History

WALTON
THE BEGINNING
Mid-1790’s – 1840’s

   The town now known as Walton, in the southeastern corner of Boone County, was founded in the mid 1790s. Its early development is associated with two men. One of them was Archibald Reid who opened the first tavern in Boone County about 1795, just north of what is now the City of Walton. He is credited with founding the county’s first distillery five years later as well as becoming one of Boone County’s first justices in 1799.

    Abner Gaines purchased the tavern and inn from Reid around 1813 and built a striking new house around 1814 (currently 150 Old Nicholson Road). In 1818 Gaines founded the first stagecoach line carrying mail and passengers between Cincinnati and Lexington: a 34-hour trip over the Covington-Lexington Turnpike.  The settlement that grew up around the tavern came to be called Gaines’ Fork Roads.

    The first recorded post office for Gaines’ Fork Roads (later called Gaines’ Cross Roads) was established on July 4, 1815. Our fourth United States President, James Madison, appointed James Matthews Gaines, Abner Gaines oldest son, Postmaster. 

    Col. Abner Gaines, as he was later called, served as a Boone County Justice from 1805 to 1817, at which time he was appointed sheriff. John Pendleton Gaines, son of Col. Gaines, served in Congress in the 1840’s and was governor of the Oregon Territory from 1850 to 1853. The house remained in the family for four generations and was sold shortly after the Civil War.

   On January 21, 1840, the town known as Gaines Cross Roads was renamed Walton by an act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The boundary included the town lots belonging to the following persons: E. Brasher, William Pitcher, John Arnold, Reuben Noel, Michael Snyder, William Vanhorn, Margaret Leonard, Silas Bridges, Elizabeth Butts, Nathan Connelly, Samuel McLean, Melville Rich and W. W. Gaines.

    In 1847, records show that Walton had 538 residents. That was 35 more residents than Petersburg and almost 100 more than Florence.

    In the early 1800’s, during the town’s infancy, there was a county public grade school in the corner of Beaver Grade (Old Beaver Road) and Stephenson Mill Road (Old Stephenson Mill Road). A Mrs. Clara Myers started the first school to offer high school subjects.
 



1850’s – 1890’s

    During this time, Walton was a small town of about 50 residents. Tobacco factories, livery stables and carriage builders were the businesses in town. In the years following the Civil War the town became the railroad center of Boone County. The railroad prompted rapid growth for the City. In the late 1860’s, the Kentucky Central Railroad, later acquired by the Louisville & Nashville (L&N), laid tracks through Walton and Verona, our neighbor to the west. In the mid-1870’s the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific, later part of the Southern rail system, was built through Walton and Richwood. Walton became the most important shipping point in Boone County for farm produce, as well as a local drop-off point for mail-order items. Following the turn of the 20th century, passenger service was introduced, and daily commuter trains linked Walton with Cincinnati, Covington, and Ludlow. As late as the 1920’s Walton residents commuted to work or to school by train.

    Walton developed as a railroad town, bound by rail lines on the east and west. A business district between the tracks flourished along Main Street, and residential neighborhoods developed to the north and south. A small industrial and warehouse district grew up beside the L & N tracks, and worker housing was built near the Southern depot. The early streets of Walton were Locust Street, Church Street, Beaver Road, High Street, and the Covington & Lexington Turnpike (Main Street) according to the Walton map of 1883.         

    In the years following the Civil War a small African American Community formed in north Walton. Several Generations of the Steele and Ingram families, descendants of freed slaves, made their homes in the modest hall-parlor and saddlebag dwellings along Church Street. The center of the community was the Zion Baptist Church, founded on 1872.  

    Also during these early years the Churches of Walton were established. The earliest being First Baptist Church, Walton was established on August 8, 1866, followed by Zion Baptist in 1872, Walton Christian Church in 1876, Walton Methodist in 1879, and All Saints in 1894.

    In 1880 Walton had the first known organized firefighters. They were known as the “Bucket Brigade”. There were 12 cistern built along the roadside to be used only for fighting fires. These cisterns were used until 1936 when the City installed a water system.

    In 1883 a Mr. Henry Newton was a teacher of the “select school offering all branches of mathematics and a regular course of thorough instruction”. In 1902 this private school located on South Main Street became a public school.   

    The Walton Deposit Bank was established in 1890 with a capital stock of $25,000, which increased later to $50,000, all paid up. Dr. D.M. Bagby was President, O. Percival was Vice President, R.C. Greene was the Cashier. The building was a very commanding structure commodiously arranged for the special use assigned. Dr. Bagby was an ex-Confederate soldier, popular and public-spirited. He was also a director in the Walton Perpetual Building and Loan Association. He succeeded Dr. B.D. Allen as President of the bank. The Vice President, Mr. Percival, was a very prosperous and influential citizen and business man. R.C. Green was born in Grant Co., and reared in Kenton, and had filled the office of Cashier since the inception of bank, being previous agent for C. & S.R.R. at Brock, KY. He married Miss Eleanor Southgate; they had one daughter. Mr. C.C. Metcalf was the Assistant Cashier and succeeded Mr. C.E. Ford, who went with the Fifth National Bank in Cincinnati. Mr. W.L. Rouse was a very worthy young man and was retained as Clerk and Bookkeeper.

   William H. Metcalf served as Postmaster by appointment from November 1897 through 1901.

   In 1894 the names of the streets in Walton were Main, High Street, Columbia, Scott, Cruse, Locust, Botts, Verona, Arnold and Banklick Street.

