The new Buckhanan's Station Old Country Store building to the right was built in the 1800's as a train depot. The train never made it through Germantown.
Owner/Proprietor Dan Adams taking some chairs up to one of the convention rooms.
Hi, I'm John Henderson. I am going to attempt to build a page dealing
with the history of Germantown, KY. I may have to get my 10 year old
daughter, Kaitlin, to help me! Please bear with us.
The home of Dan and Teresa Adams on Main Street Germantown.
The following are excerpts from a book on Germantown history composed and written by Mrs. Karen (Hargett) Hinson and John H. Henderson. Pictures are property of John Henderson.
GERMANTOWN 203 Years old, and still the best little town in two counties.
Germantown Ky., is located in the northeastern part of the state, 9 miles west of Maysville, Ky., on hwy. # 10, just off the new AA highway. It is located in Mason and Bracken Counties.
Many settlers came down the Ohio River and stopped at Limestone (Maysville) to make their new home. As more families arrived, they began to move furthur inland. Some Dutch from Pennsylvania came to our area, and settled Germantown around 1788. They called the area Buchanan's Station, which was located about one mile west of present day Germantown.
In 1794, on 320 acres belonging to Philemon Thomas, Whitfield Craig and Associates, laid out the town of Germantown. On December 19th 1795, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky granted them a charter and incorporated the city.
Early settlers in Germantown wanted the best for their families. They were very interested in education. Schools were started as early as 1827. A private school in the area was the Savage home between Germantown and Fernleaf. Later this was the home of the late Mr. & Mrs. Pollitt Graybill. The teacher of this school was Rhiney Robinson.
What is now Town Hall, in Germantown, was built for the purpose of a school building. School was held on the 2nd floor until 1878, when the school trustees purchased the present site. In April of 1879, a two-story,four room, wood structure was completed and considered to be the best school around. The old "Town Hall" was sold to the Masonic Lodge in Dec. of 1879.
Germantown was established as a high school in 1911. Here are the graduates of 1915: Josephine Coughlin,Marice Guy, Raymond Hanson, and Ethel Henson. The last graduating class of Germantown High was in 1939.
A proud moment for Germantown School came in 1981. The school was designated a Kentucky Landmark by the Kentucky Heritage Commission. In 1987, the schools doors were closed, due to progress?, and children are bussed to Brooksville, Ky.
Though the classrooms are now empty, and the school bell no longer rings, there is still pride in the hearts of those who start their stories with--"when I went to Germantown School--".
The first doctor in Germantown was Dr. Anderson Doniphan. His reign was in the late 1700's to early 1800's. Preceeding him were: Dr. Huddleston, Dr. C.S. Savage, Dr. J.M. Blackerby, Dr. Joe Browning, Dr.E.C. Dimmitt, Dr. A.H. Pollock, Dr. I. Pollock, Dr. J. H. Holton, Dr. N.D. Colvin, and, Dr. E.J. Yelton.
Germantown can boast of having one of the earliest "county fairs" in the country. The Union Agricultural Socirty had it's first meeting in 1854, and the Germantown Fair is still a big crowd drawer some 143 years later.
1892 was the year for street lamps in Germantown. In 1910 the Germantown Milling Co. was founded.In May of 1911, the trustees of Germantown adopted an ordinance for the first postal telegraph co. (Still long distance to talk across town) 1928 is recorded as the year we got our first fire truck.
Two different types of "hand tobacco setters" were also manufactured in Germantown. The "single barrel" was very popular and was made by the Galbraith New Perfection Hand Setter Co. Another "jobber" was the "double barrel type" made by Earl and Orville Woodward here in Germantown.
School busses and huckster trucks were also manufactured in Germantown. My grandfather, Mr. John M. Henderson, ran a blacksmith shop and fabricated busses and hucksters on ready-made chassis.
Some interesting folklore should also be mentioned. All the "old timers" say that one of first, if not the first business in Germantown was a tannery, located on Tanyard Lane , owned by Mr. Currens. At this tannery, Mr Jesse Grant learned the trade of tannery. Once he left Germantown, he moved to Point Pleasant, OH., and married Hannah Simpson. To their union a child was born by the name of Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States.
Many changes have occurred in Germantown in the past 203 years, yet she has somehow managed to hold on to her history. With the fast changing pace all around her, and the probability that she will someday be a suburb of a bigger town, Germantown is still holding on to her identity. GERMANTOWN--Close to the cities, but still in the country--and still "The best little town in two counties".
Email me at jhhenderson@kih.net in the meantime.
Please come back soon and visit me.
Oh Yeah, here is some of the changes currently taking place. Dan and Teresa Adams have spent countless hours renovating and restoring a portion of "main" street in Germantown. Currently in operation, the Buckhanan's Station Old Country Store, has not only breathed a new breath of life to Germantown, but has made the City street a lovely site. Bringing back memories of old, Buckhanan's Station offers a variety of goods. From fresh Amish bread to country ham. Many other items will be available in the future. Antiques, crafts, pizza, conventions, and maybe even a puppet show or two, will be one of the many things the store will have to offer. Stop in and say HI, to Dan and Teresa, and take a walk through the past.
Dan and Teresa's 9 year old daughter, Megan (Maggie)
Links to other sites on the Web
Bracken Co. by Jon Hagee
E-mail Bracken County Library
Genealogy help for Bracken Co.
Bracken County Atlas
Bracken Co. Info
World War II and Bracken Co.
© 1997 jhhenderson@kih.net
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