Ward Hall in Georgetown, KY ~ A Glimpse of the Old South

Another favorite stop was at Ward Hall, the Kentucky plantation summer home of Junius and Matilda Ward.  The Wards were part of a very powerful and rich Southern dynasty before the Civil War.

The 12,000+ square foot house is built in Greek Revival style.  The front entry is a portico supported by four 27 foot-high fluted Corinthian columns.  All window and door frames on the exterior are cut stone.    It is 62 feet long and 69 feet wide.

A photo of Ward Hall probably in the 1950s but I'm not sure.

The back of Ward Hall now.  This is looking from about where you see in the first photo at the green roof in the center.

Looking off the front portico.

The last time the house went up for sale, it was bought by developers.  The historic society made a deal by which they purchased the house and 40 acres of yard for $1,000,000.

Twenty seven feet high.

Details of the portico ceiling.

There is a central corridor on all three floors that is 14 feet wide and 65 feet long.  They use to hold fancy balls in them.

Almost all of the furnishings are NOT original to the home, rather they are donated pieces of the era (1857-1867).

However, I believe I heard the docent say this gilded mirror (and its partner opposite) are original.   They are 400 year old Italian.

The door hinges are silver alloy... just because they could.

The beautiful double elliptical staircase.

The detail work is amazing.

Mr. Ward's desk with a photo of his famous Thoroughbred stallion Lexington.

The parlor.

Original to the home.  The lamp is silver and has been converted from candle, to gas, and finally to electricity.

The dining room table as it might have been set.

The 'silver chest'.  On the other side of the fireplace a matching cabinet contains the dumb waiter.

I loved the table setting.  So elegant.

These pieces are original to the family.  They are kept in a separate case.

A bedroom on the second floor.

Another bedroom.

A child's bedroom.

The third floor is the attic.  Wouldn't you love to have that storage?  I don't know if it would be a very good things... or a very bad thing...

(Those are donated items being stored).

Now down to the basement.

This was the working area and house slave quarters.  While upstairs was grand with all the silver and expensive finery, this area is the 'real' area.

This is the warming kitchen (as opposed to the cooking kitchen which was a separate building).  Food came from here via the dumb waiter to the dining room.

The working office.

Styled up as a 'beverage room'.

The formal garden in the back yard.

Himself and our excellent tour docent Mr. Bryant.