The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-04-22
lost PARADISE"
WILDE RESTORED
And Made. to Take on For
mer Realities.
A SHORT SKETCH OF AIRDRIE
And It's Famous Manager,
One of Kentucky'S Most
Noted Generals.
Rockport, KY. April IS.

Airdrie, the place where Ominous
silencs and desolation has reigntd SUI
preme for over half century. has
aiken on new life and now bids fair to
become a thriving manufacturing town
once again. A party of well known
capitalists, beaded by Mr.. Shelby j.
Gish, of Central City, have purchased
1900 acres of The vast estate located
near ROckport, on the banks of the
beautiful Green River in Muhlenberg
comfy, and active preparations are
icing made 10 put new life into this
Obsolete Village which is known all
over the Green river country as the
''l.ost Paradise" of Kentucky.
l. located Oh d rugged and picturesque
elevation, 250 feet above high water
mark Astounding in beautiful and artis-
tic scenery Airdrie has become noted
for It's grandeur and beauty. Although
almost the silence of death has reign
ed there for many years and the slight
cst intrusion is resented By hundreds
of bats and other fowls Of the air, who
make the welkin ring with unearthly
sereaching and chattering, with the
coming OF spring, new life has sprung
into existence and active preparations
are being made to develop the vast re-
sources there. The home of the wild
fowls of the air will be destroyed and
although their nests and roostfng
places lie hidden in The giant smelt-
sfsV and other machinery. which fifty
frye years ago was running night and
q " and which to-day stand idle, and
arc almost ready 10 fall with rust
and decay, they will have TO vacate
tc make room for renewed activities.
Airdrge was managed by General Don
Carlos Buell., before operations ceased
there just after the Alexander heirs
cfScotIand came into possession of the
est ate after the civil war. General
Buell. was one of the Kentucky gem
erals to win fame in the great civil
strife, when Grant and Sherman, with
their gallant soldie rs, were abou;. 10 be
captured by the ConfedeIatCs under
Sydney Johnson, al Shiloh. General
Buell. arrived opportunely upon the
scene with 10000 men and saved the
day.
With 100000 men he pursued Bragg,
and ran him out of Kentucky with
his powerful army and wagon train in
to Tennessee. General Buell. was in
many desperate battles of the great
civil strife and was desperately wound
ed near Churubusco.
Some fifty-fiye vars ago Airdrie
was noted for its iron mines and smelt-
ing works. Many of the old buildings
are standing to-day, a silent minor
ial of bygone days. The old prison,
which WIS used to confine The con-
victs from the State penitentiary who
were employed in the mines, Is re-
markahly we'll preserved. II is three
stories high and bulk Of the finest
Ken. lucky Stone. II S walls are three
feet feet thick and to-day i. would
ccs, $4,000 10 erect one like 1t. The
lower part of the building was used
10 shelter The ghlnt machinery. This
old building Is particularly INTEREST,"
ing 10 those fortunate enough
10 see il and hear It's history. At one
time, IL is said, a convict confined in
prison made a rope out Of the bed
clio. hing in his cell and after squeez-
ing himself through the small iron
bars which separated him from free
dom, he let himself down TO the
ground, distance of Sky fee;, and
escaped. 1t looks almost impossible
for grown man TO get through
such small opening, but the bent
bars are there, giving silent evidence.
20 the right of the;old prison stands
the high smelling tower. A rsmarka-
BILE feature of this immense mass OF
brickwork is thai large cedar tree
has been growing on top Of it for a
number of years. To The left is To-
Gated the famous stone steps. They
are supported by cliff some fifty
feet in height.
The old Airdrie hotel was only re-
Gently dismantled on account of it's
dangerous condition.
When General Buell. took charge of
thu works the future prospecta were
flattering. but when the State sold