Latest / The City of Frankfort Podcast / Ep 28: Liberty Haller- Frankfort’s America 250 Music & History Festival

Transcript

Ep 28: Liberty Haller- Frankfort’s America 250 Music & History Festival · The City of Frankfort Podcast

0:22
She could preach out, go vote show out. Hello, everyone. Hello.
0:25
Welcome to Liberty Haller.
0:30
Thank you for braving the heat. My name is Sam Dunn. I'm the executive director
0:34
of Liberty Hall Historic Site, and I'm honored to kick off the music festival today.
0:40
I'd like to thank our sponsors, Buffalo Trace, and our local stage sponsors,
0:44
Independence Bank and the Frankfurt Arts Foundation.
0:51
That's a little better. Our awesome committee has worked so,
0:53
so hard for this. Thank you to the city of Frankfurt, to Maddie, to Rebecca, to Blair.
0:59
Thank you to Susie with DFI and to Randy with Visit Frankfurt.
1:03
This has been a true group effort.
1:08
I'm speaking today on behalf of Liberty Hall Historic Site. It's the namesake
1:12
of the festival and it's located just over there by the entrance tent.
1:16
Liberty Hall was first built in 1796. Frankfurt at that time was just dirt roads and log cabins.
1:26
And in the midst of this frontier town, a mansion appeared.
1:31
And it was the home of John Brown, who was Kentucky's first U.S.
1:35
Senator. John was friends with Jefferson. He actually studied and worked with Jefferson.
1:40
Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago this year.
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So we've got a slice of the Declaration right here in Frankfurt.
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The house he built was one of the first brick buildings in the city.
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And John and his wife, Margareta, actually brought the ideals of the revolution
2:01
that all men are created equal here to Kentucky. And through Kentucky,
2:06
it spread throughout the rest of the country.
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If the walls of Liberty Hall could talk, they would talk about over 200 years of people,
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Indigenous leaders, families, enslaved peoples It's generations of stories and.
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Legends And yes, there are a couple ghost stories too.
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For over two centuries, Liberty Hall and Frankfurt have played a pivotal role
2:31
in local and national history.
2:33
Several presidents have visited, and countless families have celebrated here in the Garden.
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It all started with the generation that actually wrote the Declaration of Independence,
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and here we are today continuing that legacy.
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When we began to talk about this festival, when we were planning it,
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of course we wanted to include Liberty Hall, and we wanted to talk about the
2:58
revolutionary history of Kentucky.
3:01
But we also wanted this to be a celebration of the wider Kentucky,
3:05
of the rivers that define us, and of the music that grows out of the hollers of Kentucky.
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So Liberty Holler was born. All we needed was a great lineup,
3:16
and we found a great lineup today.
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On that note, I would like to introduce our first act. Born and raised in Frankfurt,
3:24
Jerry Howe and Nat Colton grew up on bluegrass, Appalachian,
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country, classical, and world musical traditions,
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They sow seeds of each other into their own lyrics and melodies to create a
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signature folk Americana sound With Howe on guitar and Colton playing banjo,
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their vocals pour out like bourbon and aleate A sweet burn, mixed well and meant
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to be I love that so much You know, that sounds pretty dang good on a day like today.
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Let's make some noise. And thank you to all who put this festival together.
4:02
Thank you to Jerry and Matt. Enjoy yourselves.
6:31
Good afternoon, everybody. It is my job to introduce the next musical act for the afternoon.
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And as a business owner, when we're given a mic, we never forget to take the
6:42
opportunity to do a little shameless marketing.
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I am Captain Nathan Deppenbrock with the Bourbon Boat, which we just cruised
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by about 30 minutes ago, if you were sitting there watching.
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I didn't want to honk the horn because I'd expect.
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In 1776, not only were we gaining our independence from the motherland,
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but a couple of gentlemen were
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laying out a little town just downstream there, Willis and Hancock Lee.
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Actually built a little town where they found all these migrating herds of bison
7:08
crossing over the river. They actually put on a map that they built that town
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right where there was a buffalo trace.
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And, of course, our town grew. And a few years later, you know.
