Author: Bob

Bulletin
of the
Kenton County Historical Society

Website: www.kentonlibrary.org/~histsoc Email: nkyhist@zoomtown.com
P.O. Box 641, Covington, Kentucky 41012-0641 (859) 491-4003

November / December 2011

General Leonard Covington

Other Stories Inside:

Main Street United Methodist Church
American Money — Its Origins and Eccentricities
1812 Prisoners at Newport Barracks
Little Flower Entertainers

General Leonard Covington
Karl Lietzenmayer

Because of the continuing generosity of Oakley Farris, Covington will soon have a bronze statue of the city’s namesake, General Leonard Covington. To be the work of sculptor Matt Langford of Union, General Covington will be added to Langford’s other creations in the city – a young Lincoln, Frank Duveneck and Andrew Carnegie. It seems only fitting that some of General Covington’s story be made available to our readers to put some flesh and blood on this forgotten pioneer.
It is said by General Covington’s descendants that their family name evolved from a Gaelic translation of “Koblin,” a name brought to the shores of Ireland by Norse invaders in 831 AD. The Irish translation, “Coven,” changed to “Cova” with subsequent migration to Scotland and still later to “Cov” when the general’s ancestors moved to England.1
The Cov clan settled about 65 miles north of London where, eventually, a community called Covington developed. That was after the English version of the name witnessed the addition of “ing,” meaning people and “ton,” meaning town.2
General Covington’s American heritage began in 1646 when Nehemiah Covington left England for the British colony of Maryland. The Covingtons prospered and soon became one of Maryland’s leading families.
Leonard Wales Covington was born in Aquasco, Maryland (Prince George County) on October 30, 1768 and entered the army as a cornet of cavalry on March 14, 1792. He was commissioned a lieutenant of dragoons in 1793.3 In order to tell the story of Covington, a brief consideration of the struggle for the trans-Allegheny lands follows.
During the decades before and after the Revolution, the Indians beat back repeated military expeditions of militia. Even the punitive campaign of George Rogers Clark, where Indian villages such as Chillicothe were destroyed and crops burned, the Indians came back stronger than ever.
The establishment of Fort Washington in 1789, at the site of 3rd and Broadway, Cincinnati, made little impact on Indian determination to drive the whites from their land. They freely ranged within sight of the fort and often stole the garrison’s cattle and horses.4 President Washington was increasingly alarmed about Indian raids and authorized Major General Author St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory to raise a force of militiamen. St. Clair gathered a force from four states at Fort Washington and appointed General Josiah Harmar in command.
Under the capable leadership of chief Little Turtle, the Indians formed a coalition of Miami, Shawnee, Potawatomi and Chippewa. Little Turtle lured Harmar’s militia deep into their territory, gave battle and defeated Harmar’s force.
After some smaller ineffective expeditions, in 1791, President Washington decided an overwhelming force was needed and promoted Author St. Clare to Major General with instructions to subdue the Indians. St. Clair commanded troops from four states and marched north from Fort Washington in September.
On the Upper Wabash on November 4th , the Indians – now a coalition of 10 tribes including chiefs such as Tecumseh, Little Turtle and Blue Jacket – fired on St. Clair’s volunteers with a frontal attack. The Kentucky volunteers fled and even after St. Clair brought up the regulars, the battle was lost. This represented the greatest defeat in terms of lost men any unit would suffer at the hands of Indians. Out of 1,492 men, only 580 reached safety.5 St. Clair, like Harmar, was now the recipient of harsh criticism.
Five American generals had attempted to conquer the Indians – George Rogers Clark, Josiah Harmar, Charles Scott, James Wilkinson and Arthur St. Clair. Not only had all five men achieved something less than complete success, but the Indians had actually become much stronger, and the tribes were cooperating as never before.6 St. Clair resigned his commission.
In April 1792, Major General Anthony Wayne – a dashing hero of the Revolution – was given command of the American Army. Within two months he was recruiting regulars and militia at Pittsburgh — men from Virginia, Maryland and (mostly) Pennsylvania. By April 1793, they had built flatboats for the long trip to Fort Washington. Among the new regulars making the move was a young lieutenant of cavalry named Leonard Covington.7 A few Kentucky volunteers gradually joined at The Point as well. [The Point was located on the western side of the mouth of the Licking River — on the opposite side of the Ohio River from Fort Washington]
When they reached their destination on May 8th, Major General Wayne found Fort Washington too small for the men to properly train.8 He selected a drill ground west of the fort and just east of the Mill Creek. He called these grounds “Hobson’s Choice” since he felt it too was inadequate. In usage, “Hobson’s Choice” was synonymous with “no choice at all.”9
Wayne was very particular about the training of his troops and felt he must have the very best ground for his cavalry drills. Therefore, he sent four companies of light dragoons to the southern side of the river for more suitable terrain. Here, the men, along with Lieutenant Covington as troop commander, set up a new camp and christened it with the classical name Bellerophontia — chosen in honor of one of the heroes in Book VI of Homer’s “Illiad” which tells of “…the flawless Bellerophon [whom] the gods made handsome and showered with masculine charm.”10
