Today’s Random Falmouth Facts
Story Context: Historical
* Originally, the land that became Falmouth was part of a 1,000-acre grant given to Colonel Richardson Holt, a Virginian soldier, for his service in the Revolutionary War.
* In 1848, the present-day Falmouth courthouse was built. John Waller, the town’s founder, had established the courthouse square. When the town decided to break up this square and sell parcels to fund the new courthouse’s construction, Waller became so enraged that he rode into town with a shotgun.
* Interestingly, John Waller was also a Baptist Minister.
* During the Civil War, Falmouth was briefly occupied by the Confederate Army under General Kirby Smith in September of 1862.
* In 1839, construction began on dams and locks along the Licking River with the intention of making Falmouth accessible by river travel. However, the 51-mile stretch was never completed due to the economic struggles of the time, and the project was abandoned by 1842. Over the years, similar plans were proposed but were all ultimately abandoned. By 1936, the U.S. Congress approved the construction of a dam 9 miles above Falmouth, but it was never built.
* In 1854, a group of 21 enslaved people from Falmouth, KY, made their escape to Canada.
* The old Masonic temple in Falmouth is the only three-story building on Shelby Street. It has served as a meeting hall for the Masons, the Oddfellows, and the KKK. I was once told that the third floor was added specifically for the KKK. Later, the building housed Houchen’s clothes and shoes before being converted into apartments.
* Unfortunately, Falmouth has a rather sordid history of KKK involvement. In 1925, it was referred to as one of the “peppiest” Klans in the state.
* In 1859, the Louisville Daily Courier reported that large quantities of silver ore had been discovered in Pendleton County, including Falmouth and the surrounding areas.
* Finally, I’ve saved the most ridiculous historical reporting for last. In 1916, the Falmouth Outlook reported the sighting of a huge raccoon, comparable in size to a 12-year-old boy. The hide itself was said to be 7 feet long. This just goes to show you that even back then, the Outlook wasn’t above stretching the truth for their own purposes.
Today’s Random Falmouth Facts
