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In the early days of the county, Catholic settlers would gather at private residences where traveling priest Rev. B.J. Durbin would ofﬁciate mass. The ﬁrst ofﬁcial religious services of the Catholic faith were held at a log cabin on the farm of William Coomes about a mile below town by Rev. John Wathen. The log cabin was used from 1835- 1839 when the need for a larger space became imminent. This same Rev. Wathen organized and built the ﬁrst St. Stephen’s Church in 1842 at Second and Cedar Streets. That ﬁrst church was 40 feet by 40 feet. In 1856 the church was enlarged to hold the growing parish.Construction began on this current building in 1925 with the cornerstone laid on April 26, 1925. The cornerstone laying was regarded by the Owensboro Inquirer as "one of the greatest events in the history of Catholic activity in Daviess County."After the dedication of the new church, the old church at Second and Cedar streets was stripped, furniture was disposed of and it was sold.

Front of St. Stephen cathedral after the latest renovation in 2012

Exterior of St. Stephen's previous location at 2nd and Mulberry streets

interior of St. Stephen's previous location at 2nd and Mulberry streets

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Kentucky Room file on Daviess County Catholic Churches

From 1924 to 1926, the third and present St. Stephen’s Church was built here on Locust Street. It cost $100,000 to build and at the time was considered one of the "most beautiful and interesting buildings in the South." It was the pride of the city and its many citizens, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, contributed money to help fund the building. The building is a cruciform shape and has large rose windows in each of the transepts as well as in the facade. It is made in the Italian Lombardian style of architecture and was designed by Louisville architect Fred Erhart. In the belfry hangs the bell from the previous church along with a set of Deagan Tower Chimes. It was designated a “Cathedral” in 1938. The stained glass windows were installed after the ﬁrst dedication of the building in 1926. The bishop’s cathedral (chair) was added in 1938. In 1970, following the Second Vatican Council, the high altar was removed, and mosaics and other sanctuary furnishings were installed. On November 18, 2012, Bishop Medley re-dedicated the Cathedral after a year's long restoration.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

1.3 mile tour of 12 of Owensboro's oldest and most distinctive buildings centered around 5th street

In 1905, businessman Elmer Miller commissioned the construction of his new house. Miller was a Whitesville native who began his career weighing coal, and went on to build his own coal company before entering the transfer and hauling business. As an eminent Owensboro citizen, Miller built a grand home, costing $8,000, that beﬁt his status. The house was made from 1,800 artiﬁcial stone brick, which Miller made himself. It was originally a red brick house, with large front and side porches. Pillars support the front porch, which was called one of the prettiest features of the house by The Owensboro Daily Inquirer. A large reception hall, as well as a parlor, and dining &amp; breakfast rooms, were on the ﬁrst ﬂoor. The second ﬂoor contained the bedrooms, and bathrooms. The bathroom was laid with tile, with hardwood ﬂoors covering the rest of the house. The whole house had wooden mantels and tile hearths, which was considered an extravagance for the time. The basement was of particular interest to Miller. As an enthusiastic billiard player, he had a large portion of the basement set aside as a billiard room for him and his friends. A large hallway separated the room from the cellar and coal &amp; furnace rooms, and the entire basement was laid with concrete. Next to the house was the carriage house, where they kept their automobile. The Millers were both involved members of Owensboro society. Elmer was involved with the Masons, the Rotary Club, and the Chamber of Commerce, while Lizzy served in the Women's Club and the Red Cross. Both were active in their church. Miller died in 1922, and his wife Lizzie stayed on at the house until her death in 1949. The couple had no children, so the house passed to one of her nieces. During the ‘70s, and early ‘80s, the house served as an apartment building. Eventually, the buildings became derelict, and the carriage house was tom down due to its neglect. Facing demolition, the house was bought and restored in 2006 by the Kirks. In 2007 a tornado struck the downtown area of Owensboro, and the building sustained extensive damage. More repair was necessary. The main house is now a restaurant, while the former billiards room in the basement is now a bourbon bar.

The Miller House was built in 1905 by prominent entrepreneur Elmer Miller as a luxury home for he and his wife.  When the plans for the house were shown to the public, the local paper referred to it as “a model of beauty, elegance, and convenience throughout.” J.W. Whitehead served as the architect for the building, which included 1,800 bricks. After the passing of the Millers, the residence passed through multiple owners, and was named a Kentucky Landmark by the Kentucky Heritage Commission. In 2006, Larry and Jeanne Kirk bought and restored the house. It is now a restaurant and bourbon bar.

