The Gower House: Early American Frontier Riverfront Tavern and Inn: Livingston County Kentucky

[@kriscoker4149]

I absolutely love your passion for historic structures! My passion runs deep as well. I just restored a 1797 Federal house in Gallatin,TN. I would looove to see this house!

[@MrScott-rr9ld]

The 1962 movie "How The West Was Won" had many scenes filmed in the small riverfront town of Smithland. It's pretty cool to see how some of the same trees from the movie still stand and grow next to that beautiful river.

[@melanies734]

They're boxelder bugs, and they're harmless. They are probably there because it is warmer there than anywhere around. The wasp nests can be easily done away with. I love the history of the Gower house. If I had the money to restore it, it would make a wonderful riverfront home.

[@fomobourbon615]

I actually helped clean out some of the contents in the 90s. Was friends with the Roberts/Fraley family. Much of the flooring, plaster walls, etc was too far gone to save. I grew up in Grand Rivers but went to school in Smithland later.

[@larryfischer638]

Wow what history the Gower House held, thanks for sharing this video.

[@roberth.tanner126]

I love this place too. I was up there in Smithland 2 years ago. It's a beautiful little town.

[@chriscassner9550]

Julian Gower, FYI as of 8/9/2024 this house is for sale! Thought you might like to know. Excellent price too. (I am not a realtor, or owner of this house, just passing along info.) ☺

[@JulianGower]

I would love to buy that place and renovate! If I only lived closer!!! I hope whoever buys it takes better care of it. I love this place so much!

[@nationalparknrd6565]

@nps or @stateofkentucky need to save this place

[@JulianGower]

@@nationalparknrd6565 my biggest fear is that one day I’ll go to visit and it will be a pile of bricks! I’ve even thought about doing a go fund me to try to save it.

[@brendahennesseereger8609]

My sister, her husband and 4 children moved to Smithland almost 60 years ago. My brother in law was a concrete man building the dam across the river. They always loved the town although it was pretty much gone by then.

[@johncrow5006]

For anybody that doesn't know, the story of the old lady in the wedding dress was based on the character of Miss Havisham from Dickens' novel 'Great Expectations'. The novel is partly set in and around Rochester, where I still live, and my late Father - who was OBSESSED with Dickens - would take me on trips like this to places that feature in the novels. He would have loved this channel.

[@cherylefunz7789]

That was a Britishstory, and filmed in Britain, so any resemblance to Kentucky is purely coincidental. Sorry, Charles Dickens is from England you know. A resident of London when he penned his first novel, it was eagerly read by young Queen Victoria, and she did act on some of the social issues he wrote about.

[@MrScott-rr9ld]

I loved watching your video. I have lived in this part of Western Kentucky for the majority of my life. Your videos shed so much more light on stuff here. Paducah, Smithland and so much more. Some good places to check out would be Mantle Rock, Carrsville Ky, Mattoon and it's Amish community.

[@JulianGower]

Yes, Western Kentucky has some amazing history and some amazing buildings. I did visit mantle rock and Cave-in Rock in Illinois…. All in one day. I have videos on those sites. It was a full day. There is so much more to see and on my next visit, there will be more exploring for sure.

[@russbear31]

It is a gorgeous house, begging to be properly restored. It would be a show place. I can see why you love it.

[@garywatt4546]

Another impressive video Julian. Probably best not to venture inside too far, in case a part of the ceiling falls in or you go crashing through a rotten floorboard.

[@Sam-cg6rv]

Been here many times, always wish could be restored.

[@ArtGamer85]

Excellent ❤ compilation and composition of information on such an interesting place. So glad I could go visit with you!

[@markm-ci6rj]

Shame, would makke a nice hotel. Is the river not navigable anymore? Interesting video

[@JulianGower]

Yes, the river is still navigable. It’s still used for barges. A lot of people in the area have boats and in the summer there is a lot of traffic on the rivers.

[@KARENBAKER-b5b]

It’s probably not worth using the over for shipping anymore, not with interstates and trains. But I bet a lot of people use it for recreational boating.

[@pennyoliver2712]

I was raised outside of Smithland...went to Smithland Elementary then to the High School in Burna. Spent alot of my life and still do in Smithland. You should go to the log cabin in town....it's full of history of Smithland. There's been so many old homes torn down 😢 only a few remain. I have a cousin that lives in Michigan and she loves the Gower house too ❤

[@toddhansen8328]

The carving of Henry Clay was restored and is now located on the second floor of the Justice Center.

[@JulianGower]

WOW! I did not know that the statue survived. Thank you so much for telling me that. The next time I am in Smithland I will definitely go check it out. Amazing.

[@toddhansen8328]

@@JulianGower you are welcome

[@curtisleeloesch1]

I hope to go there and outlaw cave. thanks for vids.

[@penalleycat1482]

I recently came to know about this place via another video that featured it and it struck me with surprise that out of all the GoFundMe's for the most trivial of things, there isn't anything in place that would assist with funding a restoration. It really is a shame that this place just sits there to rot. The town itself could benefit from a restored Inn with like tours, etc. Perhaps a restaurant nearby, not in the historic building itself. Great job on the video! Thank you! Also, there are many free options available to host websites these days. :)

[@JulianGower]

Yes, I really do wish the state or even the county would do something with that building. But unfortunately, they’re not. The owner and I tried many years ago to get a grant to fix the building and turn it into a restaurant, but the cost was just astronomical. It is still my favorite building in the whole world and if I ever win the lottery that’s the first thing I’m going to do is fix that house!

[@joshuawill7618]

@@JulianGowerI’m curious, what was the main contributor to the astronomical cost. It seems pretty straightforward to me but I could be naive? (I am asking as someone who is genuinely interested in restoring it)

[@zipshed]

Them are box elder bugs named after the box elder tree. You can look them up!

[@JulianGower]

Thank you! I was afraid thy were termites!!!

[@cherylefunz7789]

@@JulianGower you will never see a termite. they build tunnels of mud which stick together and live inside them. They crawl up spaces and then attack the wood in the softer spots, so damage can be rather random, but they all require a water source and dampness to make their tunnels, which go across any exposed area. This means you can follow leaks to find the tunnels.

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

👍👍🎄👌😸

[@hackupboulders]

Is there deeded access to the river?

[@JulianGower]

I don’t believe there is deeded access to the river.

[@Potato-fv9ns]

❤

[@thevictorianneedle]

Are you related to the Gower ancestors?

[@thevictorianneedle]

Nevermind, I saw your notations about them not being relations.

[@katesmith6250]

Love the house and the history, but what about that cat?!