Somerset —
Being aware of the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day” may be helping historian and former literature teacher Larry Witt deal with delays in getting his own columns erected.
It all began 20 years ago when the Casey County native moved from Bronston to his current two-story brick home on Hwy. 39.
The professional photographer spotted four very large concrete posts lying atop a wagon at the home of Jimmy Edwards, just north of Pulaski High.
‘They looked like they might make a great background in my back yard for wedding photography,” says Witt.
Edwards, now 82, had no interest in selling, telling Witt his plan was to erect them on the front of his two-story house that is now surrounded by PCHS athletic fields.
The supports, weighing nearly 10,000 pounds each, were part of the old Methodist Church on East Mt. Vernon Street in Somerset. They had been in place there since 1880. Edwards purchased them in 1970, when the church was torn down to make way for the current structure.
In September of last year, armed with new inspiration after traveling through Harrodsburg and seeing similar posts under the front porches of historic homes, Witt decided to approach Edwards one more time.
“I had been turned down on six visits over a 20-year period, but this time Jimmy had come to the realization that his potential for using them had ended.
“I felt sorry for him, that he had never got around to fulfilling his dream, and I plan to videotape him talking about them.”
Witt paid $2,500 for all four massive structures, and Edwards helped him load them on a trailer, using a backhoe and securing them with nylon straps for the short trip up Hwy. 39.
An engine hoist was used for the square parts, and the posts were rolled off Witt’s trailer and into his front yard.
A boom truck was used to place the posts under the porch this past January, and efforts to complete the project are on-going.
“I’ve already spent 10 times what I paid for them in getting them up and looking nice at my house,” says the personable Sunday School teacher at East Somerset Baptist.
The recently added front porch features a copper ceiling that Witt feels serves as a good background for the posts.
After being pressure washed and bleached, the new owner feels they’re still not as “pristine” as he would like, and he’s trying to avoid painting them.
“I would hate to put paint on something that’s been around for so many years,” he says of the historic piece of Pulaski’s past, noting they were delivered here by a train out of Stanford.
Having them sand blasted is under consideration.
Although not a native, Witt became aware of the beauty and history of Somerset at an early age.
He often came over from Casey with his dad, Wallace, when he operated the Mary Carter Paint Store on East Mt. Vernon Street, next door to where Candido Towing & Recovering is presently.
Now 91 and living in Louisville, Wallace still drives down to Somerset from time to time to visit family.
Larry moved to Somerset in 1982 following a teaching stint at Casey High and after deciding a career in education wasn’t for him.
He opened Top House Pizza here before starting a photography business called Picture Paradise in a building behind the courthouse formerly occupied by Jim Burdine.
The name later became Photography by Larry Witt, and the business is now operated out of his home.
He and his wife, the former Connie Cassidy, a 1983 Pulaski High graduate, have two children, Morgan, 15, and Braxton, 12. Connie assists in the photography business.
The family travels extensively, taking pictures of youth sport teams from Cincinnati to Knoxville.
There are also lots of trips for pleasure as Larry takes part in Civil War re-enactments, the latest being at Blue Licks Battlefield in northern Kentucky.
Witt gets lots of stares when decked out in his full dress uniform, but he’s used to it.
“There for awhile, people were about stopping in the middle of the road to stare at my porch.”
He says the project should be complete in another couple of months.
Features
Related Photos
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Larry Witt poses with columns in background at his home on Ky. 39. Photo by Don White
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This archival photo shows the Methodist Church columns in their original positions.
Pillars of Faith
Salvaging 132-year-old Methodist Church columns was a monumental task
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Business booming for new liquor store
Five liquor licenses were approved for Somerset and the third store to open was this past week.
Called "First Stop,"the new package store it is located on the west side of U.S. 27 between lights 20 and 21, which is a little north of TSC Tractor Supply. The owner is Charlotte Perdisaris and the manager is Michael Scott.
Perdisaris has been working on getting the store ready for a number of months but was delayed by the shipment and installation of a large 10 x 20 foot walk-in cooler that lines the back of the shop. Otherwise, she thought they could have opened much earlier and, perhaps, have even been the first to open.With such a large cooler, they have a large supply of beer and wine in it to choose from. As to other spirits, they have a large variety of brands, especially high end brands such as Crown Royal and R&R. In addition, they have beer singles on ice. At this time, they are the only local liquor store selling beer in kegs.
First Stop is the last liquor store to open that is locally owned and operated. The remaining two licenses are to drug store retailers. -
Scenic new trails opened at Pulaski County Park
Despite a rainy last several days, outdoor enthusiasts couldn’t help but play in the mud a little this weekend in celebration of the grand opening of biking and hiking trails at Pulaski County Park.
“We’ve been working on this .. for about four years,” said Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock to a crowd of around 50 people gathered at the head of the new trail at the park. “ ... It’s been such a good project.
“We think it’s going to be a huge asset to this community,” added Bullock.
The essence of the trail has existed at Pulaski County Park for decades as an Eagle Scout Trail. The newest trails, are almost 9 miles long, with five of those miles dedicated to biking.
The trail is built to the standards of the International Mountain Biking Association, a worldwide network that brings together serious bicycle enthusiasts. -
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