 Andy Elliott, left, and John Carrico unveil new sign. Note the historic highway marker in background. (Fancy Farm, KY – July 20, 2014) Fancy Farm’s St. Jerome’s Church unveiled a new bronze plaque on this hot, sunny summer afternoon. The plaque commemorates the designation of seventeen acres of the St. Jerome’s Catholic Church Complex in this small Graves County community listing in the National Register of Historic Places on January 8, 2014.
Designed and cast in the foundry of Eagle Sign & Design of Louisville, the handsomely modern 300 pound sign. Committee members singled out Timi Overton of Eagle Signs for her help in creating the design.
Being placed on the historic register is not a quick or simple process. The site had to first be accepted on Kentucky’s registry of historic places before it could be sent to the national group for consideration. Melinda Winchester was hired to assist the church in the successful effort. Winchester had also assi sted in getting the Coca Cola plant in Paducah on the register.
John Carrico, shown here with the new sign, led the effort to get the site registered. He said that being on the National Historic Register would grant some tax breaks and that the state would not be able to run a road through the property or condemn it for other purposes.
Committee Chair Andy Elliott, Gayle Elliott and John Carrico worked with Father Darrell Venters, St. Jerome’s Parish pastor to get the whole campus designated. In addition to the historic school, church and cemetery where early settlers to the area are buried, the site includes a senior center, Knights of Columbus hall, senior apartments, group home and the Fancy Farm Picnic area with its newly renovated and expanded speaker’s platform. |
