Uclassifi Cation

10-300 ^j i>i i t^Ls o i f\ i Jô iû-r/Ars. i rvii_,i> i vî- i HE- ii> i i^jxiwrs. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES lilt! INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM 111! SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS _____TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Old Statehouse Historic District AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION A'1 ^T&'EET I NUM BER , Streets founded by Broadway>vyiaatoh.St. Glair, ; Ann, & High _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Frankfort . VICINITY OF 06 , STATE CODE COUNTY CODE ; Kentucky 021 Franklin 073 UCLASSIFI CATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE X.DISTRICT —PUBLIC X.OCCUPIED —AGRICULTURE X.MUSEUM _ BUILDING(S) —PRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED 2LCOMMERCIAL —PARK —STRUCTURE —WORK IN PROGRESS —EDUCATIONAL J§PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE —ENTERTAINMENT .^RELIGIOUS —OBJECT —IN PROCESS JiYES: RESTRICTED 2LGOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —BEING CONSIDERED — YES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION —NO —MILITARY —OTHER: [OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME (See Continuation Sheet) STREETS. NUMBER CITY. TOWN STATE VICINITY OF COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEED* . FrankUn County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER St. Clair Street CITY. TOWN Frankfort REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE DATE —FEDERAL —STATE -COUNTY —LOCAL CITY. TOWN STATE CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE EXCELLENT _DETERIORATED ÛNALTERED 2£ORIGINALSITE GOOD _RUINS ALTERED _MOVED DATE. FAIR _UNEXPOSED The Old Statehouse Hf^rik District consists of a rather compact grid of narrow streets and alleys located between the steep cliff of Fort Hill on the north, Broadway with its railroad track on the south, the Capitol Plaza on the west, and the State Office Building and a railroad yard on the east. Only the Old Capitol or Public Square with its park-like landscaping protrudes half a block east- of St. Clair Street at the southwest corner of the proposed district (see enclosed map). Residences and other buildings that line the streets in a dense though irregular manner are in general set close to the thoroughfares, with a minimal recess or none at all. A mixture of scales and materials exist, but there is an overall homogeneity present, particularly in contrast to the massive and ever-present natural and man-made features that define the boundaries. Architecturally, the area is diversified, although most of the significant construction dates from the 19th century. The sequence begins with the Old Governors' Mansion (listed on the National Register March 11, 1971), built shortly before 1800 and considered one of the convincingly Georgian brick houses in the state, with its beltcourse and shaped water table (see photo 2). The attractive entrance and cornice and much of the interior are reconstructions attempts to return to the original following a Victorianization that occurred in the mid-19th century. However, the basic layout, fine brickwork, and related outbuildings have survied and the walled garden to the south conveys a sense of the mansion's original setting. ' ^ The Federal period is represented by the Achilles Sneed House a block away on the corner of Ann and Clinton Streets. It was much altered and enlarged in the mid-and late-19th century, but retains its brick main block and evidence of the original fanlit entrance (see photo 3). The impressive double house at 406-408 High Street (see photo 4), in spite of the Victorian cornice and hood-molds, has an unforfeited Federal feeling, with its massive chimneys linked by a flat parapet on the party wall and splayed jack arches. Some of the other more modest residences have a Federal flavor also, even though they may date from the mid-19th century. The Greek Revival is epitomized by the Old State Capitol, (1827-30), a hexastyle structure built of local stone (listed on the National Register March 11, 1971). This building was designed by Kentucky's own Gideon Shryock, and has been recently restored in exemplary fashion for the Kentucky Historical Society. Its tempietto- like cupola is the chief landmark of the district, as of all downtown Frankfort (see photos 1 and 5). (continued) SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW —PREHISTORIC —ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ^RELIGION — 1400-1499 _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC CONSERVATION —LAW —SCIENCE — 1500-1599 —AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS —LITERATURE —SCULPTURE _1600-1699 .ÂRCHITECTURE —MILITARY _:SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN lil 700-1799 _ART _ ENGINEERINQ —MUSIC —THEATER 2L1800-1899 —^.COMMERCE —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _i_PHILQSOP3HY —TRANSPORTATION —X.1900- —COMMUNICATIONS '-." • —INDUSTRY .