History of the Shelbyville Dogwood Festival The Shelbyville Dogwood Festival began in 1973, honoring former Shelbyville Mayor, Paul F. Schmidt.  Mayor Schmidt first donated 351 dogwood trees to property owners along Main Street in 1938.  He continued to donate them to Shelbyville’s citizens until 1944, for a whopping total of 2,048 trees! Ms. George Ann Carpenter chaired … History of the Shelbyville Dogwood Festival

Shelbyville Blockhouse At one time, the Shelbyville fountain was located in the center of Main Street at 5th, but during the Civil War, a blockhouse stood watch in the same place. The blockhouse served as a small fort that local merchants would flock to when the alarm was sounded, ready to guard the town. There … Shelbyville Blockhouse

Shelby County P.O.W. Camp Shelbyville was home to a Prisoner of War camp from 1944-1945. Surrounded by barbed wire, around 300 (mostly) German P.O.W.s resided in camps set up in Shelbyville across from the current location of Shelby County High School, and in Eminence, at the Henry County Fairgrounds. Most had been captured in North … Shelby County P.O.W. Camp

Shelby County Fiscal Courthouse Our old courthouse is truly an architectural work of art. The cornerstone was laid on June 11, 1913, containing all of the relics housed in the previous courthouse’s cornerstone along with pictures of Shelbyville street-scenes and newspapers from that era. The cost to build was $120,000, and unlike the previous courthouse, … Shelby County Fiscal Courthouse

Scouting in Shelby County Scouting in Shelby County Scouting arrived in Shelby County more than seventy-five years ago.  One of the earliest Troops is said to be Number 164, chartered by William L. Shannon.  Troop 164 has been continuously sponsored by First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Shelbyville, since its founding.  It is rumored that … Scouting in Shelby County

Shelby County Community Theater The Shelby County Community Theater was chartered in 1977, with “The Music Man” as its first production. Purchased for $30,500, the present building at the corner of Main and 8th Streets performed “Oklahoma” as its first in-house play. The exterior of the building underwent extensive renovation in 2004.

Ralph’s Market & the Ralphburger Ralph and Lillian Wade opened Ralph’s Market in 1972, after Ralph left his job as a butcher at the A&P after 22 years. The market was located in the one-story, brick building at the corner of Rockbridge and Mt. Eden Rd., just south of I-64. It was a corner grocery/diner … Ralph’s Market & the Ralphburger

Professor Joseph Winlock Professor Joseph Winlock was born in 1826 in Shelby County and earned his primary education in a small school on the farm of Thomas V. Loofborough, near Finchville. Winlock attended Shelby College, and after graduating in 1845, he stayed on to teach Astronomy and Mathematics. He later taught at the U.S. Naval … Professor Joseph Winlock

Powderhorn of Isaac Collier The story goes that Isaac Collier was a member of the English Navy.  When he left to join the Continental Army during the American Revolution, he gave his elaborately hand-carved, scrimshaw powder horn to his brother, Michael Collier. Michael, a Blacksmith, was one of the first citizens of Shelbyville, Kentucky. Upon … Powderhorn of Isaac Collier

Mammoth Skating Rink The Mammoth Skating Rink opened in 1908 and operated for over half a century at 626 Henry Clay Street. It eventually came under the ownership of George W. Saffell to be used as a “recreation center for colored children.” Saffell’s wife, Mildred, kept the center open for over a decade after his … Mammoth Skating Rink