BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. — The Lincoln Foundation, the descendants of Kentucky historical figure Eckstein Norton and the Kentucky Historical Society will host a historical marker dedication ceremony on Saturday for the Eckstein Norton University.
The school opened in Cane Spring in 1890 on 75 acres for formerly enslaved African-Americans.
Eventually, it closed and the property exchanged hands several times over the years.
A Nelson County couple who currently owns the Bullitt County property thought they would clean it up, and they discovered something during that process.
"My husband started digging one day, he thought he found some rocks," Kathy Fields told WHAS11 News' Sherlene Shanklin. "A family lived in it after the college, and so the guy decided one day that he was going to tear it down."
The couple found what historians say is a portion of the dormitory for Eckstein Norton University, which was funded and supported by then L&N Railroad President Eckstein Norton.
"But we did not know it had anything to do with a college," Fields said. "You can see, like, these were the steps that went up. The foundation of the steps."
So on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., the historical marker will be unveiled, where they will acknowledge the school's existence and the contributions they made in Black history and education in Kentucky.
WHAS11 News anchor Doug Proffitt will serve as the emcee for the ceremony.
Daniel Buxton, a Bullitt County historian, and Samuel Dunn, a Kentucky historian, will speak at the dedication.
The site is in the 4800 block of Deatsville Road in Coxs Creek, Kentucky. Visitors will see the historical marker first. Guests should then turn right onto the property and go through the gate. Once they go up the long driveway, they will see a big tent where the ceremony will take place.
Some landmarks as you approach the property will be Bernheim Forest and Jim Beam Distillery. Visitors will also have to drive over some railroad tracks.
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