September 2, 1777, Kentucky held the 1st official court session in Fort Harrod.
September 2, 1783, approximately 150 Native Americans attacked Kincheloe Station in Nelson County and killed or captured 37 settlers.
September 2, 1828, the 9th governor, Joseph Desha, finally left the governor’s mansion after refusing to leave for eight days. He felt the new governor, Thomas Metcalfe, was not worthy of the office.
September 2, 1840, Robert P. Letcher became the 15th governor with the support of Henry Clay, John J. Crittenden and the Whig Party. He would soon be the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Munfordville (Hart County) native George Garvin Brown, born in 1846. As a youngster, he clerked for a wholesale druggist and ran a tobacco store before becoming a whiskey broker, distiller, and president of the Brown-Forman Company. He created a billion-dollar company by being the first to bottle whiskey professionally. The customer found it safer.
On September 2, 1851, Lazarus Whitehead Powell became the 19th governor. He made Kentucky one of the top educational systems in the South, improved our transportation system, and vetoed legislation that created an overabundance of banks.
Tuesday, September 2, 1862, about 11,000 Confederate troops entered Lexington to bands playing and crowds cheering. They came looking for recruits, but shockingly enough, only a few joined.
On September 2, 1879, Luke P. Blackburn became the 28th governor and the 1st physician to serve. The respected medical doctor and philanthropist allegedly attempted to create a yellow fever outbreak targeting northern civilians and soldiers during the Civil War. Despite widespread outrage at the time, he won by a landslide.
September 2, 1893, Lincoln County lynched William Akerson, a black male, for rape.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr., born in 1895; an American playwright, author, and poet.
September 2, 1922, Deputy Sheriff John Mays, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, died from gunshots while attempting to arrest two brothers at the Locust Grove Church.
September 2, 1928, Deputy Sheriff Joner Cornett, Letcher County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot while searching for a man wanted for murdering Patrolman Jim Clem of the Poor Fork Police Department in 1925.
September 2, 1940, President F.D.R. arrived in Corbin at 11:55 p.m.
September 2, 1945, World War II ended and the Kentucky State Fair opened, talk about good timing.
September 2, 1950, Army CPL Carl Callahan, Jr. from Henderson and Army PFC Elza M. Cummins from Campbell County died in the Korean War.
September 2, 1951, Army PVT Charles Blankenship from Perry County and Army PFC Francis G. Schmitt from Jefferson County died in the Korean War.
On September 2, 1967, Marine Corps CPL, 20-year-old Nichols Owen Wagman, from Ludlow, died in the Vietnam War.
On September 2, 1971, Cheryl White became the 1st female African American jockey to win a professional thoroughbred race when Jetolara crossed the finish line 1st at Waterford Park.
September 2, 1984, Darrin Van Horne made his professional debut in New Orleans, LA.
September 2, 1994, the National Corvette Museum opened.
On September 2, 1995, in their 8th meeting, Louisville beat Kentucky for the 1st time; in the 2nd year, the rivalry restarted. Ron Cooper won his 1st game as head coach by beating Bill Curry in his 6th of seven seasons. The series record now stood at 7-1 after the 13-10 game. The Cards would use the win as a springboard to a 7-4 season, while UK finished the year 4-7.
September 2, 2000, on the 1st possession of the Governor’s Cup overtime, Anthony Floyd intercepted Jared Lorenzen’s pass. Tony Stallings then scored to give Louisville a 40-34 victory. Freshman QB Jared Lorenzen passed for 322 yards in his 1st career game in Hal Mumme’s last year. UK had a 19-14 lead when lightning stopped the game in the 3Q. After an hour and 12 minutes delay, play resumed. The record now stood at 9-4.
September 2, 2009, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement for the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability cases for illegally promoting certain pharmaceutical products.
On September 2, 2015, while police placed the priest of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church under house arrest for possessing child porn in Louisville, Senator R. Paul believed Kim Davis’s defiance to provide a marriage license was the “American Way.” Paul then suggested that the way to end the dilemma would be to abolish the marriage permit, as other states had done.
Monday night, September 2, 2019, the University of Louisville set an attendance record of 58,187 to open the season in a losing effort against Notre Dame 35-17 in Coach Scott Satterfield’s debut.
On September 2, 2020, the state reported 18 new deaths. “Sadly, I think we’re going to have a lot more days like today,” Beshear said. As the Derby and Labor Day approached, he begged, “I need you to keep your gatherings small — 10 or less.”
On September 2, 2021, Congressman Hal Rogers became the longest-serving member of Congress in Kentucky history. The Prince of Pork and supporter of 100-page bills relies on socialism to stay in power. A very short list of his government giveaways includes $17 million for the Somerset airport, funding for the Hal Rogers Parkway, $5 million for a conservation group that employs his daughter, and much more.
On September 2, 2023, Brown-Foreman (B-F) released one of the most sought-after bourbons every year. The 23rd Old Forester Birthday edition was 12 years old at 96 proof. Since 2002, B-F has released a special batch on September 2 to celebrate the Birthday of Old Forester Founder George Garvin Brown. Each year is different, with bottles ranging from 9 to 14 years old and proofs from 90 to 150.