Lake on UK Campus

Question:  In old pictures of UK, there’s a pretty big pond at the corner of what is now Limestone and Euclid…I was wondering if you knew when it was dredged and why…I’ll attach a picture I found on one of UK’s websites.

Answer:  I found a description of the lake in the publication “The University of [...]

Researching 1950 through 1954

Are back issues of the Herald available on the Internet? Searchable? I’m interested in the years 1950-1954.

The only place to find the information you’re looking for is through the Lexington Public Library. Our online archive only goes back to 1983. The public library has a free, online index of our paper that [...]

Highest point in Lexington

Where is the highest point of elevation in Fayette County? I was told once that it was near winchester and New Circle Roads. The view from the overpass is awesome.
In the 1979 Kentucky Geological Survey publication Topography of Kentucky, by Preston McGrain and James C. Currens, the highest elevation in Fayette County is listed as [...]

Tell me about the Mason-Headleys.

Question: Who were the Mason Headleys? I know something of the Beaumont Farm Southwest of Lexington and the Headley family - but who were the Masons? Can someone provide information on both of these families?
Answer: The Headley family owned Beaumont Farm, which included hundreds of acres in what is now south and southwest Lexington, according [...]

What’s a “Quickie Biscuit”?

Question: On the outside of the building at 351 W. Short where the Jesters store used to be is a vintage sign that says something like “Quickie Biscuits.” What is this?
Answer: The name of the company is probably “Uneeda Biscuit Company.” The sign also says “soda crackers sold only in packages.” Uneeda Biscuts were flaky soda crackers [...]

Kentucky’s brush with Nobelity

Question: This question was not asked by a reader but I’m know you’re thinking about it. What is Kentucky’s experience

with Nobel Peace Prize winners? I’m glad you asked!
Answer: The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 95 individuals and 20 organizations since 1901.
In light of Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize win, we decided to list [...]

Remains of Lexington’s first castle

Question: There’s a building at 1099 S. Broadway called The Gate House. I would like to know it’s history.
Tom Dixon
Answer: I found the answer in Clay Lancaster’s book “Vestiges of the Venerable City: A Chronicle Of Lexington, Ky. “Where South Broadway turns into the Harrodsburg Road stands the much altered gatehouse (No. 1099) of Ingleside, [...]

Gettin’ Jaggie with it

Question: How did the street called Jaggie Fox Way get it’s name?
Pete
Answer: First some background on how streets are named. This comes from city planning office. Developers name most streets.  An addressing committee reviews the names to make sure they are not duplicates, obscene, ridiculous, etc.  It it fits the city’s criteria, the name will stick. Usually [...]

What about Smiley Pete?

Here’s what a typical question and answer with the Ask Us duo might look like. This item ran in the Herald-Leader on March 16, 2003. To submit your question, e-mail Lu-Ann Farrar or Linda Niemi, or use the commenting at the bottom of this post. For more information about this blog, go here.
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Question: I have [...]

A memorable murder

Here’s another example of a typical Q&A. This one was published in the Herald-Leader on March 7, 2005.
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Question: When I was a child, there was a sensational murder in Lexington. A student at Transylvania College had been murdered by strangulation.
Her first name was Betty and if I recall correctly, her last name was Brown. That [...]