The Miller House

Temple Adath Israel is the only Jewish synagogue in Owensboro. The congregation was established in 1858. Worship services were conducted in temporary locations around the city until the synagogue was constructed in 1877-78. The temple was constructed with a Moorish Revival facade that featured four onion-domed turrets across the front of the building, which have been removed in recent years. A Gothic-arched door is ﬂanked by a pair of Gothic-arched windows. The stained-glass images depict the tablets of the Ten Commandments and a menorah. The one-story, one-room brick building is divided by pilasters into three bays on the front and four on the sides. Each bay contains a full-story lancet window. The stained glass in these windows was imported from Germany. Above the front door and pointed arch window is a brick inscribed with the year 1878 and Hebrew text from Psalms 118:20, which translates to “This is the gateway to the Lord; they shall enter through it.” The ark and organ are supposed to date from the foundation of the synagogue. The architect is unknown. The Jewish community at the time had a strong presence in the business and industry sectors, owning more half of the retail clothing stores in the 1880's according to city directories. Prominent Jewish business citizens include dry goods merchants Moses Levy, Bernard Baer, and Solomon Wile, bottling works owner Bernhardt Rosenthal, and Phillip Dahl of the scrap metal duo Dahl &amp; Groezinger. Other notables include Theodore Levy, son of Moses Levy, and Clemmie Wolf. Levy founded the Associated Charities of Owensboro in 1915, which later became the Welfare League, as well as serving as rabbi for the congregation. His property later became The Levy Memorial Home for needy children. Wolf served as a nurse during the Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918 before dying of the disease herself. Many attended her funeral despite the threat of influenza. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and is among the oldest synagogue buildings still standing in the United States. Services are on the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement each year.

Temple Adath Israel is home to one of Kentucky's oldest Jewish congregations. The temple was founded in 1858 by German - Jewish immigrants who had fled religious persecution. The synagogue was constructed in 1877 - 1878 for the eighteen families that made up the congregation, many of whom were prominent merchants. The building's unique architecture is a combination of Moorish, Classical and Gothic styles. The Moorish style is most visible in the small domes that used to rest atop the front facade. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. 

Temple Adath Israel

On December 27, 1893, James J. Sweeney and his family moved into the their new residence at the corner of Fifth and Daviess Streets.. Sweeney was the son of Judge William N. Sweeney, the patriarch of a prominent Owensboro family and of the law firm, W.N Sweeney &amp; Son. J.J. Sweeney served as President of the Owensboro School Board and the Owensboro Water Works Company. He also owned the Temple Theatre downtown, which was later converted into the S.W. Anderson Department Store. Sweeney died of a sudden heart attack at the county clerk's office in the courthouse in August 1921. His funeral services were held at his residence. The appraisal of his estate lists the house's worth as $8,000, about $115,000 today. In February 1922, W.R. Jagoe bought the house for $15,000, or $215,500 today. Jagoe was the President of the Daviess County Planning Mill Company and a former city council member. His son Carlos Jagoe would go on to found the family-owned Jagoe Homes Company, which is still prominent in Owensboro. One of his other sons, Julius, lived in the house after W.R.'s sudden death in 1937 before the Jagoe heirs sold it to Judge T.F. Birkhead in July 1940. In turn, Birkhead granted the house to one of his daughters, Eva Belle Birkhead. She shared the home with her sister, Flora Lee Birkhead. Miss Flora, as she was known by her many students, gave music lessons in the house for years. Because of the association of Miss Flora to the residence, it became known as the Sweeney-Birkhead House. Eventually, the house passed out of the Birkhead family and became the Old House Restaurant in the 1970s. The restaurant closed in 1978, and has since been a private residence.The house joined the National Register of Historic Places in September 1980. The house is a prime example of the Queen Anne style because of the polygonal tower at the Southeast corner and the projecting window bays. A necklace design can be seen throughout the stained glass windows, of which all but one are original. This theme has accounted to a love by Mrs. Sweeney for jewelry, though the origin of the story remains unknown. The house also boasts 10 ﬁreplaces and parquetry floors. It still retains much of the original woodwork, and is one of the few houses of architectural signiﬁcance left in the downtown area.

