February 24, 2025
Kroger advertisement, 1957
A full-page Kroger advertisement in the Nov. 4, 1957, Lexington Leader. At that time, Lexington had five Kroger stores. Today there are nine Kroger stores in the Lexington area. The ad says the Lexington stores closed at 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday they closed later. Some of the items advertised are Beanee Weenees, 21 cents for an eight-ounce can; 19 cents for a stalk of celery; and two loaves of bread for 37 cents. Click on the image for a closer look.
Iroquois Hunt Club horse show, 1946
A team of horses competed at the Iroquois Hunt Club horse show and horse-pulling contest at W. Fauntleroy Pursley’s farm on Athens-Boonesboro Road on Oct. 12, 1946. It was the first renewal since 1941 of the annual event put on by the Iroquois Hunt Club. Approximately 2,500 people turned out for the event. A barbecue lunch was served on the grounds, and fortune-telling and bingo booths were well patronized. The pulling contest drew seven teams of horses. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
ATM introduced at Central Kentucky Expo, 1976
The first event held at the new Lexington Center in October 1976 was the Central Kentucky Expo, which featured industries and businesses of the area and included tours of the center and Rupp Arena. The expo, held Oct. 8 to 10, included the introduction of the automatic teller machine by Second National Bank. John Holmes, left, with the bank, demonstrated the new machine to Gene Bryant. The bank announced that the ATMs would be operating at the Woodpile and Fayette Mall branches by Nov. 1. Photo by David Perry | Staff
Phoenix Hotel demolition, 1982
A wrecking ball brought down the Phoenix Hotel in downtown Lexington in February 1982. The Phoenix was demolished in 1981 and 1982 by Wallace Wilkinson, who planned to build the World Coal Center skyscraper. It was never built, and the site eventually became the Park Plaza Apartments and Phoenix Park. Wilkinson was elected governor in 1987, serving one term. Click here to see other photos from our archives of the landmark hotel. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Adolph Rupp at Lawrence Welk concert in Rupp Arena, 1976
The first concert in Rupp Arena featured Lawrence Welk and his orchestra and was attended by Adolph Rupp, the legendary former basketball coach, and his family. Welk, then 73, had been friends with Rupp for many years and told the crowd that Rupp had promised him a chance to play at the opening of the new arena. Welk thanked the former coach and gave him a baton as a memento. About 20,000 fans attended the afternoon show on Oct. 17, 1976. A commemorative special section marking Rupp Arena’s 40th anniversary is in Sunday’s Herald-Leader. Click here to see a gallery of images. Photo by Chela Richardson | Staff
Vandy hands Kentucky a 20-7 loss, 1992
Vanderbilt’s Tony Cates got past Kentucky tackle Mark Askin but didn’t get to quarterback Pookie Jones before he got off a pass, but the Wildcats lost 20-7 at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 7, 1992. UK finished the season with a record of 4-7 under coach Bill Curry. Kentucky meets Vandy at 4 p.m. Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. Photo by David Perry | Staff
Keeneland clubhouse lawn, fall 1954
Ladies enjoying the clubhouse lawn at Keeneland Race Course in October 1954 included, seated from left, Mrs. William Carl, Mrs. W.T. Bishop, Mrs. Charles Rhodes, Mrs. Harry Scott Jr. and Mrs. Richard Arnspiger. Behind them were Mrs. Warren Wright Jr. and Mrs. Jack Wilkinson. Keeneland’s Fall meet opens Friday and runs through Oct. 29. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Darryl’s 1891 restaurant, 1976
Workmen oversaw the move of an English double-decker bus into the interior of a new restaurant at Nicholasville and Reynolds Roads on Oct. 25, 1976. The restaurant, Darryl’s 1891, was being built in what had been the Don Q restaurant. The new eatery was set to open in early spring 1977 and promised a full-service menu featuring good food at reasonable prices. The bus was meant as a focal point of the restaurant, creating a unique atmosphere. The building, now home to the Walgreens at Reynolds Road, closed in January 2002. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
Roadside pumpkin stand, 1985
Jack Cains of Georgetown climbed into a wagon of pumpkins at a roadside stand on U.S. 27 north of Nicholasville to pick one for his daughter to carve into a jack-o’-lantern on Oct. 18, 1985. The pumpkins were grown by Hubert Caudill, background on the left, who was talking with Faye and Edith Collette. Caudill grew produce and pumpkins on his farm on Vince Road and sold them from the back of his farm wagon on Nicholasville Road. Photo by David Perry | Staff
New Kroger superstore, 1975
A new Kroger superstore opened in March 1975 at Nicholasville and New Circle Roads. Bob Hilen, left, store manager, and Mike Ryan, produce merchandiser, posed in the produce area with some unusual varieties, including papaya, English cucumbers and bok choy. Click on the photo to enlarge it. The store featured produce sold in bulk. The customer selected the quantity desired and an employee was there to weigh it and price it. Photo by John C. Wyatt | Staff
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