November 13, 1816, Asa Park, one of Lexington’s earliest portrait painters advertised in the Kentucky Reporter, “Respectfully informs the inhabitants of Lexington and its vicinity that he has taken a room on the corner of Main and Limestone Streets where he will be happy to wait o all who may be pleased to encourage the arts.  He flatters himself by giving satisfaction, which he feels confident of doing, he may not suffer the want of encouragement.  He is from Boston under the patronage of the celebrated Stuart and Penninman.”  Early Kentucky Artist by Wiliam B. Floyd, pg: 3

On November 13, 1833, locals a celebrated a shower of shooting stars or meteorites fall.  One Kentuckian described it as, storm of fie, beautiful, and sublime.”  The Story of Kentucky by Cherry & Stickles, pg: 227

Localtonians wish a Happy Anniversary to the first judge of Laurel County, Levi Jackson, 21, and Rebecca Freeman, 19, married in 1837.  Rebecca’s father, a Revolutionary War Soldier, and tavern operator, also owned a 1,000-acre farm on the Wilderness Road (which ran through their land about two miles) just south of London.  Rebecca inherited the historic homestead section, now part of Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park.

November 13, 1847, Henry Clay gave one of his greatest speeches in Lexington opposing the Mexico War.  In 2022, many locals living on his old farm placed pro-war/Ukraine signs in their front yard.  The Great Compromiser would disapprove.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Louis Dembitz Brandeis, born in 1856, the 1^st Jewish man to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.  Louis graduated high school at 14, attended college in Kentucky, and then graduated Valedictorian from Harvard Law School at 20.  He fought monopolies, large corporations, and developed a new life insurance system after an exposé of insurance fraud in 1906.  In 1907, he launched a six-year fight to prevent banker J. P. Morgan from monopolizing New England’s railroads.  Hostile to the new consumerism, Louis hated advertising and knew they “manipulated” average buyers.  He discussed how newspapers and magazines depended on advertising for their revenues, which caused them to be “less free” than they should be.  President Wilson appointed the Kentuckian.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Helen Maria Turner, born in 1858.  Ms. Turner painted and taught in oils, watercolors, and pastels, often in an Impressionist Style.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Abraham Flexner, born in 1866.  After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in two years with a degree in classics, Flexner returned to Louisville to teach classics at Louisville Male High School.  Four years later, Flexner founded a private school to test his growing ideas about education.  He opposed the standard model of education that focused on mental discipline and a rigid structure.  Moreover, “Mr. Flexner’s School” did not give out traditional grades, used no standard curriculum, refused to impose examinations on students, and kept no academic record of students.  Graduates attended leading colleges, and his teaching style began to attract considerable attention.

November 13, 1894, “The Lion of White Hall,” 84-year-old Cassius M. Clay married 15-year-old Dora Richardson at his Madison County estate.

November 13, 1902, Deputy Nick Bodkin of the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot as he and another deputy attempted to break up a disturbance at a local saloon across the street from the Covington police station.

November 13, 1920, Kentucky and Centre meet on the gridiron.  Centre dominated 0-49.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native John Lawrence “Jack” Narz Jr., born in 1922.  A radio personality, television host, and singer, Narz eluded an infamous quiz show scandal to forge a respected hosting career.

November 13, 1944, Junior James Spurrier from Russell County nearly single-handedly captured the village of Achain, France, from German control.  For several hours, Spurrier attacked the town repeatedly, wandering into the command post, replenishing his ammo, and slipping out the door.  At the end of the night, he had routed the enemy.  America recognized his courage the following spring with the Medal of Honor.  A few months earlier, Spurrier fought in another heroic fashion where he received the Distinguished Service Cross.  However, Junior had difficulty adjusting back to civilian life after the war and led a very turbulent life.

November 13, 1948, the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Florida Gators in Lexington 34-15.

November 13, 1950, Navy SN Frank B. Carroll from Pembroke from Christian County died fighting in the Korean War.

