In Bullitt County's first century, roads were primarily worn dirt paths or plank roads which required frequent repair. However, from time to time, groups of people would petition the Kentucky General Assembly for the right of incorporation to build a proposed turnpike, usually of gravel, from one location to another. These would be toll roads if ever constructed. While some of them were successful, others were not.
In 1831, the Shepherdsville and Louisville Turnpike Road Company was incorporated. Then, in 1851, the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act to merge it with the Sulphur Well Turnpike Road Company. Then an election was held in October 1868 and Jilson P. Johnson was elected president with H. C. Crist and George C. Shanklin as managers of the company. Then on 22 Jan 1869, the corporation was renamed the Bullitt County Turnpike Road Company, with these officers. Their purpose was to construct a road from the Jefferson county line to the town of Shepherdsville.
Years earlier, on 22 Feb 1834, the Shepherdsville and Elizabethtown Turnpike Road Company was incorporated.
Then on 18 Feb 1860, the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act to establish a turnpike road between Taylorsville and the Bardstown-Louisville turnpike as it passed through Bullitt County.
The Shepherdsville, Bullitt's Lick, and Pitt's Point Turnpike Road Company was organized on 26 Jan 1869 by A. C. Kennison, Wesley Phelps, Jno. W. Glenn. J. D. Bryan, and Jas. Shepherd for the purpose of constructing a turnpike road from Shepherdsville to Pitt's Point.
The Shepherdsville and Mt. Washington Turnpike Road Company was organized on 13 Feb 1869 by Westly Phelps, Dr. S. H. McKay, John T. Bridges, Janus W. Stallings, Thomas J. Hall, Wm. W. Hall, Austin Hough, and Dr. S. M. Hobbs for the purpose of constructing a turnpike from Shepherdsville to Mt. Washington, and from Mt. Washington to intersect with the Shelbyville pike.
The Shepherdsville and Cedar Grove Church Company was organized on 15 Feb 1869 by Charles Lee, Wilhite Carpenter, H. O. Maraman. Jas. Y. Pope. W. P. Simmons, Myron S. Combs, D. J. Weller, Noell Simmons, and Richard H. O. Simmons for the purpose of building a turnpike from the town of Shepherdsville to the Cedar Grove Church.
The Blue Lick Turnpike Road Company was organized on 24 Feb 1869 by W. B. M. Brooks, J. H. Huber, George N. Saunders. Dr. B. F. McCauley, James McCauley, and Jordan Gilmore for the purpose of building a turnpike road leading from the Louisville and Shepherdsville turnpike road, at or near the point where the New Cut road leading from Shepherdsville to Louisville intersects it, and running thence with or near the New Cut road to the old coal bank; thence to the school-house near H. B. North's; thence with or near the old county road to the gap in the knob.
The Shepherdsville, Bardstown Junction, and Pitt's Point Turnpike Road Company was organized on 3 Mar 1869 by Robert Greenwell, William Dawson, Leander Lee, J. P. McAfee, A. H. Bowman, J. F. Smith, and Henry Trunnell for the purpose of building a turnpike road from Shepherdsville to Pitt's Point, by way of Bardstown Junction.
On 14 Mar 1871 the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act to incorporate the Shepherdsville and Belmont Furnace Turnpike Road Company. Then on 23 Apr 1890 they incorporated the Shepherdsville and Pitt's Point Turnpike Road Company.
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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/roadincorporations1869.html