   In the late 1800's-1900's the town marshal of Walton was paid $6.50 per month and $1.00 for each dog he killed and buried.

   In 1897 an ordinance was passed prohibiting trains from running more than 15 mph though Walton.

   In 1898 Walton had only 2 paid fireman. The first fire chief, Taylor Stilley and his assistant chief Eugene DeMoisey. These two men were paid $2.00 for every fire they went to.

    In 1899 the Walton Lodge F & A.M. was organized.

   The Percival Southgate House, standing at 189 North Main Street, is believed to have been built for a Canadian named Percival Southgate during the Civil War era around 1860. The J. G. Tomlin House, standing at 109 North Main Street, was built around 1885. Behind the house is a former summer kitchen or smokehouse. J. G. Tomlin was a lawyer and the proprietor of a tobacco re-handling house in Walton.
 


1900 – 1920’s

    During this time Walton is the largest town in Boone County, with the county’s largest business district and diverse manufacturing enterprises. In 1900 the local school district merged with Verona, forming one of the county’s first consolidated districts. The Walton Graded School opened in 1901 at 85 North Main Street (now converted into apartments). The building included 12 grades under one roof. Classrooms for the first eight grades were on the first floor, and a high school and a chapel occupied the second. In 1902 the Walton Independent School District was created. It was the first public secondary school in Boone County. Students from outlying areas boarded with town families during the week, returning home on the weekends. In the early 20’s basketball games were held in a tobacco warehouse on Depot Street. Walton High School graduated five students in 1926. Graduation ceremonies alternated every year between the Baptist and Christian Church.

    According to the recorded minutes of the Walton Board of Trustees meeting June 4, 1902 the following were present: J. T. Booth, chairman, G. W. Ransler, Cyrus Coffman, J. M. Stamler, and J. L. Adams, and W. L. Rouse, Clerk. During this meeting the following motion was recorded: “Mr. Alford Stephens take charge of the fire engine for one year for $15.00 and $1.00 for each time he takes it out for fire provided if said Stephens does not keep said engine clean, and primed and in working order at all times he is not to have any compensation whatever. The money is to be paid at the end of the year”.  A. R. Hance was the town Marshall and tax collector and John G. Tomlin was the city’s attorney.

   Following are excerpts of a description of Walton that was printed in the first edition Walton Advertiser, the local newspaper, in August of 1914. The Advertiser was founded by G. B. Powers and Roy D. Stamler and was “published as often as necessary”.

   Walton is not a sleepy little village hid away among the hills, with nothing to boast of but beautiful scenery, but it is a ‘regular’ town, with a miniature Broadway, electric lights, with houses showing the best of attractions in living and silent drama, a beautiful pike “The Highway to Lexington”, crosses within the city limits, two railroads, The Louisville & Nashville and the Queen and Crescent accommodating the traveling public with eleven trains daily. The accommodations of these roads are so good, and the rates so low, that we are but a step from Cincinnati, Ohio, nineteen miles away. Many men work in Ludlow, Covington and Cincinnati, leave in the morning and return in the evening securing the mileage for the month for the small sum of $5.00.

   Two prosperous banks and a building and loan association lend a helping hand to those desiring financial assistance, at a very low rate. Two lumber companies of no small proportion are kept busy supplying our local contractors. Twelve mercantile establishments in the town do a prosperous business and there is room for more. Our Marshall, Police Court and jail are luxuries. In the past thirteen years only one white man has been incarcerated, and then only for a misdemeanor.

    The town is local option in its fullest meaning, intoxicated men are so seldom seen they appear as curiosities to the younger generation. The day of the “blind tiger” has long ago passed away and the drunkard of a few years ago is the homebuilder of today. Our standard of culture is far beyond any town of equal population.

    Our excellent schools, churches, library and Lyceum Courses are the direct causes of Walton’s high standing on the list of progressive Kentucky towns.

    In 1900, C. Scott Chambers and his wife, Alta, left Petersburg, Kentucky, to move to Walton the largest city in the county. He was an ambitious young “undertaker” and father of three daughters, Mary Scott, Aleen, and Ella Mae. His daughter Mary Scott, was very interested in the funeral business. She conducted her first service, a graveside service, at the Richwood Presbyterian Church at the age of 13. She graduated from high school at 16 and went to Cincinnati College of Embalming daily by train, but had to wait until she was 21 to receive her license. She was the first lady embalmer in the state of Kentucky. Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, the city’s oldest business, is still in operation today at the corner of North Main Street and Alta Vista Drive and is operated by the fourth generation.

    In October 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed John Grant Tomlin, a lawyer and tobacco proprietor, Postmaster. He served until July 12, 1905 when Samuel Lycurcus Edwards was appointed to his third term as Postmaster. Mr. S. L. Edwards, the son of Dr. R. A. Edwards who came to Walton from Scotland before the Civil War, also had a hardware store that housed the post office and a building and loan association. Lycurcus also served as an undertaker, although he didn’t have a funeral home. He had the first elevator and the first telephone in Walton.  This building is the current A. Q. W. building at 18 North Main Street.

    An engineer named Dan J. O'Conor had an idea that was pretty straightforward: take fabric, coat it with resin while it winds on a spindle into the shape of a tube, split the tube lenghtwise, unroll it, press it flat and then cure it. The result was a laminated plastic material that was tough, light, and an excellent electrical insulator. It was easy to see the commercial potential of this new material. O'Conor was just 31 years old, and he worked for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh as head of the process section of the research engineering department. One of O'Conor's friends at Westinghouse was Herbert A. Faber, 30, the manager of insulating-material sales. Faber's engineering training at the University of Cincinnati gave him a technical appreciation of O'Conor's new insulating material. O'Conor filed for a patent in February of 1913 and within weeks, O'Conor and Faber quit Westinghouse to start their own insulator business. O'Conor sought investors. They found what they needed in Walton KY., where a lawyer-banker named John G. Tomlin agreed to put up $7,500. He became a silent partner. O'Conor and Faber ran they business and named it Formica.

