta, KY 8

Description: Stephen Collins Foster, as youth, visited here, May 1833. His uncle Dr. Joseph S. Tomlinson was then President of Augusta College. The musical, harmonious voices from the old Negro church on the hill floated softly over the town. "It can hardly be doubted" Foster was impressed by these since he "put into song at a later time the sorrow their voices reflected."

Augusta College 1822-1849
(Marker Number: 94)

County: Bracken
Location: Augusta College Grounds, KY 8, 19

Description: In 1822 the trustees of Bracken Academy with conferences of the Methodist Church of Kentucky and Ohio merged to found Augusta College, the first established Methodist College in the world.

(Subjects: Methodist Church)

Augusta in Civil War
(Marker Number: 501)

County: Bracken
Location: Augusta, KY 8

Description: By Sept. 1862, 6,000 Union troops had gone from this district. Only 100 Home Guards left, under Col. Bradford. On Sept. 27, Col. Duke with 350 Morgan Raiders attacked. Guards secreted in houses fought until Raiders penetrated area, burned and cannonaded houses. CSA losses of men and ammunition forced return to Falmouth and abandonment of raid into Ohio.

(Subjects: Civil War | Morgan's Raiders)

Bracken County Wine
(Marker Number: 1213)

County: Bracken
Location: Augusta, KY 8, 19

Description: During the 1870s, leading wine-producing county of US, furnishing over 30,000 gallons annually, half the entire national production. Germans, finding soil here similar to that in France and Spain, brought grape cultivation and wine production to this area. This last remaining wine cellar has 3-foot-thick walls of native limestone and a vaulted ceiling.

(Subjects: Germans)

Bracken County, 1796
(Marker Number: 861)

County: Bracken
Location: Augusta, KY 8

Description: Formed from parts of Campbell and Mason. Named for William Bracken, hunter, fisherman, Indian fighter, came here 1773. Birthplace of John Gregg Fee, founder of Berea College, 1855. Birthplace and home of Dr. Joshua Taylor Bradford, 1819-71, world famous surgeon. Site Augusta College, first Methodist College in world, 1822. First White Burley tobacco, 1867, from Bracken seed.

(Subjects: Berea College)

Bradford Schoolhouse
(Marker Number: 2288)

County: Bracken
Location: 1942 Bradford Road, Bradford

Description: A rare example of a one-room schoolhouse. First through eighth grades, with about 25 children per year, were taught by one teacher. This schoolhouse was used until 1929. In Kentucky, there were an estimated 6,752 one-room school- houses in 1901, & some were still being used until 1989. It’s on the Nat’l Register of Historic Places.

(Subjects: National Register of Historic Places | Schools)

Casto-Metcalfe Duel
(Marker Number: 996)

County: Bracken
Location: Bracken Co. on Mason Co. line, KY 8

Description: On the Ohio River shore near here one of the last duels fought in Kentucky under the "code duello" took place on May 8, 1862, between William T. Casto, former Maysville mayor, and Col. Leonidas Metcalfe, U.S. Army, son of former Gov. Thomas Metcalfe. Colts rifles were used at 60 yards. On the first fire Casto was mortally wounded. Metcalfe was not hit. See over.

(Reverse) Cause of the Duel - The duel (see other side) climaxed a bitter Civil War episode. In Oct., 1861, Metcalfe was ordered to arrest 7 men, including Casto, for aiding the Confederates. They were sent north to Union prisons; all were later released, Casto in Feb., 1862. His belief that Col. Metcalfe was responsible for his arrest led Casto to challenge him to duel which ended his own life.

(Subjects: Civil War | Duels)

Founder of Augusta
(Marker Number: 1502)

County: Bracken
Location: Powersville, KY 10 & 19

Description: Captain Philip Buckner, Revolutionary War soldier, gave 600 acres of land to establish Augusta in 1797. He received many land grants, one in present Bracken County, for service as Commissary Officer in Va. Capt. Buckner was member of 2nd Ky. Constitutional Convention, 1799; represented Bracken Co. in Legislature. Lived at "Woodlawn" many years; died here in 1830.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1799) | Revolutionary War)

John Gregg Fee (1816-1901)
(Marker Number: 2076)

County: Bracken
Location: Germantown, Community Center, KY 875

Description: Fee received degree from Augusta College; went to Lane Theological Seminary. Had spiritual experience which began career as nationally known and determined abolitionist. A founder of Berea College who wanted low-cost education for "all persons of good moral character," regardless of race. Wrote several pamphlets advocating racial reform. Presented by Bracken Co. Historical Society and the Ky. African American Heritage Commission.

(Reverse) Arnold Gragston - While living on the Jack Tabb farm, Gragston, born ca. 1840, helped many slaves escape to freedom. This African American rowed slaves from Dover (Mason Co.) across Ohio River under cover of dark nights. Almost caught returning from one crossing, he escaped to woods. After more than four years of helping others, he crossed river and became a free man. Died, 1938.

(Subjects: African American | Berea College | Ohio River | Slavery)

Kenton Ambushes Indians
(Marker Number: 1614)

County: Bracken
Location: Foster, KY 8

Description: In summer of 1793 Indians crossed Ohio River, hid canoes at mouth of Holt's Creek, site of Foster, and proceeded to Bourbon Co. to steal horses. Simon Kenton secured a small group to ambush them on their return. After lying concealed for four days, Kenton's men were successful; they killed six of the enemy, scattered the others, and retrieved the horses.

(Subjects: Creeks | Indians | Kenton, Simon | Rivers)

Philip Buckner (1747-1820)
(Marker Number: 1842)

County: Bracken
Location: Augusta Public Square

Description: Captain Philip Buckner, an Englishman, was a Revolutionary War veteran. He came to Va., served adopted colony as issuing commissary, received extensive land grants, then settled here. In 1797, he donated this lot for Augusta Public Square as part of land for town. It became the site of the courthouse until it burned, 1848; pioneer jail still standing.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

Walcott Covered Bridge
(Marker Number: 1565)

County: Bracken
Location: 5 mi. N. of Brooksville, KY 1159

Description: This scenic bridge, also known as The White Bridge, is a 75-foot span over Locust Creek and has served Walcott community from 1824-1954. It is of King and Queen type, timber truss construction with hand-hewn joints and beams. First restored by A. L. Murray. Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1975.

(Reverse) Covered Bridges - Covered bridges were first built in the 1790s but did not become widely popular until after 1814. They were covered to protect them from the weather. At one time there were more than 400 covered bridges in Ky. The timbered spans have played a romantic role in our history. Some were destroyed during the Civil War. The remaining ones are a nostalgic link with the past.

(Subjects: Covered Bridges | National Register of Historic Places)