ROBERT MCNITT HOUSE

Nos. 119-121 4th St. (E. cor. alley)
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Built about 1806

Robert McNitt, who bought this "ready-made Leiby house" of early 1800 vintage from Samuel Long in 1814, had conveyed it before 1818, as William Wiseman was living here then. McNitt was living in Col. Robert Patterson's stone house on West High St. in 1808.

Robert McNitt advertised in the Kentucky Gazette in April, 1825, he was operating "The Sulphur Bath" on Short St. above the law office of Sam Blair.

When Samuel Long deeded the Limestone and Fourth Streets property to Robert Crockett in 1814, the deed said it flanked "a small brick building" on Fourth Street—the house which McNitt bought, at a high price (48 feet including the house).

Wm. Wiseman purchased the house and evidently was occupying it by 1818 (1818Directory: "Wm. Wiseman, Ropemaker, Fourth St.). As he did not acquire the "Dillon house" on the corner until 1831, he must have lived here for some time. It was the first of his several houses and properties listed in his will: "Brick house and lot fronting on Fourth St." The Carlan House, which he bought, was named separately in his will.

Wiseman's executor, Judge Buckner, in 1860, sold Hugh McDonald the "small brick house" with 100 feet fronting on Fourth Street next to the alley together with 161 feet farther east and the entire rope-walk property in the rear, which was "498 feet long by 208 feet wide."

Henry Wolf in 1867 bought McDonald's entire tract and 68 feet intervening, making the Wolf frontage on Fourth Street 322 feet from the alley east to "the Carlan purchase."

Wolf sold the tract in 1870 to E. Siebrecht, who immediately conveyed it to Francisca Wolf, wife of Henry Wolf. It remained in Mrs. Wolf's possession for many years. (1887-8 Directory: "Henry Wolf, baker & confectioner, 40 E. Vine and 84 E. 4th St.)

The Metlakes and others resided here within the last half century.

Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.

Transcribed by pb, October 2006