We Need Your Help to Preserve the Elks Home in Downtown Middlesborough!

Members of the DDM Design Committee in front of the Elks Home. From left to right: Blake Bowling, Chair; Katie Bisceglia-Stotts; Steven Sharp; Elizabeth Barry; Isaac Kremer; Tara Pope; and Aaron Fraustro. Photo credit: Emily Sharp.

Middlesborough is a leading the competition in a statewide contest called "This is My Old Kentucky Home." to identify places that Kentuckians feel at "home." Community leaders submitted the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Home. Originally built in 1911, this impressive four-story brick building served as a convalescent home of the Elks order for a little less than a decade. After that it became a hospital where many people living in Middlesborough today were born.

Craig Potts, KHC executive director
& state historic preservation officer.
Credit: City of Louisville.

“Historic places matter to Kentuckians. We want to invite people to share how and why they value Kentucky’s historic places, and build interest in the reuse and preservation of historic buildings,” said Craig Potts, KHC executive director and state historic preservation officer. “We want people to be able to tell their own story about how historic buildings and places make them feel.”

Discover Downtown Middlesboro acquired the building in December 2012. Ever since then this non-profit organization has worked hard to build support for its restoration. Recently grants to assist with this effort were secured from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Certified Local Government program administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council. Additional applications are pending before the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to assist with cleanup of hazardous substances in the building. If successful, we hope to transform this vacant eyesore into a beautifully restored mixed-use building with housing and offices on the upper floors and with retail and restaurant use on the ground floor.

DDM Executive Director said of the contest, "Middlesborough won a similar contest held nationally by CommunityMatters in September 2013. We're confident that the community will rally together and we can win again, while highlighting one of the most distinctive buildings in Eastern Kentucky and our Commonwealth."

The Elks Home will also be a focal point of the upcoming Better Block Middlesborough event on Saturday, May 10. Storefronts will be brought back to life through the installation of a pop-up museum, signage, and exhibits. Additionally, several other temporary interventions will take place on this block including a pop-up cafe located at our Makers Market, a landscaped walkway near the middle of the block, and other improvements to plant the seed for long-term change. Numerous state officials and experts in community and economic development will be present including  Kitty Dougoud, Kentucky Main Street Program director; Herb Petitjean with the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection; Della Rucker from the Wise Economy Workshop and author of The Local Economy Revolution; and Bill Lutz, Community Development Director for Piqua, Ohio.

In celebration of National Historic Preservation Month we ask that you do your part and go out and help us save the Elks Home! Visit the Kentucky Heritage Council page on Facebook, click the "Enter to Win!" button and vote. You can vote once a day between now and May 23. We invite you to attend the Better Block event on May 10 and get involved firsthand. Please share this message and important project with your family, friends, and neighbors. Thanks!


Step-by-Step Instructions.


Instructions for how to vote follow. You may also be able to just follow this link and click vote at the top of the page: http://woobox.com/h4r4qg/vote/for/2444612.

1. Visit the Kentucky Heritage Council page at https://www.facebook.com/KYSHPO and click the "Enter to Win! / Photo Contest" button.

2. On the contest page click "Vote."

3. Find the Elks Home on that page and select vote in the bottom right corner. Once you vote the box will be filled in green. You can vote once a day between now and May 23. So please go back and vote MULTIPLE TIMES!

An EGG-STRAVAGANZA Day in Downtown Middlesborough TODAY!

Why have one event when you can just as easily have two? Join us today for EGG-STRAVAGANZA and the Makers Market. Bring a lawn chair, a picnic lunch, and make it a whole day for family fun downtown. Help us spread the word and make the day great!

Change Event Photo

APR

19

Makers Market: Jesse Johnson

Going

Invite

Edit

Public · Hosted by Makers Market Middlesborough

PROMOTE THIS VE

• Today at 12:00pm - 4:00pm Starts in about 3 hours · 48°F Clear

• Show Map Makers Market Middlesborough 2008 Cumberland Ave, Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965

We met Jesse at the first market. He's based here in Middlesborough and plays a mean acoustic guitar. Come out and here him at the Market this Saturday. We'll have the store open too between about noon and 4pm. Sets at noon and 2pm.

APR

19

EGG-STRAVAGANZA!

JoinMaybeDecline

Public · Hosted by Exploration Center

 

• Today at 11:00am - 12:00pm

• 129 South 20th Street, 40965

• Join · Maybe · Decline Invited by Chrissy Kremer

Join friends and volunteers at the Exploration Center for a wonderful family Easter Adventure!
Children can get their face painted, make an Easter basket, learn why the Easter bunny finds eggs, and participate in an egg rolling contest!

$2 per child with advanced registration
$3 per child at the door, space available

REGISTER TODAY! SPACE IS LIMITED!

Middlesborough Makers Market Wrap-up: Day 1

We had an action packed first day at the Makers Market. The morning started quietly enough with Jim Robinson sitting out front on one of our pallet Adirondack chairs. Little did he or any of us know what we had coming our way.

