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Bonnie Strassell - Owen County Historical Society

  • Owen Historical Society News: Sharing stories of our agricultural heritage

     The tall grasses of Kentucky gave way to the mighty bison. These great shaggy beasts created trails leading to the salt licks and rivers that dotted the land. Trails that were further defined by the moccasin feet of the American Indian.
    In 1775, Daniel Boone and 30 men completed the first trail through the Cumberland Mountains. It moved through the Alleghenies at Cumberland Gap, at what is now the junction of the state boundaries of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Heading northwest, it split at Hazel Patch, one route creating Boonesborough, the other Frankfort.

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  • Owen Historical Society News: Newspaper continues as link to past, future

    The pungent smell of oil-based ink wafted through the building, and its presence was ever evident on fingertips. Sounds in the background intermingled as the linotype machine operator tapped out words into sentences; and the cylinder press, picking up a bit of ink, rolled across the type form and performed its noteworthy job of printing the newspaper.
    Welcome to the office of the News-Herald in the 1950s-1970s. Jane Yancey Ayres well remembers those days of frantically working to publish the weekly paper for Owen countians. 

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  • Owen Historical Society News: The call of riverboats lured many boys to the banks

    Meet Charlie Moormon. The slender, whiskered gentleman from the Cincinnati Museum Center presented a program on riverboats at the historical society meeting July 12.  His love of the river and the steamboats which once crowded its expanse was evident as he relived the early days of steam powered boats and the vital role they played in the history of America.

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  • Owen Historical Society News: Pawpaws were a treat for explorers, settlers and kids

    “Pickin’ up pawpaws, puttin’ ‘em in your pocket,
    Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.”

    The preservation of our history includes passing down family stories and songs, and recording important events. But another vital element of preserving our past is planting and cultivating heirloom flowers, crops, and trees. This piece of our history also keeps our traditions alive and serves to enrich our lives.

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  • Owen Historical Society News: Farming history is linked to these machines

    Displaying a variety of colors and sizes they proudly lined up side by side. Some quite obviously showed their age, and although they certainly had more experience, nevertheless they didn’t seem to mind sharing the limelight with the younger set. They boasted names such as Minneapolis Moline, Farmall, Allis-Chalmers, Power King, Massey-Ferguson, and Ford 8N.

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  • Owen Historical Society News: The American flag is a symbol of freedom

    “The American flag is a symbol of freedom. But freedom isn’t free.”

    The truth of these words was emphasized June 14 in a poignant historical society program presented by Pastor Jim Wood. Brother Wood not only shepherds the flock at New Liberty Christian Church, but is also the designated chaplain of an organization called Flags4Vets. Jim is a veteran of the United States Army and continues his service to our country by joining thousands of volunteers dedicated to placing flags on the graves of veterans every Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

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  • Owen County Historical Society: Re-enactors relive the past with 1812 event

    “Generations Meet” is the theme of the 1812 event to be held in the backyard of the historical society museum Friday evening.
    Saturday and Friday from 7-9 p.m., we welcome a few re-enactors portraying militia
    volunteers in the War of 1812. Stories will be told around the campfire by Earl Bayer from Cincinnati, Ohio, who reminisces about his journey with George Rogers Clark to take Vincennes during the Revolutionary War, and laments about America’s involvement in yet another war. Doris Riley will conduct a candlelight tour of the

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  • Owen County Historical Society: Sparta was once split into two communites

    “Owen Countians, Then and Now” was the title of a column featured in the News-Herald for several years. In a 1975 and 1976 issue, Herbert G. Gibson and J. L. Samuel shared poignant memories of Sparta in the early 20th century.

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  • Owen County Historical Society: At one time, stage coaches criss-crossed county

    The ride was not for the fainthearted.
    At times it jarred the bones and rattled the teeth and the constant swaying was sure to cause motion sickness in some. Depending on the time of year, one could be covered with a fine film of dust or mired in knee-deep mud. However, despite the setbacks, travel by stagecoach was part of the American scene.

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  • Owen Historical Society News: Owen County has a rich history of political figures

    The stone orator stands erect atop the imposing alabaster monument and gazes out over the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Owenton. The marker bears the image of United States Representative Evan E. Settle and designates his final resting place.
    Like many other Owen countians, Evan Settle devoted much of his life to politics, and nobly served the people of Kentucky.

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