Holt Home Community Day attracts
record crowd of more than 3,000

The Friends of the Holt Home chair summarized it best.

“The Holt Home is our compass, a link to our past and our gift to the future.”

Susan Dyer’s remarks were made at the 8th Annual Holt Home Community Day, as a record crowd of more than 3,000 attended the Sept. 24 event.

The Joseph Holt Home, circa 1850s, was built by the nation’s first Judge Advocate General, who gained fame as the prosecutor of President Abraham Lincoln’s accused assassins. The Holt Home and surrounding 19.5 acres were acquired by the Breckinridge County Fiscal Court in 2008.

Holt was a Centre College graduate and a native of Breckinridge County. Prior to his appointment as the top lawyer in the Army, Holt had served as both postmaster general and secretary of war in the Buchanan administration.

The 6,225-square-foot Holt mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to undergo extensive renovation, coordinated by the Friends organization.

Recent major renovations to the mansion and grounds include restoration of windows, a back stair tower and wrought-iron fence. An original brick walkway also has been unearthed and picnic tables have been purchased and placed.

Special events at the community day included a Civil War baseball game with local players, music by period bands, local singers, cannon firing, a Civil War campsite and infantry demonstrations.

Keynote speaker David L. Morgan emphasized the importance of preservation, protecting history and the numerous benefits it brings to local communities, the state and nation. Morgan, now retired, was executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Council from 1984-2006 and initially instrumental in the structure’s renovation project. He continues to serve as a resource agent for the activity.

Ninety-eight-year-old artist James Wimsatt was recognized and honored for his gift – the Holt Home print used for all events, promotions and programs. And, U.S. Army officials commented on progress to make the home a national meeting place for Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) organizations.