    In 1926 the franchise for the sale of Chevrolet cars in Boone and Gallatin Counties was taken over by John L. Vest of Walton, with whom is associated Denver Bassett acting in the capacity of manager of the Boone County Chevrolet Co. The organization is housed in an especially constructed building on Main St. with a 60-foot frontage and a depth about the same. The business was one of the most successful in this territory, and was the only Chevrolet dealer in Boone and Gallatin Counties. They handled altogether about 500 cars each year, new and used. They kept a complete line of Chevrolets on display at all times including roadsters, phaetons, coupes, coaches, sedans, and trucks. This Chevrolet Dealership was located were the Walton Maintenance Garage is now.

   The old Walton Equitable Bank came to be in February 1927 when The Walton Bank and Trust Company merged. The capital stock totaled $50,000 and they had a $50,000 surplus with $30,000 in undivided profits and combined resources of $750,000.00. At the time of the merger the following respected and representative men were chose directors: R.C. Greene, President; J.D. Mayhugh, Vice President; D.B. Wallace, E.K. Stevens, Oliver Brown, G.N. Powers, A.M. Edwards, D.E. Dudley, J.C. Bedinger and R.E. Ryle. R.B. Brown and Chas. W. Ransler were also vice presidents with Anan H. Gains secretary and E. Sleet West, cashier; J. Ben Doan and H.E. Metcalf as assistant cashiers. J.D. Mayhugh was later elected president and upon his death in March 1930 Wilford Rice was selected to fill that high place making him the youngest bank president in the state. After the merger had been effected a beautiful new home for the bank was erected at a cost of $52,000.00. The two-story limestone building with one hundred foot frontage on the main street of Walton.

 Interesting Tid-Bits 

  • Around 1908, Dr. Menefee, Mr. Jones and Ralph Edwards owned the first cars in Walton. These cars were Buicks.

  • Main Street was the first street in Walton to be paved with concrete. It was paved for one mile from one end of Walton to the other. It was told that Clifton Mayhugh, proprietor of the J. D. Mayhugh Lumber Company, drove is family back and forth on this concrete street every Sunday.

  • In the early 1900’s Morphine was sold off grocery store shelves.

  • Roy Stamler owned an open-air theater on Main Street called the Air Dome. Movies were shown there and people sat on bleacher-type seats to watch them.

  • Mr. Moxley used to light the town lights every night. He also had a cow and sold milk to people. During this time, even people who lived on town had chickens. Some even had pigs and cows. Mr. Moxley lived where Steve’s Pub is now at 11 South Main Street.

  •  In 1914 the city’s lights went out at midnight because that’s when the plant shut down for the night. Warren Stephenson operated the plant for Harry Mayfield of Mayfield Electric Company was located across from today’s City Hall.

  • Walton has the distinction of having the first Laundromat, in 1921. Mr. Theodore Burdsall built a building on the east side of Main Street north of the railroad tracks (across from Ameristop). The building housed Bendix washing machines and the dryers were metal housing that was heated with oil. There was a large cistern below getting water from the roof.

  • Many of the homes along Main Street were built during this period.

  • The Walton Canning Co. was owned by Mr. Metcalfe and located on Nicholson Avenue.

  • The Community Public Service Company was a utility company, which started serving electricity to several locations in Kentucky in the early 1920’s including Walton.

  • The present day Zion Baptist Church on Church Street was build in 1922

  • The basketball team from Walton won it's way to participate in the State Tournament in March 1928.
     


Walton Baseball Team

   Six teams signed up for the Boone County League in 1928: Walton, Burlington, Petersburg, Union, Hebron, and Belleview. The teams played a 20-week schedule.

   A Kentucky Post account from May 4, 1928, said Boone County Baseball fans were flocking to the games and the spirit of play was clean and under the direction of league commissioner John M. Lassing, who was a circuit court judge in Boone County. The Walton team was considered the best in the league. It also competed in the Northern Kentucky Semipro League. Clyde Laws was the team manager and center fielder.

   Walton and Belleview concluded the 1928 season playing a best-of-five series for the league championship. Belleview won the first game 2-0. Walton won the next two games, 11-6 and 16-9, and then claimed the championship 14-8 before a crowd of 1,300. Laws and his team received a gold trophy for their victory.

    Walton and Belleview again competed in a five-game playoff a year later. The teams split the first four games and played the deciding fifth game on a neutral field in Hebron. Umpires were brought in from outside the county. A Kentucky Post account on October 11, 1929, predicted one of the largest crowds in the history of Boone County baseball.

    The Walton manager was Ben Zimmer. In the ninth inning of a tie game, Zimmer put himself in as a pinch hitter. He laid down a perfect bunt, which surprised the Belleview players. Walton scored and won the game and league championship.

    The success of the league and particularly the Walton team were such that the Boone County Chevrolet dealership offered Chevrolets to transport the Walton players to games.

     Local baseball, on the scale of the early 1930's, ended with World War 11. After the war, softball became the game of choice for most returning veterans.
(The study of Northern Kentucky Baseball history was written by Jim Reis, a reporter for the Kentucky Post.. This is part of an account that appeared in the May 6, 2002 edition.)
 


