Ward Hall (Georgetown, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ward Hall (Boundary Increase)
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Georgetown, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | Lewinski, Thomas |
| Architectural style | Antebellum Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001841 |
| Added to NRHP | August 23, 1985 |
Ward Hall is a huge, beautiful old house in Georgetown, Kentucky. It's a special type of building called a Greek Revival antebellum mansion. "Antebellum" means "before the war," referring to the American Civil War. This grand house was once the center of a large farm, known as a plantation.
The main house is very big, covering about 12,000 square feet. Imagine a house with 27-foot-tall columns! These columns are in the Corinthian order style, which means they have fancy, carved tops.
Contents
Ward Hall's Story
Building a Dream Home
Ward Hall was built around 1857 for a wealthy farmer named Junius Richard Ward and his wife, Matilda. Their farm was about 500 acres in Scott County, Kentucky. This area is known as the Bluegrass Region. Matilda's brother, Captain Willa Viley, was famous for raising racehorses. He even helped start the Lexington Racing Association.
The Ward family was very powerful and had many relatives who were important in politics and business. Many of them owned large cotton farms in the southern states, like Mississippi. The Wards also had a big cotton farm in Mississippi, where they spent their winters. Ward Hall in Kentucky was their summer home.
On their Kentucky farm, the Wards grew tobacco and hemp. They also raised prize-winning animals, including racehorses.
Changes Over Time
After the American Civil War, Junius Ward faced money problems. He had to sell the Scott County farm in 1869. The land was bought by other farmers and split into two parts.
Later, a different owner offered Ward Hall to the state of Kentucky. They hoped it could become the state's capitol building. However, the state decided not to use it for that purpose.
Amazing Design
Who Designed It?
The design of Ward Hall is thought to be by Major Thomas Lewinski. He used ideas from popular design books of the time. The house was built by Taylor Buffington, with help from James Bailey, who was a free man of color.
Inside the Mansion
The house is 62 feet wide and 69 feet long. It has four stories! There's a wide central hallway on three floors, about 14 feet wide and 65 feet long. On each side of this hallway, there are three rooms. One special area has a beautiful, curving double staircase that goes up three floors.
The main floor has entrances at the front and back of the central hallway. These entrances have special cut-glass windows above and beside the doors.
The basement of Ward Hall is very interesting. It was where the domestic servants cooked and slept. In those days, the servants were enslaved African Americans. Enslaved people also worked on the farm, taking care of animals and working in the fields.
The Farm Property
The original farm was 500 acres. It had many buildings, including brick homes for enslaved people and farm managers. There was also a brick greenhouse, horse barns, a carriage house, and a large tobacco barn.
Over time, parts of the property were sold. Today, the mansion and its related buildings sit on 40 acres of land. This area is recognized as a historic district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Saving Ward Hall
Ward Hall is now the main office for The Ward Hall Preservation Foundation, Inc. This group worked hard to save the estate. They raised one million dollars to buy the 40-acre property.
Ward Hall is a special landmark in Kentucky. The entire property is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important place that needs to be protected for future generations.
