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In the wake of fire, a place of peace shall be born

By WENDY MITCHELL, Staff Writer

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:37 PM EDT

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KENTONTOWN n Once the oldest public building in Robertson County, the more than 170-year-old Old Kentontown Church was consumed by an arson fire in May 2007 just as restoration efforts on the unique structure were progressing.

Only the remnants of aged trees, fire scarred and awaiting the final cut for removal remain near the bare rectangle of dirt where the church once stood. These are the same trees which once helped support the aged building and which may have witnessed the burial of many in the cemetery, including those who died in all the American wars since the Civil War. It is not hard to find headstones dated in the 1840s scattered on the tree-filled hills nearby.

A plan to create a monument to commemorate the church and history of Kentontown, and provide visitors with a three-dimensional idea of what the two-story church once looked like has been formulated.

“The aluminum plaque for one side of the monument is done and the other, the side with a map is being done shortly,” said Bill Wheaton, Robertson County Historical Society member.

The monument, designed and fabricated through the efforts of donors and hands of Jim Dempsey and others will stand near the remaining foundation of the old church. The area around it will become a grassy place of peace, officials said.

“We graded the area down and smoothed it out so we can seed it when we get some moisture in the air. We were up here last month and it just got too hot to do anything,” Wheaton said.

Dempsey, who also has family members buried in the cemetery there, was working on the church restoration when it burned. Interviewed after the fire, Dempsey was devastated by the fire, but determined the church would be remembered.

He has donated time and money to the monument, as has the historic society, Dempsey family members, an old church fund and the Robertson County Tourism commission, officials said.

The top of the monument is to be a scale model of the church made of marble. Each plaque to be affixed to the monument is cast in aluminum and costs $1,403, additional building materials and professional labor brought the total cost of the monument in at $8,500, officials said.

Looking at a copy of a rendering of the design brought the plan into perspective, officials said.

“They did a really nice job. I can’t wait to see the actual monument in place,” said Janie Wheary, RCTC member.

According to Kentucky State Police Arson Investigator Curtis Combs, the fire was definitely arson, but whoever started the fire was never identified or found. Anyone with information on the fire can contact Combs at 859-428-1212.

To contact Wendy Mitchell call 606-564-9091, ext. 276 or e-mail wendy.mitchell@lee.net.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

DVT wrote on Sep 2, 2008 1:33 PM:

" I spent many happy hours of my childhood playing in that old cemetery. It is so sad to know the old church is gone, but wonderful to know that it will be remembered. "

jd wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:16 AM:

" b\Better watch using the precious metal aluminum.. someone will steal it, "

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