Farmington, 3033 Bardstown Road, Louisville

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,56-LOUVI.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

On Bards town Road^ three-quarter mil from Louisville City Limits, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Owner or D. Bischoff custodian: Address t Bate "built: (approx) Architect or builder: Present condition; Excellent # Number of stories: One story and attic; also basement. Material used Foundation: BriGk. in construction Exterior walls; Brick. Interior partitions: Brick and frame, plastered . Floors: Wood, random width boards over joists; basement; wood, probably laid over concrete. Roof; Frame construction, Govered with standing seam tin. Description: floor plan of this house Is different architectural FROM baa^ts- r^ost of the early residences recorded and historical in this Survey, The front entrance hall is set back severe.

X feet from the raain front of the building to provide for a portico of possibly twelve feet in depth, and yet not project more than five or six feet from the front wall. The entrance hall is about fourteen feet wide. KV. 2 s-(a- Uovi v Prow this hall one can enter each of the two front rooms and the two octagonal shaped rooms immediately behind them. The arched doorway in the center of the rear wall of this main hall leads into a long hall approximately six feet wide extending to the rear- wall to a door opening on to the rear porch. Off this hall doors lead into the rooms on either side, closets, stairs to attic, etc. Each, octagonal room has o fireplace with wood mantels, almost identical in design arid ornamentations.

One of the window lights in the octagonal room on the 'itortn has the name "John Speed" scratched on its surface. front entrance doorway has four en^a^ed reeded pilasters on the outside, side-lights, and sogmerital arched fan .above, all beautifully executed. Heavy hand-hewn timbers, principally oak and poplar, including rafters, ridge pieces, columns, purlins, hip rafjters, etc., all mortised and tenoned together and secured with large wood pegs, form the main roof framing. The size of these timbers is larger than would have been required for the support of the roof, which probably accounts for its v/ithstanding several severe wind storms without any d ama#e wha t s o ave r. The ceilings of the firsh floor are approximately fifteen feet high.

A short distance from the house stands the brick smoke-house, In r-ood condition; the old stone spring-house, and the remains of what appears to have been a stone stable, "Quoting from a book entitled "The Speed Family", privately printed by Thos . Speed and family, "rFarmin;-:ton' was built by John Speed, who was born in Virginia, Ley 17, came to Kentucky with his father over the V/ilderness Road in Owned a large tract land between the Taylorsvllie and Bard ratown Roads, and iUl, i >.- ->. brick house known as Farminrton about j "James Speed, one of the sons, was Attorney General under Abraham Lincoln, rnd Joshua Speed, another son, was Lincoln*s moot intimate friend at Springfield, Illinois.

hi?' first teamen tuous love affair with Todd, Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, during the summer of and spent the major portion of that summer and autumn at Parmlngton, getting himself together, and he married ;,iary Todd the next y^arM. StL^Lu^ &C< 7*1 Addendum to: Farmington (Speed House) HABS No. Bar&sto Road Louisville Jefferson County Kentucky- fas recorded in sfo PHOTOGRAPHS HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA REDUCED COPIES OF MEASURED DRAWINGS Historic American Buildings Survey National Architectural and Engineering Record National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, n f "2 c. I* LOO\/lx / HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY ADDENDUM TO FARMINGTON (Speed House) HABS NO. Bardstown Road, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Present Owner and Occupant: Historic Homes Foundation.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,56-LOUVI.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Parmington is one of the few houses constructed after a design by Thomas Jefferson. Its history of preservation has been remarkable. It now remains virually as originally constructed, with the exception of the inclusion of modern amenities and some restoration. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: Jefferson County tax records coupled with excellent family records of the Speed family verify these dates. 2. Architect: Local architect not known; built after a plan by Thomas Jefferson, no. 191 in the Coolidge Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Further credence is lent to the authorship of the design by the fact that Thomas Jeffer. n was the ward of Dr. Thomas Walker, the grandfather of the wife of the first owner. 3.

