$500,000 check presented
TE grant awarded Holt House reps
for rehabilitation of 1850s-era home

A check for $500,000 toward preservation of the Holt House in rural Breckinridge County was presented to county representatives recently by Marcheta Sparrow, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

The presentation was made during the Third Annual Community Day and Open House Sept. 24.  The federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds will go toward exterior stabilization of the roof and windows, the first phase of the rehabilitation project.

Noting that she was acting on behalf of Gov. Steve Beshear, Sec. Sparrow said the project reflects many goals of the cabinet.

“Historic preservation will always be a vital tool for heritage tourism in Kentucky, just as on the local level, the Holt House has the potential to become a vital tool for heritage tourism in Breckinridge County.”

Gov. Beshear visited the house in June, and “he was very pleased with the work that had been done and especially with the local support of this preservation project,” Sec. Sparrow said.

The check was presented to Judge Executive Maurice Lucas and State Sen. Carroll Gibson. It’s anticipated that some $1.5 million will be required to fully renovate and preserve the house.

Susan Dyer, Holt House coordinator of events, noted that the gift brought much relief because the house is in bad shape.

“It (the house) has weathered many storms and has been setting as a majestic lady for more than 40 years wanting to be the showplace of Breckinridge County once again,” she said. “The gift will enlighten our community, region and state as citizens and visitors will begin to see the restoration effort that has been the most empowering project in the history of our community.”

Dyer, who’s called the Encourager of the Holt House, has written some 10 grant restoration proposals, nominated the structure for America’s Most Endangered Historic Places, and has authored appropriation requests for Senators Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell and Rep. Ron Lewis.

Holt (1807-1894) was a prominent attorney with a long career in the national spotlight. He served several posts under President James Buchanan and was appointed the nation’s first judge advocate general by President Abraham Lincoln, a role in which he subsequently presided over the trial of the Lincoln conspirators following the president’s assassination.

The 22-room house was constructed during his time of national service, with the original portion dating to the 1850s and another entrance and section built in the 1870s. The 6,225-foot structure was used to entertain kings and queens and presidents, according to letters written by Holt. The site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is noted for its significance in the areas of national history, politics and architecture. It’s owned by Breckinridge County Fiscal Court with support from the nonprofit organization Friends of the Holt House, a committee of the Breckinridge County Historical Society, which is working with the community to plan the home’s future.

The home also is a featured site along the Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail, a scenic route across central Kentucky made up of historic sites that in some way shaped the Lincoln legacy and influenced the president throughout his life. Its preservation is an official Legacy Project of the Kentucky Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

The site is north of Hardinsburg along KY144, six miles from the intersection with U.S. 60 east of Cloverport.

For more information, call 270-756-0268, e-mail chamber@breckinridgecountychamberky.com or visit www.heritage.ky.gov/partnerships/holthouse.htm.