NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0018 (Oct. .1990) . RECEiVEf) 27'’0 United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service ■|«5- MAR 1 31998; National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NAT. Rtn:?UR0i HISWKIC KLACES PARK SERVICE National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x” in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If an Hern does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A” for "not applicable." For'functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property ~ historic nnmp Brown, Mason,House other names/site number Blue Wing Landing 2. Location street & numher ^lle east of end of Brown's Bottom Road ^ publication city or town_____ Gratz B vicinity state Kentucky______ code KY county Owen code 187 zip code 40327 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this Q nomination n request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property D meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant nationally □ statewide □ locally. {□ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) ^STgnature of cerh^g official/Title Date state of Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property D meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting official/Tltle Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I hereb^ertify that the property is: Date of Action 0 entered in the National Register. Q See continuation sheet. IZl determined eligible lor the National Register Q See continuation sheet. Q determined not eligible for the National Register. D removed from the National Register. D other, (explain:) - . : . V ■: • • • -'I*' ’ -Mason Brown House ■ • Owen Couritv. KentOcky-;'::.;. Name of Property •'County cind State ^'I-' 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) H private □ building(s) Contributing . Noncx)ntributing □ public-local □ district 0- ■ ■ buildings1 □ public-State □ site •i: □ structure sites □ public-Federal • 0.. 1 O '- • □ object '■ o. 0 structures 0 - 0 objects 1 0 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously listed (Enter "N/A” if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) in the National Register N/A 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Domestic-single dwelling Domestic-single dwelling 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Gothic Revival foundation Limestone walls__ Wood/tongue and groove weatherboard roof. Tin other. Wood Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) hrs Form 1C-5O0-. (V*«) OU6 AfororW ICI4-00U United States Department of the Interior •National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page J_L Mason Brown House Owen County, Kentucky Description The Mason Brown House ) is located at Blue Wing Landing on the Kentucky River, off Brown’s Bottom Road, near Gratz Owen County, Kentucky and dates to about 1856. Situated in a very remote river bottom, the house is surrounded by hay fields, cattle pastures, and steep, wooded Kills and bluffs that comprise the Lower Kentucky River VaUey. Large tobacco barns are found along the bottom and the nearest dwelhng, also constructed by the Brown family, . a half mile distant. The house is a 2 V2 story balloon frame structure. The main portion of the house measures 46’ x 32’. Two small rooms, each 8’ x 10’ project from the rear of the house and are connected by a 10’ x 12’ porch. The house is sited on a level river bottom facing the Kentucky River and fronted by a large gable which frames the portico and dressed hmestone porch. The scroll cut front door is surrounded by Greek Revival style side and transom lights; 2 sets of double windows face the front^and all windows are crowned by prominent hood molds. The roof is steeply pitched, originally shingled but later covered over with metal. There are four brick interior end chimneys. Pendants with finials atop adorn the gable ends. The deeply ' scrolled bargeboards are cut from large planks of yellow poplar. The center hall (10’ by 32’) and 4 principal downstairs rooms (16’ x 18’ each) rise 12 feet to their ceihngs, and have 12 inch baseboards. The mantels, casings, doors and staircase of pine and poplar are all substantial but plain. The upstairs contains a hall and two bedrooms. Four i^maUer attic rooms have been converted to modern uses. Until 1997, there was no real kitchen in the house and no bathroom or running water. Cooking was originally done in a cabin that has been dated to 1790-1810 by log house author Charles McRaven. Later tenants of the house, dating back to 1936, indicated that the northwest room, once covered with many layers of hnoleum and wallpaper, was used as a kitchen-dining room. Cooking was done on a wood stove and dishes were washed in pans in a small'room next to the rear porch. A nearby ever-running spring (rare for this area) supphed water. Also of interest near the house is an Indian mound. The exterior of this house retains its original appearance without alteration; the interior appointments have nearly all been preserved. ............................... - ..— , . .* ':-y .•■ry* Mason. Brown House- • ■ ■ Owgii County^: • K^fentucky. , Name of Property . ;■ ";.c--^County and state 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria ; Areas of Significance ^ • . v j (Enter categories from instructions) ’ . (Mark "x” in one or more boxes (or the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.) ■ ' ' ‘ ' - □ A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. H B Property is associated with the lives of persons Politics and government, law significant in our past. 0 C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics Architecture of a type, period, or method of construction of represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack ' Period of Significance individual distinction. .1656 .-1890 □ D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield,' information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations Significant Dates (Mark "x” in all the boxes that apply.) ca. 1856 (date built) Property is: □ A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. Significant Person □ B removed from its original location. (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) Brown.Mason________ □ C a birthplace or grave. Cultural Affiliation □ Da cemetery. ■ N/A □ E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. □ Fa commemorative property. □ G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance Architect/Builder within' the past 50 years. Cook, Nathaniel Center (att.) Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) 9. Major Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data: □ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 □ State Historic Preservation Office CFR 67) has been requested □ Other State agency □ previously list^ in the National Register □ Federal agency □ previously determined eligible by the National □ Local goyernment ' Register □ University" . - > □ designated a National Historic Landmark . □ Other . ;; • □ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey ' - Name of repositpiy: \ # □ recorded.by Historic American Engineering V • Record # ________ ^ Mf-3 form 10-9CC-* ?C3 4-0011 United States Department of the Interior •National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page • 2 Mason Brown House Owen County, Kentucky Statement of Significance The Mason Brown House at Blue Wing Landing on Brown’s Bottom Road, Gratz, Kentucky meets National Register Criteria B and C. It is significant .within the historic context of the Steamboat Era of the Lower Kentucky River which lasted from 1820 when steam powered paddlewheel boats became a dominant mode of transportation until 1900 when gas powered boats appeared. It is significant through association with Mason Brown, a prominent Kentucky, pohtician, judge, and owner of Liberty Hall at Frankfort. The design of the Mason Brown House is significant and is attributed to- noted architect Nathanial Center Cook. The house was built in the Gothic Revival style in about 1856, at the same time that