All that summer the sounds of mock cavalry charges and noise of drilling troops filled the entire valley. This was a true army and not like the straggling forces that came before. It dawned on the dragoon cavalry their young lieutenant was truly a soldier’s soldier. To insure that enough of the reluctant Kentuckians would join the force, Governor Shelby called for a draft and raised 1,000 mounted militia who were placed under Charles Scott’s command.11 By the time the Kentuckians reached The Point, Wayne’s force was already deep in Indian territory. Scott caught up with them on October 24th about 80 miles north.
Wayne built a number of fortifications on the way and, after wintering over, re-activated the campaign the following summer. The Indians launched a full scale attack in June 1794 and were soundly beaten by Wayne’s well trained force.
In July 1794, Scott led 16,000 Kentuckians to join Wayne and together they arrived within a short distance of the British Fort Miami [present Toledo]. There, on August 20th, 2,000 warriors again attacked – this time from a cover of fallen trees which gave the battle its name – Fallen Timbers.12
The furious battle lasted barely 50 minutes, but they were minutes where heroic deeds were common. Lieutenant Covington’s action was especially outstanding, as an admiring Theodore Roosevelt would later write in The Winning of the West:
“It would have been difficult to have found a more unfavorable ground for cavalry, nevertheless the dragoons rode against their foes at a gallop with broad swords swinging, the horses dodging in and out among the trees and jumping the fallen logs. They received heavy fire at close range which emptied a dozen saddles, both captains being shot down. One was killed and the other wounded. The command devolved upon Lieutenant Covington who led forward the troops and the dragoons burst among the savages at a full speed and routed them in a moment. Covington cut down two Indians with his own hand.”
Roosevelt might also have noted that the use of Covington’s troops represented the first time the army ever used cavalry in force against the Indians.13 The Indians were completely crushed and scattered. Many fled to the British Fort Miami for safety but the British, who had armed and urged them to do battle, now bolted the gates and turned the Indians away at bayonet point.14 The British commander wanted no part of a battle with General Wayne’s well-disciplined troops.
After Wayne defeated the Indians, he spent several months plundering and burning their towns and fields and erecting more fortifications. The tribes’ strong resistance was broken at last and the following summer they signed the Treaty of Greenville.15
Covington left the military in 1795 and served in Maryland’s House of Delegates for many years before being elected to the Ninth U. S. Congress. Covington re-joined the army on January 9, 1809, when President Jefferson appointed him as lieutenant colonel of light dragoons and became colonel a month later.16
Much to his delight, Covington was assigned to Newport Barracks.17 Promotions came rapidly and by February he was a full colonel. He commanded Fort Adams on the Mississippi River in 1810 and took possession of Baton Rouge and part of West Florida from the Spanish before being ordered to the northern frontier. Covington was named Brigadier General by President Madison, August 1, 1813. The Americans commanded 8,000 men in the St. Lawrence Campaign, the objective of which was the capture of Montreal.
At the Battle of Chrysler’s Field, where the Americans lost even with superior forces, General Covington was commanding the 3rd Brigade under Brigadier General John Parker Boyd. Covington was killed by musket fire from a smaller Canadian force while leading his troops across a ravine on November 11, 1813.
In 1820, his remains were moved to Sacket’s Harbor and now his burial site is known as Mount Covington. Covington was greatly loved and respected by men who served under him and new towns, such as Kentucky’s, were named for him in Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, New York and Ohio.18 Covington, Kentucky has turned out to be the largest in population. There is also a Covington County in Alabama.
1. Elbert E. Covington, “Covington and Kin,” McDowell Publications, Owensboro, KY (1980).
2. Ibid.
3. Biographical Directory of United States Congress
4. Robert Ralston Jones, “Fort Washington,” Society of Colonial Wars, Cincinnati (1902). The military base of Fort Washington was re-located to Newport in 1803 when Newport Barracks was established.
5. John Burns, “History of Covington Through 1865,” chapter I, page 85 (1986) unpublished mns.
6. Ibid., p.86.
7. Ibid., p 90.
8. Thomas Boyd, “Mad Anthony Wayne,” Scribner & Sons, New York (1929)
9. Attributed to Thomas Hobson (1544-1631), a Cambridge livery stable owner who would only offer one horse to a customer or none at all. A “take it or leave it” choice.
10. Burns, p.91.
11. Scott would become Kentucky’s 4th governor.
12. Boyd, op cit.
13. Burns, p. 94.
14. Boyd, op. cit.
15. Ibid.
16. Biographical directory, op. cit. cited in: Ky. Enquirer, 31 July 2011, p. B4.
17. Newport Barracks Papers at the Cincinnati Historical Society as quoted in 17.
18. John Burns, “History of Covington to 1865.” (1986).