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A young Jewish immigrant, a young salt farmer, a 20-year-old salt farmer was
7:22
fording this river here as part of a salt party and was killed on an island
7:28
that you can't see out here today.
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But right out here beyond us is Fish Trap Island, a beautiful island where Native
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Americans used to hang nets up on either side and trap fish.
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And this salt farmer by the name of Stephen Frank was fording our river right
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out here where you guys are sitting and he was camping on this island when he
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lost his life in some sort of skirmish.
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And a lot of the people down there in Lee's town started talking about what
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happened to Stephen Frank because he died right there. He forded the river.
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He died at what they started calling the Stephen Franks Ford.
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And Stephen Franks Ford, if y'all are from Kentucky, you know,
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we don't pronounce everything just right. Stephen Franks Ford said enough times became Frankfurt.
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And the name kind of stuck. And a few years later, Revolutionary War General
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James Wilkinson starts to lay out our city grid in 1786 and commissions our
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town in October of that year.
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So Frankfort was born because of this S curve on the river that you guys are
8:21
getting to sit and see in the backdrop here today.
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So if you ever get the opportunity to come out with us on the river,
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if you don't own a boat, if you don't own a canoe or a kayak,
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if you don't own a boat, we would be honored to take you out on this river and
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teach you a little bit of the history of it.
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We love teaching bourbon history, Kentucky history. We're passionate about our
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waterways here in Kentucky.
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If you didn't know it and you're a Kentuckian, we have more miles of free-flowing
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stream bank than any other state in the United States, except for Alaska.
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We've got lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy our rivers, enjoy them safely.
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I couldn't do this without putting
8:54
a plug in. If you're going to canoe and kayak, wear your life jacket.
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That's definitely a smart thing to do. We'd love the opportunity to get you
9:00
out on the water and come see us sometime. So again, that's Canoe Kentucky and Kentucky River Tours.
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But that's not my job. That's not why I'm here today. I'm here to introduce our next musical group.
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So I'm introducing Violet in the Newsroom. So Violet in the Newsroom is an acoustic
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folk string band from central and eastern Kentucky, blending old time fiddle
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tunes with country, folk, and indie influences.
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Featuring fiddle, bass, mountain dulcimer, and rich three-part harmonies,
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the trio delivers an engaging performance rooted in Kentucky's rich musical traditions.
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Formed at Moorhead State University, Kentucky Center for Traditional Music,
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the band continues to share the distinctive sound at venues and festivals across the region.
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So if you guys wouldn't mind to join me and welcome out our next group,
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which is Violet in the Newsroom.
13:14
Because I think that's the best way to begin. My name is Dr.
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Eleanor Haskin-Wagner. I'm the director of the Capitol City Museum,
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located right over at 325 Ann Street, a hop, skip, and a jump from where you
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are currently residing. So I hope you all come by and check us out.
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The museum has one mission, to tell the stories of Frankfurt and Franklin County.
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Our community is really lucky to have an institution like the museum,
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which is supported both by the City of Frankfurt, as well as a separate board of directors.
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Over the years, the museum has grown from a modest organization on the second
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floor of the Downtown Parks Maintenance Building to a stand-alone,
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free admission organization with over 8,600 square feet of exhibits.
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We believe that telling our community's story is a powerful act,
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one that provides its context for why we're here, what we value,
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and the ways that we've grown.
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And we get to tell some pretty awesome and exciting stories because of this.
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That includes the story of Bourbon, the story of the Frankfurt famous fishing
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reels, and the story of the famed WWE wrestler and manager, Miss Elizabeth.
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To name a few, exactly, thank you.
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We also face a set of challenges that is familiar to anyone who is involved
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with museums, like our friend at Liberty Hall.
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Many of the historically well-documented events tell the stories of the people
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who were once in power, particularly white men with significant financial means.
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In looking around us now, as we gather here at the bend of the river,
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we have an opportunity to face some of the most critical and challenging aspects
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of our community's history.
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Near this alluring S-bend, with vast wild and natural resources,
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many Native peoples resided here.
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When the early surveyors and colonists arrived on the Kentucky River,
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they too identified the same qualities that the native peoples held dear.
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Abundant fishing, large game, fertile grounds, and easy modes of transit on the river.
