March 17, 2025
Playing kickball at Maxwell School, 1949
Girls played kickball at Maxwell Street School, 474 East Maxwell Street. Published in the Herald-Leader on Feb. 13, 1949.
Dennis Johnson signs with UK, 1998
Dennis Johnson put on a University of Kentucky hat on Feb. 4, 1998, at Harrodsburg High School after he announced during a signing day news conference that he would sign with the Wildcats to play football. Johnson, the state’s Mr. Football and the USA Today national player of the year, chose UK over Notre Dame, Florida, Miami and Colorado. “The fact I can play right away had a lot to do with it,” Johnson said at the news conference, which went on despite 11 inches of snow blanketing Central Kentucky. “I think I could have played early at Notre Dame, too. But Kentucky’s got some good recruits coming in, and they’ll definitely be a better defense next year than they were last year.” Said UK recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett, “In most everybody’s eyes, and certainly in our eyes, he’s simply the best defensive football player in the country.” Johnson played three years at UK and was a third-team All-American and a first-team All-Southeastern Conference player. He left UK early to enter the the NFL draft and played in the league for three years. At left is his mother, Rosetta Johnson. At right is his father and coach, Alvis Johnson. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
105 Walton Avenue, 1942
In January 1942, the Fayette County Agricultural Conservation Association moved into new offices at 105 Walton Avenue, near the intersection of Walton and East Main Street. The farm agency moved from the county agent’s office in the Federal Building. Published in the Lexington Leader on Jan. 13, 1942.
Springs Motel, 1985
The Springs Motel on Feb. 6, 1985. The motel opened in 1948 with 68 rooms on Harrodsburg Road, which was a two-lane road at the time. Across the road from the motel was a farm that would later become Turfland Mall. Even as newer hotels and motels were built, because of its proximity to Keeneland, the Springs remained popular with people in the horse industry when they came to town. The dining room was popular for its hot Browns, prime rib, fried chicken and Southern-style green beans. It was renamed the Springs Inn in the 1980s, and it closed on Nov. 23, 2008. The landmark motel was razed the next year. A CVS drugstore, a McDonald’s and a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant were built on the site. Click here to see an aerial image from our archives of the hotel in 1962. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1950
The newly completed Eastminster Presbyterian Church in April 1950. The church, nearly 65 years old, is at Liberty Road and Henry Clay Boulevard.
Wimp Sanderson, 1992
University of Alabama basketball coach Wimp Sanderson had a word with an official during a 1992 SEC Tournament game against Kentucky on March 15, 1992. UK won, 80-54. Sanderson, now retired, coached at Alabama from 1981 to 1992 and at the University of Arkansas- Little Rock from 1994 to 1999. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Skuller’s street clock, 1974
Employees of Skuller’s Jewelry, 115 West Main Street, prepared to move the huge frame of the street clock that had fallen to the sidewalk on Jan. 28, 1974, after strong winds knocked it off its pole, injuring Carolyn Green of Falmouth. The clock dates back to 1913, when Skuller’s had the clock built to advertise the business. After it was repaired, the cast-iron clock, which is about 14 feet tall, was taken down again in 2010 and stored until money was raised for the complete restoration by the Verdin Co. of Cincinnati. The clock was rededicated in September 2013. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
Joker Phillips, 1984
Joker Phillips ran after a catching a pass during Kentucky’s 27-18 win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 10, 1984, at Commonwealth Stadium. There are plenty of reports that former University of Kentucky head football coach is about to be hired as wide receivers coach by the Cleveland Browns.
Boxing at Woodland Auditorium, 1948
George Johnson and Willard Huddleston fought on Feb. 3, 1948, during the Herald-Leader Golden Gloves tournament at Woodland Auditorium. The auditorium, showcasing events as varied as professional wrestling and classical piano performances, was built about the turn of the century. It was condemned for public use in 1952 and was torn down sometime in the 1970s. It stood near the corner of East High Street and Kentucky Avenue. Herald-Leader archive photo
Girl Scout cookie space shuttle, 2001
Ann and Kevin Grimes of Wilmore checked out a space shuttle made of girl scout cookies on March 5, 2001, at Fayette Mall in Lexington. It was designed by GBBN Architects as part of a Girl Scout cookie construction contest. The Girl Scouts – Wilderness Road Council, the American Institute of Architects and Fayette Mall sponsored the contest. Mall visitors could vote for their favorite. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
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