KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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County Named, 1852
(Marker Number: 790)

County: Powell
Location: Stanton, Courthouse lawn, KY 15, 213

Description: For Governor Lazarus W. Powell, born Henderson Co., 1812. Graduated, 1833, from St. Joseph's College in Bardstown. Attended Transylvania law school. State legislature, 1836-38. Governor of Ky., 1851-55. U.S. Senate, 1859-65. Resolution for his expulsion for Southern sympathy, defeated 1862. Favored Kentucky neutrality. Died 1867, buried Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Ky.

(Subjects: Transylvania University)

Courthouse Burned
(Marker Number: 587)

County: Powell
Location: Stanton, Courthouse lawn, KY 11, 15

Description: Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months: twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union accident. See map on reverse side. Courthouse and records at Stanton and other buildings were burned by guerrillas, spring of 1863. Buildings rebuilt. June 1, 1864, jail and records again burned.

(Subjects: Civil War | Courthouses Burned)

Early Iron Works
(Marker Number: 2015)

County: Powell
Location: 4541 Main St. at Red River Museum, Clay City

Description: Though there is evidence of iron production in area even earlier, land was bought for this purpose, 1805, by Robert Clark Jr. and Wm. Smith. Known as Clark & Smith's Iron Works, 1805-1808. A blast furnace called Red River Iron Works operated here from 1808 to 1830. Rebuilt as Estill Steam Furnace on another site; closed in 1869. Presented by Red River Hist. Soc. with ISTEA Funds.

(Reverse) Clay City Timber Industry - With Kentucky Union Railway Company's track laid in Powell Co. in 1886, the area's timber industry expanded. Red River Lumber Mills (1880) became largest steampowered sawmill in Ky. In 1890, the steady run began at one of America's largest timber processing plants. A 1906 mill fire and deforestation of area's timber led to the end of "boom days" in Clay City.

(Subjects: Iron Industry | Mills | Railroads)

Pilot Knob
(Marker Number: 132)

County: Powell
Location: 4 mi. W. of Stanton, KY 11, 15

Description: Daniel Boone and party first viewed "The Beautiful Level of Kentucky," June 7, 1769, from bench atop this knob.

(Subjects: Boone, Daniel)