A Century on the Square

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May 9, 2008

Community leaders speak about the special place in the heart of Somerset

By SUSAN WHEELDON, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Fri May 09, 2008, 07:05 PM EDT

Officials and community members gathered yesterday to celebrate a place where many memories have been made over the last 100 years.

The gathering was held by Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock and his staff at the Fountain Square in downtown Somerset, in commemoration of the Square’s 100th anniversary.

The beginnings for the fountain came about when a committee of county justices and town commissioners was formed in 1893 to plan for a fountain on the public square.

Then some 15 years later — in 1908 — this was accomplished when a group called the Commercial Club raised $1,250 from citizens and businesses. This, along with appropriations from Pulaski Fiscal Court and Somerset Town Council, was used to pay for developing the square and installing a fountain.

“We celebrate the people who have made Somerset a great city and Pulaski County a great county,” said Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler.

Girdler recalled memories of being on the Square when he was growing up, and how it was a special treat to come to the Square on the weekends. He also noted that not only was it a place he would come and get ice cream, but also a place where everyone would come school shopping at Salutsky’s and the Fair Store, among others, before a new school year began.

“... The Square exists for the people,” said Girdler.

Meanwhile, Cornelia Cooper, who along with other family members, has played a huge part in the Square’s history, spoke of the beauty of the Square and how she was so glad to see it restored.

“A thing of beauty lives forever,” said Cooper.

In 1963, Senator and Mrs. John Sherman Cooper offered to restore the Square as “a gift to the people of Somerset and Pulaski County.” At that time, a design of famous architect Boris Tim Shenko was used for the Square.

Cooper said the Square has been so important to her over the years, and she and her husband, the late Richard Cooper, asked Bullock quickly after he was elected if he would try to restore the fountain.

“It looks absolutely beautiful,” said Cooper.

She noted that at the time Senator Cooper and his wife, Loraine, had Shenko design the city centerpiece, there were very few places in Kentucky that had a town square.

“It is the heart of the county,” said Cooper. “It is our best foot forward.”

Congressman Hal Rogers said his memories of the Square began 44 years ago when he began practicing law in downtown Somerset.

“We all have our own private memories of this place,” said Rogers.

Rogers said he can recall both the old courthouse and political rallies that would take place on the Square, as well as the dedication of the John Sherman Cooper Statute on the Square.

“The Square has meant so much to all of us,” said Rogers.

Rogers said the Square signifies a union of the county and city, and a common meeting place.

He said he wanted to thank Bullock and all of his staff for the work they’ve done, as well as the Coopers, as they for what they’ve done.

“It’s been 100 years,” said Rogers. “We’ll see you in another 100 years (on the Square).”

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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A Century on the Square

Community leaders speak about the special place in the heart of Somerset

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