Mount Vernon in Rockcastle County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Fish Hiatt Building
Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 12, 2017
1. Fish – Hiatt Building Marker (front)
Inscription.
Fish Hiatt Building. . The Elkin Hotel structure stood on this site from the time of its construction around 1820 until its demolition in 1905. Originally built by Rueben Elkin, it was a two-story wooden clapboard building with a wood shingled roof. This was Mt. Vernons first hotel (other than Stephen Langfords tavern) and it was well known for being the first establishment in the area to use a bell that could be heard up and down Main Street to call people to meals.
In 1899 James F. Houk purchased the building and operated as Houk and Sons General store until they sold the building to Jesse Fish in 1902.
Jesses son, Jones P. Fish moved the business into a temporary building so that the Elkin Building could be replaced with the masonry stone building you see now. It opened as J. Fish in 1906. The main entrance was originally the door opening to Church Street. If you look closely at the pavement outside this door, you can still see the fish imprints in the sidewalk which marked the main entrance for shoppers. The concrete blocks were created on site by C. Shipp from Corbin, and the masonry work was completed by John H. Ramsey. In March 1909, A.J. Fish had a glass front installed and changed the entry to face Main Street. The Signal reported that Fritz Krueger began excavating for the new building for J. Fish and W.L. Richards also in 1909. We believe this was an addition to the original block structure. O.V. Hilton purchased the building during World War II and operated it for 17 years. O.V. then sold the building and business to his son-in-law and daughter – Barbara and Billy Hiatt and it thrived during the 19060s and 70s. For 46 years residents shopped at this location fondly known at Hiatts 5 and 10 until the doors closed in 2007.
The Elkin Hotel structure stood on this site from the time of its construction around 1820 until its demolition in 1905. Originally built by Rueben Elkin, it was a two-story wooden clapboard building with a wood shingled roof. This was Mt. Vernons first hotel (other than Stephen Langfords tavern) and it was well known for being the first establishment in the area to use a bell that could be heard up and down Main Street to call people to meals.
In 1899 James F. Houk purchased the building and operated as Houk & Sons General store until they sold the building to Jesse Fish in 1902.
Jesses son, Jones P. Fish moved the business into a temporary building so that the Elkin Building could be replaced with the masonry stone building you see now. It opened as J. Fish in 1906. The main entrance was originally the door opening to Church Street. If you look closely at the pavement outside this door, you can still see the fish imprints in the sidewalk which marked the main entrance for shoppers. The concrete blocks were created on site by C. Shipp from Corbin, and the masonry work was completed by John H. Ramsey.
In March 1909, A.J. Fish had a glass front installed and changed the entry to face Main Street. The Signal reported that Fritz Krueger began excavating for the new building for J. Fish and W.L. Richards also in 1909. We believe this was an addition to the original block structure.
O.V. Hilton purchased the building during World War II and operated it for 17 years. O.V. then sold the building and business to his son-in-law and daughter – Barbara and Billy Hiatt and it thrived during the 19060s and 70s. For 46 years residents shopped at this location fondly known at Hiatts 5 & 10 until the doors closed in 2007.
Location. 37° 21.184′ N, 84° 20.329′ W. Marker is in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, in Rockcastle County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street and Church Street, on the left when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Vernon KY 40456, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s The Knobs. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, April 7, 2024
5. The original main entrance-opening out onto Church Street, notice the fish imprints in the pavement.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, April 7, 2024
6. A close up on one of the the fish imprints.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, April 7, 2024
7. A close up of another of the fish imprints.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 944 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 28, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
