Oxmoor Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Oxmoor
|
|
Front of the house
|
|
 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Built | 1787 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000907 |
| Added to NRHP | July 13, 1976 |
Oxmoor Farm is a historic estate in Louisville, Kentucky. It's about 8 miles (13 km) east of the city center. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. People sometimes call it simply Oxmoor or the Bullitt Estate.
Contents
The Early Days of Oxmoor
Oxmoor Farm has a long and interesting history. The land was first explored in 1774. By 1780, a fort called Sturgis Station stood there. The land was then given to Colonel William Christian.
A Wedding Gift and a New Name
In 1786, Colonel Christian's daughter married Alexander Scott Bullitt. As a wedding present, Christian gave them the 2,000-acre (810 ha) farm. Sadly, Colonel Christian was killed by Native Americans later that same year.
Alexander Bullitt bought another 1,000 acres (400 ha) in 1787. He named the expanded farm "Oxmoor." This name came from a fictional farm in a book called Tristram Shandy. A new house was finished on the farm in 1791. This was just one year before Kentucky became its own state, separating from Virginia.
A Leader and His Legacy
Alexander Bullitt became Kentucky's very first Lieutenant Governor in 1800. Bullitt County, Kentucky is named in his honor. Alexander Bullitt passed away in 1816. He left the farm to his youngest son, William.
Changes Through the Years
William Bullitt made the farmhouse bigger in the late 1820s. However, he closed the house in 1863. He then rented out the farmlmlands. This happened after the Emancipation Proclamation was passed. William Bullitt died in 1877, and his wife died in 1879. After that, the large farm was divided among their children.
Bringing the Farm Back Together
From 1906 to 1909, a great-grandson of Alexander Bullitt, William Marshall Bullitt, started buying back the land. He bought pieces from different family members. He then reopened the main house.
When William Marshall Bullitt died in 1957, the farm went to his son, Thomas Walker Bullitt. There was a special arrangement that meant he could not sell the land.
Modern Developments
In the 1960s, a part of the farm was taken to build Interstate 64. This was done through a process where the government can take private land for public use. Because of the special arrangement about the land, the Bullitt family created a company. It was called Beargrass Corporation. This company now manages the land. They lease it out for places like Oxmoor Center, Oxmoor Country Club, and other businesses.
