The West-Metcalfe House in Wayne County is recognized as an outstanding historic preservation and restoration project in Kentucky.

The Mill Springs Battlefield Association received the Historic Preservation Award in Frankfort at the Governor’s Executive Mansion.

The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation presents this award to the organization that has contributed in some significant way to the preservation of part of Kentucky’s history for the benefit of future generations.

Present to receive the award for the Association and acknowledgement for their part in the project were Bill Neikirk, association president, Norrie Wake, association administrator (retired), Joe Brent, project manager and historic consultant and Ed Wolf, restoration designer and contractor.

The West-Metcalfe House is one of the earliest brick homes in Kentucky.

Built in 1800 with bricks fired on the property, the house would have been an oasis of elegance and hospitality in the early years of the nation and state.

Visitors would have included neighbors and strangers traveling through the area. “Raccoon” John Smith, the famous preacher, evangelist and participant in the “Great Awaking” that started in Kentucky, preached and married couples in this house.

General Felix Zollicoffer used this house before the Battle of Mill Springs as his headquarters when he arrived in Mill Springs in November, 1861.

After the Battle of Mill Springs, the house was a sanctuary for the battle weary soldiers escaping to the south, a hospital for the wounded and a final resting place for the soldiers who died of their wounds.

Norrie Wake, who was administrator of the Battlefield Association at the time of the restoration, said, “History teaches us lessons from the past and by applying those lessons we get a glimpse of what the future might offer. The character and values of our pioneer ancestors are to be found in structures and artifacts as well as in words. We preserve this house because those enduring values are part of our shared vision as a nation and people and can guide us forward into the future regardless of our differences today.”

The project owes its success to many people in the community who shared the vision of what this project could mean to the community. The house and one acre of land was deeded as a gift to the association through the generosity of Nick Cooley.

Retired State Representative Kenneth Upchurch obtained a grant for the restoration project. Local contractors and suppliers were used for most of the work on the project. Harlan Ogle of the Wayne County Museum provided valuable information and pictures that assisted in the accurate reconstruction of some of the house’s architectural features.

Bill Neikirk has served as the Association’s president since it was founded. Neikirk said, “Wayne County is fortunate to have two structures from the period of the Civil War, the West-Metcalfe House and the Brown-Lanier House. Both houses may be seen by guided tours with knowledgeable docents.”

The project would not have been possible without the historical guidance of Joe Brent, who with his wife Maria, own Mudpuppy and Waterdog Historic Consultants, and the carpentry skills of Ed Wolf of Wayne County.

Wolf owns and operates Hollow Works. He does custom building and remodeling as well as finish carpentry. Much of the work on the West-Metcalfe House had to be done by hand in order to replicate some of the woodwork and joinery that was in the original house. Wolf attended several programs in Early American Woodworking and Masonry to be sure that the job met the standards of the National Registry and the Kentucky Heritage Council. Wolf, during the period of restoration, became the unofficial tour guide. He was always willing to take time to show the house and talk to visitors about the history.

For more information about this National Historic Landmark, a major portion of which is in Wayne County, to book special events, or to help with historic preservation projects, call the Mill Springs Office at 606-340-1656 or the Museum Office in Nancy, Kentucky at 606-636-4045. Other information is available at www.millsprings.net.