^POLITICS/GOVERNMENT (SPECIFY) —INVENTION BUILDER/ARCHITECT SPECIFIC DATES, 1796-present Varied STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Old Statehouse Historic District represents an old, stable, and diversified middle- class neighborhood whose residents have serviced the government and the city throughout its existence. The western boundary of the neighborhood was defined with the construction of the first capitol building in 1793, and the eastern, with the governor's residence also in 1793. The inhabitants have been in service occupations ever since, running schools and businesses, and providing trade skills. Their occupations have ranged from restaurant owner to local politician and druggist to printer, and their backgrounds have included German, English, and Afro-American. This diversity is evident not only within the makeup of the population, but in the physical characteristics of the neighborhood as well. On every street is a mixture of residences, commercial buildings and service buildings, such as churches and warehouses. Visually, one is confronted with a variety of shapes, heights, spaces, and surfaces. Even architecturally there is a cross-section of styles, ranging from Georgian to 20th century bungalow. The community, however, is bound together economically and socially. It has existed as a counterpoint to the more famous "Corner in Celebrities" (Ested on the National Register March 11,1977). While the "Comer" rep?esenfs the illustrious upper-class, and well-educated professionals of the town and state, the Old Statehouse Historic District represents its modest and middle-class equivalent. Architectural features of the "Corner" are repeated, just a shade less elaborately, in the district. The contributions of this neighborhood's residents has remained what it always has been but of basically local importance. The most striking characteristic of the Old Statehouse Historic District is the individuality of its components. There is no uniformity among the styles of residences or commercial facades. There are no contractor blocks and no sweeping spreads of lawn and boulevard. Instead, individual owners built their homes and businesses to their own specifications, placing the building as desired upon the lot. New structures filled in the odd areas that were once gardens, stables or alleys. Consequently, backyards are i"$ry irregular and some buildings are placed iMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES^ _ - meorinted in An Atlas of Franklin County. Kentucky. Philadelphia : D. J. Lake Co., 1882 (Reprinted in 1911^2 by the^rankfdrt Blue^rtefe Company). The City of Frankfort, Franklin County/ Kentucky. Louisville: Hart & Mapother, 1854. Colltos, m*riM-H-: History of Kentucky. 2 vols. Louisville: Richard H. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA 27 acres I Ah ,fi| Ifiia.5l8i9i0l U.2l3iOt2 t 6.0i Bll.q 1618.512.2,01 | 4 | 2|29 1 7 | 5 t Ou ZONE EASTING NORTHING ZONE EASTING NORTHING Cllj 6J . lfil8i6l3i4iQl I 4. 2l2 t9 17, 6.0 I DJ1.6I |6|8j6l3|5|0l |4,2|3 lO|2 t 6 1 Ol VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION The southeasterm boundary of the district begins at the northwest eorner of the intersection of High and Broadway Streets and extends in a.,northwesterly direction along the north side of Broadway approximately one thousand, one hundred and fifty feet (1,150 ft.) to a point where Broadway formerly intersected Madison Street. (Madison Street still exists on the -souî .side of Broadway but has been filled in completely on the north side.) The boundary of the dii^ ______________________________________________(continued) STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE NAME/TITLEFORM PREPARED BY Charlotte^ ,. Schneider/Architecturale ^ .,..„'. , Historian . I Martha Eubbard/ Walter Langsam, William Broberg, Carolyn Torma, Calvini:p. Jones ORGANIZATION DATE Resident, 124 Clinton Street/Kentucky Heritage Commission TELEPHONE /104 Bridge Street (503) 564-3741 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. , /^J STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OfFIC&R-SIGNAT tate Historic Preservation Officer GPO 892-453 Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES :9? INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Old Statehouse Historic District CONTINUATION SHEET ____ _____ITEM NUMBER 7_____PAGE £_____________________ Several residences in the district have a Greek Revival character although being townhouses, none is overtly Grecian. The S. I. M. Major House at Ann and Mero (see photo 6) has plain lintels and a doorway framed by simplified pilasters and an entablature similar to others in the area (see photo 7). The Gothic Revival is well represented by an

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