TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

March 25, 2023March 26, 2023

Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

March 25, 1775, while lying asleep in a Madison County camp, about 15 miles south of the future Boonesborough, Native Americans attacked before dawn. Captain Twitty and his black servant Sam died. Captain Boone rallied his men and held his ground till daybreak.

March 25, 1825, Science Hill Female Academy in Shelbyville opened and operated continuously for 114 years. One of the first schools founded for girls west of the Allegheny Mountains, they utilized the Lancastrian system, in which older or more advanced students taught the younger pupils.

March 25, 1864, the small Civil War Battle of Paducah occurred. The Confederates came from Columbus, Mississippi, with a force of fewer than 3,000 men to recruit, reload supplies, and disperse the Yankees. They arrived in Paducah and quickly occupied the town. The Union garrison of 650 men retired to Fort Anderson, in the town’s west end. The battle incurred 140 total causalities: US 90; CS 50.

On March 25, 1866, 19-year-old Thomas Edison moved to Louisville, where he worked as a telegrapher for the Associated Press. Working the nightshift allowed Edison to perform experiments while at work; on one night, he spilled sulfuric acid on the floor, which dripped down onto his boss’s desk on the floor below. The next day he was fired and left Louisville, returning to New Jersey.

On March 25, 1898, Deputy Sheriff Charles Anderson, Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office, died at the hands of three brothers as he searched their house for illegal whiskey. The shooter fled the scene, pursued by a large posse intent on lynching him, so he surrendered a week later.

March 25, 1904, four years after the infamous assassination, the General Assembly appropriated 20,000 for Governor William Goebel’s statue. The state unveiled the statue ten years later.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Lexington native Julia Amanda Perry, born in 1924. The classical composer and teacher combined European classical and neo-classical training with her African-American heritage.

March 25, 1928, Patrolman Frank H. Wilke, Louisville Police Department, died after he and his partner spotted a stolen vehicle. They approached the vehicle, and while questioning the occupants, a 25-year-old shot Patrolman Wilke in the neck.

March 25, 1932, Eggner Ferry Bridge, also known as Eggner’s Ferry Bridge, opened in Trigg and Marshall Counties. The main span of the original 1932 bridge collapsed in January 2012 after a ship hit it. The bridge got repaired and reopened to traffic on May 25, 2012.

March 25 1280px Delta Mariner at Eggner Ferry Bridge collapse site — ^{By Andy McLemore}

March 25, 1935, Minerva native Stanley Forman Reed became the 23^rd Solicitor General of the U.S., the 4^th highest-ranking member in the Department of Justice. Minerva is in Mason County.

March 25, 1948, the General Assembly made an early modification of the Day Law when they provided for the education of African Americans “in fields related to health” (nursing, medicine and surgery) in “any hospital” because the necessary African American institutions did not exist.

March 25, 1951, Army CPL Galliehue Blevins from Greenup County, Army PVT Robert A. Davis from Ballard County and Army PFC Eugene Estep from Bracken County, died in the Korean War.

March 25, 1955, screen and TV star Ronald Reagan met employees at Lexington Lamp Works. He had breakfast that morning at the Campbell House with executives of GE and the Lexington Herald-Leader.

March 25, 1958, Greenup County author and poet Jesse Stuart, who quit school at age 11 to cut corn and chip timber to support his family, spoke at UK’s Guignol Theater, posing a question to the audience, Why Write A Novel?

March 25, 1963, Lexington native David “Davey” S. Moore, 29, died due to injuries sustained in a boxing match against Sugar Ramos. The featherweight World Champion had 30 KO’s in a 59-7-2 record.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Lexington native David Travis Fryman, born in 1969. Travis was a Five-Time All-Star (1992–1994, 1996, 2000).

March 25, 1970, Army SSG Joseph B. Horsman from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

March 25, 1971, Army SGT George Thompson, Jr. from Harlan in Harlan County died in the Vietnam War.

March 25, 1971, “Zodiac” wanted by San Francisco police for six slayings, sent another encrypted message hinting the location of a 12^th body.