1930’S – 1940’S

   Hundreds of Kentuckians were in the Civilian Conservation Crops or CCC, as it was commonly known. The CCC was just to be for unemployed men, ages 18-25, who came from needy families during the height of the Great Depression – and effectively ended in 1942 with America involvement in World War II. The Army ran the CCC camps, but some were also connected with the Soil Conservation Service and specialized in aiding farmers with erosion and crop problems. Among those types of camps was the CCC camp in Walton. The Walton camp was located at the end of Alta Vista Drive where the present Walton-Verona High School Campus is located.

   The Walton camp started to take shape in the summer of 1935, when 23 men, under the command of Army Capt. Robert Adams, arrived in Walton to the old ballpark owned by John L. Vest.

    With four truck-loads of camping equipment and other supplies, they pitched 5 tents, converted the old ballpark grandstand into a makeshift kitchen and set about the task of converting the ballpark in to a CCC camp capable of housing up to 200 men at a time. In their first months, the 23 men dug ditches to bring a water line to the site, installed electric and telephone lines, and erected additional tens. The men used shower facilities at the school (85 N Main St.) to clean up in.

    On August 8, the small contingent was beefed up by the arrival of 152 enrollees by train from Covington and the enlistment of 17 local men from the Walton area. The men enlisted for a six-month period and were paid $30 a month. Of that amount, the man only got $5 the remaining $25 was mailed directly to the man’s family to help them through the hard financial times.

   Soon after the new men arrived at Walton the they were assigned the task of unloading 17 railroad cars filled with wood and other equipment shipped in from Albany, GA. These supplies were used to build the barracks, mess hall, educational center and other buildings that eventually made up the Walton CCC Camp.

   Life at the Walton camp usually began with a 6 a.m. breakfast and flag raising. The flagpole, which was a camp landmark, was erected on November 30, 1935, and rose 68 feet above the camp. Work details then started about 8 a.m. as the men were sent out in groups of 30 to 40. Most were assigned to farms, which were spread over Boone, Kenton, Gallatin, Pendleton, Grant, Nicholas and Bourbon counties. The men were usually brought a lunch on their job site around 1 p.m. and continued working until about 4 p.m. They then returned to camp for a 5 p.m. supper.

   In the evening the men could play a variety of sports, such as basketball, football and softball or use the camp’s library either to just read or take correspondence courses. An arrangement was also later made by which some men at the Walton camp were bused in the evenings to Simon Kenton High School in Independence, where they attended classes that could help them obtain a high school-equivalency degree. In their free time, men also could go to the Union Theater in Walton to catch a movie or later to its successor, the James Theater.

    By March of 1942 most of the young men in the age range of the CCC were either in the military, filling jobs vacated by other men who were in the service or working at new jobs created by the wartime economy.

   Statewide, the CCC program generated more than $19 million for the families of the 89,511 Kentucky enrollees and resulted in the planting of more than 26 million trees. Some men who served or were involved with the camp are still residents of our City. They are David Deaton, Gayle McElroy, Kenneth Brewer and Sam Gamble.

   In the middle of the 1940’s, the Community Public Service Company moved its home office from Winchester to Walton after the death of the general manager. Mr. R. M. (Russell) Hall was appointed Division Manager. The line crews were based at Walton and worked out of there to perform maintenance work and build new lines.

       Walton High School Basketball Team Goes to State Tournament

  
The Walton High School Bearcats basketball team won the bid to play in the 25th Annual Kentucky High School Basketball Tournament in 1942. The tournament was played in the Jefferson County Armory in Louisville March 19 - 21. The Bearcats won their district by defeating Burlington High School, 64-18 and Hebron High School, 50-16. They went on to beat Hebron, 54-16; Simon Kenton High School, 40-28; and Holmes, 40-21 to win the Region and move on to State.


Front row, left to right: manager James Dudgeon, Charles (Hunky) Holder, Clifford Ryan, Harry D. Mayhugh, Ray Coyle, and manager, Jessie Thornton. Back row: Lawrence (Katie) Welsh, Stanley McElroy, Truitt (Plucker) DeMoisey, Russell Groger, Paul Simpson, and coach Lewis Shields. Missing is Leon Pennington.

Following is an article written by Henry Childress, KY Post Sports Editor

                            Walton Set to Make Trip to Tourney
                                  Lengthy Practice Session Held to Prep for Meet
   
Coach Lew Shields and Principal Walter Coop completed plans Tuesday for the trip of the Walton Bearcats, northern Kentucky basketball champions, to Louisville where they will play Thursday night in the opening round of the annual state tournament.
     The team will leave shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday in private autos. In the group leaving Wednesday will be Coach Shields, 10 players, scorekeeper Bob Gordon and D. O. Dudgeon, student manager.
     Early Thursday a large contingent of Walton fans, headed by Principal Coop and cheer leaders Guy Carlisle, Ella Mae Chambers and Nelda Campbell will make the journey.
                                                       Hold Practice
     The Bearcat players went through a lengthy practice session Monday on the Simon Kenton hardwood at Independence, using that beg floor instead of their own because it is more nearly the size they will play on at the Louisville Armory.
     The players who will make the trip are the same 10 who played during the recent district and regional tournaments here.
     Seniors on the squad are Paul Simpson and Clifford Ryan, guards; Russell Groger, forward, and Stanley McElroy, center.
     Juniors are Truett DeMoisey, center, and Harry Mayhue, guard Leon Pennington, guard, and Lawrence Welsh and Charles Holder, forwards, are sophomores, and Ray Coyle, a forward, is an eight grader.

