246 Jefferson Street - “Vogt Reel House”

Built in 1904 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style on land donated by Henry Vogt

who lived nearby at 534 Maryland Avenue, Station #4 is Lexington’s oldest operating firehouse.

It was erected to provide supplementary service and facilities for what was then the far west end

of town. It is a 2-1/2 story brick structure with stone foundations and stone or metal trim. The

structure has a stylized two story Palladian feature with flush stone trim; small attic windows

under crow-step gable; this central unit projects over the entrance, defined by brick tourelles with

small domed ‘pepperpot’ tops, supported visually by metal consoles. There is a hose drying

tower toward the center of the North side, a large wide door in the back wall allowed the

equipment to enter one way and exit opposite without turning around in the relatively narrow

internal space. The upper story serves the firemen as quarters for sleeping, eating, and waiting.

There is a narrow, red, iron spiral staircase that was originally in the second Fayette County

courthouse, which was destroyed by fire. The station also has a fire pole for quick access

downstairs. The center bay entry was widened in 2005 in order to allow the then smallest sized

fire truck to still fit inside the station.

400 Block of West Second Street:

The 400 block of West Second street is one of the historically and architecturally most

significant in Lexington, occupied for almost two centuries by social, economic, civic and

cultural leaders of the city, including Vice President John C. Breckenridge, and members of the

Hunt, Shelby, Scott, and Kinkead families. Aside from the few compatible dwellings built

between the world wars, the block consists of residences dating from the first quarter of the 19th

century to WWI, with interesting and intact examples of almost every major residential style

during that period. Dwellings range from modest Federal style cottages through antebellum and

post-civil war townhouses through Italianate, high Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian and Queen

Anne, Neo-classical or Colonial Revival, and Arts and Crafts style.

485 West 2nd Street – Home (1st & 2nd floors) and garden

John & Diane Irvin

This two story brick bungalow with stuccoed upper story was built for Augustus Moran

in 1927. The hipped roof dormer faces forward on a long slope of roof which includes a one

story full porch with brick piers. The side gables are rough cast stucco and half timbered. This

home is attributed to architect Arthur Giannini and is a rather typical late 1920s bungalow.

441 West 2nd Street – (4th floor penthouse and 3rd floor condo on tour)

Michael Satterly

Built in 1905 for the Campbell-Hagerman College and known as Duff Hall this colonial

revival style tall, narrow brick building with added colossal Ionic portico contained classrooms

and music rooms for the young woman’s college and was built at a construction cost of $25K.

The College closed in 1912 and the building was converted into rather large and fashionable

apartments. The current owner purchased the building in 2008 and has converted it from 27

apartments into 11 upscale condos.

244 North Broadway – Garden

Kathryn Glenn

Known as the Major Alexander Gibson Morgan III house, it was part of the Morgan

Compound built in 1905. The garden is a quiet oasis in the middle of busy downtown. A porch

overlooks the garden with sounds of waterfall and plantings for a relaxing retreat and getaway.

Gratz Park:

Gratz Park Historic District is bound on the south by the middle of Second Street, on the

west by Bark Alley, on the north by the middle of Third Street, and on the east by the Byway (an

alley between Market and N. Upper Streets). There are 18 buildings in the area. When the town

plat of Lexington was prepared in 1781 at the order of the Virginia assembly, the area now

known as Gratz Park was one of many ‘out-lots.’ This tract, designated as lot no. 6, was

purchased in 1793 by the Transylvania Seminary and a two story brick building was erected at

the upper end of the three acre lot. Today Gratz Park remains as a city park, with only one of the

old Transylvania buildings yet standing, the quaint one-story pavilion known as the ‘kitchen’. At

the lower end of the square is the Lexington Public Library now the Carnegie Center for Literacy

and Learning, erected in 1904 with Carnegie funds, and at the upper end is a ‘fountain of youth,’

provided for in the will of James Lane Allen. The residences surrounding the park are some of

Lexington’s best examples of early architecture.

220 Market Street – Home (1st & 2nd floors) and garden

John & Carolyn Hackworth

This Gratz Park home was built in 1816 for Peter Paul II, a stonecutter from England.

The window frames, in which wooden pegs were used in place of nails and shutters, are original.

The Greek revival recessed doorway was added in the mid-1800s. Carolyn Reading Hammer

and her husband Victor Hammer, who was a renowned Austrian artist, owned the home from

1950-1984. New owners in 1985 were responsible for extensive renovation as well as an

addition to the back of the house designed by architectural historian Clay Lancaster. The giant

ginkgo tree is said to have been planted by Henry Clay.

