The Cleveland Place
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
The Cleveland Place is a stately two story brick home just outside Versailles, KY. It was built by William Cleveland after purchasing an estate previously owned by the Crittenden Family. John Crittenden, former Governor of Kentucky, US Senator, and Attourney General of the US was born in a cabin that still resides on the site (although moved from it's original location). The Crittenden Cabin has been restored and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cleveland Place was built in 1854 and the Cleveland Family lived there for thee quarters of a century. The home and 70 acre property became home for the historic Massie School (A Prep School for boys) in 1922, where it was developed into a campus. The campus then was utilized and expanded by the Kentucky Methodist Children's Home after they relocated to the property in 1931, where they remained until it was sold this year (2017) to Frontier Nursing University. Frontier Nursing University intends to restore the Cleveland Place as the centerpiece to the relocation of their main campus.
Images
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Between 1922 and 1929, the Massie School, a prep school for boys, made use of the building for a variety of functions including common space, dining, and residential accommodations for a limited number of young boys attending the school. The Massie School attained National recognition in 1926 as it achieved top ranking based on test scores. A.B. "Happy" Chandler (who also later became Governor of Kentucky) was the athletic coach for the school. Unfortunately when Prof. R. K. Massie fell sick, the school lost it's momentum, was changed to the Woodford School, and by 1930, the property was in default and auctioned by the Master Commissioner.
Yet again, because of the allure of the historic site, stately home, and growing campus of buildings, the property became a perfect fit for the Methodist Orphan Home, which chose to relocate from their previous location in Louisville. The Kentucky Methodist Children's Home remained on the property for over 80 years until striking a deal with Frontier Nursing University in 2017. Frontier Nursing University, which was begun by Mary Breckinridge as Frontier Nursing Services in 1928 determined to expand their existing campus in Hayden, KY and are in the process of renovating and restoring the existing buildings on the old Crittenden Land, including the Cleveland Place as a centerpiece of the campus.
The significance of the Cleveland Place is difficult to succinctly describe. It is a fantastic historic example of an agricultural house type that spread throughout the South during this period. Although exterior decoration is subdued, the two story central porch and portico demonstrate the influence of the Greek Revival movement sweeping through the country at the time of its construction. The home stands as a testament to the quality of construction practice in the mid 1800s in that it has been heavily used for over 160 years, and continues to inspire it's newest owners to restore and continue its use long into the future.
In many ways, that is one of the most surprising, but yet remarkable traits of the home. The layout of the space and quality of the construction has enabled the building to adapt to a host of needs and occupants in ways most homes are incapable of. And although recent neglect has left the building in perhaps its worst shape in many years, Frontier Nursing University is making plans to keep it relevant for years to come.
Sources
“Big Improvements at Massie School.” Woodford Sun, August 21, 1924.
Burns, John. Recording Historic Structures. Second Edition. Wiley, 2003.
“Catalogue of Massie School, Versailles, Kentucky, 1924. :: KHS Digital Collections.” Accessed October 29, 2017. http://www.kyhistory.com/cdm/ref/collection/RB/id/4428.
“Catalogue of Massie School, Versailles, Kentucky, 1924-1925. :: KHS Digital Collections.” Accessed October 30, 2017. http://www.kyhistory.com/cdm/ref/collection/RB/id/4387.
Chandler, Ben. “The Decade of the Twenties, Part 151... 1929.” Woodford Sun, May 14, 1992.
“Chandler Is Honored by Massie School.” Lexington Leader, November 24, 1928.
“Classic_Commonwealth_Style_Guide.Pdf.” Accessed October 30, 2017. http://dhr.Virginia.gov/pdf_files/Classic_Commonwealth_Style_Guide.pdf.
“Cleveland Place, Versailles KY.” The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY. November 27, 1898.
Downs, Joseph. “The Greek Revival in the United States.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 2, no. 5 (1944): 173–76. https://doi.org/10.2307/3257126.
Evans, Sharon. “Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory.” HABS Inventory. Versailles, KY, n.d.
“History KY United Methodist Home for Children (859) 873-4481.” Accessed October 31, 2017. http://www.kyumh.org/History.html.
Lancaster, Clay. “Adaptations from Greek Revival Builders’ Guides in Kentucky.” The Art Bulletin 32, no. 1 (1950): 62–70. https://doi.org/10.2307/3047271.
Lavoie, Catherine C. “Architectural Plans and Visions: The Early HABS Program and Its Documentation of Vernacular Architecture.” Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture 13, no. 2 (2006): 15–35.
“Massie School Buys New Home.” Lexington Herald, Lexington Kentucky, November 12, 1922, 316 edition, sec. 2.
“Massie School Fills Educational Needs.” Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY, March 9, 1924.
“Methodist Orphan Home to Move About July 15.” Woodford Sun, June 18, 1931.
Newcomb, Rexford. “THE ARCHITECTURE OF OLD KENTUCKY.” Register of Kentucky State Historical Society 31, no. 96 (1933): 185–200.
Railey, William E. History of Woodford County, Kentucky, 1920. https://books.google.com/books/about/History_of_Woodford_County_Kentucky.html?id=43jEKg6VTLYC.
“R.K. Massie Jr. Called by Death.” Lexington Leader, April 7, 1930.
“Sketch of the Life of GOV. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN. (Concluded).” Register of Kentucky State Historical Society 3, no. 9 (1905): 14–19.
“Teaching Staff Appointed.” Lexington Herald, Lexington KY, June 30, 1929.
“Technical Information - Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey - Digital Collections.” Web page. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Accessed October 30, 2017. https://www.loc.gov/collections/historic-american-buildings-landscapes-and-engineering-records/about-this-collection/technical-information/.
“The Massie School Buys Historic Home.” Woodford Sun. October 26, 1922.
“Versailles (Special).” Cincinatti Enquirer, June 2, 1938.