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While today we do not have any federally recognized tribes in the area,
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this region was once home to East Cherokee, Osage, Uchi, Shawnee,
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Hopewell, and Adena people.
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The early surveyors witnessed these Native peoples utilizing the landscape to
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their advantage and began to emulate their practices.
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The Kentucky River, which is running behind me now if you did not know that,
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was not always as deep as it is today.
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Before we had the locks and dams, the river was much, much more shallow,
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and an island called Fish Trap Island was centered right in the middle of the current.
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The name originated from early colonists and surveyors who witnessed Native
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people fishing with large nets that extended from the island to the banks of the river.
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As colonists began to take over the landscape, tensions between the Native peoples
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and new inhabitants rose.
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In fact, also behind me runs a road that we all know as Devil's Hollow.
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This name originates from the, quote, Red Devils, who would hide among the cliff
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faces to launch arrows at the colonists.
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In fact, one such instance is said to have led to our community's name.
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Stephen Frank, a colonist camping on the riverbank, was shot from the cliffside
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here at the ford that was once behind me.
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Over time, it became known as Frank's Ford and eventually Frank Fort.
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Looking at our history, it is impossible to ignore the perspective which dominates
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many, many, many, many, many historical writings and publications.
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Native Americans were violent towards brave men and women who inhabit this land.
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We know with the context available to us now that this is much more complicated
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and nuanced than the portrayal that was historically accepted,
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which is why it is so important as we stand here today and reflect on the 250
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years of American history to take into consideration those who came before us,
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the indigenous people who taught us how to survive,
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how to adapt, and most importantly, how to live here.
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It is important that we honor our role in upending their lives and changing
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the landscape of their community.
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It is important that we name those who walked here before us and help ensure
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that they are safe, comfortable, and free to walk here again.
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The museum, along with the City of Frankfurt, recognizes that this land is the
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traditional homelands of many Indigenous nations and continues to remain home
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to those who have historically been marginalized and subjugated.
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We are committed, both at the museum and throughout our community at large,
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to tell these stories in the ways that we can of the East Cherokee, Osage, Uchi, Shawnee,
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Hopewell, and Adina people. Thank you all.
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Now that we've heard a little bit about our native history and connection to
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this land where we currently are, we are going to get back to more music.
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So up next, we have the band Mashgrass.
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Woo-woo! I know! Yeah!
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Woo-woo! Okay, I feel like we can all do a better round of applause for this
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next band, Mashgrass, one more time.
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Thank you. Very good. Okay, Mashed Grass, if you're unfamiliar,
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is a high-energy, five-piece bluegrass band from Versailles,
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Kentucky, known for its driving rhythms, tight harmonies, and lightning-fast instrumentals.
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Blending progressive and traditional bluegrass with guitar, mandolin,
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banjo, fiddle, and bass, the band delivers an energetic performance that keeps
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audiences tapping their feet from the first note.
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You can catch mash grass both here in just a few moments, but also at festivals
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and shows throughout Kentucky and beyond.
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One more time, mash grass.
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Well, I don't know what y'all did to be punished by having to endure me here.
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But on behalf of Liberty Hall and Buffalo Chase Distillery, they were the sponsors for this stage.
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And the stage would be nothing without performance.
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But the cool part about that is it would be even less if I did not mention these
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names that they would probably beat me up if I didn't.
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So where's Blair?
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All right, Stephanie, we got Susie.
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I've got a list here of, I'm going to try to run off a few of these.
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I think you captured just about everybody, with the exception of Susie and Sam.
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Well, that was close. So Susie and Sam, where is Sam at? All,
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right, is he back over there? All righty. So just a special round of applause
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for the people behind the scenes that are here. If you had something to do with
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this event today, please just
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raise your hand so that everybody can acknowledge you. Just a quickie.
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Hands up. I see you. All right. Hands up.
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So a little bit about how these pieces fit together. And I want to take you on a quick journey.
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How many of you out here realize that Frankfurt was a part of Virginia?
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It was known as Fincastle County, Virginia. All right.
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And so then later on, two famous French families were influential in the development of this territory.
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One was a general in the revolution. General Lafayette.
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Hence Fayette County, Lexington, Kentucky is named after him.
