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Old Buildings are our History

By Mike Watson

If you are standing anywhere in Adair County today, you are in old Kentucky County, Virginia. And Lincoln County, Virginia--later Lincoln County, Kentucky. And Green County, Kentucky. Then, of course, Adair County, Kentucky. Many readers have ancestors who have been on this land for generations.

Some families can trace the Adair County "immigrant" back to the 1790s or early 1800s. Joseph Turner came into this area when it was still wild land. He, like so many others, carved out an existence in a frontier with many dangers all around. Those intrepid pioneers erected small log cabins in which to live and start or rear families. Families grew and the need for more living space was necessary.

Many of these homes no longer exist--for many reasons they are gone. The photograph, taken in the 1980s, is representative of such homes. This is the Joseph Turner house which began as a cabin, was expanded upon--elongated and improved for generations by Turner descendants. This structure was perched on the banks of Burns Creek where it flows into Crocus Creek in southeastern Adair County, near the Cumberland County line. It was destroyed by fire not long after this photo was taken.

Note: Click headline to view photo of the Joseph Turner house.




This story was posted on 2026-07-27 09:54:04
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The Joseph Turner House



2026-07-27 - Adair Co., KY - Photo by Mike Watson.
This photograph of the Joseph Turner house, taken in the 1980s, is representative of the homes that make up the history of Adair County settlement. The Joseph Turner house began as a cabin and was expanded upon--elongated and improved for generations by Turner descendants. This structure was perched on the banks of Burns Creek where it flows into Crocus Creek in southeastern Adair County, near the Cumberland County line. It was destroyed by fire not long after this photo was taken.

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