Supplemental documentation concerning the house and its structural integrity/historical significance.

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2. Wendell Berry
Lanes Landing Farm
Box 1
Poft Royal, l(Y 40058
September 29,2005
Hon. Virgie Wells, Mayor
City of Cynthiana
P. O. Box 67
Cynthiana, KY 41031
Dear Mayor Wells:
I am writing you in support of the project to save the Handy house and to
put it to good use for the community. I have always liked Cynthiana, and I like
the idea that it might represent itself, so to speak, by this fine old house.
ffi/4
wendell
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Berry
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Mayor Virgie Wells
City of Cynthiana
P.O. Box 67
Cpthiana, KY 41031
Dear Mayor Wells,
The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preei:vatioq a non-profit advocate for presenration,
rvorkstOp$J@t-rel/jtalize and Bromoie thssptriallistoric-plases-iaour coumunities.
The Trust has received calls concerning the future of The BrownlFrazer House (Handy
Fann) and outbuildings in Cynthian4 Harrison County, Ke,ntucky. According to the
information that we have receivd there is a possibility that the house and outbuildings
are being considered for demolition. As we explored the history of the property, we
learned that indeed it is important historically and derrolition would not be, in the
opinion of the Tnrsl the bet option for these stnrctures. Certainly demolition is not the
best option economically. Re.storing a historic property creates new jobs, stimulates
tourism, and inqeases properly values. There is a great deal of documentation available
to support this.
Adaptive reuse of the properties, incorporated into the landscape of the public park would
be an excellent option. One idea for adaptive reuse is exhibit space for special or
pe,manent exhibits. In addition the properties could be used as a rental properfy for
weddings, parties and other special eve,nts. Of course, many city parks need a caretaker
to maintain the properties and supervise activities. Some part of the properties could
serve as the caretaker's apartment.
The Brown/Frazer House (Handy Fann) and outbuildings are eligible for placement on
the National Register of Historic Places and indeed the nomination prccdure is in
process at this time. The house itself is eligible for its association with "Camp FraM', a
Union €mp and fortification established on Frazier Farm which was associated with
Civil WarBattles which occurred in Cynthiana Apart from its connection to these
historic events the house has interior spaces of very high quality with a high level of
integrity. Of the four outbuildings one bam is particularly important. The central portion
of the bam is an ealy bam of F.nglish type, a design t5pical of an Antebellum type of
barn of which there are few sunriving examples. This bam itself is considered eligible
for the National Register. When these properties are placed on the National Register they
will then be eligible for both state and federal rehabilitation tax credits.
The Blue Grass Trust strongly e,ncourages you to be a good steward ofthe valuable
historic properties which you own Once our heritage is destroyed it can not be reclaimed.
The Rlrre Grass Trrrst fnr Historic Preservation
. :.€
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4. Thank you and please feel free to call or.r office (859) 253-0362 if you have questions or
if we can help you. We also encourage you to use the r€sources offered by the State
Historic Presenration Office.
Exqrtive Director
cc: Judge Pealq Fiscal Cour$ Editor, Cpthiana Deinoctat; Robert Owen, Historical
Society; John Hackworth, Pmident BGT

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CovueRce CrerNer
Cnprrel Puze Towen
5OO Meno Srneer, 22No Fr-oon
FnnrurroRr, Kerurucxv 40601 -1 968
PxoNe (5O2) 564-4930 Fnx (5O2) S64-s695
travel.ky.gov
W. Jaues Hosr
SecRernRy
CouueRce CnarNler
Rnruonll L. FrvEnsn
ColaursstoruEn
DEpaRruerur or Tnnvel
February 10,2005
Billy Fowler
Handy House Committee
380 Oddville Sunrise Road
Cynthian4 KY 41031
Dear Mr. Fowler:
This letter is written as an indication of our interest in the historic preservation of the
Handy House in Cynthiana, KY. Several months ago, we had the opportunity to visit the
site, and met with several members of the community to discuss its future potential.
Heritage tourism is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. These tourists
want to experience authentic history, as well as the flavor of the places they visit.
Heritage tourists represent higher income travelers and tend to spend more money in a
community than the average visitor.
As a prospective site for the education and interpretation of local heritage for visitors to
the Cynthiana community, and as a potential site for interpretation relative to the state's
African-American history, we believe that the Handy House is worthy of preservation
and will contribute to the state's efforts to promote the culture and heritage of Kentucky.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide input in this matter. We enjoyed our visit to the
area, and wish the people of Cynthiana much success in your endeavors to preserve
Cynthiana's history and to develop assets that may bring years of benefit to the
community.
y C. Clay
ulfural Hentage Tourism Director
cc: Randall Fiveash
An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D

