History

Our Grant County History

History in Brief

Grant County was a part of Pendleton County until 1820. There is a marker in the courthouse square that depicts the counties declaration. Williamstown was founded on June 12, 1820 by Captain William Arnold. A Revolutionary War soldier, Captain Arnold was also the first sheriff of Grant County. Arnold donated two and one half acres of land to Grant County to establish public buildings. He received the land for his service in the war. Williamstown was first named Philadelphia. After discovering that Philadelphia was already used as a city’s name in Kentucky, the name was changed to Williamstown in honor of Captain Arnold. By December of 1821, Grant County had a courthouse with furnishing order by the court, a jail, and a stray animal pen. The total cost of the three buildings plus furnishing was $2,345.75.

In 1820 there were only two schoolhouses. In 1822, the County Courts decided to divide the county into six districts. The following schoolhouses were listed: Zion Station School, Probable 30^th District-Pettit School, Probable Bethel-Faulkner-same location as Mason School, Cartersville School, Gold Valley-Oak Grove School, Probable Sipple School, Skirvin School, Probable Scroggins School, Sherman School, and Conrad School. Grant County appeared to have more than 40 districts some districts operational and some dormant. Walking distance to the schoolhouses during this era was three miles depending on the streams to be crossed by students.

The county’s first newspaper was The Williamstown Courier. The first edition was published on October 10, 1872. The Grant County News currently covers news in Grant County.

In 1877, the city felt more secure when Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railroad (now known as Southern Railway) laid tracks through Williamstown. There was a depot constructed to serve the needs of the Williamstown citizens.

Source: “History of Grant County, Kentucky”

For more information please contact the Grant County Public Library to check out the History of Grant County, Kentucky.

Pictures of the moving of our

City founder's home, the

William Arnold Log Cabin

It was moved to make room for the Williamstown Baptist Church expansion.

On May 10, 2007 the log cabin was moved to a more prominent location,

across from the new Justice Center on City property.

The Grant County Historical Society opens the home for public viewing during events.

Are you a History Buff?
Do you like historic architecture?

We need volunteers to help compile a Historic Survey of Grant County.
A Historic Survey documents historic buildings. By doing a Historic Survey we can help protect Grant County'e treasures. Contact us for more information.

A gift from the Mayor of Elizabethtown

He found this old post card in an antique shop

The post stamp is dated August 27, 1941

See... it was cool to visit Williamstown even then

If you have any comments about this place in history, please Contact Us and share your story.

"Baptist Church of the Old Faith

and Order on the Dry Ridge"

authored by Local Historian Betty Barnes

illustration by Alann Feldman

HISTORY of SITE 1789-1999 of MEETINGHOUSE ERECTED
By MEMBERS of OLD BAPTIST CHURCH on THE DRY RIDGE

Nine adults in Culpeper County Virginia in 1789
recorded themselves as founding members of a new
Church, named "Baptist Church of the Old Faith
and Order on the Dry Ridge" [now Kentucky].

After moving and settling just north of future
center of Williamstown t the Church family met in
safety of homes or in or near Campbell's Blockhouse.*
They erected a Meetinghouse of poplar
logs on empty site of former blockhouse in 1799.
Other church groups used the site 1818-1881.

The surrounding Cemetery containing 40 unmarked
fieldstones and 35 marked stones dated 1822-1881,
including Revolutionary Veteran John Lawless,
was inventoried 1980 by Historian Virgil Chandler
Sr., who published list in his GRANT COUNTY CEMETERIES
and HISTORY of THEIR INHABITANTS in 1988
VOL III.

The Cemetery with sponsorship in 1999
of City Historian Chandler, Williamstown Mayor
Robert Jones and owners of adjoining Conrad farm,
was accepted by City of Williamstown to be
fenced and maintained by them as a vital part of
early HISTORY OF WILLIAMSTOWN KENTUCKY. BMB

* C 1793, while meeting at fur trader John
Campbell's Blockhouse [a small defensible
building for protection against enemy fire ]
early members of Baptist Church of the Old
Faith and Order on the Dry Ridge fought off
a Shawnee attack by firing down on attackers
from upper level of blockhouse and putting out
fire started around front door of house.

The Site may be visited now on Conrad Lane.
near 1502 North Main Street, Williamstown.