At a recent Learn & Go program, JCPL librarians quizzed participants on how well they knew Nicholasville’s often colorful history.
Do you know the answers to the following questions? (Scroll to the end for the answers.)
Quiz Questions
A remnant of the Hotel Nicholas still stands on Main Street. In 1888, the hotel narrowly escaped destruction from what?
- A stampede of cattle
- Couch burnings on the street
- A flood of molasses
- Dynamite bombs placed in beer kegs
What Jessamine County organization was once located at the building pictured below?
- The police department
- The library
- City Hall
- The fire department
On January 15th, 1955, the Farmers Bank on Main Street was the site of which event:
- The largest deposit in the bank’s history
- The largest withdrawal in the bank’s history
- An explosion from an attempted bank heist
- The installation of the first ATM
Learn More on the Jessamine History Walks Podcast
All of the quiz questions above are taken from episode three of the Jessamine History Walks podcast, a self-guided audio tour of downtown Nicholasville.
Episode one guides you through Maple Grove Cemetery, while episode two explores Locust Grove Cemetery.
Listen below, or on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast players.
Enter to Win a Kindle Fire
From now until Dec. 31, 2021, listen to an episode of the Jessamine History Walks podcast and enter to win a Kindle Fire. Pick up and return the entry form in the main library.
Quiz Answers
A remnant of the Hotel Nicholas still stands on Main Street. In 1888, the hotel narrowly escaped destruction from what?
d. Dynamite bombs placed in beer kegs
According to the Jessamine Journal, one night a dynamite bomb placed inside of a beer keg exploded on a side street adjacent to the hotel, sending shrapnel flying through the streets. The building sustained some damage, with several windows blown out in the billiards and bar room. Another bomb was quickly discovered inside the barroom by the barkeeper.
What Jessamine County organization was once located at the building pictured above?
b. The library
In 1898, the Acme Book Club moved to its second location at the southeast corner of West Maple and first streets to a room on the second floor. In 1899, Sarah Rice Withers donated money to establish a public library in Nicholasville. Rechristened the Withers Library, it then moved from the second floor into a ground floor room.
On January 15th, 1955, the Farmers Bank on Main Street was the site of which event:
c. An explosion from an attempted bank heist
In the pre-dawn hours of January 17th, 1955, a large explosion rocked the Farmers Bank building and was heard throughout the town. An FBI investigation found that the explosion severely crippled the building, pushing the back walls out 2 to 4 feet and causing some of the ceiling and roof to collapse—all in an attempt to gain access to the vault, which contained approximately $70,000.