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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.
DEADLY GUNSHOT KILLS WATCHMAN
IN 1929
Times were hard in 1929. The combination of no jobs, too much
alcohol and bent toward mischief would lead three young Ohio men on
a crime spree in Northern Kentucky that would include the murder of
a 73 year old man in Walton.
Based on his testimony, Leroy Milton of Middletown said he had been
unemployed for three years due to a physical condition. As a result,
he had too little cash and too much time on his hands. On the
evening of January 10, 1929, Milton, Charles Keplinger, of Trenton,
and Thomas Brewer, of Middletown, met at a pool hall, had a few
drinks and discussed their plans for the evening. Brewer had a date
that fell through, but Milton had a .38 caliber revolver he planned
to see to a brother-in-law in Covington. The trio planned to head to
Covington to sell the gun, problem was they had no car, so they
stole a car in Middletown and headed south. In the meantime they
found a pint of whiskey in the stolen car and drained it.
Upon arriving in Covington, Milton’s brother-in-law was not at
home, so while driving around town, someone suggested "sticking
up a street car". Milton and Keplinger hopped onto a street car
at Fifth Street and Madison Avenue. They robbed the conductor, Clyde
Menifee and motorman, Whitney Preston, and then jumped off. They
apparently got away with about $10.
During the robbery Brewer had waited in the parked stolen car. By
this point it was about 1 a.m. on January 11. The trio, in their
early 20’s, drove further south on Dixie Highway into Elsmere
where they decided to break into a store owned by Robert Jones.
Keplinger broke the glass to gain entry, but from inside someone
heard the noise, Jones would later testify he was awakened by the
breaking glass and fired a couple of shots at what he said were
three men trying to break in.
No one was hit and the trio quickly ran back to their car and sped
away. Once again they headed south on Dixie Highway. It was about 2
in the morning when the trio rolled into Walton. Still looking for a
store to break into for some easy cash, the men spotted the Kroger
Grocery store on the east side of Main Street, next to the Phoenix
Hotel. (The former site of Kroger is the current Gross Insurance
and Walton Florist; the former site of the Phoenix Hotel is the
current Grandeur Hall).
At the time Walton only had a town marshal. He basically worked
daytime hours or when called out. As a result, Walton merchants
hired a night watchman – also called a "merchant
policeman". He was 73 year-old William Lee Johnson.
When the trio broke into the Kroger store, Johnson was stoking a
furnace at the Walton Equitable Bank Building. The bank was directly
across the street from the grocery store. (The Walton Equitable
Bank building was next to the current US Bank). Milton would
later say he and Keplinger got out of the car to break into the
Kroger’s, while Brewer again waited in the getaway vehicle. They
broke the glass out of the grocery’s front door and were entering
the store when they heard a shot. Johnson heard the glass breaking
across the street and, with gun in hand, had gone to investigate.
Exactly what happened during the next couple of minutes would be
debated by the trio, but there was an exchange of gunfire between
Johnson and the would-be burglars. In the process, Johnson was shot
in the stomach and fell to the street. An account later that day in
the Kentucky Post said several people reported hearing the shots,
but no one ventured out to help Johnson until after the car with the
trio sped away to the south. Once the car was out of sight, locals
poured into the street. Johnson was driven to Booth Hospital in
Covington, while the town marshal, W. Dickerson, organized a posse
to search for the robbers.
The trio crossed into Grant County and made it through Dry Ridge
when they ran out of gas. They apparently stopped near the farm of
Fred Conrad near Williamstown. They abandoned the car near the farm
of Ernest Chipman and walked to a restaurant in Williamstown to get
something to eat. Grant County Deputy Sheriff Walter Conrad,
meanwhile, found the abandoned car with the Ohio license plates and
learned the men were in Williamstown. They were arrested at the
restaurant.
Upon hearing of the Walton shooting, the men were taken to Walton
and identified by witnesses there. Later they also were identified
as the robbers of the Covington street car. Since the most serous
crime was the Walton shooting, the men were lodged in the Boone
County jail in Burlington.
Johnson died at Booth Hospital at 1 p.m. that day. The men were
charged with murder. The feelings against the men were such that
newspaper accounts mentioned a possible attempt to lynch them. The
trio was moved to the Covington jail for safe-keeping. They were
indicted by a Boone County grand jury on January 26, 1929. Boone
County Judge J. C. Vallandingham set trial for March 11. The
defendants asked for separate trials after speculation loomed the
prosecution would seek "the chair" if the men were found
guilty of murder.
First to go on trial was Milton. John J. Howe of Carrolton and
Horace Root of Newport made up the defense team. Boone County
Commonwealth Attorney Ward Yeager, County Attorney B. H. Riley and
John L. Vest would head the prosecution team. Among damaging
testimony against Milton was that of Boone County Sheriff L. T. Utz.
He said Milton had admitted firing a shot at a "man in
uniform" in Walton. In all, 24 prosecution witnesses were
called, including Mrs. Etta Underhill, the Walton telephone
operator. She testified she saw the shooting outside the Kroger’s
store.
