The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1906-07-18
STATE HOUSES
In Old Kentucky-A Brief
History of Our State
CapitOlS.

fast rearing heavenwsrds on the COM
manding prominence in South Frank
fort will be the eighth Capitol building
within the history of Kentucky.
In April 1899. convention assem-
bled at Danville and prepared Consti-
tuition, and on June 4, 792, the terrific.
ry known as West Fincastle county.
Virginia, was admitted into the Union
as sovereign State, the Commonwealth
Of Kentucky. with Lexington as the
temporary seat Of Government. I'm
mediately thereafter the first session
Of the General Assembly was held in
Lexington and a commission appointed
to receive proposals for and to fix the
permanent location of the seat of gov.
eminent
After several meetings, this Board Of
Commissioners, on December 5, 1893, de-
cided that Frankfort was the most
proper place for the seat Of govern.
ment." Later the Legislature ap'
proved this action of the commission
The first capitol, in which was con-
vened the first session of the Legislature,
June 1. 1892, was a two-story log
building, standing near the center of
Lexington, on the east side Of Main
street, between Broadway and mile"
street. 1t was only used as State
street. 1t was only used as State House
until the close OF the second session on
.Decep,her % l7e2y Among the appro-
pristions was $15 ito the person who
cleans the State House." and S27.74
for other expenses, which included
raising pole and fag," table for
the use Of the State, and repairs, S40.52
for the entire expenses Of the two SEES
sions for incidentals. The first of these
sessions lasted ~ and the second 4s
days.
1t was agreed to hold the next session
at the house of Andrew Holmes in
Frankfort, and on that day Lexington
cessed to be the Capitol Of the State.
The second State House, also tempo
rary, was large frame house, after
wards belonging to Major Love, in the
lower part of Frankfort ION the bank
of the Kentucky river" The Legisla-
ture began its session on the 4th Of No
vember, 1893. and held until December
81, 1898. This session cost $40 for
benches, chairs. and incidentals. The
exact location of this capitol was the
present site Of Mrs. Steele's residence,
now occupied by Dr. J. hampton Price.
The third capitol and the first perma-
nent one, erected for such purpose was
occupied for the first time by the Gen
eral Assembly on November 2, 1894. 1t
was described as parallelogram,
s6x54 feet. built Of rough stone with a
cupola in the center and three stories
high. The State paid 81. 500 and the re-
mainder Of its cost was subscribed by
private citizens of Frankfort.
The fifth capitol was built in
ls4l-45 at cost Of $4,000, of which
half was raised by private subscription
-$l3 from the citizens of Henry coun-
ty, $50 from Louisville, 1880 from Shell
by, $3.50 from Lexington, $3.50 from
Woodford, 800 from citizen in Vir-
ginis and the balance, 1890 from the
citizens of Frankfort and Franklin
county. The remainder was appropriate
by the State-$4, 800 in 1915; $4,000 in
1917. So, 100 1s1sS12, 900 in 1919. OF this
q, Ol6 was paid for a bell in Philadel-
phia; $3.50 for its transportation to
Frankfort, and sl3 for hanging II in the
cupola.
The seventh capitol, the present old
building. was occupied by both Houses
on December z, 1920. and still stands as
a landmark of Frankfort and the
proud monument to early workmanship
and architectural beauty. The east
wing, which was a counterpart Of that
still on.the west, was burned on No
vember 81, 1855.
1t IL proposed to keep the old build
ings intact until they shall crumble
with age, IA a monument to the early
history and statesmen Of Kentucky,
who have emblszoned her fair name
high on the pillars of the temple Of
fame and glory.