Kentucky River Mills (Frankfort, Ky.)

The Kentucky River Mills (KRM) was formed June 25, 1878 under the leadership of George R. McKee, N.J. Sawyier, Russel W. McRery, Duncan R. Campbell, D.D. Spence, George W. Finnell, P. Sawyier, and others. Located on lock #4 of the Kentucky River, the company rented the property from the state of Kentucky. Construction on the mills began in 1878 and was completed in 1879. The company began by producing hemp yarn for Brussel Carpets, but also manufactured hemp rope as a sideline. Due to demand, KRM switched to producing only twine in 1880. The company suffered a major loss on October 6, 1883, when the KRM building was destroyed by fire. Kentucky artist Paul Sawyier worked for KRM during 1892 as a salesman, traveling in Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. During World War II, KRM received a large contract from the United States Navy to produce marine oakum. In spite of the success of the company, demand for hemp rope decreased after the war. KRM closed in 1952, the last hemp factory in the state of Kentucky.

The Kentucky River, a tributary of the Ohio River, begins its course in Beattyville, Lee County, KY. The 259-mile river was made navigable through the work of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The 14 locks and dams on the river allow various vessels to travel up and down the river, transporting both people and goods. In 1986, management of the river and its locks was turned over the Kentucky River Authority, an agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln Counties, established in 1780, were formed while the land, which would one day become Kentucky, was still a part of Virginia. Over the next 12 years, a further six Kentucky counties were established while still a part of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Kentucky officially became the 15th state to enter the Union on June 1, 1792. The last county to be established was McCreary County, which was formed in 1912 from Pulaski, Wayne and Whitley Counties. Today, Kentucky has 120 counties, with a population of over 4 million people.

...