Main Streets of Bourbon County

View of Paris Main St from courthouse belfry

The Elks Building on the Courthouse Square

Built in 1901 for the Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. 373, the lodge used the third and fourth stories for their club rooms and leased the first two floors for offices and retail space. The Freemasons bought the building in 1926. By the 1940s the Bourbon Hotel moved from its location on 2nd and Main Street and occupied most of the building.

Fire Truck Advertisment for a Blockbuster Movie

Promoters of the 1922 silent film, Third Alarm, enlisted the aid of the local fire department and their truck for advertising this popular movie. It was shown at the Alamo Theatre during the day and at the Paris Grand Theatre (formerly the Opera House) at night.

Movies a Popular Entertainment

The Alamo Theatre at 5th and Main was owned by the Phoenix Amusement company who also owned the Paris Grand Theatre up to the 1930s. Moviegoers lost one of their theatre choices when the Alamo closed in the early 1930s but regained a second theatre when Schine's Theatre opened at 8th and Main.

Thurston House

Thurston House stood on Main Street in the 600 block where a J.C. Penney's department store was located in the 20th century. Mrs. R. Griffith, the hotel proprietor, stands in the doorway. By 1878, her son John Griffith was running the hotel and promised "Good Beds and Good Meals" for just $2 per day.

W S Dale restaurant Main St Paris c 1920

The W. S. Dale Restaurant occupied the old Roche Grocery Store building in the 700 block of Main Street in Paris. Pictured in this 1920 photograph are (left to right) Mrs. Gertrude Harris Dale, Harold Shively, William Sheldon Dale, daughter Lillian Dale, customer Mr. Hought and Bert King.

Knights of Pythias Convention

The fraternal and benevolent organization known as the Knights of Pythias gathered on the Courthouse Square for a parade complete with marching band. The Paris Lodge was organized on March 17, 1868, with 17 charter members.

Men in front of Fordham Hotel Paris

The 1917 newspaper supplement that was the source for this picture of the Fordham Hotel also contained some information about the establishment that “is enjoying an unprecedented run under the able management of Mr. Dan Conners and his estimable wife.” The logical assumption would be that Mr. Conners is the man standing in front of the rest of the hotel staff holding a child, and Mrs. Conners is looking down from the window above with another of their progeny. At that time the hotel had been under the Conners’ management for nine years, which their ad states proudly: “speaks eloquently of its success.” It had 30 guest chambers, a barber shop and café. It burned down in the 1930’s and was replaced with the current Baldwin Hotel building.

Barbers at Fordham Hotel

Bill Morris Bob Harney 1923-1932

The Windsor Hotel was Main Street’s Elegant Anchor before it burned in 1945

Dating back to 1804 0r 1805, the Windsor Hotel was a Paris landmark for almost 140 years before it was destroyed by fire on January 29, 1945. The hotel, known as the “Indian Queen” in pioneer days, was on the corner of Main and Second Streets. Later the hotel was sold to Major Aris Throckmorton, a wealthy Virginia landowner, who ran the hotel on a lavish scale. He later went to Louisville where he erected the Galt House. In 1854, the first railroad came to Paris and a depot was built behind the hotel. The hotel was known as the Bourbon House by then and was the site of famous balls held during the Bourbon County Fair. In 1900, it was sold to a Lexington syndicate headed by a Judge Webb, and the name was changed to the Windsor Hotel. The 81-room hotel was owned by two brothers named Howard and managed by Mrs. Gertrude McMahon, who is shown with her son Tommy in the hotel courtyard. About 75 guests were staying at the hotel when it burned. Water pressure to fight the fire was very low due to the number of hoses used to battle the blaze. Kentucky Highway Patrolman Steve Bacon shot out some of the windows to allow water to get inside the building.

Dining Out

The hotels in Paris all had nice dining facilities. The Windsor Hotel was known for its gala balls during the county agricultural fairs. The location of this dining room is unknown but judging from the party hats, the diners seem to be having a good time.

Hopewell Museum

Hopewell Museum

Main Streets of Bourbon County