Allenhurst (Scott County, Kentucky)

Infobox_nrhp |name =Allenhurst
nrhp_type = nrhp


caption =
nearest city= Georgetown, Kentucky
lat degrees = 38
lat minutes = 11
lat seconds = 31
lat direction = N
long degrees = 84
long minutes = 36
long seconds = 55
long direction = W
locmapin = Kentucky
area =
built =1850
architect= Thomas Lewinski
architecture= Greek Revival
added = April 02, 1973
governing_body = Private
refnum=73000829cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Allenhurst, also known as Oakland, is an historic site located in Scott County, Kentucky west of Georgetown on on Cane Run Pike. The Greek Revival house, designed by Thomas Lewinski, was built in 1850. The property was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1973. cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

History

In 1837, William G. and Polly Craig acquired property west of Georgetown in Scott County, Kentucky from William Suggett, Polly's father. Craig, a faculty member at Georgetown College, constructed a Greek Revival mansion on the land in 1850 and called it Oakland. cite book |last =Bevins|first=Ann Bolton|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=A History of Scott County as Told by Selected Buildings|publisher=|date=1989|location=Georgetown, Kentucky|pages=196-197|url=|doi=|id=|isbn=] ]

According to local legend as recorded by Ann Bolton in "A History of Scott County as Told by Selected Buildings", the mansion was built by convict labor under the order of the superintendent of the state penitentiary Newton Craig, making a profit of $37, 899 for the state and $21, 826 for the superintendent.

H.C Allen, known for his involvement with Aberdeen Angus cattle breeding, purchased the property and renamed it Allenhurst.

Architecture

Allenhurst was designed by Thomas Lewinski, known in his day as one of the leading architects of the Greek Revival style. The exterior of the structure exhibits one of the most complete uses of the temple style facade in Central Kentucky. The pillared house has a two story high portico with four columns and fluted Doric columns paired on each side of central entrance. The temple style design features "triple windows set under stone lintels that are repeated even on the basement level."

A pillared smokehouse with a hipped roof sets north of the great house.

References