Original and subsequent owners: Present-day Farmington occupies lots and 58 of block in the City of Louisville. The following references to the title of this land, with the exception of the first title, are found in the Clerk's Office in the Jefferson County Courthouse, Louisville. Deed, April 6, original deed at Farmington. Patrick Henry conveyed to James Speed a 375 acre tract of land. Deed, March 27, recorded in Deed Book 66, page Lucy G. Speed, widow of John Speed, son of James, sold Farmington to Austin L. Peay, her son-in-law, for Deed, November 11, recorded in Deed Book page Peachy W. Peay, widow of Austin L. Peay sold Farmington to Henry Drescher for FARMINGTON !*f HABS No.

(Page X) Deed June 1, recorded in Deed Book page Elizabeth Dreschec, Henry Drescher and Sophie Drescher, George L. Drescher and Philippine Drescher, John Drescher and Annie Drescher, Annie Ararie Wempe and Henry Wempe, Barbara Eigelbach and William Eigelbach, and Applonia Hoock and Henry Hoock, heirs of Henry Drescher by will recorded in will Book 27, page 69, sold Farmington to Joe Bischoff, Jr. Deed, August 12, recorded in Deed Book page Dorothy Bischoff, Margaret Bischoff, Anna Bischoff, Rosa Hietkamper and John Heitkamper, Clara Stoke and Louis Stoke, and Lorena Waller and H. Waller, heirs of Joe Bischoff, Jr. by will dated September 18, and recorded in Will Book 35, page sold Farmington to Susanne Smith Tyler.

Deed, December 24, recorded in Deed Book page Susanne Smith Tyler conveyed part of the land to Violet Fesler Smith. Deed, November 16, recorded in Deed Book page Violet Fesler Smith and F. Porter Smith sold the portion containing the house to Robert Kennedy Smith, IV. Deed, January recorded in Deed Book page Violet Fesler Smith and F. Porter Smith and Robert Kennedy Smith, IV sold lots 21 and 56 to Historic Homes Foundation, Inc.

for On January 31, a deed correcting the description of the lots was issued, recorded in Deed Book page Deed, October 24, recorded in Deed Book page Anna Bischoff, Dorothy Bischoff, and Margaret Bischoff sold approximately six acres adjoining Farmington, which they had inherited under the will of Joe Bischoff, recorded in Will Book 35, page for This was lot 57 of block Deed, March 30, recorded in Deed Book page The Commonwealth of Kentucky by Robert F. Matthews, Commissioner of Finance, and Bert Combs, Governor, sold lot 58 to Historic Homes Foundation, Inc. Following is a brief tracing of the title of this lot: FARMINGTON 5 HABS No, (Page 3J Deed Book Page Date Grantor Grantee 142 Match 18, Harry B. Taylor Commonwealth of Rosa Taylor Kentucky- 258 March 18, The Kentucky Trust Harry B.

Taylor Company, Trustee 1/2 interest under will of Major Taylor, Will Book 55, page 124 90 December 26, Harry B. Taylor Major Taylor 1/2 interest Rosa Taylor 179 December 10, Major Taylor Harry B. Taylor 187 November 25, A.M. Anderson, receiver Major Taylor of the National Bank of Kentucky. 311 August 10, John S. Akers, trustee A.M. Anderson, in bankruptcy (Consoli- receiver of the dated Realty Company). National Bank of Kentucky 233 February 2, Henry Deibel Consolidated Realty Anna Deibel Company 697 142 April 8, Emma Eicher Henry Deibel Philip Eicher Katie L. Kreisher Jacob Kreisher Addie Barth Wm. F. Barth Christina Deibel Elizabeth Diebel 696 255 June 22, Ellen Wright Henry Deibel Joseph H. Wright children and heirs of Edward D. Briscoe James E. Briscoe Lydia E. Briscoe Sarah E.

