Images of America: Paris and Bourbon County takes readers back in time to the days when the horseless carriage was still a glimmer in Henry Ford's eye and the term horsepower meant just that. Those, too, were the days in Bourbon County, the birthplace of bourbon whiskey, when distilleries dotted the map, and saloons almost outnumbered churches. Nestled in the heart of the famed Bluegrass region of Kentucky, Paris and Bourbon are known for their beauty and charm. The communities featured in this volume revel in their rich traditions but also delight in their survival through changing times. A variety of vintage images of long-forgotten treasures are included in this book. Some of the rare snapshots show the Interurban, which ran between Paris and Lexington; the Paris Opera House; early stores; church buildings and church groups; as well as many early schools. While time has changed many of the physical sites pictured in this volume, some-like the Cane Ridge Meeting House and the Bourbon County Courthouse-live on. Also showcased are the many people who contributed to the unique character of Bourbon County and its towns and hamlets, including renowned author John Fox Jr., Confederate soldiers, African-American church deacons, and lots of "everyday folks."

In 1901, a Black man was hung from the handsome arched gate that welcomed visitors to the Bourbon County courthouse, a massive French-Renaissance edifice with a bell tower soaring 113 feet into the sky. The courthouse had cast a shadow over the town square for more than two decades, presiding over justice and injustice alike. It muffled the thunderous applause after a political speech, the auctioneer's rhythmic chant, the joyous chatter of court-day festivities, and the deafening silence of a body swaying in the cold early morning air. Who was George Carter? What led to the lynching? What was the aftermath?In the Courthouse's Shadow answers these questions and asks a few more. As we continue to struggle with unequal justice in this country, George Carter's story is a reminder of the price we have paid for failing to address racial challenges that have been a part of this nation since its founding.

Original thinking is a hallmark of the people of Bourbon County, Kentucky, and evident in those who have made an impact on American life. The list includes Jacob Spears, who gave the name "bourbon" in honor of his county to the aged whiskey he sold in New Orleans; Barton Stone, who was involved in the creation of the Christian Church at the Cane Ridge Meeting House; and Garrett Morgan, who was born in 1877 to former slaves and went on to invent the gas mask and the tri-color traffic signal. The industrious spirit of Bourbon County's citizens is celebrated in this volume, a visual record of the county featuring the once-thriving bourbon industry, rarely seen photographs of early churches, and glimpses of African-American life in the community. Other photos show the transformation of Main Street in Paris as this thoroughfare prospered and changed and the courthouses built in the county over the years; early "action" photos show the third courthouse ablaze in 1901. Hundreds of familiar faces are captured in this engaging collection, some even pictured in front of the one-room schoolhouses of yesteryear. Photos from the 1898 celebration marking the end of the Spanish-American War show a joyous, patriotic community, coming together in a spirit of celebration.

Kentucky bourbon is world-renowned, and the distilling of this corn-based liquor has deep roots in almost every corner of the state. Hundreds of distilleries dotted the landscape, beginning with the early settlements until 1920, when the vast majority were closed because of Prohibition. Many of the distilleries never reopened and became "lost," with only old photographs left to tell this story of dedicated craftsmanship. In some cases, distilleries reopened during a "bourbon boom" when Prohibition finally ended in 1933, only to falter a few decades later. Some of those distilleries were sold and portions of the properties, like warehouses, reused by the new owner. Despite everything, bourbon distilling remains a major industry in the state--and a world-famous icon for Kentucky. Kentucky's Lost Bourbon Distilleries is dedicated to the many people who worked at distilleries that may be "lost" but are not forgotten.