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The other family is the same family that today owns the French International Banks of Bourbon.
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It was a Bourbon family. And this territory known as Fincastle County,
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Virginia, became known as Bourbon County, Virginia.
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And during that period of time, the settlers started mixing corn with their
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rye whiskey and created a new sweet tasting whiskey that did not have a name,
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except Dern Good. That's some Dern Good whiskey coming out of there.
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So that whiskey became referenced as Bourbon County Whiskey and later on county
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gets dropped from the name hence Bourbon Whiskey.
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Fast forward something else kind of interesting happens. So how many of you
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know that the way that the city of Frankfort got started,
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was General Wilkinson owned this land that Frankfort is derived from?
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And the Thomas Jefferson at the time told the legislature they got an agreement
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and they debited out 100 acres of land.
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And believe it or not, that became what we know as Frankfort today.
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That was the origin of Frankfort, Kentucky.
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So Wilkinson Boulevard out here was named after him because he is the one that
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gave the land that started Frankfort to be where it is today.
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The name came about because there was a guy. he was he was a frontiersman and
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this territory this area had seven fords in the river and it was places you could cross the river,
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so where lock number four is that used to be a natural rapid and you could cross in that area,
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the buffalo had found it this dude's name was frank and so all of a sudden it
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became referenced as Frank's Ford.
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Hence Frank Fort as we know it today.
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So it's all about the hoots. So at the same time this is going on,
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the distillery that we know as Buffalo Trace today back then was known as OFC.
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And what very few people realize, the first shipment of whiskey down to New
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Orleans, the first whiskey cocktail was a Sazrak.
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And the rive whiskey came from right here in frankfurt kentucky isn't that kind
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of cool so this whole thing is about the hooch i just want you to know i just
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want you to know all right so what's important about this moment is this um.
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From me and from this team to you they're called coulds and shoulds,
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you could have made a decision not to come out in all of this heat and i can
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tell you this it was so hot just a moment ago that I saw two bald eagles,
25:04
rubbing sunscreen on the top of their heads. That's how hot it is out here. Got it?
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So coulds and shoulds just wanted to say thank you because you could have made
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a decision to be somewhere else.
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So Buffalo Trace and Frankfurt are like, let's say, a good bourbon on ice.
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Kind of cool, which would be appropriate right about now. So I'm not going to
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hold you up, but I just want you to understand that where you're sitting,
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Wilkinson Boulevard is where the city of Frankfort actually started
25:37
right here on the banks of the Kentucky River,
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so thank you very much enough about Freddie I think we have a pretty cool band
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here that we're about to do some stuff with,
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so are you ready daddy-o yeah all righty Susie you got something else you want to say.
25:54
All righty so let's give a standing ovation to Hancock and I always mess that
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up. All right, Hancock and Charles, rock and roll.
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Thank you, Susan. Thanks, Frankfort, everybody. We appreciate you.
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We'll be having you all night. We might go jump in the river.
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It is an honor for me to be here tonight.
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So, Frankfort is the capital city. On December 27, 1784, a delegation representing
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different military districts in Virginia gathered in Danville.
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The delegation had a spirited and lively discussion agreeing that these frontier
28:36
communities were facing military disadvantages,
28:40
unfair taxation, and the challenges that came with being so far removed from
28:45
the existing centers of government.
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For nearly a decade, these conversations continued. In 1792,
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President Washington accepted Kentucky's petition for statehood.
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A month later, delegates gathered to draft a constitution for the new commonwealth,
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and by June, Kentucky had its first governor, Isaac Shelby.
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But a new state needed a permanent home for its government.
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A committee was created to find the location for the state capitol.
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Together, they reviewed five bids for the permanent capitol.
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Leastown, Lexington, Petersburg, Louisville, and Frankfurt are all discussed.
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By early December of that year, Frankfurt was officially selected as the home
29:31
for the capital of Kentucky.
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That's okay, you can clap, that's good.
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Frankfort was the ideal location for the Capitol due to its central location
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within the then-major economic centers within the state.
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And with the help of a local business person, Andrew Holmes,
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who pledged valuable resources to kickstart construction, with that support,
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the first state house was constructed in 1793.