Briscoe all by Tho, P. Smith, Commissioner of the Louisville Chancery Court 65 611 March 18, Mary L. Speed James Edward Briscoe Deed, October 19, recorded in Deed Book page H. Paul Pinley and Onavee Finley sold lot 33 adjoining Farmington to Historic Homes Foundation, Inc. Following is a brief tracing of previous deeds for the lot: FARMINGTON / HABS No, (Page 4.) Deed Book Page Date Grantee 349 July 20, James L. Bersot H. Paul Finley Malcolm Burgin Onavee Finley trustees of Seneca C. B. Sparrow Church of Christ Citizen's Fidelity Bank and Trust Company 202 July 3, Seneca Church of Christ Shirley M. Grace 179 February 18, Harry B. Taylor Ralph M. Quinn, Jr. 435 June 12, Rose Taylor Pred Hepp, Jr. The Kentucky Trust James C. Puckett, Sr two deeds - later deed, deed Company, trustee James W.

Largen of clarification under will of Major Johnson Taylor, will Book Seneca Church of 55, page Christ Deed, August 14, recorded in Deed Book page Dorothy Bischoff, Margaret Bischoff, and Anna Bischoff sold lot 20 adjoining Farmington to Historic Homes Foundation, Inc. Dorothy Bischoff, Margaret Bischoff, and Anna Bischoff acquired this lot by deed, dated October 10, and recorded in Deed Book page from Rosa Heitkamper and John Heitkamper, Clara Stoke and Louis Stoke, and Lorena Waller and Henry Waller, who had previously acquired it under the will of Joseph Bischoff, recorded in Will Book 35, page Deed, August 14, recorded in Deed Book page Othmar S. Stoke and Ethel B. Stoke sold lot 51 adjoining Farmington to Historic Homes Foundation, Inc., Othmar S. Stoke and Ethel B.

Stoke acquired this lot by deed, dated April 11, and recorded in Deed Book page from Dorothy Bischoff, Margaret Bischoff, and Anna Bischoff, who had previously acquired it from Rosa Heitkamper and John Heitkamper, Clara Stoke and Louis Stoke, and Lorena Waller and Henry Waller by deed, dated October 10, and recorded in Deed Book page FARMINGTON 1 HABS No. (Page 3) 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: Brass hardware was made in Philadelphia and glass in Pittsburgh. Virtually all other materials, including brick, and labor were locally produced. John Speed supervised construction. 5. Original plans and construction: Except for the Jefferson plan, no other drawings dating from the construction of the house are known to exist. 6.

Alterations and additions: Tin roof replaced original roof of wood shingles, cost William C. Tyler, Louisville architect and owner of Farmington, executed repairs, added plumbing and furnace, and lined the warming kitchen with walnut paneling from the old Louisville Post Office at Fourth and Chestnut Streets. Historic Homes Foundation restored the house. Restoration included removal of walnut paneling in warming kitchen, replacement of tin roofing with composition shingles simulating wood shingles, sandblasting of rear wall of house, reconstruction of outbuildings, reconstruction of formal garden in the rear yard, restoration of interior, and archaeological digging under kitchen windows.' B. Historical Context: The Speed family has been prominent throughout the history of Louisville.

Leaders in the areas of industry and real estate, they have also been involved in many other areas, including politics and art. The Speed Art Museum at the University of Louisville stands as an enduring memorial to this family. John Speed, the builder of the house, was ten years old in when his father, James, moved from Danville, Kentucky. John Speed was first married to Abbie Lemaster from which union two children, Mary and Eliza, were born. Following the death of his first wife, he remarried. His second wife, Lucy Gilmer was the daughter of Joshua Her maternal grandfather. Dr. Thomas Walker, served as guardian for Thomas Jefferson. It was Jefferson who drew plans for an addition to the original Farmington, a home in Charlottesville, Virginia owned by Lucy's aunt.

Following construction, ten children, Lucy, James, Peachy, Joshua, William Pope, Susan, Philip, J. Smith, Martha and Ann were born in the house. Ann, the youngest, died in childhood. 70 slaves were used on the 87-acre part of the plantation to raise and harvest hemp, which was the family's primary commercial product. FARMINGTON ^ HABS NO. (Page K) In Joshua Speed became the roommate of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, where Speed operated a store. Four years later, in August and September of Lincoln visited Farmington to recover from a broken romance. This visit served to strengthen the bonds of friendship. As a result, on September 1, Lincoln appointed James Speed as Attorney General of the United States.

