Whitesville, Kentucky

Whitesville is the second-largest town in Daviess County with a population of about 700, an elementary school, a parochial elementary school and high school, a 22-acre park, and its own Chamber of Commerce.

Early History

Whitesville began when Robert Triplett of Owensboro, who owned a large tract of land along the Leitchfield Road near the Ohio County line, began laying out a town. Dr. William White moved there in 1842, opened a store, and eventually, as the population grew, resumed the practice of medicine.

Several businesses moved to the new town, then known as“Cross Roads”, from the village of Boston, a short distance on the road to Owensboro. Among the settlers were wagon maker William Miller, blacksmith William Dillahay, and shoemaker J.T. Kelly.

Town Growth

The town grew rapidly in the 1850’s, but did not have either official charter as a town or a post office. The post office was moved from Boston in 1859, moved back briefly during the Civil War, and permanently relocated to Whitesville in 1865. Finally, in 1867, Whitesville was incorporated, under its present name, and “Cross Roads” was forgotten. By this time Whitesville had a population of 320, with a fine dry-goods store, a drug store, two saddling shops, two blacksmiths, and two churches—Baptist and Christian. In 1868 Jesse Haynes opened a flour mill which was later purchased by G.W. Mullen and expanded. The larger mill could grind 150 bushels of wheat or corn in ten hours, and accommodated farmers from both Daviess and Ohio Counties.

Whitesville became an important station on the Owensboro, Falls of the Rough and Green River Railroad when it was completed through the town in 1889. Promotional literature for the railroad noted that Whitesville’s population was 600. The opening of the railroad gave Whitesville an all-weather transportation link to Owensboro and the wider world, further stimulating the town’s growth and business development.

1911 Fire

A disastrous fire broke out on May 8, 1911, and flames raged through he downtown district. The fire began in the warehouse of the A.P. Brooks store, and spread rapidly due in large part to the lack of fire-fighting equipment. An entire block of businesses fronting Main Street were destroyed. The losses included the Brooks store, the R.E. Knox Drug Store, the Christian Church, the town jail, and W.L. Miller’s Undertaking establishment. One of Whitesville’s best economic periods occurred in the 1920’s when oil was discovered in that part of Daviess County and Ohio County. The oil “boom” began in 1925 and lasted about ten years.

100-Year Anniversary

When Whitesville celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 5, 1967, the town had a bank, a volunteer fire department, public water system, 42 street lights, five miles of streets, 221 homes, one police officer, four churches, four grocery stores, two restaurants, a hardware store and a furniture store.

Train Station

Whitesville lost its passenger train service in 1941, but by that time KY 54 was paved and the automobile had become the main means of personal travel. Farmers and shippers also used the new road system and freight trucks delivered. The railroad was removed in 1981, and all that remains of the once-important element of Whitesville’s history is the caboose in the city park. Whitesville entered the 21st century as a still-vibrant community, serving a growing retail area, and with pride in its schools and sport teams, particularly those of Trinity High School.

Reference to an article by Glenn Hodges