Ky. Theatre manager, Heritage Trail among those honored for keeping Lexington’s history alive

In 1963, Fred Mills went to work as an usher at the Kentucky Theatre on East Main St. in downtown Lexington. Now, Mills is being honored for his preservation work of the theater.

Mills, now the general manager of the theater, won the John Wesley Hunt Award from the Blue Grass Trust for Historical Preservation. The award is given to an individual for lifelong service to historical preservation in Central Kentucky.

“It’s greatly appreciated,” Mills said. “I’m definitely very surprised.”

Mills said in 1987, a fire broke out in a building next door to the theater, which has been in operation since 1922. Mills said after the fire, then- Lexington Mayor Scotty Baesler managed to convince the city council to approve a renovation project for the historic theater.

“I’ve been blessed over the years to tell everyone that I have the best job in Lexington,” Mills said.

Mills is one of 13 Central Kentucky individuals or organizations honored this year by the Blue Grass Trust.

The African American Heritage Trail in Lexington was given the Barbara Hulette award, which commends efforts to preserve history, heritage and sense of community in Central Kentucky.

The trail was funded by Together Lexington, a group of 19 business and community leaders who held a series of meetings about race and other issues in 2017. The story in Lexington’s Black community is told through 12 markers spread around downtown, with the central marker located next to the Old Fayette County Courthouse.

“The goal was to cover from slavery through the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights movement,” said Rufus Friday, one of the members of Together Lexington, special assistant to the President of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and former publisher of the Herald-Leader.

Yvonne Giles, a Black historian and a member of the Heritage Trail’s signage subcommittee that chose where the markers would be placed, said she knew from the beginning the Heritage Trail would be completed.

“I don’t sit on committees unless I know it’s serious,” Giles said. “It was a definite. I never once thought that it would not get completed.”

Giles said she believes the Heritage Trail is important because it reminds the public about Lexington’s “shared history.”

“We knew that this is part of our local history — it needs to be told,” Giles said. “We just knew it was important to tell a history of African Americans who were instrumental here in Lexington.”

Blue Grass Trust for Historical Preservation winners

Copper Steeple restoration for First Presbyterian Church: Preservation Craftsman Award; Given to a building industry craftsman who has exhibited a strong commitment to quality craftsmanship for historic buildings.

Purchase of Development Right program LFUCG: Public Service to Preservation Award; Given to a government agency or official for service to preservation movement or to a specific project.

Mel Stewart Hankla, Ed.D: Clay Lancaster Heritage Education Award; Given to an individual or group for service in researching and disseminating information about the Central Kentucky region.

Kentucky Colonels: Community Preservation Award; Given to a non-governmental group or individual for service to the preservation movement or to a special preservation project.

African American Heritage Trail; Community Ventures Corporation (Millersburg Military Institute Allen House Renovation): Barbara Hulette Award; For efforts in preservation of Central Kentucky’s history, heritage, built environment, landscape, archaeological resources, sense of community or significant endeavors.

Jerry Daniels (deTours): Lucy Shropshire Crump Volunteer Award; Given to an individual or group who has provided exemplary service to the Blue Grass Trust throughout the year.

Boyle Landmark Trust: Lucy Graves Advocacy Award; Given to an individual or group who has exhibited advocacy leadership in supporting the historic preservation movement in Central Kentucky.

Sav’s Grill; Sig Luscher (Frankfort brewery): Clyde Carpenter Adaptive Re-use Award; Given to an individual or group for outstanding efforts towards the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of a building or buildings with Central Kentucky.

Lexington Cemetery: Landscape Preservation Award; Given to an individual or group for the preservation, design, stewardship, restoration or enhancement of an historic cultural landscape in the Bluegrass.

Fred Mills: John Wesley Hunt Award: Given to an individual for lifetime service to the preservation movement in Central Kentucky.

Gay Reading: Dot Crutcher Award; Given at Annual Founders’ Day Party to an exemplary member of the Blue Grass Trust.