Melton testified that he remembered little of the events due to the
alcohol. He admitted firing a gun, but said he fired only to get
away. Milton said he believed Keplinger fired the first shot at
Johnson. The prosecution sought the death penalty for Milton. After
about 8 ½ hours of deliberation the jury found Milton guilty, but
recommended life in prison.
Brewer was tried next. The trial was moved to Owenton. Jury
selection began on July 22. Brewer’s attorneys were John Howe of
Covington, Henderson Estes of Middletown, Ohio, and A. Floyd Byrd of
Lexington. Much of the evidence against Brewer was the same as
against Milton, except Milton testified that Brewer was in the
getaway car in Walton, and had no part in the shooting. After 12
hours of deliberating, the jury announced it could not reach a
verdict. The judge declared a mistrial. A new trial date was set for
October 28, 1929 for Brewer, but was later changed to December 13.
Again the testimony was about the same as the earlier trial, but
this time the trial was held in Burlington. After 14 hours of
deliberation, the jury found Brewer guilty of a reduced charge of
manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 years in the state
penitentiary.
The remaining defendant, Keplinger, pleaded guilty on December 16 to
a charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Brewer died in prison about 1 year after his conviction from spinal
meningitis. According to state prison records, Keplinger was paroled
on January 30, 1937, and Milton was released from prison on August
7, 1940.
Johnson’s wife of 53 years, Emma, died in 1935. She is buried next
to her husband in the Walton Cemetery. Johnson was a lifelong
resident of Boone County, and the father of nine children.
This story was
originally printed in the Kentucky Post in the early 1990’s
by Jim Reis, writer of Pieces of the Past.
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 the former 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 Walton Food Mart). 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& 1940's, ended with World War
II.
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
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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.
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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.
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The Walton
Homemakers began in 1936. It was one of the 10 Charter Clubs in
Boone County.
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In 1947 the
Walton Volunteer Fire Department was formed. The first Chief was Jim
Bob Allen.
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Year |
Trustees / Mayor |
City Clerk |
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November 1941 is the first recorded election for the
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1942-44 term. |
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1942-1943 |
Dan L. Lusby, Chairman |
D.H. Vest |
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Dr. Robert E. Ryle |
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Robert "Cameron" Brakefield |
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Gilbert E. Groger |
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J. Robert "Bob" Conrad |
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Year |
Trustees / Mayor |
City Clerk |
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1944-1945 |
Dan. L. Lusby, Chairman |
D.H. Vest |
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J. Willis Berkshire |
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Robert Cameron Brakefield |
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J. Robert Conrad |
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Gilbert E. Groger |
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Year |
Trustees / Mayor |
City Clerk |
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1946-1947 |
D. L. Lusby, Chairman |
D.H. Vest |
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G. E. Groger |
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J. R. Conrad |
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J. W. Berkshire |
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R. C. Brakefield |
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Year |
Trustees / Mayor |
City Clerk |
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1948-1949 |
Daniel J. Roberts, Chairman |
Gayle Elroy |
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Russell M. "Coke" Hall |
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George "Kyle" Nicholson |
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Powers R. Conrad |
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Frank M. DeMoisey |
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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.
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Year |
Trustees/ Mayor |
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City Clerk |
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1950-51 Walton became a 5th Class |
Frank M. DeMoisey |
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Clearence Hoffman |
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City requiring appointment of 2 more |
Daniel J. Roberts |
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trustees/council and appointment of Mayor. |
Powers R. Conrad |
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G. Kyle Nicholson |
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Russell M. Hall, Chairman |
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Year |
Mayor |
Council |
City Clerk |
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March 3, 1950 -
1951 |
R.M. Hall,
appointed March 3, 1950 |
F. M. Demoisey |
Clearence Hoffman |
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D. J. Roberts |
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P. R. Conrad |
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G. Kyle Nicholson |
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Glenn Eden, app April 13, 1950; resigned May 1, 1950 |
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Nicholas "Nick" Welsh, appointed June 12, 1950 |
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Year |
Mayor |
Council |
City Clerk |
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1952-1953 |
R. M. Hall |
P. R. Conrad |
Clearence "C.W." Hoffman |
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F. M. DeMoisey, resigned December 6, 1952 |
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Leon Hall |
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Malcolm Simpson |
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James. W. Spencer |
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Gayle McElroy, appointed January 12, 1953 |
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John W. Hartman |
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Year |
Mayor |
Council |
City Clerk |
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1954-1955 |
R. M. Hall |
James. W. Spencer |
James Allphin |
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Leon Hall |
Harold L. Campbell |
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John Hartman |
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Malcolm Simpson |
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P. R. Conrad, resigned April 12, 1954 |
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Gayle McElroy, resigned April 27, 1954 |
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Lloyd Clements, appointed May 10, 1954 |
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Clarence Hoffman, appointed May 1954 |
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Year |
Mayor |
Council |
City Clerk |
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