Following the Civil War, the house was sold to a German truck farmer, who, in turn, sold it to another of the same trade. Caring little for architecture, they used the main floor of the house for storage. As a result, the house was spared from the addition of amenities such as electricity, plumbing, and central heating. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION General description: The hip-roofed, one-story house is highlighted by a front projecting pavilion which shelters the entrance doorway. Long narrow columns support the gable roof of the pavilion, and between the columns are the railings. A 11-step stoop with newel posts and railings provides access to the pavilion. A small elliptical window with diamond-shaped panes occupies the tympanum of the gable end, for decorative purposes.

The entrance doorway is typically Federal: an exquisite fanlight with four-paned sidelights and flanking pilasters. Both the pavilion and the doorway are similar in design to the ones at nearby Ridgeway (HABS No. A handsome gable-roofed porch occupies the rear wall of the house. It is entered by a stairway on either end, and is surrounded by a railing. The brick walls which cover the house are laid in Flemish bond. A projecting water table between the basement and first floor windows is made of molded bricks. The side elevations have projecting semi-octagonal walls which have windows. All windows have brick lintels. On either side slope of the hipped roof are two towering brick chimneys. Fortunately, most of the house's original Federal interior features are largely unaltered.

Several doorways have round arches, some with fanlight-like transoms, which echo the exterior doorway's features. Chair railings with moldings of various patterns adorn the walls. Fireplaces, though not identical in design, have pilasters, molded cornices and appliques. The kitchen in the basement has a large, simple fireplace. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Original Architectural Drawings: Plans: Plate No. Coolidge Collection, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts. FARMINGTON ? HABS No. (Page Y) B.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,56-LOUVI.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

1. Primary and unpublished sources: Deed Books located in the Clerk's Office, Jefferson County Courthouse, Louisville, Kentucky. Will Books located in the Probate Office, Jefferson County Courthouse, Louisville, Kentucky. Scrapbook of newspaper clippings. Farmington located at Farmington. Docents* Manual for Farmington, located at Farmington. 2. Secondary and published sources: Clark, Dorothy Park. Farmington. Durrett, Reuben F. Centenary of Louisville. McMurtrie, Dr. Henry. Sketches of Louisville. Nichols, Frederick D. Thomas Jefferson's Architectural Drawings. Kimball, Fiske. "Jefferson Design for Two Kentucky Houses", Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, October, vol. 9, no. 3. "Farmington," brochure by Historic Homes Foundation, Inc.

"Farmington's Chapter in The Lincoln Story," by Barbara Anderson, Historic Homes Foundation, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky. "Lincoln's Visit to Kentucky - in Lincoln Lore, Bulletin of the Lincoln National Life Foundation, Dr. R. Gerald McMurtry, ed., The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana, October, Prepared by: David Arbosast Architectural Historian National Park Service August and Susan McCown Historian Historic American Buildings Survey Spring FARMINGTON /O HABS No. (Page \) m PART IV.

PROJECT INFORMATION The project was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in cooperation with the Preservation Alliance of Louisville and Jefferson County, Inc Under the direction of John Poppeliers, chief of HABS, the project was completed during the summer of at the HABS Field Office in Louisville by Prof. John Haggard, (Syracuse University), Project Supervisor; David Arbogast (Columbia University), Project Historian; Mary Oehrlein, Project Foreman; Bayer Lee (City College of New York), Architect; and Mary M. Herd (university of Tennessee) and Charles Raith (University of Cincinnati), student assistant architects.

Susan McCown, a HABS staff historian in the Washington, office, edited the written descriptive data in the spring of for transmittal to the Library of Congress HABS staff photographer Jack E. Boucher took the photographs of the structures in * ADDENDUM TO HABS No. FARMINGTON UQCL< (JOHN SPEED HOUSE) riHK)5 Bardstown Road ^V; Louisville Vicinity 5&-U>U\//.V Jefferson County ^ Kentucky / "" XEROGRAPHIC COPIES OF COLOR TRANSPARENCIES HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington,