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A bit of sad news from Henderson, Kentucky today: This devastates me. The Haven Pentecostal Church was the oldest church building in Henderson, dating to 1854-1855. As you will read, it played a vital role in the Civil War, and, until two hours ago, was part of the Ohio River Civil War Heritage Trail.
This was truly a tragic loss.
Amber L. Clark
Local History Archivist
Henderson County Public Library
Henderson, Kentucky
albrandon@usieagles.org
A portion of South Green Street will be closed today to allow demolition of Henderson's oldest existing church structure.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has issued a permit to allow Hazex Construction Co. to reduce northbound traffic to one lane in the 300 block of South Green Street.
The lane restriction will allow Hazex Construction Co. to raze the former Haven Pentecostal Church at the corner of South Green and Washington streets. The oldest portion of the building, that portion of the sanctuary that dates from 1854-55, was built by what is now the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
The work will require all northbound traffic on South Green Street to move to the left-hand or passing lane near the Washington Street intersection starting at approximately 8 a.m. today. The work is expected to take four to six hours.
Washington Street will also be closed between South Green and South Ingram streets next to the McDonald's restaurant.
"Motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach the Washington Street intersection," said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Transportation Cabinet, noting about 26,000 vehicles travel that section of Green Street on an average day.
On Thursday the small brick building that at one time housed the superintendent's office for the Henderson City School District was razed by Hazex. While the remains were being loaded into dump trucks, Julie Turnipseed, executive director of the Downtown Henderson Project, drove up to take a photo of the historic plaque in front of the church.
"We don't want the sign damaged," she said. "We want it back in our office until they (the Kentucky Heritage Council) determine what to do with it.
"This is part of the Ohio River Civil War Heritage Trail and it's in a brochure. So when somebody comes to look for it this will be missing." The church was occupied by Union Army troops during the war and was used as a prison, and possibly as a hospital.
"You would always like to see a building like this adapted and reused -- but it's just not going to happen," Turnipseed said sadly. "It's not going to happen."
The two-story front portion of the building was added in 1929 by the First Christian congregation, which Turnipseed said has expressed an interest in acquiring the historic plaque.
The demolition will leave the original section of St. Paul's Episcopal Church as the oldest church building within the city limits. Construction on that church, which is located at Center and Green streets, began in 1856 and it was dedicated in 1859.
The two church lots at Washington and Green were bought at auction June 25 for $131,000 by The Brae LLC, a company controlled by Brad Hazelwood, who also controls Hazex. Hazelwood was not available for comment Thursday.
Richard Melton, who owns the Home Paint Center next door, noted that his property is becoming available soon. His lot has 105 feet of frontage on Green Street, while the two church lots total 120 feet of Green Street frontage. "These three lots together would make a nice size piece of property," he said.
"I've been trying to sell the business but that's not looking very good at this point. It's looking more like I'll end up just shutting it down. I'm too old to work 60 hours a week. I would prefer leasing the building to somebody and having the income. But if the money was right I could be persuaded."
Henderson Gleaner
Friday, August 21st, 2009; p. A1
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has issued a permit to allow Hazex Construction Co. to reduce northbound traffic to one lane in the 300 block of South Green Street.
The lane restriction will allow Hazex Construction Co. to raze the former Haven Pentecostal Church at the corner of South Green and Washington streets. The oldest portion of the building, that portion of the sanctuary that dates from 1854-55, was built by what is now the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
The work will require all northbound traffic on South Green Street to move to the left-hand or passing lane near the Washington Street intersection starting at approximately 8 a.m. today. The work is expected to take four to six hours.
Washington Street will also be closed between South Green and South Ingram streets next to the McDonald's restaurant.
"Motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach the Washington Street intersection," said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Transportation Cabinet, noting about 26,000 vehicles travel that section of Green Street on an average day.
On Thursday the small brick building that at one time housed the superintendent's office for the Henderson City School District was razed by Hazex. While the remains were being loaded into dump trucks, Julie Turnipseed, executive director of the Downtown Henderson Project, drove up to take a photo of the historic plaque in front of the church.
"We don't want the sign damaged," she said. "We want it back in our office until they (the Kentucky Heritage Council) determine what to do with it.
"This is part of the Ohio River Civil War Heritage Trail and it's in a brochure. So when somebody comes to look for it this will be missing." The church was occupied by Union Army troops during the war and was used as a prison, and possibly as a hospital.
"You would always like to see a building like this adapted and reused -- but it's just not going to happen," Turnipseed said sadly. "It's not going to happen."
The two-story front portion of the building was added in 1929 by the First Christian congregation, which Turnipseed said has expressed an interest in acquiring the historic plaque.
The demolition will leave the original section of St. Paul's Episcopal Church as the oldest church building within the city limits. Construction on that church, which is located at Center and Green streets, began in 1856 and it was dedicated in 1859.
The two church lots at Washington and Green were bought at auction June 25 for $131,000 by The Brae LLC, a company controlled by Brad Hazelwood, who also controls Hazex. Hazelwood was not available for comment Thursday.
Richard Melton, who owns the Home Paint Center next door, noted that his property is becoming available soon. His lot has 105 feet of frontage on Green Street, while the two church lots total 120 feet of Green Street frontage. "These three lots together would make a nice size piece of property," he said.
"I've been trying to sell the business but that's not looking very good at this point. It's looking more like I'll end up just shutting it down. I'm too old to work 60 hours a week. I would prefer leasing the building to somebody and having the income. But if the money was right I could be persuaded."
Henderson Gleaner
Friday, August 21st, 2009; p. A1
This was truly a tragic loss.
Amber L. Clark
Local History Archivist
Henderson County Public Library
Henderson, Kentucky
albrandon@usieagles.org
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