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That original building served Kentucky for 20 years before a fire destroyed it in 1813.
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A new Capitol was completed in 1816, designed with fire prevention in mind.
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But even that building faced challenges, suffering another devastating fire in 1824.
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Kentucky continued to grow, and so did the need for a stronger symbol of state government.
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Architect Idion Shyrock was chosen to design a new Capitol, creating the first
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Greek Revival building, completed in 1830.
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This Capitol featured the Kentucky River marble columns and the remarkable self-supporting
30:38
marble staircase that remains one of the building's defining features today.
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Over the years, there were repeated conversations about moving the Capitol,
30:47
but each attempt failed and Frankfort remained the center of Kentucky government.
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By the early 1900s, the state had outgrown the building.
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Legislators were meeting wherever space was available, including homes and taverns.
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And in 1904, funding was secured for a new capital.
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An architect, Frank Mills Andrew,
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was selected to design what would become the building we know today.
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The site chosen was the Hunt property located on a hill overlooking South Frankfurt.
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In 1906, more than 20,000 people gathered for the laying of the cornerstone.
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The street was renamed Capitol Avenue, and a new chapter of Kentucky's history began.
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The building was completed in 1909 and officially dedicated in 1910.
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And in the century since its initial dedication, the Capitol building has stood
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proudly in South Frankfort.
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Through renovations, updates, and changes, our state has remained committed to our community.
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And while a building may not seem like significant investment,
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it's about what these buildings represent.
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Because a Capitol building is never just a building.
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They are the whole of our democracy. They're a place of debate,
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compromise, and passion.
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Many Frankfurt residents have walked the halls of our state capitol alongside
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former presidents, congressional staffers, representatives, governors,
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lobbyists, and even celebrities.
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Decisions made within the offices and chambers of that building reverberate throughout the state.
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You know, many of us have heard the joke, How do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky? Louisville.
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While admittedly a decent clip about the pronunciation of Louisville,
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it points to the emotional reality that we are content within our community
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that there is a perception that we shouldn't be the state capitol.
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However, each and every one of us here tonight, right now, after sharing in
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this history of our state and capitol, we know that no other community in Kentucky
32:53
could share the determination and perseverance to continue to facilitate statewide democracy.
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Throughout history, Frankfort has demonstrated a real sense of confidence and
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a real ownership to what it means to be a leader in our commonwealth.
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It is not only together that we can persevere.
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And as we reflect on the 250 years of American history this year,
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I invite you to consider the ways in which you show up for your community and your democracy.
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Because when we look close in history, we often find the same lesson repeated.
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Progress does not happen because of one person or one place.
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It happens because people choose to show up together.
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It is my honor tonight to introduce the local honeys.
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They have made a notable name for themselves in Kentucky bluegrass and roots music scene.
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Blending traditional Kentucky music with modern Americana, they weave an old-time
34:04
banjo and fiddle into a rich contemporary sound.
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Through heartfelt songwriting and authentic storytelling, the duo captures the
34:13
beauty of complexity of modern Appalachian life, establishing them as two of
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the region's most compelling musical voices.
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Welcome to Frankfurt, ladies. Enjoy the local note.
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Last, but certainly not least, we've reached our headlining performance of the evening.
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Before we welcome the incredible Cole Chaney to the stage, it's my honor to
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introduce one of Frankfurt's own headliners, our Mayor, Lane Wilkerson.
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Mayor Wilkerson will share a few remarks about the origins of Frankfurt as the
36:09
greatest city in Kentucky.
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The greatest city in Kentucky.
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Before introducing one of the Commonwealth's notable Americana singer-songwriters, Cole Cheney.
36:21
So please join me in giving a warm welcome to Mayor of Frankfurt, Lane Wilkerson.
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Thank you, Susie, and good evening, everyone. I am Frankfurt Mayor Lane Wilkerson,
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and on behalf of City of Frankfurt, City Commissioners Katima Smith-Willis,
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Lisa Unger, Kelly May, and Rob Richardson, I want to welcome you to the Liberty
36:48
Holler America 250 Music Festival.
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As we gather tonight to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States,
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it is fitting that we gather here in Kentucky's capital city.