The James J. Sweeney House, colloquially known as the Sweeney-Birkhead House, was built by the Drach & Thomas architectural firm for prominent lawyer James J. Sweeney in 1893. It is in Queen Anne style, with a polygonal tower and projecting bays. Other notable aspects of the house include the beveled and stained glass windows.  A necklace theme can be seen throughout the all of the windows. After Sweeney’s death in 1921, the house was bought by the Jagoe family. During the 1940s, the Birkhead family purchased the house.  Eventually, the house passed out of the family and became the Old House Restaurant. The restaurant had closed by 1980, and today is a private residence. It still retains much of the original woodwork.

James J. Sweeney House

In Daviess County during the 1880s and 1890s, the county was divided over the temperance movement. Those supporting the temperance movement viewed alcohol as a “gateway drug,” which contributed to dancing, gambling, and prostitution, all of which they considered sinful. By 1893, Owensboro and Daviess County were already known for their many distilleries. The city directory at that time also recorded 67 saloons, versus only 16 churches of various denominations. In protest of this, the Daviess County Baptist Association in their annual 1895 meeting adopted a resolution stating that none in their churches could retain their membership if they were engaged in the retail or wholesale liquor business. This deeply divided the members of First Baptist Church and in a special meeting in July 1896, another resolution was adopted which stated the impossibility of the two halves working together peaceably. They would separate with an equitable division of property. Pastor Dr. Fred. D. Hale and 491 temperance members of First Baptist left to form Third Baptist Church. The pro liquor members remained at First Baptist. On August 9, 1896, the congregation met in the Sam Jones Tabernacle on the northwest corner of Locust Street to witness the formal ceremony recognizing the new church. Some 2,000 people gathered, and over $18,000 was raised to build the new church here on Allen Street. By 1904, the congregation had swelled to over 1,000 members, the largest of any denomination in the area. Reuben H. Hunt from Chattanooga, TN was the architect. He designed many churches, courthouses, and auditoriums throughout the South. Some of the notable features of the church are the large and beautiful stained glass windows and the acoustics. It has been the site of the Owensboro Chorale Society’s annual Christmas performance of the Messiah since it's first performance on December 7, 1941. This first performance was interrupted by the announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Comparison between Third Baptist Church and the Ryman auditorium, another Hunt creation, have been drawn regarding similar acoustics. On October 18, 2007, a tornado touched down in the downtown area of Owensboro, including at Third Baptist Church. The church was evacuated minutes before the tornado hit, causing the steeple to collapse into the sanctuary. The damages cost about $7 million. The sanctuary was restored and officially reopened on Easter Day, April 12, 2009.

Third Baptist Church was formed in 1896 as part of the temperance movement that occurred in Owensboro during this time. The congregation, lead by Pastor Fred Hale, broke off from First Baptist Church as result of a divide in members concerning the manufacturing and retail of alcohol. The church was designed and built by renowned Southern architect, Reuben H. Hunt, who also designed the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The building still retains much of its original exterior structure. It is renowned in the community for its acoustics. A tornado in October 2007 struck the church, causing the steeple to collapse into the sanctuary. It was restored and re-opened in April 2009. 

Third Baptist Church

In 1839 a meeting led by Rev. John Burrows drew some two hundred converts. Some became Baptists, some Methodists and the remainder formed the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. According to an article written in 1916 by James Holmes more than 60 converts were baptized in the Ohio River.Samuel Calhoun, a native of Henry County, Kentucky, is credited with founding the church. The first meetings were held in the Daviess County Court House and later in the Upper Ward School at Third and Lewis streets. The first members of the church as listed in the 1886 History of Daviess County were "Alfred Grissom and wife, Mrs. Phillip Triplett, James M. Rogers and wife, David Morton and wife, Joseph Weaver and wife, George Newbolt and wife, Mrs. W.W. Chambers, Rev. Samuel Calhoun and wife, Miss E. Griffith, and W.R. Ewing and wife."The first building was completed in 1841 on the west side of St. Ann street between third and Fourth streets. It cost $3500 and was the first brick structure in Owensboro. Joseph Weaver and his two nephews, James and John Long constructed the building largely by themselves. The early church members allowed other religious denominations to use their building for services until they could build their own. The current church was built in 1886.In the early 1900's there was a movement to form a union between the Cumberland Church and the Presbyterian Church USA. Many in Owensboro were opposed to the union, however the general Assembly voted in favor of it in 1906. Around 30 members left the Owensboro Church as a result of this action. They formed the new Cumberland Presbyterian Church three years later under O.A. Barbee.A committee renamed the former Cumberland church the Central Presbyterian Church, USA. They chose this name so the "C.P.C." over the door remained relevant.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was founded in 1839 by Rev. Samuel Calhoon. The lot at Fifth and St. Ann streets was bought in 1886 for $1500. Construction of the current church began in 1886. It is a great example of the Gothic architecture that was popular at the time and cost $20,000. It had a large lecture room and pastor's study beneath the auditorium. The building wasn't dedicated until 1893. The program announcing the services stated that "the building was erected in 1886 but owing to indebtedness was never dedicated." 
The other main architectural components are the stained glass windows. The glass was imported from Belgium, and depicts many of the common symbols of Christianity. These symbols include: the lamb, the open Bible, the cross and crown, and the lamp. Also interwoven in the windows are many forms of the cross such as the equilateral, the equilateral diagonal or Cross of Templar, and the cross of ovals or Teutonic cross. 
Missing from the building today is the belfry, which was struck by lightning in November 1955. The church decided to not replace it, instead placing a Celtic Cross on the tower. In 1909, the church changed its name from Cumberland Presbyterian to Central Presbyterian due to church politics. The name “Central” was chosen in part to match the C.P.C. that labels the front entrance to the church. The next year, they commissioned a new pipe organ to be built by the Pilcher Organ Company in Louisville, which today is considered a historic musical treasure by organ enthusiasts. Their original organ was the first pipe organ in Owensboro.