Above and on the cover: General Leonard Covington
Courtesy Kenton County Public Library Archives

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Suggestions for New Historical Markers
for Kenton County

The Kenton County Historical Society is currently compiling a list of individuals or topics for possible future historical markers. In an attempt to make this list as complete as possible, we are asking for suggestions from our membership.
Below is the list as it stands today. Keep in mind that each marker will need to be completely funded before there will be any consideration that it be erected (one-sided = $2,100; two-sided = $2,300).
If you have any suggestions for additions to the list, please contact the Society as soon as possible. Also, if you have any ideas on who might fund a particular marker, please let us know that as well.
Suggestions for new Kenton County historical markers should be forwarded to Karl Lietzenmayer at P.O. Box 641, Covington, Kentucky, 41012, or by email at: nkyhist@zoomtown.com.
Latonia Springs – at intersection of Hwy 17 and
Highland Pike [within Ft. Wright limits]
Furman Knox – Covington Civil Rights leader.
Should have at least a street named for him.
Covington’s first movie theatre – Pike & Craig.
Marcus Loew saw his 1st motion picture here.
Robert Schulkers’ home – creator of Sekatary Hawkins novels
Droege & Bogenschutz Iron Foundry – on the banks of the Licking, Covington – now a proposed nature walk.
Dr. George Sperti home
WCKY – L.B. Wilson Station – 6th & Madison.
St. Elizabeth’s first hospital – 7th Street – site of Covington Board of Education.
First “Colored School” – 7th Street – also site of Covington Board of Education.
Stevens/Petty House – Corner of Taylor Mill Road and Stevens Roads.
End-o-Line, Ft. Mitchell. May involve the Wainscotts and Greyhound Tavern
Original site of Villa Madonna College – 12th Street Covington
Site of Kelley-Koett X-ray Company – 4th St. near Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.
Site of original Notre Dame Academy – now the Federal Court House, 5th Street, Covington.

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Main Street United Methodist Church
Paul A. Tenkotte

The Main Street United Methodist Church, founded in 1857-1858 as a member church of the Kentucky Conference, was one of the principal congregations serving the West Side of Covington.
Its first building was a frame construction and stood on Main Street. The first pastor was Rev. S.S. Belville. The Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church, as it was then called, remained in support of the Union during the Civil War. By the 1860s, the church’s Social Union, which sponsored oyster suppers and other events, flourished, as did its Sunday School.
In 1888, the congregation purchased a lot on the northeast corner of Eighth and Main Streets and construction on a brick church began in April of that year. The new church was dedicated on November 4, 1888. Of the total cost of $17,500, Amos Shinkle, a member of Union Methodist Church, donated $7,500. Women were instrumental in the church, promoting the cause of temperance in the 1870s and carrying out the work of the congregation’s Ladies’ Aid Society.
In 1892, the church sponsored a three-week revival featuring the traveling evangelist Aelaide Sherman, and 150 people were converted.
In 1904, Rev. James Marcus Newton became pastor. He oversaw a three-month canvassing of neighborhood homes, conducted with the help of women from the Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home in Cincinnati. As a result, the congregation increased in membership. In 1904, Jonathan David Hearne, a member of Union Methodist Episcopal Church, donated a home at 832 Willard Street for a parsonage.
With members moving to the suburbs, the church declined in membership during the latter half of the 20th century. In the 1950s, the church spire, in need of repair, was removed.
In 1968, following the national merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, the congregation became known as the Main Street United Methodist Church.
In 2004, the church closed; the building was sold at auction and is now a shop in the popular Main Strasse German Village.
Newton, James Marcus, A Brief History of the Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church with Incidents of the Kentucky Conference. Cincinnati: George P. Houston, 1905

