On July 31, 1881, The Courier-Journal printed a correspondence from someone in the Bardstown Junction community. It is amusing and a bit informative, and we decided to share it with you here. An image of the article is on the right, with its transcription on the left.
Bardstown Junction
A Sulphur Spring Discovered But Rapidly Disappears.
[Correspondence of the Courier-Journal.]
Bardstown Junction, July 28. - In the midst of pretty landscapes, teeming fields and pleasant society, it seems strange that any one should leave this delightful valley in search of pleasure; but such is the fact, and just now some of our most attractive ones have fitted away to enjoy the luxuries of crowded hotels, noises, dust and sulphur waters. On explanation probably is that the comet has set everything in a whirl, and, urged by its centrifugal force, the more impressible among us are compelled to fly off somewhere, and why not to the springs? We miss sunny smiles and cheerful voices of our runaways, but compensation is offered in the arrival of pleasant visitors to take their places.
Something of a wonder happened in our neighborhood a few days ago at Claremont, on the Bardstown branch. In the dry bed of a creek there suddenly burst forth a stream of sulphur water six or eight inches in diameter. The neighbors were greatly astonished; a large number gathered to witness its steady flow; visions of the possible began to loom up in thoughtful minds, and the lucky owners were discussing the project of building an immense hotel to accommodate the immense crowds that were soon to seek the health-giving waters. Business, pleasure and large bank accounts disturbed the slumbers of the proprietors, and still the wonder grew. But, alas, for the bank accounts! After flowing two days, the stream suddenly disappeared, and the hotel, at least, may be numbered with the "baseless fabrics" mentioned by Shakespeare. [See below.]
Such stuff as dreams are made on...
Prospero:
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
The Tempest Act 4, scene 1, 148–158
Some are unkind enough to say the water obtained its sulphur taste from the slops of a distillery near by, but we are not inclined to adopt this "sour-grape" theory without further investigation.
Our community has lost one of its most useful and enterprising citizens, in the recent death of William Trunnell, Esq. He died a member of the Methodist Church, trusting in Christ and perfectly resigned to the will of God. Rev. D. L. Colly preached his funeral sermon. The entire neighborhood deeply sympathize with his kind parents and relatives in their sad bereavement.
The newly-erected Catholic church at this place will be dedicated Sunday, Aug. 28, by the Right Rev. Bishop McCloskey, Bishop of Louisville. It is to be named St. Eugene, and is a very neat and comfortable structure. Great praise is due Father Able, the pastor, for his untiring efforts in its construction. Mesers Benj. Chapeze and Edward O'Bryan have kindly donated an organ, and the Misses Lucy and Lilly Chapeze, Mrs. Hagan and others will constitute the choir.
Our vineyards will not furnish as large a product as last year, but are loaded with the precious vintage. Mr. Thomas Britt, one of our largest producers, who sold upwards of forty tons of grapes last year, has about twenty-five tons of Concords to sell this season. He has a good press, and will sell his crop in the vineyard. This will be a good chance to make money by some enterprising fruit merchant.
The first residence near Pitt's Point belonging to John Lee, Esq., lately purchased by him from James Hays, was completely destroyed by fire last Tuesday night. Everything in the house was burned, the inmates barely escaping with their lives.
If you, the reader, have an interest in any particular part of our county history, and wish to contribute to this effort, use the form on our Contact Us page to send us your comments about this, or any Bullitt County History page. We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you feel that we have misspoken at any point, please feel free to point this out to us.
The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/bjct1881article.html
