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History of Bell Court
The Bell Court Historic Neighborhood District was
developed around the turn of the 20th century as a middle-class neighborhood
near the heart of downtown. The location of the district was pivotal because it
allowed residents to walk to their jobs downtown prior to the advent of the
automobile. There are 157 buildings in the district, nearly all of which are
residential in nature. The core of the district is the historic building known
as
Bell Place. This impressive home was designed by famed
Lexington architect Thomas Lewinski, who combined elements of the Greek Revival and
Romanesque styles into the design of the home.
Bell Place
was donated to the city of
Lexington in 1940 and the property continues to be used as a public park to this day. The
Clay Villa is also located in the Bell Court Neighborhood and is the oldest home
in the district. The villa was constructed for James B. Clay, son of statesman Henry
Clay, in 1846.
Most of the homes in the district reflect the
Victorian and Queen Anne styles that were popular around the turn of the 20th
century. There are also many Arts and Crafts style houses that dot the
development. Visitors to the district can park their cars and travel the way
residents of the district did shortly after its construction, by foot, and
appreciate the architecture and landscape. The Episcopal Church of the Good
Shepherd lies in the district at the southwest corner of
East Main
and
Bell Court. Completed in 1925-26, it is a sterling example of late Gothic Revival style.
(Text taken from www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/lexington/index.htm
, the National Park
Service's National Register of Historic Places website)
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