Main Street United Methodist Church structure in 2011
Courtesy Bob Webster

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American Money
Its Origins and Eccentricities
Based on John Burns’, “A History of Covington to 1865”

The little money the pioneers brought with them never seemed to last very long. Although the infant American Government had adopted a monetary system of dollars and cents, many of the earliest settlers in this area continued to reckon in English pounds which, at that time, were composed of twenty shillings worth twelve pence each; each penny being equal to a farthing.
Probably the most common coin on the frontier though, was the Spanish eight-real piece which the Americans used as silver dollars. The word “dollar” was already in wide use and Americans applied the term to Spanish pieces-of-eight because of their similar size.1 Each Spanish piece-of-eight was worth about ninety pence.
The earliest troops at Fort Washington were paid in these Spanish silver coins. As the coins came into the hands of settlers, they were actually cut into quarters and eighths to be used as change. When the dollars were divided into 8 pieces, each piece was thought of to be worth 12½ cents or a little more than eleven pence, hence their common name of “eleven-penny piece,” usually shortened to “levy.”
The levies in turn, were often subdivided into 6¼ cent pieces worth a little more than five pence and generally known as the “five-penny piece,” usually shortened to “fippenny” or “fip.”2 Since the levy also carried the slang name “bit,” the quarter of a dollar was sometimes called “two bits.” It became a practice to cut the earliest American silver dollars in the same way and to this day it is common to hear Covingtonians refer to 25 cents as two bits; 50 cents as four bits; and 75 cents as six bits.
When the settlers ran out of hard money, the usual practice was to substitute animal pelts for currency. A rabbit skin was equal to a five-penny piece, worth 6¼ cents; a raccoon skin equaled an eleven-penny bit or 12½ cents; a fox skin was worth two bits or 25 cents; and a deerskin was valued at four bits. Pins and needles were commonly used for smaller change.
The cutting of Spanish coins was often done by smiths, some of whom could manage to cut five quarters from each. They kept the fifth “quarter” for themselves. The smiths’ trickery soon brought repercussions. When merchants took the cut money east to replenish supplies, the coins found their way to the mint to be re-coined. It was only there where the westerners’ trick was discovered.
Partly as a result of the ensuing outcry, the soldiers began receiving their pay in three-dollar notes. The notes were printed especially for the army payroll and soon became locally known as “oblongs.”
1. The term originated in 1520 when Count Jeronym Slik of Bohemia began minting coins known as Joachemsthaler from the valley where the silver was mined. Shortened to thaler, the term spread to Danish; Norwegian; Swedish [daler]; Dutch [daalder]; Italian [taller]; Persian [Dare]; and English [dollar]. The word “dollar” is derived from the German word for valley “Thaler.”
2. John Mackoy, a paper presented before the Pioneer Society of Covington, 9 December 1876 & published in The Cincinnati Commercial, 10 December 1876.

Replica Spanish Silver Dollar

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1812 Prisoners at Newport Barracks
Taken from Colonel Joseph Donnelly’s
Newport Barracks: Kentucky’s Forgotten Military Installation

Ten days after Perry defeated the British fleet, General William Henry Harrison’s troops were ferried across Lake Erie where they found Fort Malden abandoned. The British and Indian allies retreated to Moravian Town on the Thames, where Tecumseh insisted he must take a stand. Col. Richard M. Johnson’s mounted Kentuckians led the pursuit, divided the British forces and with muskets, knives and tomahawks, slew Tecumseh and captured over 500 prisoners, most from the Welsh Regiment.
The prisoners were taken to portage on Lake Erie and from there marched to Franklin Town and floated down the Sciota to Chillicothe, where they rested for a time. It was discovered the prisoners planned to overcome their guards, set fire to Chillicothe and steal boats to float down to New Orleans. They were loaded on boats in irons but Harrison removed their shackles as soon as they were out of sight of Chillicothe. They disembarked at Newport Barracks where some, mostly officers, were sent on to a penitentiary in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Newport Town was still a village of unpaved streets with less than 500 souls when the population was suddenly doubled with “Indian lovers who spoke an outlandish sort of English.” Nothing is known where and how they were housed or what kind of life was provided for them. A roster which listed their names, ranks, age, height, complexion, wounds, date of capture was handed to the Marshall of prisoners. Not much more is known about them. Most were in their mid-twenties but there were ten older men in their fifties, and five boys, drummers and fifers. The youngest – a James Alford – was only ten years old.
Legend has it that some British prisoners were commandeered to build some of the mansions going up in Newport, including Richard Southgate’s home, which still stands in Newport though altered.
In April 1814, both sides announced the liberation of all prisoners. The officers left Frankfort in July and were escorted to Newport to meet the enlisted men. By August 1814 all camped by Sandusky, Ohio – most lacked clothes and shoes and many sick. Recruiting parties had leveled heavy inducement to join the American forces and some accepted. Most found their way back to their lines and eventually repatriated to their homeland.

