February 25, 2025
Linda Standafer and children, Perry County, 1992
Linda Standafer held her 1 1/2-year-old daughter Julie Fugate as her other children, Doyle Standafer, 4, and Joyce Fugate, 2 1/2, played outside their home in Harveyton in Perry County on June 18, 1992. Their home was near an abandoned coal mine which had been on fire and continued to smolder for the previous 8 months. A hazy cloud of sulfur and coal ash that constantly hangs over the hollow had been aggravating Julie and Joyce’s asthma. At the time Federal and State authorities were debating whose responsibility it was to put the fire out. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
‘Herky’ and Adolph Rupp, 1959
Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., left, and his father, legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, watched a 1959 team practice. Herky, who died Wednesday, grew up around UK basketball and played three seasons for his dad, scoring 11 points in 14 career games from 1959 to 1962. Click here to see another photo from our archives of Herky and his father. Herald-Leader archive photo
Joyland fire, 1965
Fire destroyed the Joyland Casino and other buildings at what had been Joyland Park on Lexington’s north side in June 1965. The park had closed in 1964, and the casino was not rebuilt. Joyland Casino was not a place for gambling, which was illegal, but a gathering place for social events and dances. Mary Todd Elementary School and Joyland Bowling alley were built on the site of the park. Published in the Lexington Leader on June 21, 1965. Photo by John C. Wyatt | Staff
Lexington Municipal Building, 1962
Workmen began tearing the portico off Lexington’s Municipal Building on Walnut Street in early June 1962 in preparation for construction of a three-story addition to the building. The cost was expected to be $567,000 and would bring the city building within three feet of the Walnut Street sidewalk. This structure was built in 1928 as Lexington’s City Hall and was envisioned to be the first piece of a municipal complex that would have been established along Barr Street. The building continued to be Lexington’s municipal building until fall 1983, when city government moved into the Ashland Oil Inc. building on Main Street. That building had previously housed the Lafayette Hotel and later the Kentucky Central Insurance Co., and it continues to be the home of Lexington’s Urban County Government. Currently, the construction of a new government headquarters is being studied. Published in the Lexington Leader on June 8, 1962. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Marie ‘The Body’ McDonald visits Lexington, 1948
Marie “The Body” McDonald, right, with Mrs. Danny Bordett, arriving at Lexington’s Blue Grass Field in April 1948. She was en route to visit relatives in Burgin, her hometown. McDonald was born Cora Marie Frye in Burgin, and after her parents divorced, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Yonkers, N.Y. At 15, she began competing in numerous beauty pageants and was named “The Queen of Coney Island,” “Miss Yonkers” and “Miss Loew’s Paradise.” At age 15, she dropped out of school and began modeling. In 1939, McDonald was named “Miss New York State.” She landed a showgirl role on Broadway at age 17 and shortly thereafter moved to Hollywood. She appeared in films and on stage until her death in 1965 at age 42. Published in the Lexington Leader on April 27, 1948. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
WRFL staff, 1987
WRFL radio station staff in the office basement of Miller Hall on the UK campus September 29, 1987. Top: Mark Beaty. Middle, from left: Leslie Lyons, Scott Ferguson and Rhea Perkins. Foreground: Jack Kirk. Front right: Ellen Jett. Herald-Leader Staff Photo
Downtown Lexington traffic, 1951
Hundreds of out-of-town automobiles added to a typical downtown Lexington traffic jam on March 17, 1951. Thousands of loyal fans of teams in the 34th annual state high school basketball tournament flocked to the city for the semi-finals and finals, being held at Memorial Coliseum. Clark County won the tournament, defeating Cuba 69-44. The photo was taken from the First National Bank building, with a view toward the east, including the busy Main Street and Limestone intersection. The buildings at this intersection are what is now the CentrePointe construction site. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Father’s Day at the Red Mile, 1988
Chad Morgan Batten, 7, his grandfather Frank Batten Jr., and his father, Frank Batten III, enjoyed a Father’s Day outing at the Red Mile on June 19, 1988. The Standardbred race track had some special festivities for fathers, including the naming of a Father of the Year. Bobby White of Corbin, a father of six, got the award based on a letter written by his daughter Darlene. Photo by Craig Sands | Staff
State baseball champs, 1973
Henry Clay baseball coach Walter Hill was carried off the field on the shoulders of his players after they won the State High School Baseball championship, 5-4, over St. Xavier June 7, 1973, at the University of Kentucky’s Shively Field. This year’s KHSAA state baseball championship game will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Photo by E. Martin Jessee | Staff
Brownie Scout day camp, 1947
These Brownie Scouts vacationing at the Girl Scouts Day camp on Mount Brilliant Farm in July 1947 were part of a complement of 35 girls who attended a two-week outdoor health and athletic program there. Guided by nine counselors, the Scouts’ program included fishing, hiking, cooking, handicrafts and folk dancing. Counselors in the picture are Mary Caldwell Taylor, far left, and Olive Jean Heckler. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
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