Interesting Tid-Bits

  • John (Frenchy) DeMoisey  was  the  son of Rev. and Mrs. R. F. DeMoisey. He graduated from Walton High School and went on to be Adolph Rupp's first UK recruit. He had originally planned to attend Duke University but liked what Rupp had to say and Duke was soon forgotten. He brought his left-handed hook shot to UK in 1931. He was captain of the 1933-34 team and was named All American that year.

  • On April 1, 1931, Bonds were issued for the purpose of defraying the cost of establishing and erecting a municipal water system and plant to be owned and operated by said town (Walton). The bonds will be known as Waterworks (Revenue) Bonds, in which the principal amount was $35,000.

  • In the fall of 1935, the Walton and Verona schools were consolidated into the Walton-Verona Independent School District.

  • The Walton Homemakers began in 1936. It was one of the 10 Charter Clubs in Boone County.

  • In 1947 the Walton Volunteer Fire Department was formed. The first Chief was Jim Bob Allen.


    Year

    Trustees / Mayor

    City Clerk

    November 1941 is the first recorded election for the

     

     

    1942-44 term.

     

     

    1942-1943

    Dan L. Lusby, Chairman

    D.H. Vest

     

    Dr. Robert E. Ryle

     

     

    Robert "Cameron" Brakefield

     

     

    Gilbert E. Groger

     

     

    J. Robert "Bob" Conrad

     

         

    Year

    Trustees / Mayor

    City Clerk

    1944-1945

    Dan. L. Lusby, Chairman

    D.H. Vest

     

    J. Willis Berkshire

     

     

    Robert Cameron Brakefield

     

     

    J. Robert Conrad

     

     

    Gilbert E. Groger

     

         

    Year

    Trustees / Mayor

    City Clerk

    1946-1947

    D. L. Lusby, Chairman

    D.H. Vest

     

    G. E. Groger

     

     

    J. R. Conrad

     

     

    J. W. Berkshire

     

     

    R. C. Brakefield

     

     

     

     

    Year

    Trustees / Mayor

    City Clerk

    1948-1949

    Daniel J. Roberts, Chairman

    Gayle Elroy

     

    Russell M. "Coke" Hall

     

     

    George "Kyle" Nicholson

     

     

    Powers R. Conrad

     

     

    Frank M. DeMoisey

     


     


1950's - 1960's

    In September 1950, the first full-time Catholic Elementary School in the Walton-Verona area was opened at All Saints Church under the direction of the Sisters of St. Benedict. When the Sisters of St. Benedict were recalled from All Saints, the superiors at Nazareth were asked to send four Sisters to staff the School. Because of the small enrollment, the Sisters of Charity recalled the four Sisters after only three years and All Saints School was closed.

     The Ladies Auxiliary of the Walton Fire Department was formed in 1952. These ladies did a great job of assisting the Volunteers by providing hot meals, coffee and soft drinks during emergencies. One of those times was in 1957 when there was a train derailment that took five days to clean up. During that time the Ladies served meals to the Department, the train crews and others helping. The Ladies were also on the job at all the Firemen's Picnics. They served the food and made cake and other goodies for the Bingos and other functions.

     One of the worst disasters ever to hit the City struck Friday, July 13, 1956 at 4:00 p.m. and was over in about two minutes. The tornado started at the M. L. Carey farm on Beaver Road (Hwy. 1292) and ground its way through town out Locust street, finishing at the Chapman barn. In between these points, Walton received an estimated loss of $500,000 in property damage. The miracle of the tornado was that not a single life was lost. Beaver Road (Old Beaver Road) was hardest hit, with five homes completely destroyed and others badly damaged. Roofs were blown off and windows were broken at the Walton Feed Mill, the Tie Factory, and the Walton Skating Rink along North Main Street.
     Walton was declared a disaster, and traffic was rerouted around town so clean up crews could work. The Red Cross arrived on the scene and later established headquarters in the City Hall. At the Sunday Services, Rev. Joe Tackett of the First Baptist Church, and Rev. Atkinson of the Methodist Church suggested setting up collection stands for collecting money to help the victims. Councilman D. H. Vest counted 16 cars per minute passing through at the collection points. Mark Meadows, Editor of the Walton Advertiser, expressed in his column the overall generosity of the community, organizations and neighboring communities contributing money, time and labor for the restoration of the City.

     "Top Stars of Country and Western Music Booked At Verona Lake" were the headlines in the Walton Advertiser in April of 1957. Verona Lake Ranch was a 100 acre park, located behind the (old) Verona School and owned by Thurston and Georgie Moore, with a good fishing lake and a great entertainment all summer long. Fishing at the lake was $1.00 during the week, and $1.50 on the weekends. The outdoor amphitheater had new seating which seated 1,500 and the acoustics were perfect. Admission to the Sunday shows was only 75 cents, and children under 10 were free. Entertainers for the summer included: Jimmie Dickens, Ferlin Huskey, Jim Reeves, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Lonzo and Oscar, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, the Louvin Brothers and more. The shows were hosted by Miss Georgie whose amiable personality, cutting up, and dances made her a favorite with thousands of folks.  

