RULE-PILKINGTON-KRAUSS-BAKER CARRIAGE SHOP

N.W. Corner Walnut and Short Streets, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Built 1844

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

When William H. Newberry purchased this house from Benjamin Warfield in 1844, he could not have envisioned probably that it would become a "carriage shop" for many years under the proprietorship of several famous carriage makers.

Newberry a century ago was a "coach-spring and iron-rail maker," with his shop then located on Mechanics Alley (1838 Directory). He must have made the old rails used on the "Lexington and Ohio Railroad" and springs for stage coaches.

His partner in the purchase of this building in 1844 was Nelson Thompson, "wagon-maker" (1838 Directory), so they formed a good team.

Newberry and wife, Amanda W., now of Scott County, Indiana sold the property in 1853 to Peter S. Rule, who had a large lumber yard back of it, extending from Short to Barr Streets. The corner building then became a carriage factory.

(1859-60 Directory: "Rule & Bro. - Peter S. and Wm. S.--Carriage Manufactory, N.W.C. Walnut and Short Sts.")

Newberry's deed to Rule mentioned that the property was "opposite the Masonic Hall"--where the Christian Church is today.

Albin and John Pilkington, brothers, also carriage-makers, bought the "shop" November 1, 1866, from the Rules, who also sold him the remainder of the Walnut Street frontage to Barr, extending 111 feet on Barr Street to Enoch Clark's lot. The Pilkingtons and the Rules jointly used the lumber yard, which adjoined Clark's lumber yard, also extending through from Barr to Short Streets.

In 1892, Albin Pilkington and wife, Hannah C., conveyed "that three-story brick building, occupied as a carriage shop," as heirs of John Pilkington (died December, 1887), to L.H. Nottnagle, who had married a Pilkington. The conveyance concluded the classical "Jacob Ashton Home" on High Street, owned by Jane Pilkington, widow of John Pilkington.

Mrs. Matilda Krauss bought the "shop" from the Pilkington heirs in 1899, and conveyed it to Jacob Krauss and wife, Bettie, in 1901.

Jacob Krauss, another famous carriage maker, sold the property to George A. Bain in 1906. It then became Baker Bros. Carriage Shop.

John R. Baker had started in the business in 1880 by buying out the shop of Rule and Pilkington on Limestone Street, between Main and Short, opposite the old shop of "Enoch Clark, Coach-maker, 9 N. Mulberry St., recorded in the 1838 Directory.

Transcribed by pb, April 2006