316 South Broadway,
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Built 1845
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
Be prepared for a "load" of history in connection with this location. The story of this south-west corner of Broadway and High St., necessary to introduce the "Polly Adams House," goes back more than 160 years to Lexington's "fort on the hill."
The siege of Bryan Station in August, 1782, quickly followed by the ill-fated Battle of Blue Licks, where "the flower of the manhood of the West" fell and "many widows were made in Lexington," to use Daniel Boone's words, greatly alarmed the inhabitants of Lexington.
"They set to and built a large fort, very strong and surrounded with a ditch on the outside, up where Keiser's lot (afterwards) was, right opposite to Caldwell's on the hill. ... This fort was intended to be cannon-proof." (Wymore in Draper MSS - Staples History).
Wymore's statement that the fort was opposite Caldwell's and "where Keiser's lot afterwards was" is fully borne out by the deeds to this corner.
After danger of an organized Indian attack upon Lexington ceased, Moses Patterson purchased the lot (Outlot "R"), which extended south to Maxwell St. and west on High St. half-way to Spring St.
Patterson sold the lot to Christopher Keiser, who operated one of Lexington's earliest taverns, "The Indian Queen," on this corner. George Adams, wealthy Lexington merchant, bought the outlot from Christopher Keiser - and that's where the story of this house, today considerably back on Broadway from the corner, begins.
A deed to Polly Adams September 30, 1833, by Sheriff, for the High Street (Broadway to Spring) half of Outlot "R" stated that a Fayette Circuit Court writ for some $2,500 had been levied on "a lot of ground situated at the corner of Hill and Main Cross Sts., containing four acres (suit in favor of George Adams vs. John Keiser, Elizabeth Keiser, Adam Keiser and Mary Irwin, heirs of Christopher Keiser, dec'd., William Macbean, Joseph Claar, and Benjamin Keiser). The lot was sold by the Sheriff September 4, 1822, and George Adams purchased it for $2,667.17.
"By Adams' order one-half of said lot was conveyed to Robert Wickliffe, and said Adams having departed this life without a deed being made to him for the other half," a suit was instituted by Polly Adams and John Adams against George Adams' heirs for the other half. By court decree June, 1830, the Sheriff was directed to convey to Polly Adams "the part of said lot not conveyed to Robert Wickliffe." As Robert Wickliffe sold his half to John McMurtry, which makes the starting point for some other houses here on Broadway, the above data is cited in detail.
Polly Adams sold the lot March 24, 1841, to Hugh Loney. It extended 205 feet south on Broadway from the corner "to Robert Wickliffe's lot" and west to the line of William Bell ("Wm. Bell House").
Dr. David Bell purchased it from Loney and built and occupied the house here. Adjoining deeds mentioned his living here and a deed of Dr. S.M. Letcher to Dr. Bell for the north-west corner of Broadway and High in 1847 said the latter was "opposite the residence of said Bell." The houses from here to High Street have been built more recently.
Dr. Bell and wife, Charlotte (daughter of Chief Justice George Robertson), sold "that house and lot on the corner of Broadway and Hill St. on which the said Bell and wife now reside" June 9, 1858, to J.R. Dunlap for $11,500.
John T. Miller purchased the residence in 1863, and James M. Graves bought it in 1887. The latter's daughter, Mrs. George C. Webb, resides here today.
When Dr. Bell bought the lot from Hugh Loney April 11, 1845, Keiser's old tavern must have been here still. The deed called for "the buildings, improvements, premises and appurtenances." The conveyance further stated: "It is understood that said Hugh Loney has leased to Shryock and Walker part of the land by written lease dated Sept. 10, 1842, which lease is also assigned to said Bell." The deed was "not to affect the lease" other than to assign it to Dr. Bell.
The next month (May, 1845 Dr. Bell sold John McMurtry 13 feet between his and Wm. Bell's lot on High Street, "to be kept open always as a street." McMurtry then opened "Brown Street," as it is known today, from High to Maxwell Streets.
Transcribed by pb October 2002