McConnell Springs – Birthplace of Lexington, KY By Gary R. Varner

In June, 1775 a group of explorers, surveyors and others interested in settling

the Kentucky wilderness camped at a natural artesian spring with the intent to build a cabin and to claim a land grant. Similar actions 30 miles to the south on the Kentucky River had created the frontier settlement of Boonesborough under the leadership of Daniel Boone.

Site of the Boonseborough settlement established 1775

Site of Fort Boonesborough. The marker stone contains the names of the original settlers. A short distance beyond the stone wall, flows the Kentucky River.

As they sat around their campfire they debated possible names for their intended settlement. Drawing upon the names of towns along the Monongahela region where they had started out, “Lancaster” and “York” were in contention when riders from Boonesborough brought news of the Battle of Lexington which had occurred two months previously and precipitated the American Revolution. “Lexington” was chosen for the settlement that would take another four years, until 1779 to come to fruition.

Today this important natural and historic site is situated in the midst of an

industrial park near downtown Lexington. Except for luck and the hard work of people who came together in an effort to preserve the site at the eleventh hour it would remain abandoned and derelict.

When a group of concerned citizens came together in 1993 to restore

McConnell Springs the site was an illegal dumpsite. Hundreds of tons of trash and construction debris were removed. At that time Bank One, the property owner, negotiated with the group and donated the property to the “Friends of McConnell Springs” in exchange for the Friends agreeing to purchase adjoining acreage. The deal was finalized in November of 1994 and the site was turned over to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government as a natural area. Over time a visitors and education center was constructed and trails were developed over the now 26 acre site.

McConnell Springs is an ancient artesian system originating from

underground systems from a wide area. Flowing through limestone bedrock, the springs are very sensitive to the level of rainfall as well as to human disturbances.

One of the springs, called the Blue Hole, was used by ancient Native

Americans and is a source of mystery. Its distinctive blue color is most likely caused by the relatively deep water (presently 15 feet). It is this spring that the McConnell party is thought to have camped near when they debated the name for their proposed settlement. Wild animals, which were important food sources for the Indians, often visited the site for the consistent supply of clean, cool water.

The Blue Hole was thought to be a “never failing spring” which could be a

reliable water source for the entire city of Lexington. However with the rapid increase in population it soon became obvious that it could not meet the demands. The water flow was, however, sufficient to power a large gunpowder mill which produced a large amount of ammunition for American soldiers during the War of 1812. In addition, over time, the water was used for nearby distilleries, stock farms, slaughterhouses and trotting horses.

McConnell Spring’s Blue Hole

Next to the Blue Hole is another spring called “the Boils.” The name is an

accurate description of the water emerging from the underwater conduit. After heavy rains the underground water pressure forces a column of water up from to spring to a height of 24 inches. While appearing similar to hot springs the average temperature here is approximately 55 degrees.

The “Boils” in action.

The waters of the McConnell Springs empty into a cave-like opening in the earth called the “Final Sink.” The water continues underground for approximately 1/3 of a mile and reappear at Preston’s Cave and then joins Wolf Run Creek and then into the Elkhorn Creek. The spring-creek complex is one of the few meandering creeks still found in its natural state in the Lexington area.

McConnell Springs “Final Sink”.

Over time the natural appearance of McConnell Springs has changed due to human manipulation. The area which was first visited in 1775 was open field with tall grasses and Bur Oak trees. Referred to as the Bur Oak Savannah, two Bur Oak trees still stand which were present prior to the arrival of Europeans in 1775.

One of the two ancient Bur Oaks still standing at McConnell Springs.

During the early 1800’s the area around McConnell Springs underwent development with the construction of a large barn, creamery, outbuildings and farm house. A series of rock walls, or fences were constructed through the area most likely by John Wilson who owned the land from 1859 until 1886. The fences were built in the ancient Irish tradition to keep predators out and Wilson’s hogs and horses in. The fences were made from the plentiful limestone common to Kentucky. There are two on-site limestone quarries which provided the material for the fences and building foundations.

The remains of the creamery still stand next to the Blue Hole as seen in the photograph below. The drainage pipe shown in the wall was of stoneware and similar pipes of coarse clay construction date to the last quarter of the 19th into the 20th century. The creamery was constructed sometime around 1915. The foundation walls are 5’2” high and 16 inches thick. The creamery had difficulties with the board of health periodically for high bacteria counts and “unclean milk vessels.” Irregardless the creamery remained in business into the 1930s.

Creamery foundation. (Note drainage pipe in upper left corner area of the foundation.)

Due to the destructive alteration of the site during the 19th and 20th century

little evidence remains of Native American usage. Artesian springs were often used by Native Americans across North America for clean water, ritual and hunting locations. The scant evidence found at McConnell Springs consists of chert flakes and a 1,000 year old projectile point. The limited archaeological evidence indicates that McConnell Springs was periodically used but was not a site of prolonged prehistoric use.

McConnell Springs is an example of the ability of people to come together to

preserve important historic and natural preserves which otherwise would be laid waste.