      In June, 1957, the Beighle Brothers, Charles "Sam" and Paul, opened a small grocery store of approximately 2,000 square feet at 67 N. Main Street. They, along with nine other Greater Cincinnati grocers, became the Charter Members of the Independent Grocers Alliance, creating one of the first IGA stores in this area. The Beighle Brothers prospered and in 1959 they doubled the size of their store. In the years that followed, their brothers, Truett, Edward and Monty Beighle,  joined them.
    In 1964 they sold their business to Stan Jones and Dale Dowery. Jones operated the IGA store at 67 N. Main for several years but needed more room. After remodeling the James Theater, Jones moved the IGA to 51 N. Main Street (currently Ameristop).
    Prior to this, the brothers operated a country store they  purchased from Harold and Florian Lusby in 1947 located at 104 N. Main Street (currently Main Street Cafe). During those days, items were kept behind the counter and the grocer waited on each individual customer.
 


Year Trustees/ Mayor  

City Clerk 

       

1950-51 Walton became a 5th Class

Frank M. DeMoisey

 

Clearence Hoffman

City requiring appointment of 2 more

Daniel J. Roberts

 

 

trustees/council and appointment of Mayor.

Powers R. Conrad

 

 

 

G. Kyle Nicholson

 

 

 

Russell M. Hall, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

March 3, 1950 - 1951

R.M. Hall, appointed March 3, 1950

F. M. Demoisey

Clearence Hoffman

 

 

D. J. Roberts

 

 

 

P. R. Conrad

 

 

 

G. Kyle Nicholson

 

 

 

Glenn Eden, app April 13, 1950; resigned May 1, 1950

 

 

 

Nicholas "Nick" Welsh, appointed June 12, 1950

 

 

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1952-1953

R. M. Hall

P. R. Conrad

Clearence "C.W." Hoffman

 

 

F. M. DeMoisey, resigned December 6, 1952

 

 

 

Leon Hall

 

 

 

Malcolm Simpson

 

 

 

James. W. Spencer

 

 

 

Gayle McElroy, appointed January 12, 1953

 

 

 

John W. Hartman

 

 

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1954-1955

R. M. Hall

James. W. Spencer

James Allphin

 

 

Leon Hall

Harold L. Campbell

 

 

John Hartman

 

 

 

Malcolm Simpson

 

 

 

P. R. Conrad, resigned April 12, 1954

 

 

 

Gayle McElroy, resigned April 27, 1954

 

 

 

Lloyd Clements, appointed May 10, 1954

 

 

 

Clarence Hoffman, appointed May 1954

 

 

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1956-1957

R. M. Hall, resigned March 1, 1957

Leon Hall

Harold L. Campbell

 

Leon Hall, appointed March 11, 1957

Randell Martin

John Romes

 

 

G. Harris Moore

 

 

 

D. Hess Vest, resigned September 6, 1956

 

 

 

G. Kyle Nicholson

 

 

 

Travis Dunn, resigned November, 1956

 

 

 

Robert Stephenson, appointed December 10, 1956

 

 

 

Clifford Chance, appointed April 8, 1957

 

 

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1958-1959

Leon B. Hall

Randell Martin

John Romes

 

 

Raymond Brewster

 

 

 

Chester Armstrong

 

 

 

Bryon Rector

 

 

 

Donald Stephenson

 

 

 

Robert Stephenson

 


Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1960-1961

Leon B. Hall

Mary A. Yealy-Hutton

John Romes

 

 

Nicholas Welsh, resigned April 11, 1960

 

 

Bryon Rector

Randell Martin

Robert Stephenson

Howard Feldhaus

 

 

A. Clinton Shields, appointed May 9, 1960

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1962-1963

Kelly Kennedy

Howard Feldhaus

Daisy Hill

Robert Stephenson

Dale Stephens

Woodrow. W. Greene

Paul Simpson

Chester Armstrong

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1964-1965

Kelly Kennedy

Howard Feldhaus

Daisy Hill

 

Paul Simpson, appointed April 23, 1964

Robert Stephenson

 

 

Dale Stephens

Paul Simpson

Woodrow W. Greene

Chester Armstrong

 

 

Robert Eisenschmidt, appointed April 23, 1964

 

 

Year

 

Mayor

City Clerk

1966-1967

K. Dale Stephens

Howard Feldhaus

Daisy Hill

Robert Eisenschmidt

Woodrow W. Greene

 

 

Edward Berkemeier, resigned January 24, 1967

 

 

Carl Gerth

Albert Martin

 

 

Chester Armstrong, appointed January 24, 1967

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

1968-1969

K. Dale Stephens

Woodrow W. Greene

Daisy Hill

Robert Eisenschmidt

Chester Armstrong

 

 

Carl Gerth, resigned May 27, 1969

 

 

Luther Stephens

Albert Martin

 

 

Guy O. Carlisle, appointed May 25, 1969

 

 


1970's- 1980's

      On February 11, 1971 the Walton Verona Elementary School was awarded a contract to build the new elementary school. Then on October 28 of the same year the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades of the Walton Verona Elementary School paraded from the old Elementary School located across from the current Verona Post Office, to their brand new Elementary School located on Porter Road. The Parade was lead by a Walton Verona School Bus and the Fire Department. Then on December 5, 1971 the new elementary school was dedicated with the attendance of 350 people.
      
     One of the most destructive fires in the history of Walton struck on April 9, 1971. The fire was caused by trash fire that got out of hand and was spread by the wind to one business to the next. The fire hit the businesses of the Boone County Drug Store, the Village Barber Shop, an adjoining house known as John's Place, and the Walton Garage. The damage estimated $250,000. Because of this fire an Ordinance was put into effect. This Ordinance stated the no person or persons will be able to burn trash.
      
     On October 21, 1971 the Standard Oil Station in Walton was robbed by 6 people who were caught later that night.
      