Central Presbyterian Church

The Federal Building is considered the ﬁnest example of Renaissance Revival architecture in Owensboro. It sits on the former site of the home of Ben Bransford, a prominent businessman, tobacco merchant, and Owensboro mayor. Construction began in 1909 by architect James Knox Taylor and ﬁnished in 1911. The ﬁrst Federal building was at St. Ann Street. In 1884 it moved to Frederica Street and in 1890 it moved to Third and Allen streets. The current one was built after the previous building was deemed too small for the postal clerks. The foundation and outer walls, to a height of a few feet, are composed of granite. From the granite to the second ﬂoor is Bedford stone. From the second ﬂoor to the top of the third ﬂoor windows is pressed brick with Bedford stone trimmings. The building is topped off with a cornice of stone from the same quarry. The east elevation was altered in 1934 with a one-story buff brick addition to provide more postal work space. This building represents the ﬁrst work of any size in Owensboro where the concrete work is all of reinforced construction. At the time, it was considered one of the most modem and best equipped buildings in this section of the state. It originally had revolving doors on each side but those have been replaced by aluminum doors and the south entrance has been replaced by a window. The lobby was ﬁnished with stone and marble and a white marble staircase with a massive marble balustrade. The staircase is still there but the lobby was removed and replaced in the 1960’s. In 1996, the main lobby and decorative plaster panel ceiling were restored. The courtroom features oak paneling, and a distinctive oak panel featuring a carved eagle which sits behind the judge's bench. In the 1970’s the post ofﬁce moved to a new location and more Federal ofﬁces moved in. In 1989 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Federal Building is considered the ﬁnest example of Renaissance Revival architecture in Owensboro. It sits on the former site of the home of Ben Bransford, a prominent businessman, tobacco merchant, and Owensboro mayor. Construction began in 1909 by architect James Knox Taylor and ﬁnished in 1911. In 1989 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Federal Building

In the late 19th century, Frederica Street was one of the leading residential areas in town. It was once lined with majestic homes from 4th street to Grifﬁth Avenue. Most of the original late Victorian structures have been replaced with commercial buildings.This is the only one remaining north of 9th street and one of four left north of Parrish Avenue. The house is an outstanding example of Second Empire architecture and one of the most important late Victorian structures in Owensboro. The home was built in 1880 by John S. Woolfolk, incorporator of the Peoples‘ Wharf-Boat and Transfer Company and sold a few years later to C.D. Jackson, one of the wealthiest men in Owensboro. Jackson was a distant relative of President Andrew Jackson and owned considerable land throughout the county. After he died his heirs sold it to a wealthy distiller who kept it only a few years before selling it to attorney J. D. Powers. Powers was an ofﬁcer of the Peoples’ Wharf-Boat and a state legislator. Dr. W. F. Gillim owned it for 31 years and the house is commonly remembered as the Gillim House. It became a boarding house for the upper class in the early 30's. In 1959 it was converted to a private dining club by Marshall Burlew, which saved it from being razed and replaced with a commercial building. It was most recently a private dining club that went by the name “Campbell Club.” It was named for the creator’s grandmother, Mary Campbell. It has six dining rooms that seat up to 100 people. The house is referred to by locals as haunted.

