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The Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a historical marker for the Willis Russell House at 4 p.m Monday at 204 E. Walnut St. (Photo by BRENDA EDWARDS / November 16, 2012) |
The Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a historical marker for the Willis Russell House at 4 p.m. Monday at 204 E. Walnut St.
Willis Russell, a well-educated and emancipated slave of Revolutionary War captain Robert Craddock, relocated from Warren County to Danville about April 1838. He taught African-American children in the pre-1795 log home he inherited when Craddock died in 1837.
Russell was educated in Craddock’s home by French soldier Peter Tardiveau, a political interpreter for Gen. George Rogers Clark. Both Craddock and Tardiveau were members of The Political Club, which petitioned for Kentucky statehood.
The Kentucky Historical Marker Program, administered by KHS in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, tells Kentucky’s story through the people, places and events that have shaped local communities across the commonwealth.
These markers highlight the importance of place in Kentucky’s collective history, in order to build strong communities for the future. The markers are on-the-spot history lessons that make connections between history, place and historical evidence housed in the commonwealth’s many historical organizations.
Through the program, Kentucky’s history is made accessible to the public on markers along the state’s roadways and online at www.history.ky.gov/markers and via the Explore Kentucky History smartphone application available for free at iTunes and Google Play.
For more information, contact Becky Riddle, Kentucky Historical Marker program coordinator, at (502) 564-1792, ext. 4474, or becky.riddle@ky.gov.
