Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-07-25
"REMINISCENCES or TIVE OLD SEMINARY


(For ne Interior Journai)
The old Seminary building is gone.
II was one of the old landmarks Of the
town. The town was built ON site
of "a acres donated by Gen. Ben. Lo
gan. II was an unsuitable location
for town on a branch between two
hills, but rs il was rough piece OF
land aud taken Oh the Southwest cor.
ner Of the beautiful 700 acre survey,
il did not damage the residue Of the
said tract of land.
The Seminary was the oldest brick
building left standing in the town.
The town was originally very small
wooden town. surrounded on the South
by the land of f. $. Reid, fronting on
the town branch; on the East by land
Of John Logan, crossing Main Street
at the old Factory Lot; on the North
by the land OF Thos. Welsh, fronting
on the old town line, running from "a
point back Of the Methodist Church
across the railroad below the colored
Baptist Church, and on the West by
the land Of Gen. Ben. Logan, which
crossed Main Street just in front Of the
Methodist Church. The town has
grown out Of its original boundaries ON
all sides. The first brick building
erected was by DIR. Thompson, a.
residence. IL stood on the lot now
occupied by the Baptist Church. The
second was his office, which stood on
Main Street on the site now occupied
by Mr.. Rupleys tailor shop. The
third brick house was the old Sprag-
gins house, which stood on the corner
of the lot now owned and occupied by
w. q. WEIGH. IL was built and long
occupied as hotel. The fourth was
the old Courthouse. IL was. an un.
slightly, i'll constructed Building. The
Clerks office was up stairs. The lobby
of the Courtroom was paved with
brick. The Judges occupied a high
platform overlooking the whole room.
The Sheriff had inside the bar, and
against the wall an old-fashioned pull
pit looking box, high enough for him
10 sit in his box--Oyorlook the crowd
aud preserve order. The heavy walk
ing on the brick floor often disturbed
the Court. There were no seats in
the lobby except row Of benches
around against the wall. When the
Courtroom was crowded, except those
sitting on the benches and on the stair
steps, the residue had 10 stand ON the
brick floor, OF provide themselves with
a chair or AZ block, from which they
might hear, but could not see much.
The fifth brick building was the old
Seminary, now torn down, TO be sub
stituted by a modern brick building
for school purposes. The house was
erected but not finished in 1915 The
brick was made ON the lot Just in the
rear Of the building. The acre LOT on
which the Seminary stood was donated
by F. 5. Reid, the grandfather of the
County Clerk, j. Blain. +. 5. Reid
aud Thos. Welch were then brother
in.law. They were men Of property.
They were the leading merchants of
the town. +. s. Reid, who owned
the land, was willing TO donate the acre
for the building Thos. WEIGH, who
owned the hill along the side of which
the railroad passes. was also willing to
donate an acre for the location of the
Seminary. They were both beautiful
wooded sites. The Seminary was built
by subscription, and the subscribers
decided 10 accept the Reid lot.
The Seminary was inteded for the
education of both the boys and girls of
the town and the surrounding county.
1t was designed as a mixed school,
and was long occupied as such. The
only subscriber to the building fund,
then known TO be living. said the girls
had as much right to the Seminary as
the boys, and that the Trustees ought
not to turn them out, and not divide
the permanent funds with the Female
College-that the old subscription pa.
pers were in the hands of the late
Thos. Helm and would show that fact.
The permanent fund of the Seminary,
which once amounted 10 between seven
and ten thousand dollars, were the
proceeds OF the sale OF public lands do
mated by the Legis lature Of Kenucky.
The first school in the Seminary
was taught in the year 1916. The
building was then unfinished, and the
carpenters we're at work up stairs. Rev.
Samuel Findley, long the preacher OF
the Presby terrain Church of this place,
was the principal, and was assisted by
a Mr.. Walker, of Lancaster. Mr..
Findley was native Of South Caro-
lima, and was educated at the same
school with Gen. jackson, of whom
his reoOllections were not very pleasant,
for the reason that, the General in his
bOyish days, began to develop his ia
nous fighting qualities. Mr.. Findley
was long distinguished educator in
this part of the State. He long taught
in Lancaster and educated such men