Fire Destroys Famous House in Woodford
Fire Destroys Famous House In Woodford
(in pencil): 1945
VERSAILLES, Ky., Oct. 8 (Special) - The famous Muldrow place, home of Mr.s
and Mrs. Earl Clough, six miles from Versailles on the Shryock's Ferry pike,
was destroyed by fire at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon.
Only the walls of the two-story brick building were left standing. No one
was at home when the fire broke out and its origin was not known.
The house, which was designed by Gideon Shryock, famous architect, was built
in 1817. Its walls were two feet thick and its floors were of ash
throughout. The residence contained 11 rooms, each 20 feet by 20 feet, and
a hallway 16 feet wide, 12 feet high and 40 feet long. There was a wine
cellar under the entire structure.
The house, considered on of the finest examples of cottage architecture in
America, was built by Col. Andrew Muldrow, an officer in the War of 1812,
who acquired 3,000 acres of land in Woodford county near Tyrone in 1804. He
and his family lived in a double log house on Grier's creek until he built
Muldrow House. The colonel served in the state legislature in 1822 and in
the Kentucky Senate from 1824 until his death in 1829.
In 1850 the house was bought by Johnson A. Miller, celebrated distiller, who
died in 1882. Later it was bought by Edward Simms, who sold it in 1935 to
Mr. and Mrs. Clough.
Six semi-circular stone steps led to the arched portfolio and the fan over
the entrance door had frosted glass decorated with Georgian scrolls.
Carving of chair-rails and spanning arch of the central hall was done by
Matthew Lowery, master craftsman of his time.
The kitchen, with a great stone fireplace, was connected wit the main
structure by a dog-trot.
Mr Clough, during the past year, had completed work intended to duplicate
the original state of the structure.
His entire collection of antique vases, small cups and saucers and 16
valuable old guns were destroyed by the fire.
Mr. Clough, who is employed by the State Highway Department, and his wife,
who teaches at the Mortonsville elementary school in Woodford County, were
staying at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Orr, in Woodford county, tonight.
They could not be reached for an estimate of their loss.
Another loss in the fire was the furniture belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Mitchell, of Mortonsville, that had been stored in the house. Mrs. Mitchell
is a sister of Mrs. Clough.
