Bourbon County Confederate Monument
Encyclopedia
The Bourbon County Confederate Monument, located in the middle of the Paris Cemetery of Paris, Kentucky
, was built by the Confederate Monument Association in 1887. Like many monuments to the Confederate States of America
in Kentucky
, it is an obelisk
, but is unique for being built like a chimney. The structure is made of mortared limestone
, locally quarried, with the chimney being 30 feet (9.1 m) tall on a 10 feet (3 m) base.
On the rear of the monument is a list of all those who died in the War from Bourbon County
for the Confederacy, or those serving the Confederacy who died in Bourbon County. Bourbon was one of the more Confederate of counties; by November 1863, 700 men from Bourbon County served for the Confederate cause, whereas only 200 men from the county fought with the Union.
On July 17, 1997, it was one of sixty-one different monuments to the Civil War
in Kentucky placed on the National Register of Historic Places
, as part of the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky Multiple Property Submission.
The Paris Cemetery's gatehouse, made of granite, is also on the National Register, placed there on November 24, 1978. The cemetery was founded in 1847, with the gatehouse finished in 1862 by architect John McMurtry
. When opened, many families re-interred their dead in the new cemetery. The most notable person buried here is John Fox, Jr.
, whose novel
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine was the first work of American literature to sell over a million copies. Aside from the Confederate Monument, other war memorials in the cemetery honor those who fought in the Mexican-American War, World War II
, Korean War
, and the Vietnam War
. A walking tour has been designed for those wishing to tour the cemetery.
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, was built by the Confederate Monument Association in 1887. Like many monuments to the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
in 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...
, it is an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, but is unique for being built like a chimney. The structure is made of mortared limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, locally quarried, with the chimney being 30 feet (9.1 m) tall on a 10 feet (3 m) base.
On the rear of the monument is a list of all those who died in the War from Bourbon County
Bourbon County, Kentucky
Bourbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the remnant of what was previously a much larger Bourbon County, established as part of Virginia in 1785, and comprising what are now thirty-four modern Kentucky counties...
for the Confederacy, or those serving the Confederacy who died in Bourbon County. Bourbon was one of the more Confederate of counties; by November 1863, 700 men from Bourbon County served for the Confederate cause, whereas only 200 men from the county fought with the Union.
On July 17, 1997, it was one of sixty-one different monuments to the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in Kentucky placed on the 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...
, as part of the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky Multiple Property Submission.
The Paris Cemetery's gatehouse, made of granite, is also on the National Register, placed there on November 24, 1978. The cemetery was founded in 1847, with the gatehouse finished in 1862 by architect John McMurtry
John McMurtry (architect)
John McMurtry was an 19th century American builder and architect who worked in Lexington, Kentucky designing a number of notable buildings, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
. When opened, many families re-interred their dead in the new cemetery. The most notable person buried here is John Fox, Jr.
John Fox, Jr.
John Fox, Jr. was an American journalist, novelist, and short story writer.-Biography:Born in Stony Point, Bourbon County, Kentucky, to John William Fox, Sr., and Minerva Worth Carr, Fox studied English at Harvard University. He graduated in 1883 before becoming a reporter in New York City...
, whose novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine was the first work of American literature to sell over a million copies. Aside from the Confederate Monument, other war memorials in the cemetery honor those who fought in the Mexican-American War, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. A walking tour has been designed for those wishing to tour the cemetery.