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The Athens Historic District
Photograph by Eric Thomason, courtesy of the Blue Grass
Trust for Historic Preservation, Lexington, KY |
The Athens Historic District contains the remaining buildings
of an early 19th century village established in the southernmost
part of Fayette County. The village is located in the heart of
the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. In 1775 a fort was established
by Daniel Boone one-half mile west of present day Athens. The
community of Cross Plains was founded in 1783 and renamed Athens
in 1825 after the Kentucky General Assembly chartered the town.
During the early 19th century the community boasted several manufacturing
industries including a woolen factory as well as a bagging and
rope factory. By 1860 all of the manufacturing buildings had been
destroyed by fire. Local historian Robert Peter described why
the buildings were not rebuilt in Athens: "Several destructive
fires for so small a place have visited Athens during the course
of its eventful career. In 1853-54 all the business houses on
the south side of Main Street, west of the Cleveland pike were
swept away in a single blaze. The buildings consumed were the
Bledsoe Hotel, Harvey Nelson's dry goods store, John Donnally's
store, a shoemaker's shop and a few dwellings." This description
of the fires that destroyed the main part of the town attests
to how large and thriving the community of Athens was in the early
part of the 19th century.
Photo of Dr. Parker House, looking north
Photograph from the National Register collection, courtesy of the Kentucky
Heritage Commission, photo taken by Gloria Mills |
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There are still several buildings remaining in Athens for its early
history. The Dr. Parker House is a two-story log and frame building
erected between 1780 and 1820. There is also a second log building
that has been covered by clapboards adjacent to the Dr. Parker House.
Built during the 1780s, this could be the oldest building in Athens
still standing. The Marshall Tavern is a brick building that served
as an inn and was built around 1840. The Aubrey Inn, built c.1800,
stands at the corner of Main and Cleveland Road. Across the street
from the tavern is the building that formerly housed Flannery's
store. These buildings have mostly been converted to residential
dwellings and there are few buildings that still serve a commercial
functions.
The Athens
Historic District is located south of the intersection of Athens-Boonesboro Rd.
and Interstate 75 at exit 104 in southeastern Fayette County. |