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There are few places in America that tell the story of our nation as completely
37:04
as it can be right here in Frankfort.
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Long before Kentucky became a state. The ideals that gave birth to our nation
37:13
were already making their way across the mountains and into the Kentucky frontier.
37:17
In 1773, Captain Hancock Taylor began surveying land, traveling down the Ohio
37:23
River, taking a left onto the Kentucky River and following it upstream to what
37:28
is now Buffalo Trace Distillery.
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Here, Taylor laid out 600 acres that would ultimately become the foundation of our city.
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Revolutionary War veteran James Wilkinson then purchased the land for $433 And in,
37:44
1786 founded Frankfort and was successful
37:48
in petitioning the Virginia legislature to establish it as a town,
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Frankfort quickly grew from a frontier settlement into the pedagogical and commercial
37:57
heart of our young Commonwealth,
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When Kentucky entered the Union in 1792 as the 15th state, Frankfort was soon
38:04
selected as the capital where Kentuckians came together to govern themselves.
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Here laws were written, leaders emerged, commerce flourished,
38:13
and decisions were made that helped shape not only our commonwealth, but the nation.
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Like America itself, Frankfurt has experienced both triumph and trial.
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Over nearly two and a half centuries, Frankfurt has weathered floods,
38:26
war, economic changes, and even a Confederate occupation.
38:31
Through it all, our city has never stopped moving forward. Each generation has
38:36
worked to lead something better for those that follow.
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Today, we have a privilege and a responsibility in arriving the next chapter.
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Across our city, familiar landmarks are changing.
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The historic buildings and structures are being restored or giving way to modern
38:54
ones that will serve better for future generations.
38:59
New economic centers are emerging, and investments are being made in amenities,
39:04
infrastructure, and our future.
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I believe that Frankfurt is the very best of Kentucky. It is where our history,
39:11
our culture, and our government all come together.
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Frankfurt is Kentucky distilled. It embodies everything that makes the Commonwealth
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special, all in one spirited package.
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As the mayor of Frankfurt, I'm proud to represent a community experience in
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this renewal, a capital city that is stronger, more vibrant,
39:31
and more confident than at any point in its recent history.
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And I believe the same could be true for our country. Just like Frankfurt,
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America has never been a finished project.
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It has always been a nation in the process of becoming it.
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Every generation has faced uncertainty. Every generation has debated the future.
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Every generation has wondered whether change was good.
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And every generation has questioned whether America's best days were behind them.
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As we gather tonight to celebrate America's 250th anniversary,
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I choose to look forward with optimism because optimism settled Kentucky.
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Optimism built Franklin. Optimism carried this nation through war,
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depression, natural disasters, and every challenge in between.
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And optimism will carry us into the future. During one of America's darkest
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hours, President Abraham Lincoln reminded the nation the dogmas of the quiet
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past are inadequate to the stormy present.
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The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion.
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Every generation has had its occasion, and this one is ours.
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So let us meet it with the same courage that settled the frontier,
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the same determination that built this capital city, and the remarkable confidence
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that carried America for 250 years.
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Because I believe the greatest days of Frankfurt are not behind us.
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I believe the greatest days of America are not behind us.
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Let's all rise to the occasion with confidence that the best is yet to come.
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May God continue to bless the city of Frankfurt, the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
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and these United States of America. I want to thank everybody for coming and
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joining us tonight for this milestone Independence Day celebration.
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I'm sorry. My head, sir. Thanks for being in.
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So, ladies and gentlemen, our headliner tonight is one of Kentucky's fastest-rising
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musical talents from Catlixburg, Kentucky.
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He first gained attention with the 2021 debut album, Mercy, followed by the
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In the Shadow of the Mountain.
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His songs capture the heart, grit, and the resilience of Appalachia.
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And his authentic storytelling has earned him fans across the Commonwealth and beyond.
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Please join me in giving a warm, franklin' welcome to Cole Chaney.
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Check one, two. How y'all doing tonight?
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Give it up to the local honeys.
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Great friends of ours. We just, not too long ago, got back from a tour through
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the northeast with the honeys.
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And that was one of the highlights of probably my career and maybe my life, but for sure this year.