September 27, 1808, the Kentucky Abolition Society held their 1st meeting. The society of predominantly Baptist churches opposed the existence of slavery and sought to end the “moral evil.” Kentucky Encyclopedia edited by John E. Kleber; pg: 489
September 27, 1813, in an effort to raise troops to help defend Detroit in the War of 1812, Kentucky’s Col. Richard M. Johnson coined the slogan, “Remember the River Raisin.” The infamous battle that occurred in present-day Monroe, Michigan in January 1813. The battle was a painful and infuriating reminder of the massacre of some 300 Kentucky men fighting the British and Native Americans.
September 27, 1853, thirty-two slaves from Mason and Bracken Counties , nine from Campbell County, and fourteen from Boone County, crossed the Ohio River to freedom. History of Kentucky, Volume 1 by Lewis Collins; pg: 1,853
September 27, 1886, Charles Henry Parrish became the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Louisville and served at Cavalry until his death in 1931.
September 27, 1892, the 1st Eclipse Baseball Park in Louisville caught fire . The team built seats and a new fence within 48 hours so that the scheduled games would not be interrupted.
September 27, 1894, Aqueduct Racetrack opened on the property that belonged to the old Brooklyn Water Works . The property brought water to New York City from the vast Hempstead Plain. Also known as the “Big A,” Aqueduct is the only racetrack in New York City, occupying 210 acres in the borough of Queens. It is located just eight miles from its sister track Belmont Park. Another Aqueduct neighbor is John F. Kennedy International Airport. Through the years, the Big A has been the scene of racing’s landmark events, including the only triple dead heat in stakes history.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native William Conrad , born in 1920. The WW II fighter pilot, actor, producer, and director worked a career that spanned five decades in radio, film, and television. His career peaked in popularity when he starred in the detective series Cannon (1971–1976).
September 27, 1941, the Louisville Colonels broke an attendance record when 12,090 fans came to honor Manager Bill Burwell. They ended a successful evening by defeating the Columbus Red Birds 5-4.
September 27, 1950, 20-year-old Army PFC Robert C. Martin from McCracken County died fighting in the Korean War.
September 27, 1952, 21-year-old Army PFC Jennings French from Madison County died fighting in the Korean War.
September 27, 1965, 29-year-old Army SSG James Elmer Pruitt from Heiner, in Perry County, died fighting in the Vietnam War.
September 27, 1968, 20-year-old Army PFC Luther Clark Berryman from Paris died fighting in the Vietnam War.
September 27, 1969, Kentucky hosted the 8th ranked Ole Miss Rebels and beat them by one point 10-9. The victory came in the 1st year as head Coach for John Ray. In four years, Ray went 10-33. His biggest win came on this night when he beat Archie Manning.
On September 27, 1972, acting state reclamation director Budd A. Beach, a key figure in a recent crackdowns on strip-mining violations in Pike County, resigned to take a coal-company job in Colorado. Two factors swayed his decision. The Commonwealth would not commit to making him director, and his new job paid more than his current annual salary of $13,300.
September 27, 1980, Genuine Risk, the 2nd filly to win the Kentucky Derby , Misty Gallore, and It’s in the Air, battle in Belmont Park’s GII Ruffian Stakes.
On September 27, 1982, the Kentucky New Era reported that the Maxey Flat disposal would close due to “radioactive leakage.” Although no immediate health hazard was reported, “the potential [was] still there.” State Natural Resources confirmed that radioactive material had escaped burial trenches and leaked beyond the borders of the 250-acre site. The Maxey Flat Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) facility is a Superfund site in Hillsboro, Fleming County which served as a dumpsite for 832 government agencies and corporations until 1977.
September 27, 1987, Perry A. Clark and a friend got shot while canoeing on the South Fork of the Kentucky River, just inside Owsley County at the Clay County line . The area is 11 miles south of Booneville in Owsley County off of KY 11, near Bishop Bend Road. The ambush came from unknown assailant(s) from the bank of the river. Mr. Clark died at the scene. The other victim escaped and survived his injuries. The State Police request help resolving this murder.
September 27, 1991, Kentucky State University’s Board of Regents quietly asked Dr. John Wolfe, the newly elected President to step down . They then cancelled his upcoming inauguration festivities.
On September 27, 2000, a new national report gave Kentucky a “D” for its evolution education, proving once again that the furor over evolution is slow to change over time. Kansas got an F- for its science standards after trying to take all references to evolution out of all state guidelines.
September 27, 2005, Lynndie Rana England from Ashland received three years in prison and a dishonorably discharge from the Army for her involvement in the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal. She was one of eleven military personnel convicted in 2005 by Army courts for mistreating detainees and other crimes connected with the tortures. It is not known if any of her superiors also served time.
September 27, 2006, Constable Elmer Kiser, Carter County Constable’s Office , succumbed to wounds sustained one week earlier when he was assaulted by a reckless driver whom he was following.
On September 27, 2008, Kentucky and Western Kentucky met for the 1st time on the gridiron. In Lexington, the home team won 41-3.
September 27, 2013, Ft. Knox’s Human Resources Command released a memo stating that the Army had paid out $16 million over a 2 ½ year period to service members who were deserters. This was the 2nd time since 2006 the Army made this mistake. The reason; commanders failed to do paperwork promptly.
September 27, 2014, a Kentucky bred won Belmont Park’s GI $1,000,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes for three-year-olds and upward.
On September 27, 2017, Louisville interim president Greg Postel placed Coach Rick Pitino and AD Tom Jurich on administrative leave. The news came after authorities linked the Cardinals to a federal investigation into fraud and corruption in recruiting. The school worked quickly to replace them. “I’m more angry than embarrassed,” Postel said at the news conference. “We will be looking for someone with integrity.”
On September 27, 2019, while Harlan miners ended their railroad blockade and Governor M. Bevin removed a judge from office whom he didn’t like, London hosted the 30th annual World Chicken Festival with Colonel Sanders look-a-likes roaming the streets.
September 27, 2020, military suicides increased by as much as 20% compared to the same period in 2019 , and some incidents of violent behavior spiked as service members struggled under coronavirus lockdowns, war-zone deployments, national disasters, and civil unrest.
September 27, 2023, another year and another Washington, D.C. play about another government shutdown. On this day, Mitch took the starring role and posted to his social media page. Instead of fighting for some financial responsibility, Mitch wanted to avert a shutdown and keep the money flowing. No doubt his donors, who fund both sides, told him what to do. He referenced the border crisis, which he has let evolve as a Senate leader for over two decades. There must be a reason why neither party wants the border closed; America has the resources to complete the job.