Setting up in the early morning. Credit: DDM.

We set up shop inside the former T.H. Campbell & Bros. building at 2008 Cumberland Ave. At first it was slow so we got to chat with our featured Maker Jim Robinson a bit. Jim is a native of New Hampshire who spent time in Oregon before coming to Cincinnati where he works for the Rookwood Pottery Company now. He is a high energy guy with a true passion for art. We could not pick someone better to kick-off our market. Things were a bit slow at first though Jim took it in stride.

In the morning we made a few calls to some friends to help get the word out, and, sure enough, folks started showing up. A special thank you to Brian O'Brien with The Big One. We always can count on him for a shout out.

Sidewalk comes to life with our new sign. Credit: DDM.

Vicki, Charlene, and Donna all visited in the morning to make sure things were in good order. They did the lettering on the sign out front. The butterfly balloons they brought were very cool. 

The finished Rookwood display. Doesn't it look nice? Credit: DDM.

Things really started to liven up when Ed and Tom showed up. They painted some arrows on the sidewalk to help folks find the market. And Ed filmed a video that is sure to go viral called "Come to the Makers Market."

Many of us headed to the Avenue Cafe just a block away for a quick lunch. Then we went back to the Market for the busiest part of the day.

DDM President Jay Shoffner proudly standing out in front of the Market. Credit: DDM.

Jay Shoffner, DDM's President showed up in the afternoon too. He enjoyed seeing the transformation of this vacant storefront in to an active space and promised to bring back his wife Kelly. And, of course, Jay would want us to remind you that it is easy to support Discover Downtown Middlesboro here. Anyone who makes a contribution automatically becomes a member. That gets you invitations to our events, updates on what is happening in town, and an opportunity to serve on one of our four volunteer committees.

Jesse and the Jam Session. Credit: DDM.

After returning from lunch we saw Jesse set up in the Market playing his guitar. Jesse lives on the block and has been playing music for some time. We enjoyed his impromptu jam session. 

Jim Robinson sharing his Rookwood wares with Jay. Credit: DDM.

Donna and Sierra enjoying a chat out front. And, yes, at the Makers Market "We only drink, Diet Coke." Credit: DDM

As the day went on more and more people started showing up. We met Michelle and Sierra. Michelle is a jewelry designer and Sierra does many things from painting, to fabrics, and even singing as we learned. (She also helped finish painting the lettering of our window sign out front for us.)

Jill West, proprietor of the Cumberland Manor Bed & Breakfast dropped by to say hello. As did James Madison of the Bell County Historical Society. Mr. Russell Clark came all the way from Mammoth Cave National Park. He's helping us with design of a trail system connecting Middlesborough with the National Park.

Winner of the farthest distance travel award has to go to Channyn who drove all the way from Chicago. She's from Middlesborough and still has family here. We had a good chance to catch up. Among her many talents are graphic design. She's also an organizational whiz. With little direction she set up our Rookwood Pottery Company display. And, yes, we are now an official retailer for Rookwood - right here in Middlesborough, Kentucky.

Saying thank you and good bye to Jim Robinson. Left to right: Kristy, Jim, Donna, Isaac. Credit: Kristy Bay.

Just as we were closing we were thrilled to get a call from Angela Sparkman @AngelaSparkman with WYMT. She was kind enough to drop by the Market to film a piece that closed out the evening newscast that night. Angela's a pro and we always enjoy working with her. Board Member Kristy Bay dropped by around that time too and we were able to get a picture together before closing shop for the day.

The post would not be complete without thanking our partners including the Appalachian Regional Commission. A Flex-E-Grant from them and administered by the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea College made the Makers Market possible. Thanks so much for everyone who showed up!

Sierra finishing off the window painting. Credit: DDM.

Mountain Echo bio in the window. Credit: DDM.

 Our Next Act - Mountain Echo

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Sets at noon and 2pm

Market will be open with arts and crafts on display and available for sale.

Craig Sowby and Ken Wilson

Singers

Craig Sowby grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Utah. He is a classically trained violinist from the age of 4, and started playing drums and percussion at the age of 15. Craig handles fiddle and percussion duties, as well as harmony vocals, with an occasional ukelele. Ken Wilson was born and raised in Middlesboro, KY, but now lives in Harrogate, TN.  He is a school teacher by trade, but has played music since age 18.  Ken handles the guitar duties and sings most of the lead vocals for the duo.  Ken and Craig have been influenced by many different styles of music down through the years, but when they get together to play and sing, the music has a quality and spirit all it's own. The name "Mountain Echo" comes from them both being raised in the mountains, although at opposite ends of the country, and defining a distinctive mountain sound.