This stately home site on Frederica street and is one of the most impressive examples of Victorian architecture in the city of Owensboro. It was most recently used as the Campbell Club which was a private dining club. It is currently vacant. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Gillim House

You can still see the name “Callas” in the stone above the door. This is the only surviving example of complete terra cotta tile fronts in downtown Owensboro, and lacks the overly elaborate detailing of many Beaux-Arts structures. It was built by Mike Callas in 1921. He immigrated from Greece in 1904, and in 1908 after traveling the US, he decided to settle in Owensboro because, as he said later, "I looked the whole country over and never found a city of people so congenial and, for the most part, kind to newcomers.” His ﬁrst job in town was shining shoes while he looked for a place to house a candy store. He eventually bought 124 West Main (2nd) Street and called it Progress Candy. After returning from the war, he purchased the Progress building and then built Callas’ for $35,000 next door to the Empress Theater. He operated both stores for 17 years before leasing the Progress in 1938 to Walgreens Drug Store. When Callas’ health failed in 1960, he rented his store to Barney Elliott who converted it into “Barney’s Callas Grill. Elliott sold the restaurant to his son, Jerry, in 1973, but remained a ﬁxture at the restaurant. Jerry sold the grill to London-born David Harrison in the early 1990’s. In 2000 it suffered extensive ﬁre damage from a grease ﬁre that ripped through the many layers of false ceilings. It was restored and reopened in 2001. In 2011 Bill Hughes bought it and turned it into “Bill’s,” which it remains today. It used to have a series of paintings by local artist Elizabeth Feldhaus on the inside walls depicting old buildings in Owensboro. In 1986 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Callas Sweet Shop was built by Greek immigrant Mike Callas in 1921. This is the only surviving example of complete terra cotta tile fronts in downtown Owensboro. The building is especially refreshing because it lacks the overly elaborate detailing of many Beaux-Arts structures. It is currently occupied by Bill's restaurant.

Callas Sweet Shop

The Empress Theatre was built in 1912 and owned by George A. Bleich. The original building seated 700 people, and had up-to-date theater equipment and electric globes lining the entrance. Bleich called it “the most beautiful theater house in the country,” even going so far as to offer cash to anyone who could name a more beautiful or better constructed theater for a town this size. It ofﬁcially opened to the public on October 29, 1912, and retained full capacity the entire night. A year later, in 1913, an annex was added which provided 180 more seats. On September 20, 1920, Bleich opened a second theater next to the Empress, the aptly named Bleich Theatre. This one boasted 900 seats, a ladies rest room, and a men’s smoking room. It was considered more modem than the Empress. In 1930, the Empress was remodeled, with the front lobby lowered to the sidewalk, restrooms added, and a “Lanvin green” color scheme incorporated. It was during this renovation that the electric neon marquee signs that swung in front of the building were placed. During this time, the annual Goodfellows Christmas was held at the Empress, before moving over to the Bleich. Eventually, the Empress was sold to Malco-Memphis Theaters. After a showing of the jazz ﬁlm “52nd Street,” on December 19, 1937, the Empress closed and was completely rebuilt. It received new draperies, a larger screen, and new sound equipment. The interior was redone, and the marquee enlarged. On Christmas Eve, the theater reopened as The Malco. It remained The Malco until 1989, at which point it became Goldie’s Best Little Opry House in Kentucky. New owner Beverly "Goldie" Payne re-opened the building with an enlarged stage as a performance hall for country, bluegrass, and gospel music. Goldie retired in December 2008, and the building was sold to the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro in April 2011. They renovated the building, and rechristened it The Empress. The Bleich Theatre closed in 1956, and was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Owensboro National Bank.

The Empress Theatre was built in 1912 and owned by George A. Bleich. It was considered to be the most modern and largest theater in town at the time. Several years later, Bleich opened the Bleich Theatre next door. Community events such as private parties were held at the two theaters, including the annual Goodfellows Christmas Party. In 1937, The Empress was bought by Malco Theaters and underwent cosmetic renovations before re-opening on Christmas Eve, 1937. "Goldie" Payne bought the building in 1989 after new theaters were built and opened "Goldie’s Best Little Opry House in Kentucky." Goldie retired in 2008, and the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro became the new owners in 2011. They have since reverted the name back to The Empress. 