400 Block of West Third Street:

This is one of the most impressive residential blocks in Kentucky, along with the parallel

block of 2nd Street. This block did not develop until after the civil war, when it was still

considered ‘suburban’. The depth of the block between 2nd and 3rd is 700 feet, another feature

rarely found so near downtown, providing a close link between urban living within the city and

the openness of more rural environments. The block is steeped in the history of the area, for it

was in these deep interior lots that some of the great hemp walks of the Fayette area were

situated along with their magnificent homes on 3rd. The whole block has been subject to infill

throughout the 19th and 20th century. Third Street also provides the entrance to Hampton Court

which is an enclave developed in the early 20th century.

424 West 3rd Street - Pool house (1st & 2nd floors) and garden

Jennifer Braddock & Robert Sanders

This Italianate residence was built in 1882 for Mr. & Mrs. James A. Headley. It was

designed by Cincinnatus Shryrock and has been a single family residence, duplex, and was

converted back to single family in the 1970s. The colonial revival front porch and sunroom were

additions made c1930. The current owners have made numerous updates in keeping with the

historic fabric of the home including a newer garage/poolhouse designed by the late Helm

Roberts and extensive gardens designed by P. Allen Smith.

462 West 3rd Street - Home (1st & 2nd floors)

Jay & Kaoru Farmer

This Italianate/Romanesque home was built in the 1860’s for Judge Matthew Walton. It

was extensively renovated in the early 1900s and received its Romanesque features including the

first story rusticated stone bow window and the casement plus lunette (the stained glass window

showing Japanese influence) window above it which has heavy rusticated stone voussoirs

forming its round head. It was later acquired by Lexington artist Henry Faulkner who resided

there until his death in 1981. During his occupancy, the home was turned into three apartments

and currently has been extensively renovated back to a single family home.

507 North Broadway – Home (3 floors) and garden

Anton Giovanetto

Built in 1881 for Joseph and Alice Headley by the Fayette Park Construction Company in

a combination style of Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, and Jacobean. This magnificent home

was built on a stacked limestone foundation and has a slate roof. The exterior walls are brick

with limestone window sills; the interior is framed with yellow poplar. Inside the home the

floors are laid with white oak, the walls are plastered with cherry millwork; the light fixtures

were originally supplied by both gas and electric. The original kitchen was not a part of the main

structure as was common in Victorian homes. There was an external elevator on one side of the

kitchen structure and a sleeping porch on top. In the alley there was a three bay carriage house

with a chicken coop attached and the rear yard contained a cutting garden. This house has had

major renovations since the 1980’s. The current owner in 2000 completely renovated this home

adding 4 new bathrooms, 2 new bedrooms, a master suite, sunroom, gathering room, and

currently operates the home as a bed and breakfast.

Fayette Park:

Fayette Park was laid out in 1888-89 on the former estate of the Sutton Family,

prominent hemp manufacturers in the early and mid 19th century. It is an enclosed residential

enclave of 16 dwellings facing a landscaped central mall on three sides.

444 Fayette Park – Home (1st floor) and garden

Kathy & Shailendra Chopra

This Arts & Crafts Colonial Revival home was built c.1912 for William Worthington.

This is the last house built in the Park. It is a classic example of the Four Square Plan so popular

in American residential architecture from 1900-1920. Brackets under the eaves mimic the

exposed roof joists that were one of the hallmarks of the Arts & Crafts movement, while iconic

columns on the front porch are reminders of the classical era. This was a former home to NNA

founding board member George Lamason. The current owners have rebuilt the front porch in

keeping with its original style and updated the interior with fine appointments.

The owners request that you please remove your shoes upon entering their home.

400 Block of West Sixth Street:

Although at the north west edge of the city and even slightly behind the 19th century

circular limits, 6th Street was laid out earlier in the 19th century than some of the numbered

streets directly to the south, probably because it served as the entrance road to Coolavin, a

federal-style mansion at the west end of 6th, as well as several other early to mid 19th century

farmhouses on either side. The urban and architectural character of this block of 6th is quite

mixed. It was developed from a few large farm-estates at the end of the 19th century.

411 West 6th Street – Home (1st floor)

Cindy & Carl Leonard

This c.1885 home is a vernacular frame cottage and is the twin of the more embellished

home next door at 413 W. 6th. The house is currently undergoing a major renovation that has

modified the original floor plan and changed the intended use of several of the rooms. Stop by to

see an in process example of an attempt to adapt an old house to new uses.

461 West 6th Street – Home (1st floor & attic)

Anne & Matthew Brooks

This home was built circa 1909 for J. T. Jackson at the north west end of 6th Street on

land that was platted into lots in 1893. It is a classic American four square plan with a large and

spacious porch extending across the front of the home. It has a large overhang and window

sashes typical of the arts and crafts movement. The owners have renovated the kitchen and attic

space for your viewing.