6. ARCHITECTURE
RESTORATION
JOHN W. ROGERS, AIA
Architect
l5 January 2005
Ms. Marilynn Bell, Chair
Committee to Save the Handy House
75 Cherry Lane
Cynthiana, KY 41031
Re:
HANDY HOUSE
Dear Ms. Bell,
It was a pleasure to meet with you and tour the Handy House on Saturday, I January 2005. I
have been doing restoration and renovation projects for over 28 years and found the Handy
House in quite good shape. I have wcrked with buildings that have been burned out, vacant for
1nany yea.i and others quite deteriorated from many years of neglect. The Handy House exhibits
none of those issues. The structure seems quite sturdy and stable. I know this building to be a
very good candidate to be restored or renovated, depending on its use and the needs it must meet'
I will review my professional opinion of the various parts of the building as follows:
EXTERIOR
The brick and stone appear to be very sound. The one lintel over a basement door has buckled
but all brick are present and can be reset. There are no major cracks in the masonry especially
around windows and doors. The shingled wall area of the second floor (added after the original
house was constructed) will need attention but the framing behind is intact. The roof has some
leaks and will need to be replaced. The chimneys have been removed below the current roof to
minimize leaks. This has added to the longevity of the interior spaces. The windows and doors
have been boarded up for protection but appear to be serviceable and restorable. The rear
addition with the batiroom on the first floor is the newest addition I suspect. It is in the-worst
condition and would likely need to be removed. Parts of the front porch have been coved with
aluminum, which would need to be removed, but most of the basic parts exist. The reai porch is
very interesting with its curved ceiling. It too seems in very serviceable shape.
BASEMENT
The stone walled basement is in good condition. The large boiler (added after the house was
constructed) at the bottom of the steps will have to be removed. It is unlikely to work properly
anyway. The fireplaces are open on three of the four chimneys in the house. This seems to be an
original condition for construction of the building. The unusual area separated from the large
uolu*" of the basement is quite unique and may have been some sort of holding area possibly for
slaves. Floor joists and flooring that form the ceiling of the basement are solid and tight from the
areas I encountered. Since we have had large amounts of rain recently, the basement was quite
dry and a testament to the quality of the original construction and site location for the structprg
on the property.
INTERIOR
The interior of the Handy House is very nice with large rooms throughout most of the building'

7. The high ceilings on both the first and second floors of the main house make the rooms quite
pleasant. The condition of many of the walls and ceilings is remarkably good for a building from
ihe c1820's with c1880's vertical and horizontal additions. The f'loors are level and able to be
refinished. Interior trim is consistent throughout the main house with the exception of a door
'Ihe fanlights above the front door and the
from the central hallway to one of the main rooms.
passage door between two parlors on the first floor are an asset to the building. Stair trim,
-trandraits
and posts are mostly present and in pretty good shape and very repairable' Fireplace
mantles and built-ins also exist in most areas and afe very restorable.
1634 Larmon Court
Cincinnati, OH 4522+3116
(sts s42-424s
ARCHITECTURE
RESTORATION
JOHN W. ROGERS, ArA
Architect
l5 January 2005
Ms. Marilynn Bell
Page2.
CONCLUSION
As stated earlier, the Handy House is in very good shape and is a wonderful candidate to be
restored. The house was built properly to begin with, due to the fact it was expaxded vertically
and remains solid. The detailing is consistent with the era the house was constructed and
remodeled. The age of the building provides historical significance in its own right and added to
the various ownels history seems to strengthen the endeavor to retain the house as an asset to the
community.
Having been a rnember of the Cynthiana / Harrison County community for many years, it is good
that historic buildings have survived to tell their stories to future generations. We have lost many
over the years, but this is an opportunity to keep a building that has many years of service left
and could provide value to the community.
Please contact me with any comments or questions you might have.
Sincerely,
John W. Rogers
Cc;
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Horrison County Historicol Society, PO Box 4l l, Cynthiono, KY 4,l031
Aword of Merit - Publicotion or Journql, 2007 Kentucky History Awords
Vol.l0 No. 7
July 2009
Chestnut Hall: The Home of Sultan, the Property of W. T. Handy, Esq.
(Reprinted from The Courier, Cynthiana, Ky., December 22,1888)
Edited and condensed by Bill Penn
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Handy remodeled and renamed Chestnut Hall in the 1880s, enlarging the second story with a cupola and adding wings. Photo,
I 905, Cynthiana Log Cabin, November 1 1 , I 905 .
family lived on the property now
called Flat Run Veterans Parkfor thirQ-fve years, beginning in IBBB, and nqmed thefarm Chestnut Hall. Handy
W. T. Handy and his
v'as one of se,-eral trotter breeding eslablishments in
the county, which included J. L. Patterson, W H. LI/ilson
and J. W. Cromwell. Following is an IBBB articlefrom a
Cynthiana newspaper about Handlt's fledgling breeding
operation (see also The Handy Farm: 1818-2005, Harrison Heritage News January 2006:
A combination of wealth and intelligence is calculated
to do most anything in this world, when directed with skill
and energy. A stock breeding establishment, begun on
such a basis, is ceftain of success. This introductory comment is suggested by a visit to a new candidate for public
favor as a nursery of the trotter, "Chestnut Ha11," near
Cynthiana, the properly of Mr. W. T. Handy, a gentleman
who has only lately entered the field....
One bright day last week the writer visited this farm
for the pulpose of looking it over, examining the stock,
and especially taking a look at the famous stallion Sultan
quaftered at this place. Mr. Handy purchased this justly
The barn closest to the house is believed to be the breeding stable for trotters built in the 1880s by Handy. Many
of the stalls and doors remain unchanged from this
celebrated horse in conjunction with Mr. W. H. Wilson of
Abdallah Park, Mr. Handy owning the controlling interest
in him, and undertaking his management.
Chestnut Hali is the name given to [the] farm.... A good
deal of its rich bottom land lying along the Licking river,
which skirts the place for some distance. As a whole,
however, it is rolling, with rich soil and an abundance of
blue grass and water. Good fences divide the farm into
lots for the accommodation of the stock, according as
their separation may be desired.
The stables are well built and commodious, constructed on a plan which affords the greatest convenience, comfort and safety to the stock, while providing them with
plenty of air and light. The main bam is an entirely new
and rather expensive structure. The stalls are spacious.
and are so arranged as to be easily kept wann and snug in
winter and well ventilated in summer. A second bam is of
older date and design, but such changes have been effected in it as to make it conform to the requirements of a
modern first class breeding establishment.