On October 12, 1808, the most important theatrical event in the Western Country occurred with the opening of Luke Usher’s New Theater in Lexington, capable of seating 500-600 people. Locals had converted a brewery into a theater. They showed a comedy, Richard Cumberland’s The Sailor’s Daughter . It was the 1st permanent theater in the early West. The Squire’s Sketches of Lexington by J. Winston Coleman, Jr.; pg: 27
October 12, 1883, Constable Preston C. Rains, Whitley County Constable’s Office, died from a gunshot while serving a warrant on a subject wanted for operating a speakeasy.
October 12, 1920, Man o’ War ran in his last race in the Kenilworth Park Gold Cup (1 1/4M) at Kenilworth Park in Canada, in a match race against Sir Barton called “The Match of the Century .” The highly anticipated event became the 1st race to be filmed in its entirety, with the resulting footage later shown in movie theaters across the country. Man o’War carried 120 lbs. against Sir Barton’s 126 lbs. The trainer removed jockey Earle Sande from Sir Barton and substituted Frank Keogh moments before post time. Sir Barton never had a chance. They finished in 2:03.00. Man o’ War’s share of the purse made him the highest-earning horse in American history. Tiffany & Co. made the gold trophy presented in the winner’s circle. Mrs. Riddle later donated it to Saratoga, which they use for the Travers Stakes.
On October 12, 1924, Mary Barr Clay of Lexington passed away . The eldest daughter of Cassius Marcellus Clay and Mary Jane Warfield became the 1st Kentuckian to be president of a national woman’s organization, the American Woman Suffrage Association in 1883. During her career, she corresponded with Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Alice Stone Blackwell, and other leading suffragists and brought many of them to Kentucky for speaking engagements.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Newport native Irving Lee Goode born in 1940. Irving played thirteen seasons in the NFL and in the Pro Bowl twice. In 1973 he won a Super Bowl ring with the Miami Dolphins.
Localtonians wish a Happy Anniversary to Governor and Mrs. Nunn, who wed in 1950 . Governor Nunn and Beula Cornelius Aspley had two children – Jennie Lou, born in 1951, and Steve, born in 1952. Aspley also had three children from her first marriage. Nunn left the Methodist denomination in which he had been raised after marrying Aspley, joining her as a member of the Christian Church.
October 12, 1951, Army SGT Herbert F. Clark from Marion County , Army CPL Clellan H. Decker from Edmonson County , Army CPL Raymond Tackett from Johnson County and Army CPL Marshall Winkfield from Woodford County , died fighting in the Korean War.
Tuesday, October 12, 1954, Keeneland opened its 10-day Meet with blacksmiths nowhere in sight. Someone said they had gone on a 10-day fishing trip. The blacksmiths struck for more union demands. President Lee Haggin II took a hands-off approach, saying it was between the horsemen.
On October 12, 1960, Transylvania University broke a 100-year-old tradition and held its “weekly service” in McAlister Auditorium instead of Morrison Hall Chapel. The service moved to a larger space because of a 19% increase in enrollment.
October 12, 1968, Charlie Baradshaw’s Wildcats upset #20 Oregon State 35-34 at home. It would be the highlight of a losing 3-7 season and Coach Bradshaw’s last year as head coach.
On October 12, 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court held constitutional, the laws denying public employees the right to strike. It also settled a bitter dispute brought on by Jefferson County teachers who went on strike in February 1970. The KEA had lost in the High Court.
On October 12, 1972, Happy Chandler backed Nixon and Louie B. Nunn, claiming they had no real competition. He told the lunch crowd that Nixon would have ended the war if it hadn’t been for McGovern, Ramsey Clark, and Jane Fonda.
October 12, 1975, Louisville police used tear gas to disperse anti-busing demonstrators who started fires, hurled rocks and bottles, and blocked traffic in Jeffersontown.
October 12, 1983, Martha Layne Collins and Jim Bunning, the two candidates for governor , had a rare face-to-face exchange in the only televised debate of the general election campaign. The hour-long debate showed on KET, WHAS, and WKYT. They wanted to replace John Y. Brown, Jr.
October 12, 1988, the Kentucky General Assembly’s Board of Ethics voted to file a formal complaint against Rep. Jerry Lundergan for violation of state conflict of interest laws. He reported to a federal prison 23 years later for another fault in judgement.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Union native Joshua Ryan Hutcherson born in 1992.
Saturday, October 12, 1999, EKU hosted a powwow. The drum, the song, the dress, and the dance led the spirit gathering of several tribes, some as far away as California and Canada. “It’s a religious and cultural renewal and a friendship gathering,” said Boone County’s Mike Cassedy, who is part Lakota Sioux. The Grand Entry of the Tribes began at 1:00 p.m.
October 12, 2003, Army SPC James E. Powell 26, of Radcliff , died fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On October 12, 2011, Russell Springs native Lowell Hayes Harrison passed away in Owensboro. The American historian specialized in Kentucky. He graduated from College High in Bowling Green, WKU in 1946, and next enrolled at New York University, where he earned an M.A. in 1947 and a Ph.D. in 1951, both in history. After teaching in Texas, Harrison returned to WKU to teach and advise and in 1979 they named University Historian. He retired from teaching in 1988.
On October 12, 2014, U.S. District Greg F. Van Tatenhove limited democracy by denying the Libertarian candidate to debate Mitch and Allison Grimes for Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seat.
October 12, 2019, a Keeneland graduate won $300,000 and the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup against seven other entries.
On October 12, 2020, quarantined inside the mansion with his family, Governor A. Beshear announced more positive cases, “That means we got to do better. We want to spread out the number of contacts we have on any given day. It’s not six feet or a mask; it’s six feet and a mask.” He went on, “We’re doing great. I feel great. My family feels great. We are trying really hard to be positive.”
On October 12, 2022, Andy Barr pushed for more healthcare. Providing mental healthcare for people who need it is an aspect of defunding the police. Kentucky city’s militarized police forces are well taken care of.
Thursday, October 12, 2023, Thomas Massie conducted a House Speaker poll. Neither of his choices won. Mike Johnson, a pawn both sides use to their advantage, won the seat 12 days later. Less than a year later, Johnson passed a $1.2 trillion budget blessed by both parties. The trillion did not include the $95 billion for Ukraine and Israel he passed earlier.