March 25, 1977, U.S. Senator W. ”Dee” Huddleston gave new hope the U.S. would help link Red River Gorge with the Cave Run Reservoir, as it was known then. They did it! The Sheltowee Trace is a ~300-mile long trail from Morehead down to Big South Fork on the KY-TN border.

March 25, 1984, the Marshall County Girls’ Basketball Team defeated Belfry 55-53 for the Sweet 16 State Basketball Championship. Marshall ended the season 34-0 for their 2^nd championship in three years. Over 2,500 fans greeted the team when they returned home from Richmond.

March 25, 1986, 51 forest fires grew to 101 during the day. Overnight, 71 fires continued to burn and consumed 2,200 acres in Eastern Kentucky. The U.S. Forest Service and the National Guard helped.

Kentucky Trivia: The worst year for Kentucky forest fires in the last decade was 2001, with a total of 178,925 acres burned. Humans cause ninety-nine percent of all wildfires in Kentucky.

March 25, 1991, a Pulaski County jury awarded $5.5 million to the parents of a 13-year-old boy who sued Humana Hospital-Lake Cumberland over their son’s mental retardation. The verdict ranks as one of the largest medical malpractice awards in Kentucky.

March 25, 1995, Coach Dean Smith coached his last game against the Wildcats. The Tar Heels won 61-74 in the NCAA Southeast Regional Finals at Birmingham, AL. Coach Smith’s record against Kentucky was an impressive 13-3. His 1^st game against Kentucky was in 1962.

March 25, 2000, the West Carter High School Basketball Team won the Girls’ Sweet 16 Basketball Championship over Shelby County 58-50 in EKU’s McBrayer Stadium in front of a record 6,512 fans. West Carter’s coach, John “Hop” Brown’s daughter, Kandi, wins the MVP award.

March 25, 2004, Clark County ex-Sherriff received six months home detention and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for receiving $50,000 in disability while working. “This has certainly put a great deal of shame on my family,” Mr. Lawson told the U.S. District Judge at the sentencing.

March 25, 2010, a jury convicted all eight Clay County public officials, including a circuit judge and school superintendent, who organized criminal acts to rig elections.

March 25, 2012, the democratic-controlled House overrode Governor S. Beshear’s veto of House Bill 279, named “Religious Freedom Bill.” The bill would allow someone with “sincerely held” religious beliefs to disregard state laws and regulations. Meanwhile, Senate President Stivers said he would pay the state back $1,000 for lunches he charged to the state for the senators and their staff.

March 25, 2014, Big Blue Nation called a flagrant foul on Mitch. Days before the Wildcats played the Cardinals in the NCAA tournament, McConnell released a campaign ad that showed Duke winning the championship in 2010. Mitch, an Alabama native, couldn’t tell Duke Blue from Kentucky Blue.

March 25, 2015, federal authorities charged Tim Longmeyer with bribery. The former Secretary of the state Personnel Cabinet allegedly took $200,000 in kickbacks to steer companies to certain consulting services.

March 25, 2017, a French bred won the GII $200,415 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

March 25, 2019, Mitch took to the Senate Floor and gloated on A.G. William Barr’s conclusions on Trump’s obstruction of justice charges. He then fueled Russiagate further by claiming President Obama did nothing during his term to stop Russia from meddling in U.S. elections.

March 25, 2020, Governor A. Beshear warned, “a surge is coming,” after 35 new positive cases for a total of 198 and a 5^th Kentucky death, a 75-year-old Jefferson County resident with underlying health issues. The governor called the next few weeks “absolutely critical” in reducing community spread. Countries from all parts of the globe reported positive coronavirus cases.

On March 25, 2021, Kentucky announced people 40 years and older could sign up for the coronavirus vaccine. The announcement came days after individuals 50 and older signed up. The goal, by April 12, to let all individuals 16 years and older take the shot. Kentucky had 573 vaccination sites.

March 25, 2022, while the Kentucky Senate killed the medical marijuana bill, they passed a bill to ban transgender girls from competing in girl sports. On a national level, the media pressed for war on Russia’s border in Ukraine, and scientists reported a new variant of coronavirus, BA.2.