November 13, 1951, click to see Bill Spivey, UK’s first 7-foot-tall player.  He dreamt of playing in the NBA, but it never materialized after UK’s point-shaving scandal in the early 1950s.  Several players and former players of the era admitted that they accepted money to shave points.  But Spivey, indicted for perjury in the case, was adamant to the end of his life that he never had any part in attempts to fix college games, but the damage was done.  Although he was found not guilty of wrongdoing, the NBA barred him for life.

November 13, 1952, someone stole nine paintings that King Louis Philippe of France gifted to St. Joseph Cathedral in Bardstown in the 1840s.  The F.B.I. closed the church to look for clues.

November 13, 1968, Army SP4 James C. Hathorne from Louisville died fighting in the Vietnam War.

November 13, 1970, Kentucky farmers began weighing their burley tobacco for the season along with seven other growing states.  Good weather provided a top-quality crop.

November 13, 1976, the Wildcats defeated #15 Florida and Coach Curci proclaimed, “It was the most complete game I’ve ever been associated with as a coach, where all phases of the game were superbly played.”  They beat the Vols the following week and ended the season ranked #19, winning the Peach Bowl over UNC.

November 13, 1980, 50,000 acres in Eastern Kentucky continued to burn.  The smoke drifted to Lexington and Frankfort and as far north as Toledo and Cleveland.  The Hazard airport had to close due to smoke.

On November 13, 1989, First Lady Martha Wilkinson refused to rule out running for governor if her husband did not win passage of a constitutional amendment that would allow him to seek re-election.  It was the first time the press addressed the white elephant in the room.

November 13, 1995, a serial killer’s run from the law ended in Madison County after a wild car chase that brought national attention.  The 33-year-old man from Ohio eluded six police cruisers and ran through a road block until one officer forced him off the road.

November 13, 2001, Deputy Sheriff Billy Ray Walls, III, Jessamine County Sheriff’s Department, died serving a warrant on an elderly man for a terroristic threat.  As the three deputies entered the man’s 150-square-foot houseboat, the suspect opened fire with a semi-automatic .30 caliber M-1 carbine rifle.

November 13, 2007, an 84-year-old McCreary man who resided in an Eastern Kentucky nursing home sued the facility, saying they kicked him out in violation of state law.  Mr. Elmus Campbell required a hospital stay for two days. They refused to take him back.  Although the administrative judge ordered the nursing home to take him back, public interest lawyers filed the suit out of concern over a growing Kentucky trend of “dumping” difficult residents.

November 13, 2008, the Kentucky State Fair Board banned the sale of Nazi and KKK memorabilia.

On Sunday, November 13, 2011, 60 Minutes aired a segment on congress persons’ numerous stock trades, which focused on Nancy Pelosi.

November 13, 2015, the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest made their 1^st major land acquisition in a decade when they bought 135 acres in Bullitt County to protect the Cave Hollow region north of Bernheim Forest.

November 13, 2018, for the 2^nd year in a row, Kentucky’s Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) reported a modest improvement in its financial condition.  The actuary for TRS reported that as of June 30, the system had 57.7% of the money it anticipates is needed to pay future benefits, an upturn from 56.4% in 2017.

November 13, 2021, Frankfort announced that the century-old Kentucky Capitol building would soon have a $100 million makeover.  Meanwhile, military analysts warned about America’s growing presence around Ukraine, which caused Russian troops to gather on Ukraine’s border.  The U.S. had been training Ukrainian soldiers in their country since 2015, a year after the U.S. helped overthrow the democratically elected Ukrainian government.

On November 13, 2022, Thomas Massie sent a message to the Uniparty neo cons.

On November 13, 2023, Governor A. Beshear informed Kentuckians that five soldiers based in Fort Campbell died over the Mediterranean Sea during a refueling exercise.  The governor also addressed questions about one of his top donors, the mayor of London, Randall Weddle.  The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance notified all suspects that they were under investigation regarding $200,000 in donations.  Meanwhile, the Kentucky Historical Society posted.