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October 1, 1777, Col. George Rogers Clark left Harrodsburg for the east, and reached the capital of Virginia on November 5^th.

On October 1, 1779, Simon Girty and Alexander McKee led a large force of Natives and ambushed American forces in present-day Northern Kentucky.  The Americans had returned from an expedition to New Orleans when the attack occurred near Dayton, across from Cincinnati. Only a handful of Americans survived, among them Colonel John Campbell and Captain Robert Benham.

On October 1, 1788, Shawnees attacked John Filson, and locals never found his body.  One of Kentucky’s 1^st historians never married and left no direct descendants.

October 1, 1794, Lexington established the 1^st post office as Innes B. Brent Post Master.  Both the post office and jail shared the same two-story log building.  The state’s 1^st post office opened in Danville, 42 days earlier.
The Squire’ Sketches of Lexington by J. Winston Coleman, Jr.; pg: 22

October 1, 1838, locals published a list, showing the name, age, and tribe of each student in the Choctaw Academy in Scott County.  Under the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, signed in 1825, Natives established an academy for childhood education.

October 1, 1866, Kentucky University President, John B. Bowman, purchased Henry Clay’s former estate, Ashland, and the adjacent Woodlands Farm (Woodland Park) to establish the A&M College. The A&M College was by law a secular state school and opened with 190 students. The University offered courses in the sciences and liberal arts.

On October 1, 1870, Louisville opened their 1^st public schools for African Americans.  One in the Center Street African Methodist Church, where Sallie Adams presided as principal, and the other in the Fifth St. African Baptist Church, with Susie Adams as the principal.

October 1, 1890, Caldwell County lynched Ernst Humphreys for murder.

October 1, 1894, Crittenden County lynched Berry Rich for arson and theft.

On October 1, 1902, a group headed by Louisville Mayor Charles Grainger (1901-1905), Charlie Price, and Matt J. Winn agreed to take over Churchill Downs.  Grainger was named president, Price racing secretary, and Winn vice president.  Under this administration, the track finally showed its 1st profit in 1903, 28 years after its founding.

October 1, 1942, the Goldenrod became the Kentucky State Flower.

October 1, 1952, Jackie Robinson and Kentuckian Pee Wee Reese both hit home runs in Game 1 of the 1952 World Series, helping the Dodgers take home a win in Brooklyn.

October 1, 1953, Maker’s Mark’s origin began when T. William “Bill” Samuels Sr., purchased the “Burks’ Distillery” in Loretto for $35,000.

October 1, 1956, 24-year-old jockey Johnny Heckmann became the 1^st jock to ride seven winners on the same card.  He won Hawthorne’s daily double, paying $141.20 for a $2.00 ticket.  Johnny sat out the 3^rd race and won the 4^th race.  In the 5^th race, he couldn’t find the board.  When Johnny won the 6^th race, excitement mounted.  When he won the 7^th race, the fans became hysterical.  Johnny won the 8^th race by a neck and the 9^th race by a head, on the favorite.

October 1, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower shook hands with Lexington police Chief E.C. Hale in Lexington as part of his re-election campaign.  After being met at the airport by Kentucky Governor Happy Chandler, the president’s car rode through downtown in a parade.  He later gave a speech at Memorial Coliseum at the UK.  During Hale’s time as police chief from 1953 to 1972, he was credited with helping to keep racial tensions in the city from turning violent.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Ashland native and 1^st woman director of the CIA, Gina Cheri Walker Haspel, born in 1956.  Her tenure as the 7^th director lasted two years and eight months.

October 1, 1958, Abe Black caught a state record Walleye from Lake Cumberland; 21 lbs. 8 ozs.

October 1, 1966, Kentucky football players prepared to carry coach Charlie Bradshaw off the field after UK defeated Auburn 17-7 at Stoll Field/McLean Stadium in Lexington.  That was the last time Kentucky defeated Auburn at home.  UK beat Auburn at Jordan–Hare Stadium in 2009.

October 1, 1967, Shelby County native Whitney Young, 40, became the Executive Director of the National Urban League.  The National Urban League’s Board of Directors unanimously elected him.

October 1, 1972, the Milwaukee Bucks returned to Freedom Hall.  Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar each scored 20 points as the Bucks beat the Colonels 131–100.

October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali (49-2) fought Joe Frazier (32-2) in Araneta Coliseum, Manila.  The rematch called “The Thrilla in Manila” might have been the most incredible heavyweight fight of all time.  Ali promised it would be “a killa and a thrilla and a chilla when I get the gorilla in Manila.”  He mistakenly thought Frazier was over the hill.  Ali attacked Frazier early, but Frazier took the momentum in the 5^th round and pounded Ali for several rounds.  Ali rallied in the 12^th, and both men were exhausted by the end of 14 rounds.  Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, would not let his fighter come out for the 15^th.  Ali raised his arms in victory, then collapsed, saying later it was the closest thing to death he had ever experienced.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Cave City native Leticia Ann Bjork Passmore, born in 1978.

October 1st, 1995, Jody Payne performed “Workin’ Man Blues” at the Farm Aid concert in Louisville.  Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp started the franchise in 1985.

October 1, 1996, Kentuckians over 21 years of age could obtain licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons after a background check and a gun safety course.  

October 1, 2005, the Rosemary Clooney House held their grand opening.  Starting in 1980 Rosemary began calling Augusta’s 106 Riverside Drive home.  Located on the banks of the Ohio River in historical Augusta, this was her retreat from the demands of her career and a haven for rest between performances all over the world.

October 1, 2011, Belmont hosted the GI $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

October 1, 2020, the state and the city of Lexington disagreed on the latest positive coronavirus numbers.  So, the governor wanted to pull the alarm, and Lexington said calm down; it’s not that bad.  Meanwhile, the Lexington police roamed the streets looking for UK parties to break up.

Positives:  910 / 69,728
Deaths:  17 / 1,191 – 1^st death 3/16/20
50&over:  1,161 / 49-30: 28 / 29&under: 2

October 1, 2021, California mandated all public-school children get vaccinated.