    On March 4, 1972 Ernest Perry, Ronald Swiger, and Anthony Garcia died in a small plane crash. The plane crashed into a hillside in a pasture just off High Street on Leonard Clifton's property. Willard Martin said that he saw the plane come straight down and crash into the hillside. The plane hit so hard that it drove the motor deep into the ground, and  it tore off the wings and tail section. The fire from the wreckage was so minor that it only took two small fire extinguishers and four buckets of water to put the flames out.
      
     Zion Baptist Church celebrated it Centennial on June 18th of 1972. The hundred year old church was founded by Rev. and Mrs. John Green, George Chatman, Daniel Williams, John Williams, Courtney Watkins, and Rev. Soloman Watkins. The first pastor was Rev. Soloman Watkins who was buried by the side of the church on the hill directly behind the present church.
      
     At age 25 Denny Taylor of Walton released his first album in July of 1972.
      
    On October 4, 1972 Paul Tuemler LP Gas Sales and Service Plant on Nicholson Road was hit by a fire. The fire was thought to be caused by bad electrical wiring, but the real cause wasn't known. The damage estimate was $15,000.
      
    The Old Wooden Bridge on Needmore Street gave way under the weight of a truck and was immediately closed to traffic on November 24, 1972. This blocked the road for many vehicles, and a alternate route had to be taken. The repair took approximately 2-3 weeks.
       
     On December 8, 1972 Governor Wendell Ford announced that the City of Walton will receive  $258,000  in federal monies, and a state loan of $156,000. This was to help the waste treatment facilities. On November 4,1974 Walton held a dedication ceremony for its new 3 million dollar sewer system. That same day it also had its Ground Breaking Ceremony where mayor Sam Gamble broke ground for the new project.
      
     Walton experienced very heavy winds on March 24, 1975. The winds were so severe that Ryan's Hardware Store received $12,000 - $15,000 in damage. Ryan's was hit the hardest by the winds.

       On November 3, 1975 the Walton IGA had a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the new store located at the current Ameristop.
      
     The Senior Citizen Project (Walton Village) Ground Breaking Ceremony was held on October 5, 1976. The building is located at 35 School Road across from the High School. This was the first Senior Citizen Housing Project that has occurred in Walton.
      
      In mid November, 1976 the old Opera House was demolished. This was an upset to many people in town. The Opera House  (Old Model Food Store) was a landmark and it offered amusement at any time of the day. The Opera House was demolished to build the new Model Food Store (currently the Outreach Fellowship Center of the First Baptist Church).

       In 1976 Steve Cauthen made racing headlines at age 16 by winning 240 races, a record for an apprentice jockey. The next year his 487 winning rides and $6 million in purse earning set new records and landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice, plus led to 3 Eclipse Awards. Then on April 1, 1977 Mayor Sam Gamble declared that April 1st was officially known as Steve Cauthen Day. Then on August 30 the Kentucky Junior Chambers of Commerce chose 10 people to receive the Outstanding Young Kentuckians Award. Steve Cauthen was chosen to be one of these ten people. Then in 1978 at age 18, Cauthen became the youngest jockey to win racing's Triple Crown aboard Affirmed. The next year Cauthen moved to Europe and was a 3 time leading rider in England (1984, 85, & 87). Cauthen is the only rider to win 5 major Derby's: The Kentucky Derby, England's Epson Derby, The French Derby, The Irish Derby, and The Italian Derby. For more information on Steve Cauthen visit http://www.cityofwalton.org.way_back_stub/Cauthen.htm#top
      
     The Boone County Carpet Mills located at 16 South Main Street (currently H & H parking lot) caught on fire and was destroyed on Feb 26, 1977. The Fireman went and put out the fire and left. When they got home the were called out a second time because it caught fire again. While trying to fight the fire Tommy McIntyre fell though the floor but was not badly injured. The fire was thought to be started by the furnace, but the real cause in unknown.
      
       The ground breaking for the Walton Christian Church's new Christian Educational Building took place on August 30, 1977

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

 

1970-1971

K. Dale Stephens, resigned June 15, 1971

Woodrow Greene

Daisy Hill

 

 

 

Guy O. Carlisle, appointed June 15, 1971

Robert Eisenschmidt

 

 

Chester Armstrong

Luther Stephens

Donald McMillian

 

 

 

Guy O. Carlisle, appointed Mayor June 15, 1971

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Augenstein, appointed August 17, 1971

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1972-1973

Dallas Justice

James Allphin

Daisy Hill

Jack Norris

Brenda Johnson

William "Bill" Robinson

Daisy Hill

 

 

 

Lloyd Poore, resigned August 7, 1973

Anna Mae Simpson

 

 

 

 

Roger Augenstien, resigned September 30, 1972

 

 

Sam Gamble

 

 

 

Wilford Rice, appointed October 10, 1972

 

 

 

 

 

John Hartman Sr., appointed August 7, 1973

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1974-1975

Sam Gamble

D. H. Vest

Anna Mae Simpson

Kyle Nicholson

David Peebles

Roscoe Denney

Jack Norris

Byron Kent

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1976-1977

Sam Gamble

William Locke

Anna Mae Simpson

Jack Norris

 

 

 

Charles "Chick" Worthington, resigned December 29, 1977

 

 

D. Hess Vest

Roscoe Denney

Byron Kent

 

 

 

Donald McIntyre, appointed January 10, 1978

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1978-1979

William "Bill" King

Rev. William Johnson

Anna Mae Simpson

George Raybourne

 

 

 

Hess Vest, resigned September 1, 1978

 

 

Earl Abshire

Lloyd Burden

Donald McIntyre

 