View of Newport Barracks from the flooded Ohio in 1884
photo courtesy nkyviews.com

WANT TO BE PUBLISHED?
The Kenton County Historical Society
is always looking for new articles on
Kenton County history.
Articles should have references or footnotes
and should be between 200 and 1,000 words.
Photos are always suggested.
Submit articles in Word as attachments to:
Bob Webster at: customphotosnky@yahoo.com

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Little Flowers Entertainment
Karl Lietzenmayer

The girls shown in the 1924 photograph – all future graduates of Notre Dame Academy – formed this ensemble to entertain the NDA graduates at the June 1923 commencement. They kept their group together through March 1926, when all went their separate ways after high school.
This all came about when a certain Sister Helen, OSB at Sanfordtown1 called the girls one evening in November 1923 and informed them of a play that the parish drama circle was giving at Holy Guardian Angels parish school.2 She wondered if they could supply some musical entertainment.
The six high school girls did not hesitate and volunteered immediately. The sister explained that the program was ready to be printed and wanted to advertise their group and asked, “What sort of entertainers do you call yourselves?” The girl on the other end replied, “Well, Sister, we debated about a name but never seemed to come up with anything.” Sister Helen said, “You want a name, so would you allow me to suggest one?” The girl on the phone listened intently. Sister said, “You no doubt often heard of the “Little flower of Jesus – St. Teresa. She is a great saint and I know a company of girls could not choose a more beautiful title than – “Little Flower Entertainers.”
They organized themselves like a club: weekly rehearsals; uniform dress; election of a treasurer. They apparently received some notoriety among Catholic parishes as their short history brochure lists them playing in Bellevue, Ludlow, Erlanger, Crescent Springs, Devon, Villa Madonna, Covington, and as far as Brooksville.3
In those days, to get to Brooksville, one took the train to Augusta and a taxi for the last 15 miles to Brooksville. When they arrived at Augusta station, the pastor of St. James, Brooksville met them with his car and drove them to the little parish in the small rural community of Brooksville.
Since these girls never got a record contract, we will never know what they played or how they sounded. Nonetheless the picture is worth at least 1,000 songs – a window into the girls’ brief adventure with show business.
All the musicians are from well-known Northern Kentucky families and are, from left to right: Valeria Eifert, sax; Alice Kuchle, drums & flute; Lucy Fedders, cornet; Emma Scheper, piano; Julia Fedders, violin; Ursula Kuchle, violin.
Photo from Julia Fedders collection.
1. Sanfortown has disappeared from the map, due to I-275 and St. Pius X Church now serves the Catholics in that area.
2. Holy Guardian Angel Parish was closed & razed – except the cemetery & rectory still stand at Dudley Road near KY 17.
3. Julie Fedders, “History: Little Flower Entertainers,” unpublished manuscript c. 1928.

Covington’s “Little Flowers Entertainment”
Courtesy Julie Fedders

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A Look Back
at The Headlines

Thank You
and
Letter to the Editor

An on-going feature reliving local headlines
This issue features:
The Covington Journal — March 12, 1870.
The pew system in the Fourth Street Presbyterian Church has been abolished. On and after the first of next month, all seats will be free.
The number of passengers transported over the Louisville, Cincinnati, and Lexington Railway last month of February 1870 was 27,456.
The officers of the Freedman’s Bureau in Kentucky have been ordered to meet at Covington, and the headquarters of the lovely institution will hereafter be at this place.
E.J. Hickey, boot and shoe dealer located at 616 Madison, will resume specie payment. Quite a number of dealers are paying out specie in change. In this matter, the people are ahead of the government.
The St. Aloysius Benevolent Society celebrated their third anniversary on Sunday last by a procession. Subsequently they attended high mass at the St. Aloysius Church, corner of 7th and Bakewell streets, and listened to a sermon delivered especially for their benefit by Bishop Toebbe.
We take pleasure in referring the reader to the advertisement of Col. Jas. L. Henderson. It will be seen that he has resumed his old business as builder and contractor. In reference to one who has such a well-established reputation, it is scarcely necessary to say more. We may add, however, that Col. Henderson has patented an improvement for framing joists around hearths, which is recommended by the best architects and builders, and will no doubt come into general use.

