Josiah Jackson’s Grave. The Devil’s Backbone. Winchester’s Lost Silver Mines.
There are enough historic places in Winchester/Clark County to fill three books, which is what Kentucky author Harry G. Enoch did with his Where In The World? Historic Places in Clark County, Kentucky series.
Based on Enoch’s column of the same name, which was written for the Bluegrass Heritage Museum and published in the Winchester Sun, the books share the stories behind the landmarks all over the county.
Think you know Winchester? Here’s a scavenger hunt to six of its historic places. You don’t need Enoch’s books to solve the clues – although reading his books is certainly entertaining and worthwhile. Just pack your sense of wonder and a yen to learn more about Winchester and surroundings and head out in search of the answers.
- A bank once sat upon this street,
Two frozen ladies’ faces greet.
Back then it was the second bank –
The “handsomest” with lots of swank. - Neighborhood marked by First and Elm,
And Washington and Walnut realm.
A place of opportunity,
Historic Black community. - County fairgrounds stand on the spot,
Once housed the poor – that was their lot.
A landfill also sits out there,
And dogs and cats that need some care. - A holy house all dressed in stone.
Historic landmark that was home
To Baptists and Reformers both
In search of spiritual growth. - This biz mixed furniture and death
New couch and chair and one’s last breath.
A flea market is in its place,
A pretty downtown Main Street space. - This structure lines the county roads.
Piled rock walls stacked with good limestone.
Such character they give the land
Amazing they were built by hand.
Give up? Enoch’s books are available for borrowing from the Clark County Public Library and for purchase at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum. Or you can prolong the suspense and wait until next month when the answers will be published in the Winchester blog.
For the record . . . Josiah Jackson (1746-1836) was a patriot of the American Revolution, and his grave may or may not be at his old homeplace in Clark County. The Devil’s Backbone was a narrow ridge that sparked local superstitions about the devil himself lurking about the area.
And the lost silver mines? These were alleged to have been found in Clark County around 1760 by a guy named Jonathan Swift. (You’ll be forgiven if Gulliver’s Travels springs to mind; the search for silver mines in Kentucky is similarly fantastical.)