 

 

George "Ab" Ryan, appointed September 5, 1978

 

 


 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1980-1981

William "Bill" King

George Ryan

Ruth Glenn

M. Deane Poore

Charles Mitchell

Rev. William Johnson

Albert Showalter

Donald McIntyre

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1982-1983

George "Ab" Ryan

Chester Armstrong

Ruth Glenn

Earl Abshire

Clayton Jones

M. Deane Poore

Rev. William Johnson

 

 

 

Bill Leicht, resigned May 9, 1983

 

 

 

 

 

Hugh Tharpe, appointed June 30, 1983; resigned August 31, 1983

 

 

 

 

 

Roscoe Denney, appointed September 19, 1983

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1984-1985

George "Ab" Ryan

Clayton Jones

Ruth Glenn

Chester Armstrong

M. Deane Poore

 

 

 

Earl Abshire, resigned June 4, 1984

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Wethington, appointed June 18, 1984

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. William Johnson, resigned August 6, 1985

 

 

Wm. "Bill" King

 

 

 

Johnnie Ann Johnson, appointed August 19, 1985

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1986-1987

William King

Clayton Jones

Ruth Glenn

Johnnie A. Johnson

John Rich

Chester Armstrong

William "Bill" Wethington

Anna Mae Simpson

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1988-1989

William King

Clayton Jones

Ruth Glenn

John Rich

Terry Sallee

Donna Scroggins

Anna M. Simpson

Brenda Robinson


1990's- 2000

       In 1996, a detachment of Carrolton's Battery A, 2/138th Field Artillery was established in Walton. This company is still located in Walton. Although the unit has never been involved in an overseas conflict, a few members of the Guard served in Desert Storm with the 207th Maintenance Company.
 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1990-1991

William King

Rose Beach

Ruth Glenn

 

 

 

Anna Mae Simpson, deceased May, 1991

 

 

 

 

 

David Peebles, appointed May 1991

 

 

Clayton Jones

Art Meisberger

John Rich

 

 

 

Donna Scroggins, resigned February 11, 1991

 

 

 

 

 

Gil Turner, appointed February 11, 1991

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

 

1992-The council elect had to draw

William King

Dave Peebles, 1-year

Ruth Glenn

 

 

their 1 or 2 year term from a hat presided over by City Attorney Terry

 

Maynard Meadows, 2-years

 

 

Edwards.

Jim Ferguson, 1-year

 

Those drawing a 1-year term would be filing a

 

Clayton Jones, 2-years

 

 

 

nominating petition to run in the 1992

 

Art Meisberger, 2-years

 

 

 

election if they chose to do so.

 

John Taylor, 1 year

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1992-1993

William King

John Taylor

Ruth Glenn

Art Meisberger

Jim Ferguson

Maynard Meadows

Sharon McDonald

Clayton Jones

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1994-

Phillip W. Trzop

John Taylor

Ruth Glenn

William "Bill" Conatser

Voni Pierce

Clayton Jones

Sharon McDonald

Mike Rowland

 

 

 

Jim Ferguson, resigned January 7, 1994

 

 

 

 

 

Don Bowman, appointed August 8, 1994

 

 

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1995-1996

Phillip W. Trzop

Bill Conatser

Voni Pierce

 

 

 

Charles "Chick" Worthington

 

 

Clayton Jones

Don Bowman

Mike Rowland

Sharon McDonald

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1997-1998

Phillip W. Trzop

Art Meisberger

Ann Leake

 

 

 

Clayton Jones, deceased March 13, 1997

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie Moffett, appointed April 10, 1997

 

 

Don Bowman

Mike Rowland

Mike Wood

Sharon McDonald

 

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

1999-2000

Phillip W. Trzop

Dan Simpson

Ann Leake

Mike Wood

Mike Rowland

Sharon McDonald

 

 

 

Mike Cason, resigned January 2000

 

 

 

 

 

Donald Bowman, resigned January 2000

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Roberts, appointed January 10, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffery Franklin, appointed January 11, 2000

 

 

 Year

 

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

 

2001-2002

 

Phillip W. Trzop

Anna Palmer

Ann Leake

Lee R. Frakes

Joyce Bryan

Mark A. Watts

Peggy Gray

 

 

 

Mike Cason, resigned August, 2002

 

 

Mike Wood

 

 

 

Ramona Roberts, appointed September 9, 2002

 

 

Richard Roberts

 

 Year

 

 

 

 

 

 2003-2004

 Phillip W. Trzop

Ann Leake

Peggy Gray

 

 

 

Betty Hensley, resigned December 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Williams, appointed January 12,  2004

 

 

Mike Simpson

Mike Wood

Paula Jolley

Richard Roberts

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

2005-2006 Phillip W. Trzop
Peggy Gray
Paula Jolley
Joyce Bryan
Ann Leake
Richard Roberts, resigned August 31, 2005
Wayne Carlisle, appointed Sept. 12, 2005
Mike Simpson
Stephanie Williams

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk

2007-2008 Phillip W. Trzop Wayne Carlisle

Peggy Gray

Lee R. Frakes
Joyce Bryan
Paula Jolley
Ann Leake
Mike Simpson
Stephanie Williams

Year

Mayor

Council

City Clerk
2009 -2010 Phillip W. Trzop Wayne Carlisle
Peggy Gray
    Paula Jolley
Joyce Bryan
    Ann Leake
    Sharon McDonald
    Mike Simpson
    Stephanie Williams, resigned May, 2009
    Lee Frakes, appointed May, 2009