This is vacation time all over the country, and with the gas shortage being what it is, many Kentuckians will be doing their vacationing nearer to home this year. We who live in Ken-tacky are fortunate in that so many places of interest are within driving distance.

The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association has sponsored a book, which was compiled through many years of research, entitled Kentucky Treasure Trails. This excellent book is a historical and cultural guide to Kentucky, organized in a county by county format, listing all the places of interest in each of its 126 counties.

One feature of this county-by-county review which caught my interest was its list of old, historic houses and buildings. In the Jackson Purchase area alone, 26 such old buildings of historical interest were listed. To whet the reader's appetite for a little local traveling, I am going to select some of the more interesting ones and list them here.

In Ballard County is the old Barlow Home, in Barlow. It was built in 1903 and was once the Barlow Hotel. The Hinkle Lane home, one mile west of Kevil on U.S. 60, was built about 1840. It has a ballroom on the second floor and features two stairways to the bedroom areas, one designated for the girls of the family and one for the boys. The Lovelace home, in Lovelaceville, Is also In Ballard County, located on US. 62. It was built in 1860 from bricks made on the site by slaves. During the Civil War, confederate soldiers Were fed by Mrs. Lovelace as they passed through. This home is accessible to the public.

The old Sullivan home, five miles east of Wickliffé, is just off KY-286. It was built about 1840 by slave labor.

Seclusival, the old Peter Hamlin home, was the house selected as most interesting in Calloway County. It was built about 1845 of bricks made on the grounds by slaves and features woodwork brought from Virginia.

In Fulton County is the old Sowell home, near Hickman on KY 94. It was built about 1890. Also near Fulton is the Wright house, which was built in 1955, but of materials from the old home of Dr. Gideon Pasehall, which had been built in 1865.

Graves County feature the home of former Vice President Alben Barkley, who was born there in 1877. Itis located southwest of Lowes, about four miles off KY.849. There were no private homes listed for Hickman County, but it was recommended to see Marvin College in Clinton. This Methodist school, built about 1885, was the alma mater of Alben Barkley, where he worked his way through school as a janitor. As this book says, this gave rise to the witticism, "Barkley swept here."

Oak Hill, the old Luther Draffen home at Calvert City, was built in 1860 by Mr. Calvert for whom Calvert City is named. This was the first building in Calvert City.

Paducah, in McCracken County, listed several old churches and the old market place downtown as buildings of interest. Also listed is the old Tilghman home, built before 1852, and the home of General Lloyd Tilghman.

These old homes and buildings were only a small part of the points of interest listed in this informative travel guide. There is also a listing of local celebrations such as Banana Festival in Fulton, and various civil war and other historic sites.

The local county extension office in Murray has these books for sale, priced at $5.50, so if you like history, stop by and pick up a copy before you go on vacation this summer.

Return to the Index of Judy Maupin's Genealogical ancedotes, stories and family notes.