|
Gower House
Water Street
Smithland, KY 42081
Some believe it to have been built in 1780, by John
Bell. He sold it to Stanley P. Gower in 1836. Slaves
made the brick to build the two story building. It was
built with hand hewn timbers and has 15" thick walls. It
contains 14 rooms and 13 fireplaces with only half of
the building remaining after a fire in 1857 destroyed a
part of it. It was used as an Inn, also as a meeting
place for The Louisville Conference of the Methodist
Church with over 100 ministers in attendance at this
Conference in 1857. The Masonic Lodge received their
Charter and held their meetings at Gower House. It was
also used for court proceedings between 1842 and 1844.
It is reputed to have been used as a part of the
underground railway to hide runaway slaves until they
could escape to free states.
Many notable people have been associated with Gower
House, among them Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Ned
Buntline, Clara Barton and many, many others. It has
even been said by some that on a warm summer's night
while passing the Gower House that they thought they
could hear the beautiful voice of Jenny Lind once again
gracing the old inn with one of her sweet songs.
Much of the history of Gower House can be found in the
book Echoes of Yesteryear by Leslie McDonald.
Other Links
More Gower House Photos
Gower House On the National Register of Historic Places
|
