The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1917-02-06
MILLERSBURG =
} O >A>>> - O q O O O O = &
HISTORY OF MILLERSBURG.
Continued from Tuesday,

Ot1er. A large nuInDer Oh the Olu CIT
liens with their families had moved
from here to various parts of the
world and an influx of new citizens
were rapidly taking their places
Prior to this the town had been noted
largely for its aristocracy. Much of
this had broken down some, had been
relegated to the rear, while others
had gone to various parts of the world
TO begin life anew. The new inhaEt-
tants, many OF them, were not famil
lar with the atmosphere and environ
ments which characterized a town like
Millersburg, but they soon caught thu
fever of ambition, and with the expert
ences of the citizenship OF the past,
were filed with that determination to
bring this little country town into
Is inething greater than she had hith-
erto known.
MIR. c. w. Howard, who was one Cf
our progressive citizens, and was TeSiC-
ing here at the time the writer came
upon the scene, was the first to lay d
concrete sidewalk. Others soon caught
the fever, and, in the following sum-
mer, wOrkmen were busy taking W
the old pavements and relaying in con-
crete. So nicely did this this wor..
progress that the Town Council pass
ed an ordinance to the effect that ali
of the old pavements must be taken
up on Main street, and relaid in brick
or concrete. In order to induce the
people to lay them in concrete the
town, agreed to pay % per cent. of the
cost. this to be deducted from taxes.
This was soon followed by the open
ing of side streets, and investors soon
found their way to Trigg avenue, am
almost like magic this street was built
I'D from end to end, there being few
SQUARES of vacant lots in the cen:e.'
The citizens soon went before the
Legislature. and had Millersburg plac
ed on the list of fifth-claSS cities.
which entitled her TO a Mayor AM
City Council.
Hon. Levy Trotter, now Of LeXinS-
ton. Ky, was the first Mayor OF Mli-
lersburg. The race was a hot one, his
opponent being w. ID. Mcintyre.
Mayor Trotter was good electioneer,
and being somewhat of a ward politi-
clan. knew well how TO control the
uncertain voters. Ambitions began to
rise higher, and a Commercial CLUB
was organized, which, unfortunately,
held but few meetings and was dis
handed. The question of waterworkS
for a fong time was iii everybody 5
mind. and for a time it looked aS
though we were going to get them,
but after employing a skilled engineer
for the purpose of making estimates
we found that, owing to the State
laws. we could not float bond issue
for the amount Of money necessary 10
build the waterworks. Coupled with
the waterworks question was that OF
electric lights, which, however, was
realized during the years of 1911-1912
and we now have one of the best ligh;
systems of any small city in Central
Kentucky.
A few years ago Butler Addition
which is not part OF the town, but IN
outside suburb, was opened. Several
nice residences have gone up. lit
tie later another suburb, Judyvillc
was also opened, these both revolving
as it were, around one central part OF
Millersburg. In the past few years the
town has placed Main street in first
class condition, until now it is as
smooth as any boulevard. Both sides
of Main street are paved in concrete
or brick, from beginning to end, as rs
Vine street and Trigg avenue, witt
but few exceptions. After the spirit
of progress had struck the town, VIZ
realized the necessity Of doing what
we could TO protect property IRON
losses by fire, hence the town order
ed the building Of a number OF lire
cisterns on all the streets. TheSl
have been increased. The town order
ed a hand fire engine, which was ope
rated successfully for few years
This did not satisfy our people, and d
few years later a steam engine was
ordered. In the past two years the
fire system has been still bette,
equipped by the addition of another
. steam engine which now gives two II
good working order, and also chem
ical engine There are sufficient lad
ders to ascend the heights OF any
building in town. While the fire de
partment is a voluntary one the town
provides thSm with coats and caps
and every modern convenience.
The city is well equipped with tele
phone service, the Bourbon Home and
the Cumberland both operating eX
changes here. Shortly after the tele
phone systems began reaching out for
the smaller town work, both OF them
started for Millersburg, the Cumber'
land being the first to erect its lines.
THE town was much wiser than many
of our surrounding neighbors. When
the Cumberland Telephone Company
asked for the privilege of running
their lines through Millersburg. The
town granted this at once, but re-
fused to grant them the exclusive
franchise asked for, so that when the
Home Company was organized later,
and with their appeal, the franchise
was also granted them.
The town was never in healthier
condition, morally, spiritually, physl-
cally or progressively. Miuersburg Is
Hooking out and reaching out for every
good thing that may come our way
We are not after anything else nor
do we want anything else. Our cltl-
,zenship is good and of high standard
nothing else is welcome and nothing
else will feel at home here very long