Oakwood Estate
The Oakwood Estate is a house in Winchester, Kentucky. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as Alpheus Lewis House.[1] It is a one-story house on a raised basement with Greek Revival details.[2]
Alpheus Lewis House | |
   | |
| Nearest city | Winchester, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°4′32″N 84°6′54″W |
| Built | 1820 |
| MPS | Clark County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003590[1] |
| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1979 |
The house, "Oakwood", is on the Lewis estate, and has a history that dates from the ante-bellum era. This house is on the banks of Stoner Creek, about a mile off Wades Mill Rd.
At the time the house was built, it was home to Alpheus Lewis Sr., his wife, and nine children. He was born in 1799. His father was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a member of the House of Burgesses who acquired 3,000 acres (12 km2) of land and divided it among his sons. Alpheus built his house, which he later named Oakwood. He created a very successful wine business known as "A. Lewis and Sons". What made Lewis and his home known around Kentucky is the story of his son, Alpheus ("Ack") Lewis Jr. and his time in the Civil War.
Captain Ack Lewis had important papers to deliver to the Confederate General, Braxton Bragg. His route took him past his parent's estate, where he stopped and his mother immediately took precautions by sending their most trusted servant, "Wash", to be stationed outside to look out for any Union troops. About two in the morning, Wash gave the signal that Union troops were approaching the house, looking for Ack. His mother quickly threw his dirty Confederate clothes in the fire and hid him in the secret wine cellar through a trapdoor just as the troops knocked on the door, demanding to search the house. Mrs. Lewis answered and graciously welcomed them into the home. She served them the best wines from the cellars. It is said she treated them so well while they were at the house, they only made a partial search and left. Then, Ack got up from the cellar and made his escape.
The condition of Oakwood today is deteriorating, with major instabilities in the structure. But, in the backyard one may still see a rail fence, made completely of stone, which is quite a rarity. Behind it are the graves of Alpheus Lewis Sr., and his wife, Theodosia.
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- Ann Camille Wells (Fall 1976). "Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Oakwood". National Park Service. Retrieved January 31, 2018. With photos.
- Winchester Sun article
- Excerpt from the diary of Theodosia Lewis