April 26, 2025
Mayor Pettit and running mates, 1973
Lexington Mayor Foster Pettit, second from right, and the rest of his ticket filed petitions on March 28, 1973, to have their names on the ballot for mayor and councilmen-at-large for the new Urban County Government. From left, city commissioners William Hoskins and Dr. J. Farra Van Meter; County Clerk Charles Baesler; Pettit; and county commissioner Doc Ferrell. In 1971, Pettit was elected mayor of Lexington, a nonpartisan position that he held from 1972 to 1978. He and Fayette County Judge Robert Stephens oversaw the merger of city and county governments in 1974. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
South Broadway railroad crossing, 1978
Before the South Broadway underpass opened in 1987, traffic was frequently delayed because of this railroad crossing, as seen in 1978. At center, next to the tracks, is Boots, a popular nightclub. At left is Coomer’s, another popular club. Direct access to both businesses was cut off by the underpass, and that portion of South Broadway became a dead end at the tracks. Photo by Christy Porter | Staff
Couple’s 13th Dodge purchase, 1954
Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Ewan of Cooper Drive in Lexington bought their 13th Dodge automobile from Goodwin Brothers Inc. on Dec. 21, 1954. Shown with their latest purchase, from left, are Mrs. Ewan, principal of the Kenwick School; Reid B. Bishop, car salesman; William Goodwin, president of the auto firm, and J.V. Ewan. Goodwin Brothers Inc. sold Plymouth and Dodge automobiles and trucks and was at 450 East Main Street. Published in the Lexington Herald on Dec. 22, 1954. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Actress Jean Hagen, 1949
Actress Jean Hagen, seated left, went over her script before filming the final scene of The Asphalt Jungle on the Ben Eubank farm on Briar Hill Road in October 1949. Clockwise from top left are Mrs. James Steele, Mrs. Ben Eubank Jr. and Betty Ann Hayden, the wife of Hagen’s co-star, Sterling Hayden. The Asphalt Jungle, directed by John Huston, was released in 1950. The cast included Sam Jaffe, Louis Calhern, James Whitmore and, in a minor but key role, Marilyn Monroe. Published in the Lexington Leader on Oct. 14, 1949. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Kentucky falls to Georgia, 1976
Georgia middle guard Brad Cescutti pulled Kentucky quarterback Derrick Ramsey to a stop after an eight-yard gain on Oct. 23, 1976. Ramsey was hemmed in by the Bulldogs all evening and ran for only 28 years in 15 carries in the Wildcats’ first loss of the season at Commonwealth Stadium, 31-7. Photo by David Perry | Staff
State cross-country, 1992
Runners took off at the start of the boys Class 2A race at the State Cross-Country Meet on Nov. 7, 1992, at the Kentucky Horse Park. This year’s state meet is Saturday morning at the Horse Park. Photo by Tom Marks | Staff
Shriners clown contest, 1988
Dozens of clowns attended the Southeastern Shriners Association meeting in Lexington to participate in the clown competition in Rupp Arena on Aug. 8, 1988. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
Storm-damaged courthouse, 1981
Workers inspected the damaged directional vane on the cupola roof of the Fayette County courthouse on June 22, 1981. A severe thunderstorm two days earlier caused more than $2 million in damages in and around Lexington. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
Guignol Theatre fire, 1947
A bird’s eye view of the Guignol Theatre fire on Euclid Avenue in February 1947. It was the first Guignol Theatre, built in 1927 at the northwest corner of Euclid Avenue and South Martin Luther King Boulevard. Three years later, the Guignol reopened in the University of Kentucky’s Fine Arts Building. Published in the Lexington Herald on Feb. 11, 1947. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Keeneland Yearling Sale, 1963
Looking over the sales catalog at Keeneland in July 1963 are Leslie Combs II, founder and owner of Spendthrift Farm; Leslie’s son Brownell Combs; John S. Knight, then owner of the Knight Newspaper chain that would later include the Herald-Leader; and an unidentified horseman. The two day Summer Yearling Sale was held July 22 and 23, 1963. The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale begins Monday and runs through Nov. 13. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
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