Cold Spring History
Situated along US 27 between Alexandria and Highland Heights, Cold Spring dates to the mid 1800s but was not incorporated until 1941. The city name comes from the cold water found in a natural spring located in the area.
Those families who bought property in this area included Benjamin Archer, John Bartle, Samuel Beck, John Bird, Timothy Bull, Cader Edwards, William Edwards, Joseph Farrar, George Gordon, George Kelly, Joseph Kelly, Thomas Johnson, John Murnan, Edward Welch, Thomas Lindsey and Thomas Rees (later known and spelled Reese).
Many of these men owned property inside the present day Cold Spring city limits. Apparently Thomas Rees bought property and organized Rees or Reese's settlement, which became the forerunner to Cold Spring. In an early article published in December 19, 1878 in the Newport Local, historian John W. Stevens mentioned Reese's settlement, which included the Reese, Smith, Griffith and "other" families. Stevens reported that the group were Baptists who established a Church called Licking. Additionally, he commented, "It was the first church in the County."
The Licking Baptist church was located where the First Baptist Church of Cold Spring sits at Alexandria Pike and First Pooles Creek Road. Historically, the church was known as "Mouth of the Licking" and was created by William Decoursey, Bethuel Riggs, Closs Thompson, Joseph Kelley, and their wives at the home of Decoursey in 1794. The first pastor was John Smith, who ironically was the first pastor at Columbia. In 1805, the members acquired land from Thomas Lindsey and built a log structure at the present intersection of Pooles Creek Road and US 27 where the old Cold Spring Baptist Church structure stands today.
By 1807, the church had 38 members. The name of the church was changed in 1820 to Old Licking Church. It is not known when Reese's settlement actually changed and the name Cold Spring began being used, however, references to the name have been found in the 1840's. Population of the area increased rapidly between 1820 and 1850.
In 1857, Reverend N.C. Pettit founded a school, known as the Cold Spring Seminary. Pioneers in the community, Robert Dodsworth, John C. Youtsey, Joseph and Charles Horner, and William and George Winters financed the project, and the building was constructed by another preacher and well-known bricklayer, James M. Jolly. Reverend Pettit served as the first principal , and the three teachers taught Mathematics, Music and English. The name was changed to Walnut Hills Academy before the civil war and during those years, the school served as a Union Army provost headquarters. The local Home Guard and Union troops occupied the ground adjacent to the building.
Scores of famous men spoke at the school, including Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Grant, and William Howard Taft. It is generally thought that Lincoln spoke on his campaign trip to Cincinnati in 1859, and one source states that Lincoln spent the night at a home in Cold Spring. In the 1870's Cold Spring organized its own school district and in 1875, Walnut Hills was sold for use as a public school. The school was run by the Cold Spring District as a graded school system and a high school. It was destroyed by fire in December 1921, and was replaced by the current Cold Spring elementary building at the corner of US 27 and East Alexandria Pike.
Western painter Henry Farny had a home off Skyline Drive, where Campbell Lodge Boys Home is now located.
In February 1865, Cold Spring held elections for state senator and representative, and Southern sympathizers weren't welcome at the polls. Although the Civil War was nearing its conclusion, fighting was still heavy and emotions were high. Nevertheless, several sympathizers showed up to vote. Union Captain James W Read "arrested seven voters, separately and put them under guard in a pen, 15 steps from the polls and in full view of the turnpike. He grossly insulted, abused and cursed one, threatened to shoot and gag another. He tied two with ropes, theirs backs to a tree, their arms drawn behind them and tied in which position they were kept from about 8 am until 7 1/2 pm."
Eventually another Union captain, John F Herbert, galloped up and ordered most of the prisoners released. The state voided the election of Ulysses Pelham Degman and Jacob Hawthorn and ordered a new vote.
On May 12, 1870, Bishop Augustus Toebbe of the Catholic dioceses established the St. Joseph Orphanage at Cold Spring. Funds were raised and the Diocese purchased what was known as the Walsh farm, (present day Disabled American Veterans property). An existing eight-room farmhouse was used until a building could be constructed. What became the St. Joseph Parish began shortly after, and a small frame church and one room school were constructed In 1881, Reverend Herman Kramer proposed construction of a new church. The bricks were made of clay from behind the orphanage cemetery, and kilns were constructed on the property for the purpose of firing. The church building was dedicated October 8, 1882.
A post office was established prior to September 1870, when it was listed among other postal zones in Campbell County. Cold Spring was also mentioned in 1876 Kentucky Gazetteer. On March 15, 1876, the State of Kentucky approved the creation of the District of Cold Spring with limited city power. The men appointed to manage the district were John and Andy Youtsey, Charles Horner, H. S. Clark, Wiley Bates and Henry Sethman.
On March 15, 1876 the area was incorporated as a magisterial district with limited city powers. Wiley Bates, H S Clark, Charles H Horner, Henry Sethman, Andy J Youtsey and John C Youtsey served as trustees until an election was held that July.
In 1880, the state of Kentucky initiated a project to map the state, county by county and Cold Spring was included in the project. When the 1883 atlas was published, an entire map with property owners was included with a general description of the city. At the time, Cold Spring had two saloons, three blacksmiths, a grocery, two wagon makers, a shoemaker, a doctor, an auctioneer, and a yeast maker. The city also had a justice of the peace, constable and a postmaster. The population was 500.
The city post office in 1883 sat on a spot now
a vacant lot next to the old Pike 27 Drive-In Theater. An old city
landmark was St. Joseph Orphanage which opened in 1866. It merged with St.
John's Orphanage in Ft. Mitchell in 1961. The Disabled Veterans building,
dedicated November 10, 1966 now sits on the site. Other old landmarks were
Fahrenholtz's picnic grounds and Holly Hill, the former Campbell County
Protestant Orphans Home which moved from Newport to East Alexandria Pike in
1952.