Bell Court Neighborhood Association records
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Bell Court Neighborhood Association records
- Date
- 1957-1991 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 1.1 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Bell Place (Lexington, Ky.)
- Historic buildings -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
- Historic preservation -- Kentucky.
- Neighborhood government
- Neighborhoods -- Kentucky -- Lexington
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format.
- Preferred Citation
- 1997ms198: Bell Court Neighborhood Association records, 1957-1991, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Bell Court Neighborhood Association was formed in 1962 and incorporated in 1965. Its primary purpose was to further the preservtion and improvement of the Bell Court neighborhood through charitable, educational or scientific activities. The Bell Court neighborhood was defined as including all residences, businesses and other entities bounded by the west side of Walton Avenue, the north side of Main Street, the east side of Indiana Avenue and the north side of Boonesboro Avenue.
- The Bell Court neighborhood was developed around the turn of the 20th century as a middle class neighborhood. There are 157 buildings in the district most of which are homes built in the Victorian or Queen Anne styles. The most notable house in the neighborhood is known as Bell Place, owned and eventually donated to the city of Lexington by Clara Bell Walsh. Bell Place was designed by Lexington architect Thomas Lewinski and combines both Greek Revival and Romanesque features. It was constructed for Henry and Clarissa Bell beginning in 1845. Other notable pieces of architecture in Bell Court Historic Neighborhood District are the Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd and Clay Villa, the oldest home in the neighborhood.
- Sources:
- Bell Court Historic Neighborhood District, Lexington, Kentucky. Accessed June 27, 2018. https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/lexington/bel.htm.
- Scope and Content
- The Bell Court Neighborhood Association records (dated 1957-1991; 1.1 cubic feet; 1 box, 1 folder) contains the association's articles of incorporation, projects and grants files, surveys, historic district nomination material, correspondence, minutes, reports, financial records, and newspaper clippings, which document operation of the neighborhood association in Lexington, Kentucky. Of particular note in the collection are the records documenting the association's efforts during 1983-1988 to prevent the McDonald's on Main Street from providing drive-up window service.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Administrative files, 1965-1991
Scope and Contents
The Administrative files series contains articles of incorporation, by-laws, membership and meetings files, reports, and legal documents concerning the Bell Court Neighborhood Association's lawsuit with McDonald's over a property on East Main Street. Series is organized alphabetically.
Articles of incorporation information, 1965-1981
The Bell Place News, 1975-1990
By-laws, 1989
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Environmental Commission award, undated
McDonald's lawsuit background information, 1983-1988
McDonald's petition flyers, undated
McDonald's lawsuit, 1983-1985
McDonald's case legal fees, 1983-1984
Meetings, 1965-1991
Membership, 1967-1990
Membership surveys, 1989-1990
Quarterly Status Report of Active Projects, 1986
Affiliated groups, 1981-1990
Scope and Contents
The Affiliated groups series contains files concerning other related organizations, including the Aylesford Place Neighborhood Association, the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, the Board of Adjustment, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Series is organized alphabetically.
Ayelsford Place Neighborhood Association, 1988-1989
Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, 1981-1990
Board of Adjustment cases, 1986-1989
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council meeting, 1983-1989
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council: Division of Sanitation, 1986
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government green space conservancy, 1989
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government handouts, 1986-1989
Correspondence, 1978-2002
Scope and Contents
The Correspondence series contains letters between the Bell Court Neighborhood Association and its members or other local organizations. These letters include information on the Kentucky Business College, parking and zoning violations and complaints, and traffic concerns. Series is organized alphabetically.
Kentucky Business College, 1980
Parking and zoning violations and complaints, 1979
Traffic problems, 1978-1981
1979-1989
Handwritten notes, undated
Financial information, 1976-1990
Scope and Contents
The Financial information series consists of receipts, tax documents, treasurer reports, and an account and dues book, which document the financial activities of the Bell Court Neighborhood Association. Many of the receipts document local partnerships and informal activities, such as picnics and participation in other Lexington events.
Account and dues book, 1978-1980
Lawyer billing statements, 1989
Receipts, 1976-1989
Tax information, 2002
Treasure reports, 1979-1990
Printed material, 1974-1990
Scope and Contents
The Printed material series contains development plans, newspaper clippings, maps, programs, and surveys. Series is organized alphabetically.
Action Match Program, 1986-1987
Coca-Cola Bottling Midwest, 1986
Comprehensive Plan, 1987
The Downtown View, 1990
Fayette County Public Schools survey, 1990
Historic district legislation, undated
Kars Cookbook corrections, undated
Maps, undated
Neighborhood associations in Fayette County, 1987-1989
Neighborhood participation in planning, zoning, and development, undated
Newspaper articles, 1974-1990
Newspaper article copies, 1974-1990
Referral Directory, 1989
Social Survey of Neighborhood Conditions: Kenwick, Eastside, Bell Court, and Henry Clay, 1976
Small Area Plan for Bell Court, East Side, and Henry Clay Small Areas, 1976
Staff Report on Petition for Zone Map Amendment, 1988
Tree care information, 1986
Project files, 1957-1990
Scope and Contents
The Project files series includes material documenting Bell Court Neighborhood Association projects, including festivals, the Bell House restoration, zone changes, historic designation material, home tours, neighborhood watch activities, a Kentucky historic resources inventory, and a tree match grant. Series is organized alphabetically.
Activities and festivals, 1968-1991
Bell House restoration, 1981-1990
Residence of D.D. Bell, Esq., 545 Sayre Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky, architectural drawings, architect S.E. Des Jardins, Cincinnati, undated
Bell Place Historic District Designation Report, 1990
Clara Bell Walsh, 1957-1989
509 East Main Street, 1990
Ellerslie Avenue proposed zone change, 1988
Historic district designation materials, 1976-1990
Home tours, 1988
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church house acquisition, 1987-1990
Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory, 1980
Neighborhood Watch marking day, 1982
Tree Match grant, 1989-1990
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