Elsmere Park:

Elsmere Park Historic District includes 29 residential structures and the shared public and

private grounds. The area is a T-shaped cul-de-sac. Platted in 1890 by the Elsmere Park

Company and developed between 1891 and 1913, the Park was one of Lexington’s first suburbs

and is indicative of the changing architectural trends of the period.

644 Elsmere Park – Home (1st & 2nd floors)

Mike Scanlon

This home was built in 1911 by Lumberyard owner George Curran for his friend, G.G.

Bryan. This Dutch Colonial Revival home is similar to 640 Elsmere Park’s massing. This house

features a barn-shaped gambrel roof and is constructed of brick and shingle. Unlike 640,

however, this house is designed with an asymmetrically placed front door. A rear addition was

added in 1983-84, following extensive renovation to the house. The kitchen was updated in

2012 as well as the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. Despite the modernizing, the

house remains very similar to its original design. The rear addition replaced a three story lattice-

enclosed porch.

667 Elsmere Park – Home (1st floor) and garden

Kathryn Hansen

This home was built in 1892 by John Buckner for William B. Talbert. This house has

basically the same Romanesque architecture as 657 and 663 Elsmere Park. Notice the arches and

semi-circular windows. The house was extensively renovated to provide a great room for

entertaining and relaxation, and includes an office for working at home. Recent changes include

painting of the interior with updated window dressing and fireplace hearths. At the rear, the

lovely garden provides a pleasant oasis for an afternoon glass of lemonade. A porch was added

in 2003 at the rear of the house to complement the garden.

Headley Avenue:

Headley Avenue runs for two blocks north of 6th Street, west of Broadway. The entrance

to Headley from 6th is flanked by a large Italianate house set back some distance from 6th on the

NW corner and the picturesque Richardsonian mansion at the NE corner. Otherwise the entire

600 block of Headley was almost entirely developed in the 1890s, with a few additions in the

early 1900s, having apparently been cut through in 1890. This street has remained a quite

enclave.

642 Headley Avenue – Home (1st floor)

Bill & Sally Johnston

This house was built in 1905 as a single family home. This two story brick house was

used as a veterans’ home for much of the 2nd half of the 20th century. Most recently it was a

duplex. Somewhere along the way, the interior staircase was removed. Access to the 2nd floor

was by an exterior wood staircase whose supports intruded on the green house to its south. The

removal of the bottom half of a chimney in the southeast corner of the house without supporting

what remained resulted in the exterior brick walls bowing out on the south and east sides. The

current owners are undertaking major renovations in converting this back into a single family

residence which when completed will be a 4 bedroom, 3 ½ bath home. Renovation has included

building a frame wall throughout the interior to which the masonry walls have been anchored

and then pulled back in. A custom curved staircase system is being designed. Vehicle access

will be from the rear via Davidson Court. Work in progress.

Price Avenue/Price Addition:

Price Addition was announced and advertised in 1902 in terms of its socially desirable

location, convenience to downtown, particularly via the new N. Broadway trolley line and to

schools and other institutions. It was named for an early home known as the Price home which

stood until 1956.

617 Price Avenue – Home (3 floors and wine cellar) and garden

Barbara Lawless & Kenneth Edwards

This home was built in 1918 by contractor William Bateman for retired farmer John W.

Stevenson and his wife Maggie. The house is an American Four Square with some craftsman

details. It was built on a 50’x150’ lot and an additional 50’x150’ to the north was purchased

later for a large garden. The house has original distinctive craftsman window sashes in the main

block as well as oak and pine heart floors. There are three finished floors and an addition which

have all been extensively remodeled by the current owners. This home was purchased in 1993

by the Lexington Metro Group Home and was a temporary shelter for children under the age of

18. Many children and youth called this home until 2008 when the Metro group home moved to

West Third Street. The home sat empty until purchased by its present owners in 2010.

Bellaire Avenue:

Bellaire Avenue forms the NW corner of the Northside Historic District. It lies in the

bend of the belt line (originally KY central) railroad. This subdivision opened up for residential

homes in 1902 on what were open fields at the time.

638 Bellaire Avenue – Home (1st floor) and garden

Mike Lafferty

This substantial American Four Square was built in 1904 on the south end of the block.

The Four Square was a popular mail-order ‘kit’ home. When one was ordered it came in a box

car with a book of directions and all parts pre-cut and numbered for self-assembly. These homes

are often seen in neighborhoods near rail lines. This home is attributed to one of the few popular

mail order companies. This home has been extensively renovated inside and out by its current

owner.

Information Source: Division of Historic Preservation, LFUCG