New Chapters for Pope Villa
Progress on Grovesnor Avenue:
Rehabilitation Moves from Vision to Reality
Latrobe's Pope Villa, one of Federal America's most architecturally significant buildings and a long-held Blue Grass Trust property, is moving at a quick clip toward rehabilitation. Last month, we welcomed lead architect Jeff Baker of MCWB Architects to the site, alongside representatives from the Kentucky Heritage Council and our development partner, Mitchell Park Companies, as we concluded early-stage work on the project. Construction drawings are targeted for completion this summer with the Section 106 review process starting this fall.
This $3.4 million partnership with Mitchell Park Companies will ensure the rehabilitated building's long-term use and protection while enabling public access to Pope Villa's principal historic rooms. Learn more about this exciting, innovative partnership by clicking here.
EDUCATION
Upcoming July 2026 deTour
Integrity Architecture
Join us on Wednesday, July 8 at 6:00 PM for an exclusive tour of the National Register-listed Brand-Barrow House, also known as Elmside. This residence was originally constructed in the Greek Revival style after 1830, when hemp manufacturer William Moses Brand purchased 24 acres on Fourth Street. In 1905, the prominent Dr. David Barrow acquired the property and undertook a major remodel, adding Classical Revival elements. Upon completion, the Herald lauded the lavish entertaining space as "the most elegant job of interior decoration ever put up in the city of Lexington." In 1920, Henry Clay's great-granddaughter, Lucretia Clay Erwin Simpson, acquired the building, and her descendants remained its owners until 1976.
Elmside today houses Integrity Architecture, whose stewardship has ensured the preservation of this architectural treasure.
2026 JULY DETOUR
203 E. Fourth Street, Lexington, KY 40508
Wednesday, July 8
6 PM
Please note that due to the Independence Day holiday, this month's deTour will be held on Tuesday, July 8, rather than our usual schedule.
Recap: June 2026 deTour
Hotel Thoroughbred
For our June deTour, we hit the road to Paris, Kentucky for a closer look at one of the region's most exciting recent adaptive reuse projects: Hotel Thoroughbred, housed in the historic 1891 Hinton Building on Main Street!
A longtime landmark of downtown Paris standing directly across from Secretariat Park, the Hinton Building has been thoughtfully reimagined as a 19-room boutique hotel and event center, and a love letter to Bourbon County itself. We saw the original Claiborne Farm paddock fencing and the silver julep cups presented to Penny Chenery for Secretariat's Triple Crown on display in the lobby. Touring the historic grand staircase that has been transformed into a three-story "walking gallery" of photographs from the Keeneland Library archives and seeing the beautifully appointed guest rooms were highlights of the night. Congratulations to Hotel Thoroughbred for the completion of this beautiful project!
ADVOCACY
Aylesford Action Block Party
The Blue Grass Trust continues to partner with Aylesford Action in opposing a growing threat to Lexington's historic neighborhoods. From Rose and Maxwell Streets to the Woodland Avenue corridor, developers are targeting some of the city's most cherished historic structures for demolition, replacing locally-rooted businesses and residences with privatized student housing. Rezoning efforts have been challenged, but the pressure has not let up, and the stakes are only getting higher.
On Saturday, June 13, Aylesford Action is hosting a neighborhood block party on Kalmia Avenue from 3 to 8 PM, and we are proud to be a partner! Come for the live music, food trucks, free food and drinks, and local vendors. Stay to connect with neighbors and learn from local organizations about how to get involved. This is a chance to show up, get informed, and make your presence known in neighborhoods that need it right now.
2026 Preservation Awards
Celebrating the Champions of Our Shared History
On Sunday, May 17, the Blue Grass Trust celebrated another outstanding group of Preservation Award recipients at the historic Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan House. Each year, these awards recognize the individuals, organizations, and projects making historic preservation a vital force in Central Kentucky, from outstanding rehabilitation work and landscape stewardship to advocacy leadership, public service, and culturally inclusive history.
Congratulations to all of our award winners! Your efforts are helping to safeguard the places and stories that define Kentucky’s cultural identity.
DIRECT SERVICES
Out in the Community:
The Launch of Preservation Curriculum in FCPS
Earlier this month, staff members Erica Friis and Jackson Osborne visited a fifth grade Social Studies classroom at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) to launch the Blue Grass Trust's K-12 Preservation Curriculum. Students played "House Detective," identifying architectural features to determine when a house was built, exploring American house styles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and digging into why preservation matters to a community. The lesson wrapped with a lively current preservation debate, and it turns out fifth graders have some very strong opinions about saving historic structures!
We look forward to continuing and expanding our partnerships with local schools, bringing preservation education to the next generation of Lexington's advocates, stewards, and history lovers. Stay tuned for more classroom visits and curriculum updates as the program grows!
Blue Grass Trust at KMHA
Earlier this month, Blue Grass Trust staff traveled to Paducah for the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance's annual conference, joining preservation and museum professionals from across the Commonwealth. Standout sessions included a deep dive into making collections accessible to broader audiences, practical strategies for archiving and stewarding collections at small institutions, and a thought-provoking conversation on representing underrepresented voices in Kentucky history. We came home with new ideas, new connections, and plenty of inspiration to bring back to our own work.
Blue Grass Trust's own Erica Friis presented a Learn@Lunch webinar for KMHA this spring exploring how podcasting and digital storytelling can make preservation work more accessible and engaging to broader communities. Click the link below to watch!
Photo by Kopana Terry
Founder’s Day
On July 16, we’ll gather for our annual Founders’ Day celebration, a special event that honors the people, places, and partnerships that make preservation possible.
Founders' Day is one of the many benefits of Blue Grass Trust membership, bringing together members each year to celebrate preservation, connect with fellow supporters, and learn more about the important work ahead.
Not yet a member? We invite you to click the link below to join today and be part of this special evening!
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Hopemont | 201 North Mill Street, Lexington, KY
5:00–7:00 PM
RSVP by July 10th or call 859-253-0362.
