The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-04-08

at 10 while she was visiting the Row.
ans IN Louisville at the home across
the street from the Catholic Cathe-
dral on Fifth Street. Foster went to
Federal Hill on his honeymoon tour.
He was visiting his kinsman, the
younger John Rowan, there in 1852
when the pictures of life about him
inspired the writing of the immortal
song, my old Kentucky Home" He
generally composed music wandering
about with his flute. There at Fed
eral Hill he saw the corn top ripe, the
meadow in the bloom and the young
folks rolling on the little cabin floors
in the slave quarters. From these
materials sprang the words and music
that have long ago became the prop
erty Of the world and made Kentucky
known in every cline.
There has been no change at Fed
eral Hill since the song was written,
except in the woods and fields. The
attic of the house was destroyed by
fire during the Civil War. Otherwise
the old Kentucky home is my Old
Kentucky Home as Foster saw it in
the glamor, glory beauty and pathos
of old slave times. In the lofty feu-
dial hall stands in the same spot the
antique secretaire where tradition
says Foster sat and made the final
meat copy of the great song The first
rough manuscript he gave to his cou-
sin. 1t was preserved there, but was
lost in the fire together with the gold
headed cane left to the elder Rowan
by John Fitch, inventor Of the-steam-
boat. Other souvenirs of interest and
value were also destroyed.
Foster wrote the song In late Au-
gust or early September, 1852. In
1919 Mr.. Bakefosmith, well-known
resident of Bardstown, then in his SS
year and still alive, was probably the
only living person who remembered
the first singing of My Old Kentucky
Home. He recalled that there was
a gay house party of young folks,
among them young girl with beau
tiful voice. Foster coached her in
it's rendition, accompanied her on the
piano and during an intermission in
dancing she sang the song for the
first time to listening public. 1t
was Federal Hill transmitted into mu-
sic and poetry. The world has been
singing and playing it ever since.
Foster was then rs years old, in
the height of his fame. He had been
composing industriously since he was
20 and his songs were sung every
where. my Old Kentucky Home"
was published four months after it,
was written. It's career of immor-
taility at once began, and the song of
anthem and world expression of
home sentiment. 1t is all this con-
centrated history, tradition and ro-
nance expressed in the beautiful song
that Keptuckians everywhere are in
vited to preserve and perpetuate in
the purchase of Federal Hill as
state shrine for future generations.
Note: The Judge Rowan referred
to above was of the same family of
Rowans as now reside in Ohio Coun-
ty, in fact the -Rowans now resident
of this section are all descendants of
the John Rowan who settled on the
spot in 1876, where the famous and
much loved song was composed.
A suggestion which has met with
approval, is, that Miss Margaret
Marks. Assistant Cashier of the Rank
of Hartford, be designated to receive
donations from all persons In Ohio
County who wish to aid in the worthy !
cause of preserving to Kentucky's |
posterity the Federal Hill" estate |
as a shrine for all her sons and daugh-
tiers.
Donations left with or sent to Miss |
Marks will be thankfully received, a
record of the donors name carefully |
kept and all forwarded to the ,bief |
treasurer, who will likewise preserve
the record that it may be deposited
and retained in the archives at Fed
eral HILL"