In the November/December 2006 issue of the Bulletin of the Kenton County Historical Society, Mary Kay Bell contributed a wonderful article on Kenton County’s “Pest House” and Tuberculosis Sanatorium. In the article, it was mentioned that Bell had cared for patients at that hospital for more than 28 years.
Mary Bell received numerous letters from both former patients and fellow staff members after the article was published, as did the Society.
Recently, the story was re-released in the popular magazine The Kentucky Explorer. Once again Mary Bell received letters of thanks — this time from all across the nation.
The Society once again thanks Mary Kay Bell and all others who take time from their busy lives to write and contribute to the Society’s overall cause of preserving local history.
Also, it was recently suggested by one of our readers that the Society publish a short history of the village of Peaselburg. We greatly appreciate any suggestions and would like to say that much of our next issue (January/February 2012) will be dedicated to that tiny Covington neighborhood.
If any other readers have suggestions for story topics, please note they are always welcomed! Simply contact the Bulletin Editor, Bob Webster:
Email address:
customphotosnky@yahoo.com
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 641
Covington, KY 41012

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Then and Now

Two images of Covington’s Main Street (looking north from 6th Street).
Left photo taken during the horrific 1937 flood — right photo taken in October 2011
Left photo courtesy Kenton County Public Library. Right photo courtesy Bob Webster.

Mystery Photo
Can you identify the mystery photo below? The answer can be found at the bottom of the page.

ANSWER:

Holmes High School crest which hangs over the main driveway on campus.
photo courtesy Bob Webster

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Kenton County Historical Society

September/October - 2011

ARTICLES FROM BACK ISSUES ARE INDEXED ON OUR WEBSITE!

Published bi-monthly by
The Kenton County Historical Society
Membership, which includes the Bulletin, $20.00 per year
President………...………………..… Donald Fowler
Vice-President……..…….……... Robert Webster
Treasurer……………..…….…. W. Terry Averbeck
Secretary…………..………...……….…..John H. Boh
Board Members:
Dr. Richard Cardosi, George Gressle,
Dennis Harrell, Mike Holiday, Richard
Johannemann, Mary Elize Regan,
Joseph Hinds (Ex Officio), and
Karl Lietzenmayer (Ex Officio)

I Bet You Didn’t Know
Tidbits from Kentucky’s heritage
for every day of the calendar year

November 23, 1966: An eleven station statewide educational TV network was authorized by the FCC for Kentucky. By 1990, the KET operated 15 television transmitters and nine translators.
December 4, 1868: One of the worst steamboat accidents of all time occurred on the Ohio River near Warsaw. 162 were killed.
December 5, 1792: Frankfort was designated as the permanent seat of government for the new Commonwealth of Kentucky.
December 16, 1811: The first New Madrid Earthquake began a series of 87 shocks, the worst series ever recorded in North America. It created Tennessee’s Reelfoot Lake and re-routed the Mississippi River.

“On This Day In Kentucky” — Robert Powell

Programs and Notices

Christmas Party
Members, families and friends are invited to the annual Christmas Party hosted by the Kenton County Historical Society. This year the event will be held at the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park on Tuesday, December 6th; starting at 6:30.
The museum’s holiday toy trains will run until 7:30. The exhibit “Borders of Change – The Paintings of Gary Akers” will also be on view. The permanent exhibits, including the Faragher trains in the main galleries and the children’s play areas will be open until the party ends. The museum will be newly decorated for the Christmas season. Food, snacks and beverages will be served.
Save the Date
On Saturday, January 21, 2012, the Kenton County Historical Society will co-sponsor an all-day river cruise on the Cincinnati Belle in remembrance of the 1937 flood on the 75th Anniversary of the tragic event.
The voyage will depart from Newport and travel to Rabbit Hash and back. Breakfast and dinner will be provided on board with lunch at Rabbit Hash. The ship seats several hundred on its three decks and all aboard will enjoy lectures by historians, videos, oral histories, photographs, and river music. See high-water marks along the way. See locations where the flood severely damaged cities, towns, landmarks, and infrastructure.
Cost: $120. per person for adults; $110.00 for seniors; $65.00 for children 4-12; kids under 4, free. (Reservations would make great Christmas gifts!) For further information or to make reservations please contact John Boh at: (859) 491-0490.

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