Payne-Desha House
Encyclopedia
The Payne-Desha House is an historic house located on land west of Royal Spring Branch near downtown Georgetown, Kentucky
, USA
that was the built in 1814 by Robert Payne, a Kentucky
war hero from the Battle of the Thames
. Also, the house was the last residence of Joseph Desha
, the ninth governor of Kentucky
.
The property was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
on December 2, 1974.
established the town of Lebanon, Virginia
near McClelland's Station, an abandoned army fort. The name was changed to George Town in 1790 as a tribute to the first President of the United States
, George Washington
. The town was centered around Royal Spring, a large spring
that was reliable source of water for the residents and industry in the area.
The Payne-Desha House was built on the west side of Royal Spring Branch on land originally owned by Elijah Craig. After Craig's death in 1808, General Richard Gano and Josiah Pitts purchased the property near Royal Spring Branch from Craig's
estate. In 1814 General John Payne bought both pieces of land making a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) estate. Payne's son Robert and daughter-in-law Maria (Williams) built a large stone
house on the property. Financial circumstances forced the sale of the estate in 1821 and Benjamen Smith bought the property.
During the later years of his life, former Kentucky Governor Joseph Desha and his wife Margaret relocated to Georgetown. The couple first resided on East Main Street, then in 1841 moved to the property along Royal Spring Branch. Desha lived in the Payne-Desha House until his death on October 11, 1842.
James Y. Kelly owned the property in the later part of the 19th century when extensive changes were made to the exterior of the house. Another long time resident of the house was James R. Hamilton, who remodeled the structure in 1955 and 1975.
As first built, the Payne-Desha house featured "an arch spanned central hall, a winding staircase, ash floors, sunburst
design mantel
s, beaded and fluted woodwork, three basements, and a hipped roof
" making the stone building one of the most intricate early stone structures in Scott County, Kentucky.
The exterior of the house was altered in the late 19th century with the addition of Italianate style porches, hoodmolds, and roofbrackets.
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that was the built in 1814 by Robert Payne, a Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
war hero from the Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. It took place on October 5, 1813, near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada...
. Also, the house was the last residence of Joseph Desha
Joseph Desha
Joseph Desha was a U.S. Representative and the ninth Governor of Kentucky. Desha was the first Kentucky governor not to have served in the Revolutionary War. He did, however, serve under William Henry Harrison and "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian War, and lost two brothers in battle...
, the ninth governor of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
The property was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 2, 1974.
History
In 1784, Elijah CraigElijah Craig
Rev. Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher in Virginia, who became an educator and capitalist entrepreneur in the area of Virginia that later became the state of Kentucky...
established the town of Lebanon, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
near McClelland's Station, an abandoned army fort. The name was changed to George Town in 1790 as a tribute to the first President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. The town was centered around Royal Spring, a large spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
that was reliable source of water for the residents and industry in the area.
The Payne-Desha House was built on the west side of Royal Spring Branch on land originally owned by Elijah Craig. After Craig's death in 1808, General Richard Gano and Josiah Pitts purchased the property near Royal Spring Branch from Craig's
estate. In 1814 General John Payne bought both pieces of land making a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) estate. Payne's son Robert and daughter-in-law Maria (Williams) built a large stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
house on the property. Financial circumstances forced the sale of the estate in 1821 and Benjamen Smith bought the property.
During the later years of his life, former Kentucky Governor Joseph Desha and his wife Margaret relocated to Georgetown. The couple first resided on East Main Street, then in 1841 moved to the property along Royal Spring Branch. Desha lived in the Payne-Desha House until his death on October 11, 1842.
James Y. Kelly owned the property in the later part of the 19th century when extensive changes were made to the exterior of the house. Another long time resident of the house was James R. Hamilton, who remodeled the structure in 1955 and 1975.
Architecture
Originally, the Payne-Desha House was built in the Federal style, and in the late 19th century the structure was updated to the then popular Italianate style. Additionally, the house underwent renovations in 1955 and 1975.Sunburst (design)
A Sunburst is a design or figure commonly used in architectural ornaments and design patterns. It consists of rays or "beams" radiating out from a central disk in the manner of sunbeams. Sometimes part of a sunburst, a semicircular or semi-elliptical shape, is used...
design mantel
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
s, beaded and fluted woodwork, three basements, and a hipped roof
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
" making the stone building one of the most intricate early stone structures in Scott County, Kentucky.
The exterior of the house was altered in the late 19th century with the addition of Italianate style porches, hoodmolds, and roofbrackets.