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The Oldham County Historical Society 106 North Second Avenue |
| New Book Reveals Oldham County’s Rich Like many counties along the Mason-Dixon Line, Oldham County was an area of divided loyalties: an important corridor for slave trafficking as well as part of the Underground Railroad for slaves who chose to run away. It was also a gateway for pioneers as they moved westward to a new frontier. Through the efforts of the Oldham County Historical Society, the stories and tales of this rich history have been preserved through court documents, old newspapers and other artifacts in Oldham County: . Join local historian and columnist Dr. Nancy Stearns Theiss as she describes the muddy waters of the county’s beginnings, through turbulent times and along the currents of progress. CLICK TO VIEW BOOK COVER IN DETAIL (PDF) |
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| Media review copies, high-resolution photographs and interviews available upon request. Nancy Stearns Theiss is a native of Oldham County and currently executive director of the Oldham County Historical Society. Her hobbies include falconry, gardening and sculling on the Ohio River and serving as volunteer ghost tour guide for Discover Downtown LaGrange Spirits of LaGrange Ghost Tours. She is also author of several publications and produces a weekly column on local community history for the “Neighborhoods” section of the Courier-Journal. |
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Meet the author at these events: VIEW THIS INFORMATION IN PDF FORMAT |
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| From the River’s Edge: The Primitive Artwork of Breck Morgan, March 27 Through August 1, 2010 The jacket cover for Oldham County: Stories from the River’s Edge features scenes were created by Breck Morgan. An Oldham County native with ancestoral roots in the county, Breck enjoys creating pieces that depict scenes of Oldham County in its early history. The scene from the book shows Westport in early years, with the courthouse and taverns, steamboat and Eighteen Mile Island. Breck’s favorite time period is 1840 although he admits that the scenes he creates are not based on total “accuracy” of county history but include fanciful additions, with structures and buildings of more recent times depicted in the scenes. This exhibit will feature various media that Breck has created over the years including sculptures, dioramas, oil paintings, murals, scrimshaw and furniture. Morgan’s artwork captures the Oldham County landscape and depicts a fanciful warmth and character in recognizable features that give the community a special sense of place. |
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From the River's Edge: Multimedia Art Contest The Oldham County History Center is hosting a multimedia art contest Feb 15-April 1 in conjunction with the release of the history centerís new book: Oldham County: Stories from the Riverís Edge. We are looking for art pieces that depict various perspectives of the Ohio River and may include: Photographs, water and oil paintings, charcoal and ink sketches, and sculpture. The Ohio River has many meanings as a passage of culture and history that include Native Americans, pioneers, the underground railroad, recreation, natural history, commerce and as a resource for human consumption and pollution. Whatever your view of the Ohio River, we want your perspective through the lens of artwork. The artwork must be original and personally created by the entrant. We request that all photographic pieces be printed in an 8î x 10î format. Oil, watercolor, charcoal and pen and inks should be no larger than 24î by 30î. Sculpture pieces are acceptable for either indoor or outdoor settings. People who are submitting sculptures need to check with the history center regarding size and space before entering the contest. Art pieces must be labeled on the back with the entrant's name, age (and grade if a student) address and telephone number. The artwork will be on display from April 15 through August 1, 2010. Cash prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Elementary Students (grades K-5) 1st Place winners in each age category will receive $50.00 |
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