Our History
Our Story
In 1775, a federal land grant was given to General Jonathan Clark, eldest brother to William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The granted offered General Clark ten thousand acres on a military warrant to be taken west of the green river in Kentucky. Federal Grove was part of the initial seventeen hundred acres General Clark grabbed. General Clark filed his paperwork in Logan county courthouse in 1785, before settling in Louisville.
In 1805, General Clark granted property to his daughter Elinor, who was married to a Methodist minister named Benjamin Temple. Together, Elinor and Benjamin established a farm/plantation called Federal Grove; so named due to the land coming from a federal grant. Later, they acquired an additional three hundred acres and ran farming operations, which peaked in 1885. During its time operating as a farm, reports say that there were twenty-six slaves working on the property.
Benjamin passed away in the mid 1850s. After her husband’s death, Elinor moved to Louisville to be with family. The property was sold to Captain Harrison Wood, former Kentucky state legislator, who built the house we call Federal Grove today. Captain Wood renamed the place Woodville, and started a settlement. The settlement had a one room school house, a blacksmith shop, a horse and mule trading post, and a general store. The nearby Shakers, who kept documentation of their trading activities, are to thank for our knowledge of Woodville settlement. Captain Wood lobbied to have the L&N Depot put in across from his settlement. After his attempts failed, it was the end of Woodville.
Around 1863, Captain Wood abandoned Federal Grove/Woodville, and it was sold to James Monroe Hall. The Halls kept it in their family for one hundred and twenty years, 1871-1991.
In the fall of 1991, Federal Grove house and the additional thirteen acres was purchased by Wayne and Terry Blythe. The house was completely restored, literally brick by brick, in 1992 and mother’s dream of owning her own bed and breakfast was realized. The restaurant was added later.
Today, Federal Grove runs as a special event venue and Airbnb. We’ve worked for a year and a half on tracking down the history of Federal Grove. In 1995, before Google, Lee used Yahoo to find Elinor Temple’s will, which referenced her farm, “Federal Grove”. We decided to keep the name.
Our Story
In 1775, a federal land grant was given to General Jonathan Clark, eldest brother to William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The granted offered General Clark ten thousand acres on a military warrant to be taken west of the green river in Kentucky. Federal Grove was part of the initial seventeen hundred acres General Clark grabbed. General Clark filed his paperwork in Logan county courthouse in 1785, before settling in Louisville.
In 1805, General Clark granted property to his daughter Elinor, who was married to a Methodist minister named Benjamin Temple. Together, Elinor and Benjamin established a farm/plantation called Federal Grove; so named due to the land coming from a federal grant. Later, they acquired an additional three hundred acres and ran farming operations, which peaked in 1885. During its time operating as a farm, reports say that there were twenty-six slaves working on the property.
Benjamin passed away in the mid 1850s. After her husband’s death, Elinor moved to Louisville to be with family. The property was sold to Captain Harrison Wood, former Kentucky state legislator, who built the house we call Federal Grove today. Captain Wood renamed the place Woodville, and started a settlement. The settlement had a one room school house, a blacksmith shop, a horse and mule trading post, and a general store. The nearby Shakers, who kept documentation of their trading activities, are to thank for our knowledge of Woodville settlement. Captain Wood lobbied to have the L&N Depot put in across from his settlement. After his attempts failed, it was the end of Woodville.
Around 1863, Captain Wood abandoned Federal Grove/Woodville, and it was sold to James Monroe Hall. The Halls kept it in their family for one hundred and twenty years, 1871-1991.
In the fall of 1991, Federal Grove house and the additional thirteen acres was purchased by Wayne and Terry Blythe. The house was completely restored, literally brick by brick, in 1992 and mother’s dream of owning her own bed and breakfast was realized. The restaurant was added later.
Today, Federal Grove runs as a special event venue and Airbnb. We’ve worked for a year and a half on tracking down the history of Federal Grove. In 1995, before Google, Lee used Yahoo to find Elinor Temple’s will, which referenced her farm, “Federal Grove”. We decided to keep the name.