Wayne County Kentucky Historical Society

01/02/2026

December 31, 1776 - By action taken on December 6th, the Virginia General Assembly officially formed Kentucke County, Virginia.

Vast lands once known as Fincastle County, Virginia were carved into three new counties - Kentucke, Washington, and Montgomery - and Fincastle ceased to exist. Harrodstown (also known as Oldtown and finally as Harrodsburg) was the county seat.

A county militia was formed with the following men as members: Gen. George Rogers Clark, Col. John Bowman, Lt. Col. Anthony Bledsoe, Capt. John Todd, Capt. Benjamin Logan, Capt. Daniel Boone, and Capt. James Harrod.

Three-and-a-half years later on June 30, 1780, Kentucky* County was abolished and divided into Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties of Virginia. These counties petitioned the Virginia House of Delegates to separate from Virginia and become a state. In 1792, the Commonwealth of Kentucky was created and admitted as the 15th state making up the United States.

*Note that it was not until March 7, 1789 the Virginia General Assembly officially changed the spelling from Kentucke to Kentucky.

12/31/2025

DID YOU KNOW? …In 1775, the h**p crop made its first appearance on Clarks Run Creek, located near Danville, KY. Because this crop was not native to Kentucky at the time, it had to be imported from New England and other European countries. The fiber from the h**p crop was originally used for homespun items such as twine, rope, thread and textiles. Hemp's popularity began to grow dramatically between 1790 and 1800 when settlements began to evolve into more organized enterprises.
During the early 1800s, Kentucky was considered a leader in the production and exportation of h**p and began to manufacture products from it. With a great amount of seed, came large amounts of fiber which was then spun into rope at locations known as “ROPEWALKS”. These areas were outdoor spaces where h**p fibers were spun in order to make this sturdy rope. By 1809, Kentucky was producing bailing materials for the entire South. Mills on Lower Howards Creek, located near Hall's on the River, were associated with the h**p rope production and shipped their products out of Holder’s Station to downriver.
The growth of h**p in the U.S. during the 19th Century dwindled with the availability of cheaper imported fibers from Manila and the East India Company. During War II, however, the Japanese took possession of the Philippines and the East India Company, and since jute supply from India was also restricted, the Americans had to produce h**p once again, for industrial purposes as well as to sustain the vast demand from the US Army and Navy. Rope made from h**p was used in rigging, towing and mooring the ships, paratroopers needed webbing for their parachutes and the h**p fiber was even used to make shoes for the soldiers. **p **phistory

Read more: https://hallsontheriver.com/winchester-hall-s-on-the-river-about

Check out our menu: https://hallsontheriver.com/winchester-hall-s-on-the-river-food-menu

12/19/2025

Congratulations to the Winners!
Thank you to everyone that entered and helped support the Wayne County Historical Society.

12/17/2025

Congratulations, Kelsey Alley! We appreciate you coming in and registering for the Keep it Local drawing. We hope you enjoy your print and books.

12/12/2025

Experience the magic of the holiday season at our spectacular exhibit, designed to create unforgettable memories for the whole family. This Christmas, bring your loved ones and immerse yourselves in a festive atmosphere filled with joy, wonder, and celebration.

12/09/2025

12/07/2025

12/06/2025

Tomorrow, we have all the fun things planned going on in downtown Monticello! 🎄🎅🏼⛸️📖
📖Story time at 10am with Calista from Wayne County Public Library.
🎄12-6pm - Gilmore Girls “I Smell Snow” Christmas Market. There will be vendors, ice skating, horse carriage rides, food, photo ops, art classes, and so much more! Even if you’ve never seen Gilmore Girls, make your way downtown. It will be amazing! We will have all of your favorite Gilmore Girls Books and merch at Main Street Books. Also, write a letter to Santa here and then take it over to Santa’s mailbox.
❄️6:15- Head over to the Wayne Theater, across the street from the bookstore, and watch an episode of Gilmore Girls. It’s going to be so much fun!

12/05/2025

12/03/2025

The “Dragonfly Inn” Museum will be open Saturday December 6 from 12-6. Check out all of the displays, book sale and children’s floor. 🎄