HISTORY OF KEENE, part 1 Submitted by James R. (Bob) Wilson, Jr to "History of Jessamaine County, 1798-1993" Pioneers George Cleveland and Manoah Singleton explored here in the late 1780's and decided to claim land near the site of Keene By 1794 Manoah Singleton had built a stone grist mill on Cave Spring Fork of Clear Creek. The buffalo trace became known as the Shawnee Run Road, the most direct route between Lexington and Harrodsburg. By the early years of the 19th century the growing traffic on the Nicholasville and Versailles Road made the crossroads there an increasingly busy spot. In 1813 a town was laid out and received the name Liberty, later, North Liberty. At one time or another, Keene possessed several general stores, blacksmith shops, churches, a hatmaker, a bowling alley, tailor's shops, a millinery store, doctor's offices, a hemp factory, rope walk, a tanyard, various saloons and taverns, a harness maker, a grist mill, and hotels. One of the early business leaders of Liberty, Harvey Huggins, who prospered as proprietor of a store and acted as a banker for local people in the days when banks were neither easily accessible nor always to be trusted. Other early residents were Thomas Jones, a hatmaker and Ephraim Carter, the first Postmaster and also one of the organizers of Clear Creek Presbyterian Church in 1828. After a post office was established, the name of the village was changed to Keene. In 1844 the town was incorporated by an act of the State Legislature and a plat of 100 lots filed in the County Clerk's office. The decade which saw the incorporation of Keene, was the period when it became known for its mineral waters. Visitors came to Keene seeking the health-giving benefits of the waters, and also the entertainment and the social and business contact offered. Accommodations in Keene could be obtained at Sea House or Bronhaugh's. but the largest inn was the Keene Springs Hotel. The proprietor was Mason Singleton, grandson of the pioneer Manoah Singleton. In 1841, Singleton purchased property from William Cleveland that included the hotel site. He advertised in the Lexington Observer and Reporter in 1849 and again in 1850 mentioning the enlargement of his former facilities. This addition included a ballroom and a banquet hall which no longer stand. Singleton promised entertainment such as a 'Grand Masquerade Ball", and the renowned Capt. G. L. Postlethwait was engaged to manage the establishment. Professor Peter of Transylvania University analyzed the mineral water; it was concluded to be 'incomparably the best MEDICAL WATER on this continent.. eminently adapted to the cure of every species of Indigestion, Liver Complaint, Dropsy, Scrofula, Cutaneous Affections, Mercurial Diseases, a variety of Nervous Diseases and nearly all diseases that are usually denominated chronic." Another appeal was the freedom of Keene from Cholera during the epidemic of 1849. However, in 1857 Singleton and Dean became insolvent, and a commissioner's deed transferred the Keene Springs Hotel to Alfred McTyre, who operated the hotel for 10 years. In 1867, Fielding S. Wilson bought the hotel from McTyre, but, by then, the resort days in Keene were over. Wilson kept boarders, opened a general store in the building, and also a saloon until liquor was voted out. I will send the second part of this submission tomorrow. Shelia Bruner-Ramos