The Empress Theatre

Old Trinity Church was founded by a small Episcopalian congregation of about a dozen members in 1875. Before the church was built, the congregation met at the Masonic Hall, Dr. Henry MeGill’s Drugstore building, and eventually a carpentry shop between Fifth and Sixth street. The parish was officially organized on June 12, 1852. The building was the first brick church in Owensboro and, with its steep roof and tower, it is the oldest example of a Gothic style church in Western Kentucky.Despite having a historically small congregation, the original charter of the Old Trinity Church list many members of note. Daniel M. Griffith and Dr. Charles H. Todd were among the prominent members of the church. Griffith was the son of William R. Griffith, Owensboro’s first County Clerk, and husband of Virginia Shelby Todd, granddaughter of Governor Isaac Shelby. Todd was the youngest son of Charles S. Todd, who served as the chief of staff for General William Henry Harrison during the War of 1812, and was also a grandson of Governor Isaac Shelby.Old Trinity Episcopal Church serves as a good example of 13th century, Lancet-style construction that had a major influence on United States architecture in the 1800's. The church is laid out in the Classic Anglican design of a nave, chancel, and sanctuary. The choir loft was in the rear of the building, over the front door. At one time, the church was lit with gas light fixtures situated on the walls. The stained glass window above the choir balcony was designed and executed by Charles Stewart Todd, and was dedicated on April 28, 1946. The 19th century glass from the four Gothic style windows on the right side of the building were removed for safekeeping in 1965, and unfortunately were accidentally discarded soon after.In 1953, due to overcrowding and the need for structural improvements, the vestry voted to purchase land on Ford Avenue for the construction of a new parish hall. From 1964 to 1973, the building was used by Cliff Hagan’s Boys Club. Since 1973, Old Trinity Church has been the home of the Theater Workshop of Owensboro. In 1999, the church underwent renovations to allow more theater productions. According to local folklore, the site is one of the most haunted locations in Owensboro.

Old Trinity church was founded by a small group of prominent Owensboro citizens in 1875. Old Trinity Episcopal Church serves as a good example Medieval, Lancet-style architecture that was popular in the United States in the 1800's. Since 1973, the building has been home to the Owensboro Theater Workshop. Old Trinity Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Old Trinity Church

Originally from Washington County, Kentucky, Dr. William Stirman spent much of his youth in Calhoun. He received his medical degree in St. Louis in 1844, before settling in Owensboro to continue his medical practice. In 1849, he married Rachel A. Wall, who was also held in high regard by the community. He brieﬂy taught at the Kentucky School of Medicine in Louisville before the Civil War began, and returned to Owensboro. According to local newspaper articles, Stirman was known as a man who always spoke his mind, and had a “crusty” attitude with his patients. Upon his death in May 1893, the physicians of Owensboro passed a resolution to attend his funeral as group as a show of respect for their colleague. The house passed on to his son Wilbur, who switched properties with the prominent businessman Samuel R. Ewing in October 1905. This was called "one of the largest real estate deals made in Owensboro for some time" by The Owensboro Messenger. Ewing immediately began extensive remodeling of the residence, which included adding the front porch. In 1945, the building was bought by Haley-McGinnis &amp; Owensboro Funeral Home, and has since remained with them. The original building had a four story square tower, the fourth story being a widow's walk, and a large central hall with a staircase leading up to the six bedrooms. The parlor and library, the main places of entertaining, had 14 foot ceilings. There was also a metal spiral staircase &amp; a wrought iron fence, both of which were taken down and donated to war effort during WWII. The fourth level of the tower was removed in 1920, and few original details of the ﬁrst ﬂoor remain. The building's original architect, Thomas J. Blanchard, was the great-grandfather of Allen W. Haley, former president of the Haley-McGinnis Funeral Home. According to her obituary in 1899, Rachel Stirman designed the house herself and drew the plans by hand. The house has been the subject of local lore, including the different stories behind the nickname, and an uncorroborated story of a visit by Clara Barton.

Stirman’s Folly is a prime example of the Italianate style, complete with a Tuscan tower. The pet project of Dr. William Doswell Stirman, it supposedly earned its nickname from the community for its perceived exorbitant cost of construction, $5,000 in 1860. The exact origin of the name, however, is still unknown. The property was eventually bought by tobacconist Samuel R. Ewing, before finally being sold to the Haley-McGinnis & Owensboro Funeral Home in 1945. A major renovation in 1995 included the enclosure of the front porch. It was designated a state landmark in by the Kentucky Heritage Commission in 1970, and added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1986. 

Owensboro Historical Fifth street Walking tour

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information