Mason

Mason is a small community located along U. S. 25. At the north end is Mason Baptist Church and Bruce's General Store about 3-1/2 miles south of Williamstown. It may be said that Mason is bordered by Cherry Grove on the north, Mt. Pleasant Church of Christ and Cordova on the east, and Blanchet and Keefer on the south. On the west, the Mason community blends into the Lawrenceville and Heekin communities.

The first settlement in this area was known as "Gouge's" for James Gouge and his brother who are believed to have settled here about 1798. The family operated a tavern at an early time near the present location of Lystra Church of Christ and Mason School. Some of the Gouge's were members of the Forklick Old Baptist Church.

The first church to be organized in the Mason community was Lystra Church of Christ which was also known as Mt. Lystra Christian Church and Lystra Christian Church. The souvenir edition of The Williamstown Courier, dated May 30, 1901, reports that the church was organized in 1841. At that time there were 39 members. Many members have come and gone over the years; the list is incomplete. Native Grant Countians who have preached here include Dudley Starnes in the early 1900s and M. L. Hutcherson in the 1930s. In the 1950s Reverend Don Smith (who married a Lystra member, Isabel Porter) and Reverend Buford Oder pastored here. Reverend Joseph R. Bachman preached eight revivals here. Past officers include:

Ordained ministers from the Lystra Church include Clyde Earsel Adams, Charles Race, Danny Marksberry, Greg Marksberry and David Lee Damron.

The Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church South was already in existence in April 1875 when the then trustees, George Webb, Samuel Robinson, James Sipple and Joshua Fortner sold the church property to the Cincinnati Southern Railroad. In 1877, Trustees Samuel Robinson, James M. Sipple and William H. Penick acquired a new site from James G. Kendall on the west side of the Lexington Pike adjoining the Gouge School.

In 1888, the church moved again, this time farther north, with Trustees R. L. Boswill, James M. Sipple and Andrew Sheriff acquiring 1/2 acre corner to Ruholl's on the head waters of Grassy Run. The last move was made in 1900 when W. H. Beverly sold 1/4 acre on the east side of the Lexington Pike to Trustees W. P. McGlasson, Samuel Robinson and J. A. Tomlin.

The last service held in this church was in 1952. The last members were Ella Beverly Bruce, Robert Kelly Bruce, Audrey Faulkner, Anna Ruholl and Georgia Ruholl DeRainey. The building was sold in 1959.

Records show the Mason Baptist Church was in existence in March of 1883. It is located on the Lexington Pike and Sipple Pike at Mason. A fire destroyed most early records of the church. However, a surviving record book lists 33 members in 1894. The trustees in 1885 were J. B. Alexander, James Sebree and Squire Robinson, when Jesse and Susan Robinson deeded property to the trustees of the church. In 1902, services were held once a month. The first documented minister was E. J. King who served in 1902. A dedication service for the new church building was held in June of 1913. In April 1965 the parsonage was built.

The church cemetery is maintained by a committee. Available records do not tell of its beginning, but records indicate that at least one Civil War Confederate Veteran, James Woodyard, was buried in Mason Cemetery in 1890.

The first record of a school in the Mason community appeared in an 1856 deed from John Fortner to school trustees Jesse Robinson, Lafayette Gouge and Daniel Sayer selling one acre for $120 lying between the Covington-Lexington Turnpike and Kinman Road. School records are mostly non-existent until the 1880s when an effort was made to maintain a continuing record. They were referred to as District #23, #34 and #53. District #23 was also referred to as the Green-College High School. The trustee for this school during the school year 1894-1895 was J. W. Scroggins. Samuel Robinson was the trustee for District #34 in the 1894-1895 school year. Though often referred to as Bethel-Faulkner School, the school was located about where the Mason School is today. District #53 was actually called Mason. This school was believed to be located on Sipple Road. The trustee at that time was J. F. Gaugh.

On December 31, 1918, these Districts and others were combined to form Mason Consolidated School. Mason was the first consolidated school in the county and second in the State of Kentucky. There were 12 grades with the first high school class graduating in 1921. The consolidated trustee for the year of 1921 was Ed McClain. In 1923, Mrs. J. H. Musselman was a trustee. The last graduating high school class from Mason was in 1953.

The business directory from 1876-1877 credits Mason with two sawmills, John Carter and N. T. Baker; two blacksmiths, David Bishop and John Hensley; two saloons, W. S. Williams and Littell and Gouge; a physician, Jesse Robertson; a contractor, A. E. White; a grocer, John Egleston; and general store owner, J. A. Turner. The railroad contractors were Harmon & Harmon. Several businesses existed in Mason's later history, however, dates for these were vague at best. Walter Gardner operated the railroad depot and telegraph office for eight years. At one time there were four doctors in the area, J. B. Alexander, J. W. Abernathy, Jesse Robertson, and Doctor Simpson.

The U. S. Post Office was first called "Gouge" with John A. Turner as postmaster in 1858. In 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War, he was replaced by A. Bracht, a strong Union supporter. In 1868, Turner became postmaster again for one year, and was succeeded by William Daugherty through 1877.

In 1878, the name was changed from Gouge to Mason, with the following postmasters (or postmistresses:)

Herbert Vallandingham was the one rural mail carrier at Mason. A Wlliamstown rural route now goes through Mason. The Mason Post Office furnishes local services and post office boxes.

Augustus Threlkeld operated a very successful chicken hatchery through the mid 1900's. He was also very active in soil conservation in the county.

Mason Elementary School closed in 1991. There are few businesses still located in Mason. The post office is located in the old Methodist Church building as is Sandy's Barber Shop. Bruce's General Store maintained a thriving business since its conception in 1936 by the late L. C. Bruce. He opened a one room store then and is now one of the handiest general supermarket stores in the county. Today the store is operated by two of his sons.

The small community of Mason has prospered through the years and many things have in all probability been forgotten - that it still exists tells of the strength of its inhabitants to all those that care to listen.

History of Grant County, John B. Conrad, Editor
Published by the Grant County Historical Society
Williamstown, Kentucky
Article by P. R. Perkins, 1992

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