ISSUE
Negative impact of the new I-66 highway upon historic properties of a founder of Pulaski County
POSITION
Support historic district and realignment of road path
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in conjunction with the Federal Highway Department is conducting hearings to
determine the path of the new Interstate 66 Highway (I-66) across Kentucky. In Pulaski county, the highway path under consideration
affects numerous historical properties of the county’s founder John M. James, a 4th great grandfather of Wal-Mart founder
Sam Walton and of Vice President J. Danforth Quayle.
An interchange is planned on an historic ruin residential site of the county’s founder and upon a former slave
cemetery. Neither the ruins, once the home of Sen. Jack Griffin & Rev. Jeremiah Vardeman, founder of the Missouri Baptist
Convention, nor the slave cemetery, are planned for archealogical excavation.
The Transportation Cabinet, with the support of David L. Morgan, executive director of The Kentucky Heritage Council, denies
the historic relevance of the subject area as an historic district.
Concerned Members support recognition of the area as an historic district and support re-alignment of the road to
areas that do not negatively impact the historic properties.
