News & Updates
The Kirkpatrick & Co Blog
Bluegrass History & Culture
Alleys of Lexington’s Past, Present & Future?
Is the humble alley back? Once considered an essential feature of urban environments, alleys fell out of favor in the auto-dominated 20th century.
Traditional alleys took two forms- the service alley and the minor street. Alleys invaluably provided access for trash removal, coal deliveries, privy cleaning, and more. They also encouraged [...]
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January 27, 2025
3 Books for Lovers of Kentucky Architecture
If you enjoy our historic architect series, you’ll love these three books on Kentucky’s architectural history. These titles are perfect for gifting and can be easily found at Joseph Beth or larger retailers.
Kentucky Barns: Agricultural Heritage of the Bluegrass by Carol Peachee
“From horses to tobacco to bourbon, the [...]
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December 3, 2024
Equestrian Dinnerware | Bluegrass Entertaining
It’s the season of entertaining and all across the Bluegrass, hosts are setting their tables with equestrian flair. From fine bone china to cheerful stoneware, our clients love celebrating their passion. Join us for a look at some popular styles in Kentucky, perfect for Derby, Keeneland, or holiday events.
For [...]
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November 21, 2024
H.W. Aldenburg | Bluegrass Architects to Know
Mirror Houses on N. Broadway
It was the last decade of the 19th century and business was booming for Lexington architect H.W. Aldenburg. With a roster of prominent clients, he and partner James R. Scott were constructing homes & buildings across the Bluegrass, from stone manses downtown to grand hotels like Winchester’s Brown-Proctoria.
Born in [...]
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November 19, 2024
Historic Home & Farm Research Q & A
We at Kirkpatrick & Co. take pride in our role as storytellers. We craft a narrative, graciously sharing the story of the property to potential buyers. This process requires tremendous preparation, from capturing photos and video to gathering historic details.
Our expert knowledge & historic home research add great value to [...]
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November 6, 2024
Why are so many Bluegrass roads “mills”?
The Bluegrass, rich in flowing water, was once studded with historic mills. Today, many modern thoroughfares bear the names of these once essential hearts of commerce.
Most of the region’s mills were grist mills, used to process corn. The corn was then used for cooking, animal feed, or preserved through distillation [...]
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October 11, 2024
Thomas Metcalfe “Old Stone Hammer” | Building the Bluegrass
10th Kentucky Governor Thomas Metcalfe made an impressive mark on the Commonwealth both politically and architecturally. Metcalfe’s beginnings as a humble stonemason and later as a fierce politician left him with a well-earned nickname, “Old Stone Hammer.”
Raised in modest settings in Kentucky and his native Virginia, Metcalfe was apprenticed to [...]
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September 25, 2024
Newland “Hicks” Harbut | Building the Bluegrass
If you’ve lived in Lexington for any length of time, you’ve probably felt the work of craftsman “Hicks” Harbut beneath your feet. Newland “Hicks” Harbut was one of twelve children born to Will Harbut, famed groom of Man O’ War. Harbut grew up in historic Maddoxtown on Huffman Mill. He [...]
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September 10, 2024
Morris L. Levy | Building the Bluegrass
Lexington, Kentucky developer, builder, & realtor Morris Levy was a significant shaper of the Bluegrass landscape.
Born in Kiev before the turn of the century, Levy immigrated to Cincinnati before finding work in Lexington as a tailor. By the 1920s, he was immersed in Bluegrass real estate. In 1949, his company, [...]
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July 18, 2024
Magdalen Harvey McDowell | Bluegrass Architects to Know
“In a day woman’s sphere was thought to be confined to the drawing room, the kitchen and the nursery, [she] sought an outlet for her genius in painting, architecture, kindred activities.” Obituary, The Lexington Herald
As a young woman in Louisville
Born in Fincastle, Virginia in 1829, Magdalen Harvey McDowell was a [...]
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July 9, 2024