List of buildings constructed by Thomas Metcalfe

A man with receding gray hair wearing a black jacket and tie and a white shirt, holding a cane
Thomas Metcalfe

The following lists the buildings constructed by Thomas Metcalfe, governor of Kentucky, including many that survive are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[1][2] Thomas Metcalfe (1780–1855) (sometimes spelled "Metcalf") was one of the most prominent stonemasons and building contractors during the settlement period of Kentucky. Among his notable constructions are the Old Courthouse in Greensburg, Kentucky, which is the oldest courthouse west of the Allegheny Mountains, and the first Kentucky Governor's Mansion.

Metcalfe later entered politics, representing the Kentucky in both houses of the United States Congress. He was also elected the state's tenth governor, inhabiting the executive mansion he helped build. Throughout his political career, he retained the nickname "Stonehammer" Metcalfe, an allusion to his earlier trade of which he remained very proud.

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Locations may be seen in map displayed by following link labelled "Map of all coordinates using OpenSourceMap" on the right side of this page.

Name Image Built and other dates Address Notes
Joel Frazer House 1810 built
 Off KY 982 near Cynthiana, Kentucky
38°22′14″N 84°17′29″W / 38.37045°N 84.29139°W / 38.37045; -84.29139 (Joel Frazer House) 		A three-bay stone building, one-and-a-half stories tall, located on the bank of the South Fork of the Licking River.[3]
Ephram Harrod House Off U.S. 460 in Bourbon County near North Middletown, Kentucky
38°10′17″N 84°07′23″W / 38.171389°N 84.123056°W / 38.171389; -84.123056 (Ephram Harrod House) 		"Unsurpassed in Ky. for the historic and architectural value because of the workmanship and original condition"[4]
James Lindsay–William Trotter House c.1800 built US 62, Scott County, Kentucky near Georgetown, Kentucky
38°08′15″N 84°37′43″W / 38.13750°N 84.62870°W / 38.13750; -84.62870 (James Lindsay–William Trotter House)
McKee-Vimont Row Houses 1809 built Main Street in Millersburg, Kentucky
38°17′57″N 84°09′01″W / 38.29911°N 84.15023°W / 38.29911; -84.15023 (McKee-Vimont Row Houses) 		Two side-by-side stone houses, believed to have been built by Thomas Metcalfe or his older brother John, with finely dressed native limestone. The larger house, on the left, was built in 1809 and has "one of only two exterior arched wooden doorframes found in Kentucky on stone houses".[5]
Thomas Metcalf House c. 1810 built Willie Curtis Rd. and Cedar Creek Rd., Robertson County
38°29′49″N 84°5′38″W / 38.49694°N 84.09389°W / 38.49694; -84.09389 (Thomas Metcalf House) 		Constructed by Metcalfe for his family after his marriage in 1806[6]
Davis Newman House 1795 built W of Spears in Spears, Kentucky
Old Governor's Mansion 1797 built 420 High Street in Frankfort, Kentucky
38°11′58″N 84°52′25″W / 38.19940°N 84.87368°W / 38.19940; -84.87368 (Old Governor's Mansion) 		Kentucky's first governor's mansion; Metcalfe lived here during his gubernatorial term from 1828 to 1832[7]
Poague House Parker Lane near Mays Lick, Kentucky
38°31′39″N 83°49′09″W / 38.52747°N 83.81911°W / 38.52747; -83.81911 (Poague House)
Erasmus Riggs House 1820 built Off KY 13 near Carlisle, Kentucky
Jacob Spears House 1810 built SR 1876 in Shawhan, Kentucky
West Union Presbyterian Church 1810 built 108 South 2nd Street in West Union, Ohio
38°47′36″N 83°32′38″W / 38.79328°N 83.54376°W / 38.79328; -83.54376 (West Union Presbyterian Church) 		Metcalfe helped build its walls.
Hubbard Williams House Off KY 32/36 in Millersburg, Kentucky
Old Courthouse A two-story limestone building with two chimneys and a United States flag flying in front 1804 built Main St., Greensburg, Kentucky
37°15′38″N 85°30′06″W / 37.26053°N 85.50163°W / 37.26053; -85.50163 (Greensburg Courthouse "Old Courthouse") 		Oldest courthouse west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Forest Retreat 1795 built 38°20′16″N 84°03′32″W / 38.33775°N 84.05902°W / 38.33775; -84.05902 (Forest Retreat) Metcalfe's estate, which he helped build in 1795, and where he lived in later life and is buried.

In addition to the structures above, some structures locally attributed to Metcalfe may have been works of his half-brother, John Metcalf III.

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Carolyn Murray Wooley (February 1983). "Early Stone Buildings of Central Kentucky TR". National Park Service.
  3. ^ Carolyn Murray-Wooley (1982). "Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Joel Fraizer House". National Park Service. and Accompanying five exterior photos from 1982
  4. ^ C.M. Wooley (1982). "Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Ephram Harrod House". National Park Service. and accompanying photos
  5. ^ Mrs. Wade H. Whitley (February 25, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: McKee-Vimont Row Houses / Althorpe; Old Bank Building; Vimont House". National Park Service. Retrieved August 25, 2022. With accompanying 16 photos.
  6. ^ Carolyn Murray-Wooley (May 1984). "Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Thomas Metcalf House". National Park Service. and Accompanying five photos from 1984
  7. ^ Charles E. Parrish (April 20, 1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Old Governor's Mansion". and Accompanying four photos from 1969-1970