KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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County Named, 1821
(Marker Number: 886)

County: Lawrence
Location: Louisa, Courthouse lawn, US 23

Description: For Capt. James Lawrence, whose charge, "Don't give up the ship," when mortally wounded in battle between USS CHESAPEAKE and HMS SHANNON off Boston, June 1, 1813, met highest traditions of US Navy and has inspired all Americans. Buried with honor by British in Halifax; reinterred at Trinity Church, New York. Lawrence County was formed from Greenup and Floyd.

East Fork Covered Bridge 1/2 mile
(Marker Number: 1584)

County: Lawrence
Location: Near Fallsburg, KY 3

Description: Built in 1924 by John and George Riffe, this covered bridge is 42 feet long and has modified king posts. The single-span, wooden structure crosses the East Fork of Little Sandy River near Fallsburg. The bridge has concrete abutments and a corrugated tin roof. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

(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 | Rivers)

Eastern Kentucky Railway
(Marker Number: 2056)

County: Lawrence
Location: KY 201at Fire Dept., Webbville

Description: This site became the railhead of E.K. Railway when 1.77 miles of track was laid from Willard, 1889, completing 36 miles of track from Riverton. The extension from Willard to Webbville was made primarily to provide an outlet for forest products. The Blue Goose, a gasoline-powered car, made two daily rounds to Grayson. E.K. Railway ended in bankruptcy, 1933. Presented by Eastern Ky. Railway Historical Society.

(Subjects: Railroads)

Fort Bishop
(Marker Number: 632)

County: Lawrence
Location: Louisa, Bypass

Description: USA Ft. Bishop, 100 yards west, was built to protect against CSA raids. It was named for Captain William Bishop, l00th Ohio Inf., killed in action at Dallas, Ga., May 1864. USA engineers, using detail from 109th Col. Inf., began fort, September 23, 1864. At end of war, April 1865, work was almost complete. Fort had seven field guns. Also called Ft. Gallup and Ft. Hill.

(Subjects: Forts and Stations)

Frederick M. Vinson
(Marker Number: 636)

County: Lawrence
Location: Louisa, Bypass

Description: "A great jurist, a distinguished Secretary of the Treasury, and a noted Congressman." Born in Louisa Jan. 22, 1890. City Atty.; Comm. Atty.; Congressman, 1923-29, 31-38. D.C. Court of Appeals, 1938-43. Director Economic Stabilization, Federal Loan Admin., Director War Mobilization. Secretary of Treasury, 1945. United States Chief Justice 1946 until his death, Sept. 8, 1953.

Giant Cooling Tower
(Marker Number: 887)

County: Lawrence
Location: 1 mi. N. of Louisa, US 23

Description: Completion of this tower in 1962 was a historic event. First of its kind in Western Hemisphere and the largest capacity of any single tower in the world when it was built. The concrete, natural draft, hyperbolic structure cools 120,000 gallons water per minute for steam condensing. Its height is 320 feet and diameters 245 at base, 130 at neck and 139 at top.

Louisa in Civil War
(Marker Number: 547)

County: Lawrence
Location: Louisa, Courthouse lawn, US 23

Description: River traffic caused Union forces under Gen. James A. Garfield, 20th U.S. President, to occupy Louisa Dec. 1861. CSA troops attempted capture March 12 and 25-26, 1863. Southern partisans raided area Nov. 5, 1864, burning houses and 2 steamers, and looting stores. Fort Bishop, USA, completed here just as war ended in 1865. Also called Fort Gallup and Fort Hill.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forts and Stations | Garfield, James A.)

Pioneer Furnace
(Marker Number: 1354)

County: Lawrence
Location: US 23, S. of Louisa at Jct. of KY 644

Description: The southernmost blast furnace in the Hanging Rock Iron Region. Built in 1881, 41/2 miles south, by Jay H. Northup, George C. Peck and Thomas Cummings. A stone stack 18 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 41/2 ft., it began operations in 1882, using locally mined ore and charcoal fuel made nearby. Production had ceased by 1884. See the other side.

(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Charcoal-furnace era ended in 1880s with depletion of ore and timber and use of modern methods. Over.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Yatesville Covered Bridge - 1/2 mile
(Marker Number: 1583)

County: Lawrence
Location: N. of Louisa at Yatesville, KY 3

Description: Built ca. 1900 of William Howe's truss design, the single-span wooden structure is 130 feet long and crosses Blaine Creek. The board-and-batten siding is open at the top under the eaves in a window effect, and corrugated tin provides roofing. Bridge was in general use until 1965. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1976.

(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 | Creeks | National Register of Historic Places)