Springfield: Kentucky's Own

Elvis is alive and well in Springfield, Kentucky. He’s been seen in the same room with Abraham Lincoln and a local moonshiner. More about that in a moment.

Central Kentucky has its iconic images. They begin around Lebanon, well, Loretto and continue in a fair swoop until about Paris or so. The distilleries. The horses. Those pastures and fences. Travel Brochures in the flesh and blood. At the same time, the bluegrass region is confidently predictable. Woodford County reminds of Bourbon County. Fayette outskirts remind of Mercer. Anderson flows into Franklin. It’s by design and hopefully forever. In that midst, there is Washington County. It draws from most but answers to none, an identity all its own.

At the north end of the county is a long, old covered bridge contributing to that identity. At one time, Kentucky had 400 across rivers and creeks from end to end. Today, just 13 are left and one can be seen silent here. It’s cordoned off next to the newer bridge built to replace it. Nothing replaced the nostalgia it created, however. Simply staring at it was enough to bring a smile to the face and wonder what earlier times were like.

In Springfield, those earlier times included much religious study and occasional entertainment. In the 1820s, Catholics set up a school that has today become a sprawling campus of up to date structures called St. Catharine College. As for the entertainment, an Opera House downtown, built in 1900 and still staging productions in 2014 and beyond. An anchor in a downtown that also sports a Lincoln history museum in the old County Courthouse across the street from a statue of the 16^th President. His folks married in the county in those early days of Kentucky history.

The horses are in places here and there, but certainly the local alpaca farm is the most popular with visitors. Here, a couple moved from Idaho along with 20 or so camel looking creatures and began to shear them for their wool to make crafted items ranging from socks to scarves. One can feed, pet, or smile at the animals. Then buy an item made from their fur.

Winemaking has come to Kentucky, and in the valleys surrounding a backroad near Horseshoe Bend, the grapes are harvested for Reds and Whites. The names of the flavors alone are enough reason to sit down and enjoy a conversation with the experts here. "King Kong’s Thong" was one such variety that made it on national television a few times.

Friendliness was certainly noticed here, and back in town at Mordechai’s. A restaurant downtown that had a chef out on the buffet for Sunday brunch that could make an omelet to order. The sort of place where folks said hello to you from the next booth over.

But it was the nightcap that gave the most entertainment. Near that college, an old mansion first constructed by one of the town’s founders, now occupied by one of the town’s most talented. A dollmaker, who, with wool and a needle, had made a figure of Lincoln so accurate he may as well been still with us. Next to him, a moonshiner was still in progress next to his still. Every doll, several of them, had a story to go with them. And marionettes hung on the walls. One was Elvis. At the request of one visitor, Elvis, still in the building, danced the Jailhouse Rock while Lincoln looked on. After that, our host, Norma Campbell had us sit down at her spread of country ham, green beans, hot tomatoes, casseroles, fresh bread, and berry berry pie.

At the last bite I paused to take in the definition of hospitality that the day had been. And how Springfield had certainly contributed to the cultural wealth of Kentucky in a way only it could provide.

-Special Thanks to Carla and Atam Abbi while on site in Washington County.

For more information on these attractions and locations, visit www.seespringfieldky.com