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Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
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History Monday: Early Roads, Bridges, and More By Mike Watson A major trail from the Bluegrass into Tennessee passed through what is now Adair County. Early pioneers followed the well-defined natural roads made by the North American bison. Two bison trails crossed near the where the Town Branch crosses Jamestown Street in present day Columbia. The town likely sprang up where it did due to the close proximity to the trials. Where the bison trails crossed creeks and rivers, there were natural fords that were useful to the pioneers. Fords across the Green and Cumberland Rivers and larger creeks like Russell and Crocus were used by the pioneers and their descendants and some are likely in use today, though we may not know for certain. David Doak and Vandiver Banks ran ferries across the Green River at an early date. William Caldwell owned a ferry that crossed Russell Creek, probably in the vicinity of Columbia and prior to the building of the first bridges. One of the DeMoss brothers operated a ferry across Russell Creek somewhere near present Milltown in the early 1800s. Roads were important to Adair from an early date for obvious reasons. Freight was hauled from great distances to Columbia and from here to Danville, Springfield, Lebanon and Louisville. Freight lines were big business in this area at one time. The mail was carried first by horse back and later by the stage coaches that traveled from Columbia to Burkesville, Campbellsville and various other towns in the region. The Barbee Stage Coach line was the last to operate out of Columbia. State Road: Running from Danville through Adair to Moses Stone's, thence through Cumberland County to the Tennessee state line. Order by the General Assembly in 1820 to open a section from Stone's to Burkesville. [Act of the Kentucky General Assembly] "Be it enacted that James Ewing, James Page, John Smith, Sr. and George Elliott of Adair County be appointed commissioners, and James M. McCorkle, William Porter, Joshua Brumall and George Wagley, of Green County, who shall possess the same authority as the commissioners, to open books for the subscription of stock for the purpose of constructing a turnpike from Greensburg by way of Columbia, Jamestown and Monticello to the state line, in the direction to Knoxville. Be it further enacted that the county courts of Adair and Green Counties shall possess the same power and authority that is given to Russell and Wayne in this act, to fill the vacancies that may in anywise occur in the list of the said Commissioners for their respective counties." Approved by the General Assembly on 21 February 1837. "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, that the Columbia, Jamestown and Monticello Turnpike Road Company, be, and it is hereby authorized to construct a bridge across the Green River, where the road from Greensburg to the Tennessee line, by way of Columbia, Jamestown and Monticello, in the direction of Knoxville, crosses it.... that the rates of toll authorized to be demanded and received, by an act incorporating the Franklin Bridge Company, approved February 17, 1836, shall be authorized..." Approved 6 February 1839. The Columbia-Burkesville Turnpike was organized by an Act of the Kentucky Legislature in 1864, during the time of the Civil War, and was authorized to do business as "The Columbia and Burkesville Turnpike Road Company." The capital stock was to be $30,000, divided into 50 shares. Commissioners were: William E. Parker, George W. Overstreet, Josiah Hunter, Timoleon Cravens, Thomas T. Alexander, J.H.C. Sandidge, Robert K. Young, A.G. Waggener, William F. Owsley, Jo. B. Alexander, James M. Boles, and J.C. Winfrey. In 1874 the General Assembly modified the original Act, and an Act of May 1880 further amended the original Acts. In 1880, a "one-half toll" gate was repealed. It had been authorized to operate within one half mile of Burkesville. The General Assembly authorized the creation of the Greensburg, Columbia and New Haven Turnpike Road Company in February 1871. Commissioners were to be: James Garnett, Thomas Frazier, James R. Hindman, Joshua Hatcher, Robert Haskins, Robert Wilson, Alfred Anderson, Jefferson Henry, Moses Blakeman, J.J. Durham, D. Hudson, D.T. Towles, B.W. Penick, E.H. Hobson, William N. Vaughn, W.H. Chelf, William S. Hodges, Thomas H. Moss, James A. Howell and John Atherton. The road was to lead from Columbia by way of Greensburg, to a point in Larue County so as to intersect the Bardstown and Green River Turnpike. They were authorized to sell $150,000 in shares at $25 per share. This story was posted on 2020-04-06 11:09:36
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Social Distancing practiced a century ago More early Adair County and Columbia history Shopping for groceries in Columbia, 1956 History: The County and Town Begin Mike Watson: the story of the historic Adair Courthouse History Monday: Some Early History of Cane Valley, Part 2 History Monday - early Cane Valley, KY, part I History Monday: The Murder of Harry Webb, 1874 History Monday: Yellowhammer The Great Buffalo of Old View even more articles in topic Mike Watson - History |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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