Free My Old Confederate Home by Rusty Williams Page A

resolution—also approved with little discussion and by acclamation—instructed the board's secretary to advertise for proposals from individuals or communities for property suitable for use as the Kentucky Confederate Home.
    Following adoption of a final resolution thanking Governor Beckham and members of the state legislature for their “generous, kindly and brotherly act” in passing the Confederate Home bill, the board adjourned to await real estate proposals.
    Sometime following that first board meeting, John Leathers turned over his subscription book of pledged contributions to Fayette Hewitt and showed him the bad news.
    Early reports of successful fundraising and the passage of legislation providing payment to operate the Home may have convinced many Kentuckians that there was no need for further contributions. In fact, the ex-Confederates were still far short of their $25,000 goal. Furthermore, every penny of that $25,000 would be needed to acquire at least thirty acres of land, improve it, build the necessary structure, then furnish it for occupancy by no fewer than twenty-five residents. By the spring of 1902, however, subscriptions were stalled at about $8,000, not including the Parr house. 22
    Leland Hathaway took it upon himself to write the Kentucky UCV camps, urging them to dig deeper. Clearly, money was going to be a problem.
    â€œThe establishing of the Home would be a big thing for any place selected,” one newspaper publisher wrote. “That this has been thoroughly understood is best evidenced by the variety of places applying. The chief towns all over the state want it.” 23
    It didn't take long for communities (and entrepreneurs) around the state to realize that a state-funded institution in their midst could be an attractive proposition. The Home would provide local employment and business for local merchants. And communities could expect the Home to bring visitors who would eat in local restaurants and stay in local hotels.
    Owensboro wanted the Home. Glasgow did, too. And Bowling Green. And Frankfort. And Versailles, Nicholasville, Winchester, Bardstown, and Franklin. All announced plans to prepare proposals for the Home's board of trustees. 24 Even the publisher of the Lexington Leader , ignoring the sentiment of his own local veterans, wrote that “Lexington should get to work to secure [this] valuable institution.” He reminded merchants that the Home would “serve as a constant source of revenue to the inhabitants of the lucky town.” 25
    The trustees knew they would be giving some town a windfall, so, with money short, they decided to squeeze bidders to sweeten their offers with incentives.
    â€œTo Communities and Individuals Desiring to Make Proposals for the Location of the Kentucky Confederate Home.” An ad for site proposals was placed in newspapers around the state during May and June. “Each proposal must state the amount of land offered [and] the amount of money to be given in case the location is accepted.” The proposal also asked for information about existing buildings on the property, proximity to railroads, and water supplies. 26
    Some communities weren't shy about squeezing back.
    In response to a fundraising letter, the commander of the UCV camp in Bardstown wrote Fayette Hewitt “that the members are too poor to subscribe to the Home, but that outsiders might contribute” if the Home were to be located in that county. (The board primly voted that the amount contributed by any camp would not influence the choice of location.) 27
    The mail brought the board more solid proposals, too—and plenty of them.
    At their meeting on July 2, 1902, the board's executive committee opened bids on twenty-three properties in fifteen towns. (Promoters in Owensboro submitted proposals for seven properties; Louisville and Shelbyville, two each.) With proposals still rolling in, Bennett Young appointed a Committee on Visitation to