SMITH-WERNER ▪ 1880s facade (1860s) ▪ 118-124 W 2nd St

Daviess County Fiscal Court has owned this building since October 2000, and plans to spend over $250,000 on renovations to the structure, including a Renaissance Kentucky grant of $31,000. The 1880s distinctive Italianate façade, which has been rehabilitated, is one of the last remaining and most extensive examples of 19th century pressed-metal technology in the downtown area. The rear wall of the 1860s structure has been rebuilt and a new will be installed. In the summer of 2008 the county plans to market the rehabilitated building. In July 2005, a committee appointed by Daviess County Fiscal Court issued its report on options for future use.
   

ELMER MILLER HOUSE ▪ 1905 ▪ 301 E 5th St

As of July 2006, owner Larry Kirk has begun rehabilitating this jewel of Old Owensboro. The house has several windows with elaborate beveled glass and a beautiful transom above the French doors on the front porch.

In October 2007 the house sufferred extensive damage from the downtown tornado. Mr. Kirk is undaunted and continues his renovtions (see rear of house at left).

Read about downtown buildings hit by the tornado.

LONGFELLOW SCHOOL ▪ 1931 ▪ 1716 Frederica St

HOT TOPIC► The city school board voted at its 7/26/2007 meeting to approve the Schematic Drawings for the $22 million Owensboro High School expansion project, which will include demolition of Longfellow School. The architects say that renovation of the 76-year-old school would cost at least $3 million and still would not satisfy program space needs specified by the OHS expansion planning committee. After demolition, "Longfellow Hill" can be cut down, providing space for a unified parking area for 500 cars. The parking lot will lie behind the new arena-type gymnasium, which will attach to the north wall of the current cafeteria. According to Owensboro Pubic School officials, major safety and security objectives will be satisfied by keeping the high school facilities connected internally and having all parking located within the same block; all student drop-off and pick-up for both parents and school buses will be internal to the block, avoiding dangers for pedestrians from the large volume of vehicular traffic on Frederica Street. The architectural design of the exterior of the two-story gymnasium and other building additions is anticipated to emulate the design character of the original high school (main building).

At the recommendation of Preservation Alliance, the school board formed a salvage committee to review artifacts at Longfellow School and recommend possible materials that should be preserved prior to demolition of the facility, anticipated in summer 2008.

NEW► Read the report of the Salvage Committee to the Owensboro School Board. It includes photographs and prioritizes items recommended for salvage and incorportation into the Owensboro High School expansion project.

Longfellow was formerly occupied by Western Kentucky University, Owensboro. OHS ROTC still holds classes within the building. OPS hired the architectural firm Sherman-Carter-Barnhart, Lexington, KY, to help it develop a campus expansion plan for Owensboro High School, which adjoins "Longfellow Hill" on the south. The architectural firm has extensive experience with school projects -- new, renovation, and additions, including projects that involve historic structures.

Many people who attended Longfellow when it was a grade school have expressed regret over the impending loss of the 1931 structure. All of Owensboro was excited about the school and its "modern" features upon its erection. Read the local news article about the January 1932 opening of Longfellow School and read about Longfellow's famous architect, William Butts Ittner of St. Louis. Or, download a PDF version about Longfellow's opening and architect.

The Public Life Foundation of Owensboro's May 2006 issue of the Public Life Advocate includes a wonderful article by Benjamin Hoak about Longfellow School, other historic building projects, and an overview of broader issues related to historic preservation in Owensboro. Here is an authorized excerpt of the Longfellow article. You can download the entire May 2006 issue -- which includes the Longfellow article -- from PLFO's Web site at plfo.org.

OWENSBORO ARMORY ▪ 1947 ▪ 1501 W Parrish Av

Listed in the National Register on 9/6/2002, the large, two-story brick building is arranged in a U-shape and is identical to the armory at Ashland except for brick color. Many original features are intact. Changes over the years have not adversely affected the armory's historic integrity. Recent proposals eventually would move the National Guard unit to the airport and expand Moreland Park recreational facilities onto this site.

Read "A Brief History of the Kentucky National Guard In Owensboro," a 1999 report by Kate Carothers, which comes from "Inventory and Evaluation of National Guard Armories in the State of Kentucky."