Next up:

April 18 Jackie Dunaway, crafter

April 19 Candida Fuson Sullivan, author, children's books

April 25 Steve Obermann, stained glass

April 26 Jade Robertson, musician

May 2 Steve McCarty, wood working and glass

May 3 Harold Jerrell, Photographer 

May 9 Better Block Middlesborough: Bill Lutz, Community Development Director, Piqua, Ohio

May 10 Better Block Middlesborough: Della Rucker, Wise Economy Workshop, Cincinnati, Ohio

May 16 Lorraine England, children's clothing

Makers wishing to have their work on display and available for sale may sign up here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DC8PL9S

Care to make a donation to help support the Makers Market? Please do so here:

http://power2give.org/kentucky/Project/Detail?projectId=2890

---

This project is funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission Flex-E-Grant through the Kentucky Department for Local Government and administered by the Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College. Flex-E-Grant funds are made available to distressed ARC counties in Kentucky for projects that are designed to build capacity in these communities.

Jim Robinson from Rookwood Pottery Company to Headline Makers Market, April 11

Middlesborough, Kentucky, April 1, 2014 - Jim Robinson, a glaze expert with the Rookwood Pottery Company out of Cincinnati, Ohio, will headline the Makers Market. Mr. Robinson will be visiting downtown Middlesborough on Friday, April 11, from 10am-4pm to share his knowledge and experience working with this iconic pottery company. The Makers Market is located at 2008 Cumberland Ave in downtown Middlesborough.

Robinson is responsible for the painstaking work recreating glazes dating as far back as 1887 and which are distinctive to Rookwood. Highly glossy alkaline bases, subtle mattes that crystalize on cooling, and a wide range of glazes and surfaces are being developed.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro President Jay Shoffner said, “What better way to launch the Makers Market and a discussion about reinventing Downtown Middlesborough through the arts than through highlighting the work of a business seeking to restore their own rich artistic tradition? The Makers Market in Middlesborough and Rookwood Pottery Company have much in common.”

The Makers Market provides an opportunity for local artists, craftspeople, musicians, and food producers to demonstrate their skills and showcase their products. Speakers who are experts in small town arts economies will also be invited to present at Makers Market events to share expertise around developing downtown in areas of arts and culture.

The project addresses the long-term goal of developing the local economy through the creation of small cultural businesses that can revitalize the downtown area. In total, 26 performances, lectures, and demonstrations will take place during the project period from April to June 2014. For more information, please visit www.downtownmiddlesboro.org or follow us on Twitter at @MakersMarketKY.

This project is funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission Flex-E-Grant through the Kentucky Department for Local Government and administered by the Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College. Flex-E-Grant funds are made available to distressed ARC counties in Kentucky for projects that are designed to build capacity in these communities.

Downtown Middlesborough Joins Forces with Walk/Run MS Bell County on Saturday, April 12, 2014

Portion of Canal Walk between 19th and 17th Street slated for improvement. Credit: DDM.

Members of the public are invited to the MS Walk/Run Bell County at the Middlesboro High School Track at 9AM. The walk/run event officially begins at 10AM. Then immediately afterwards students from the University of Kentucky will provide their recommendations for a new city-wide trail system for Middlesborough.

University of Kentucky Presentation

Over the past several months students from the University of Kentucky Department of Landscape Architecture have visited Middlesborough several times. This final visit will provide students an opportunity to present their findings for a city trail system. Also partnering on the project is the Rivers, Trails, &Conservation Assistance program of the National Park Service. The findings will help to guide trail system development efforts in the years ahead.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro is a local non-profit organization founded in 2006. The organization has been successful attracting grants, organizing volunteers, and building support for downtown revitalization. In 2013 a strategic plan was created with substantial community input. This includes a recommendation to build up a city trail system that connects the downtown with the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

DDM President Jay Shoffner said, “We’ve been so fortunate to have all the attention paid on us by the faculty and students from the University of Kentucky. We hope the community will come out for this final presentation and thank the students for the excellent work that they have done.”

Downtown Middlesborough will also be fielding a team for the MS Bell County Walk/Run beforehand. Those wanting to join the team should contact Executive Director Isaac Kremer at (606) 248-6155.

MS Bell County Walk/Run

To be a part of the run a small donation is requested to the National MS Society and all runners will receive an event tee-shirt.  A light breakfast will be served and grilled hot dogs will be provided after.  Additional fun events include a corn horn tournament and face painting for kids and adults alike available all free of charge to the public.

The National MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of MS.  The Kentucky Southeast Indiana Chapter serves 108 counties in Kentucky, as well as Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana.  In our territory, over 4,900 people have been diagnosed with MS.  For each of those people in our Chapter living with MS, there is a number of countless others also affected by this illness—families, friends, employers, and other care partners.

The Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.  To create a world free of MS, we must discover the cause, increase treatment options, and most importantly, find a cure.

Join the movement to support the National MS Society, Kentucky Southeast-Indiana Chapter in our efforts to create a world free of MS.  Bring your family and friends on Saturday April 12, 2014!

For more information about multiple sclerosis or Walk MS, call 502-526-5303, email mary.carabella(at)nmss.org or visit www.walkmsky.org to register. For information on the UK Presentation please call 606-248-6155, email downtownmiddlesboro(at)gmail.com or visit www.downtownmiddlesboro.org.