Middletown in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Joseph Abell House

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

1. Joseph Abell House Marker

Inscription. Joseph Abell built this “Main House” on his 600 -acre plantation about 1803. In 1846, he died at the age of 94. Legend holds that his ghost still guards treasure buried on the plantation. Famed Louisville surgeon Irwin Abell is a descendent of Joseph Abell.

Listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Erected by Historic Middletown, Inc. • City of Middletown.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1803.

Location. 38° 14.642′ N, 85° 31.668′ W. Marker is in Middletown, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is at the intersection of Old Shelbyville Road and Middletown Square, on the left when traveling west on Old Shelbyville Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12210 Old Shelbyville Rd, Louisville KY 40243, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Louisville Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River

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Valley.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Bull House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Middletown Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Middletown Station (approx. half a mile away); The Wetherby House (approx. half a mile away); Davis Tavern (approx. half a mile away); Lawrence Winchester Wetherby / Gov. Lawrence W. Wetherby (approx. half a mile away); Gov. Lawrence Wetherby Statue (approx. half a mile away); Henry Frank House (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown.

Regarding Joseph Abell House. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:

The house was built circa 1804 by Joseph Abell, an early Kentucky settler and land speculator. It is the only surviving Federal brick house in Middletown and retains its original mantels and woodwork.

Joseph Abell, born in Maryland in 1752, emigrated to Mason County,
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

2. Joseph Abell House Marker
Kentucky at a very early date. In 1803, while residing in Mason County, he bought 600 acres of land near Middletown. Sometime after this date Abell built the present brick house. He bought and sold a great deal of land in the Jefferson County area. Abell died in 1843.

Also see . . . Abell House (PDF). National Register nomination for the property, which was listed in 1980. (National Archives) (Submitted on August 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 2,600 times since then and 138 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.