Legends and ghosts of Clinton, Kentucky
Ivan Potter, West Kentucky Journal
We often walk with ghosts on a daily basis. They are there with us on the sidewalks of our lives. They haunt the dark places of the day. They whisper to us as we pass certain buildings where the windows often seemed from another time and space. These ghosts care not for our thoughts but rather stand guard over their own secrets as if to taunt we mere mortals into scratching through their yesterdays. They smile in the mist of what has been and we call it history. Today, I walk a certain sidewalk in Clinton, Kentucky that has been corrupted by the ravages of too many late evening thunder storms or mid winter ice storms. Now, all that is left of this once proud 50 feet of concrete and skilled artisan labor is broken and falling into concrete failure. Yet, this wall and its sidewalk stand guard, as best as they can over the comings and goings of spirits, both human and ghost to the entrance of the old Jewell House on Clay Street. This is the place I stand before approaching a stately two story clapboard wooden house, with full wraparound outside porches, upstairs and downstairs, framed with gingerbread trim. This is my connection. Virginia Jewell. For many years during the 20th Century, she was the leader in Clinton for championing the arts, writing local history and making all she came into contact with feel as if she had known you her entire life. I remembered how much local history I learned from Miss Virginia. Many times Virginia would ride along with me and give me her special tour- recounting the importance of houses and buildings to the history of not only Clinton, but the entire Jackson Purchase. It was in special places like the Van Slambrouck house and many others that she took inspiration and solitude. She loved this place called Clinton and worked hard to bring new ideas, lead community visions, edit a newspaper, write poems and books. Some old timers in these parts say “Miss Virginia gave a part of her spirit to help shape the soul of Clinton.” Maybe the old timers are right. What if Miss Virginia’s spirit does sometimes visit the near by woods just out clear sight when the light of day is weak? It is a nice feeling to think that the legend of Virginia Jewell’s creativity may have blossomed in this setting of wooden mansion and shadows from the nearby woods.
Editor's Note: What Ivan calls the "Jewel House" is on the historic register as the Watson House (see related story)
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