A Kentucky railroad depot and dirt road in the early twentieth century

Local History

Bradford House

The home of the family for which Bradfordsville was named.

In the early 1800’s brothers from Pennsylvania came to Kentucky; Adam, Peter, and James. Of the brothers, only James stayed. Peter went back to Pennsylvania about 1811, Adam built a large log cabin in 1810, with approximately 4-5 slave cabins in the rear. These structures were located on a hill near the O’Bannon Cemetery. It is speculated that the log cabin was burned down in February 1865 by Quantrill’s Guerillas. Adam eventually went on to Missouri around 1818.

In the early days supplies and services had to come from larger cities like Louisville, each trip would take two to four weeks. These supplies were hauled on carts, moved by horse and hand, sometimes to and from the hills of the Rolling Fork. On one of the very tedious journeys, because of the distance and the wait time to be served by the mill they were taking corn and other materials to for grinding, Peter was frustrated with the service received and time lost. When he returned home he declared to his wife, “this is the last time, I’m going to have a mill of my own”.

The grist mill was built about 1807 by Peter along the South Fork of the Rolling Fork River where Adam’s property sat.

In 1866 a new Bradford house was erected by Henry White Bradford. This house was the first house in Bradfordsville to have running water, it was a gravity fed system with a windmill and tank on the hill, forcing water down to the house.

Colorized photograph of the Old Bradford House with children skating in the foreground — Colorized view of the house with skaters on the ice, early 1900's.

Black and white photograph of a crowd of skaters in front of the Old Bradford Home about 1912 — Skaters on the North Fork in front of the Old Bradford Home, about 1912.

Colorized photograph of the Old Bradford House with its two-story porch — The two-story front porch and chimneys, around late 1990's.

The weathered Old Bradford House seen across a creek — The house in decline beside the creek, about early 2000's.

Stories & Memories

"I have always loved this house. My dad talked about the huge parties that were held on the grounds, and all the town would come to celebrate. I remember going Hickory Nut hunting, riding a donkey back over the hills with mom and dad and the Chester Pittman family. I remember the birthday parties with the Rose Edward family, so much fun." ~David Edelen

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