470738

COPYRIGHT, 1892

BY THE FILSON CLUB

THE CENTENARY OF KENTUCKY.

HE FILSON CLUB, at its meeting in June, 1891, determined to celebrate Wednesday, June 1,

Τ

1892, as the one hundredth anniversary of the separation of Kentucky from Virginia, and its admission. into the Union as an independent state. An executive committee consisting of twelve members of the club was appointed, and to them was given full authority to arrange for such a celebration as they might think proper. This committee consisted of

The committee at first contemplated the building of a pioneer fort in one of the Louisville parks, and placing in it for exhibition such mementoes of the time at which Kentucky became an independent state as could be procured for this purpose by gift, loan, or purchase. It was found, however, that such an exhibition would be attended by heavier costs than it was deemed prudent to impose upon the members of the club, and it was abandoned. It was finally determined to limit the celebration to a historical address, a poem, and a banquet, at which selected toasts should be responded to by chosen speakers.

In accordance with this simple programme, a goodly number of the members of the club and of citizens who were not members assembled at Macauley's Theater, at ten o'clock in the morning. The stage was occupied by venerable citizens who had passed or approached the seventieth mile-stone in life's journey, and some of whose long lives dated back almost to the birth of the state.

Among these old citizens were Isaac R. Green (the Nestor of the band, aged ninety-three), Jas. S. Lithgow, Robt. J. Elliott, Americus Symmes, Dr. Thomas Bohannon, Dr. John Thruston, Isaac L. Hyatt, Hamilton Pope, Chas. S. Snead, Edwin Fullion, Patrick Bannon, L. D. Pearson, Frank Carter, Neville Bullitt, Rev. J. H. Heywood, Rev. E. T. Perkins, Rev. R. H. Rivers, Wm. D. Gallagher,