First Cedar Creek to host discussion about Rogers Station Sunday, July 20
Thursday, July 17, 2014 — The First Cedar Creek Baptist Church will host an informal discussion of the former Rogers Station (or Fort) located on Ben Irvin Road (Highway 2737) five miles west of Bardstown. This discussion will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2014.
Named after Matthew, William, Jonathan, and James Rogers — the brothers who helped build the fort in 1780 — the fort was a place of refuge especially from Indians. Colonial James Rogers, who was born 1742 in the original and current Virginia and was a Baptist minister there, arrived in 1779 to present day Kentucky. He became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nelson County militia when it first organized.
Other noted persons of the time who stayed at Rogers Station include Atkinson Hill, the first judge in Nelson County; Evan Williams; James Slaughter, another judge; and the brothers of Col. James Rogers. These men were some of the charter members of (The First) Cedar Creek Baptist Church.
The First Cedar Creek Baptist Church is the oldest church of any denomination in Nelson County and is the second oldest church of any denomination west of the Allegheny Mountains. This July 4th marked the 233rd year of its ongoing ministry.
Speaking at the discussion on Sunday will be Kayce Humkey who, in 2012, did extensive archaeological work at the fort site and the adjoining Bealmear -Summers Cemetery.
Humkey received her undergraduate degree in archaeology from Murray State University and her master’s degree in historical archaeology from the University of York in the United Kingdom. Humkey’s interest lies in the period 1700 to 1900. She specifically likes to study the reaction of children and adults to stress factors such as warfare, persecution, poverty, natural disasters, etc. as seen in the archaeological record.
Also attending the discussion will be Jodie Haydon who is the present owner of the fort and cemetery property.
The informal discussion will be held in the church sanctuary, and interested persons are invited to attend and participate.
For more information contact the church historian, Lucille Keeling, at 502-348-3196.
The First Cedar Creek Baptist Church is located 5 miles west of Bardstown off Boston Road (Hwy 62) on Bellwood Road (Hwy 733).
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