Bray Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bray Place
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2227 Bashford Manor Lane, Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | c. 1800 (NRHP document) 1796 (owner claim) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001595 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1980 |
The Bray Place is a very old and historic home in Louisville, Kentucky. It was built way back in 1796 by Major Samuel E. Bray and his wife, Nancy Lyle Bray. This land was given to Major Bray by Thomas Jefferson himself! It was a reward for Bray's service in the American Revolutionary War, where he helped survey land for Virginia. The original property was huge, about 210 acres.
The Bray Place was once bordered by what are now Bardstown Road, Goldsmith Lane, and Hikes Lane. Some of the first neighbors were the Hikes family and the Speed family. A very famous visitor, Abraham Lincoln, came to this area in August 1841. He stayed for three weeks. People say this visit, including time with the Bray family, was one of the happiest times of his life.
The Bray Place is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is recognized as a special historical site.
Contents
What Does Bray Place Look Like?
The Bray Place is a two-story house. It has a style called Federal architecture. This is the same style as the nearby Farmington Historic Home. Farmington was built a few years later, around 1815.
How Has the House Changed Over Time?
The house and land have changed a lot over the years.
- Around 1820, a front part was added. This made the house face Bardstown Road.
- A front porch was built in 1890.
- In 1914, a back porch was changed. It used to be a laundry room. Then it became a place to keep the new invention: an automobile!
- A sun-room was added in 1920. It was built off the original front door.
After World War II, parts of the land were sold. This happened because more people wanted to live in the suburbs. Seneca High School and Goldsmith Elementary School were built on parts of the old farm in the 1950s. More land was sold later. Now, the property is about 2.5 acres. It is a green space in a busy area. In 2007–2008, a special garden called a rain garden was added. Many other improvements were made to the house and land.
Original Design of the House
The first Bray house was a two-story brick building. It had three sections. The front door originally faced Beargrass Creek. This is now where the 1920 sun-room is. The main part of the house was built in 1820. It was paid for by the original Bray family. This section has a classic look with five sections and a central door. A one-story front porch was added around 1890. This was done by the George Scoggan family. They turned the farm into a horse farm. Most parts of the house still have their original features.
Who Has Owned Bray Place?
The Bray Place has had several owners since Samuel Bray.
- Samuel Bray died around 1845. He was a farmer and also served in the Kentucky State Legislature.
- His unmarried daughter, Nancy Chenoweth Bray, owned the farm next. She held it until she died in 1865. During the Civil War, the farm was used by Union soldiers.
- Nancy's sister, Evalina Bray, inherited the property in 1865. She and her husband, Dr. Samuel Shipp, raised their family there.
- In 1885, they sold it to Milton Smith. He was the President of the L&N Railroad.
- The Smiths sold the farm to George Scoggan in 1888. His family owned it until 1977. George Scoggan made it a famous horse farm. Many of his horses raced in the Kentucky Derby. One horse, "Lookout," even won the Derby in 1893!
- George Scoggan's daughter, Mary, married Alonzo Jones in 1893. They raised five children in the house.
Bray Place in Modern Times
After World War II, many old homes nearby were torn down. This made room for new buildings and neighborhoods. But the Bray Place was saved! Betty and Robert Modys bought it in 1977. They helped get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This protected the home from being torn down. The Bray Place is now the last remaining horse farm manor house in the area.
The Modys family sold the home to the Sanders family in 1996. They opened it for a special show house event. In 2007, Cynthia Cooke bought the home. She is an educator and works to save old buildings. She made many improvements to the house and land. She also turned it into a Bed & Breakfast called Bashford Manor Bed and Breakfast.
Research into the Bray family history is still ongoing. People are looking for old letters, photos, and stories. They also hope to find the locations of old family graveyards on the property.
Images for kids
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the front view of the Bray Place located on Bashford Manor Lane in Louisville, Kentucky
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the gated entrance to the Bray Place located on Bashford Manor Lane in Louisville, Kentucky
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a vertical view of the Bray Place located on Bashford Manor Lane in Louisville, Kentucky
