Heritage Farm Program - Part 1 of 7

                   A  Centennial Farm is a farm or ranch in the United States that has been officially recognized by a state documenting the farm has been continuously owned by a single family for 100 years or more. Sesquicentennial Farms (150 years) and Bicentennial Farms (200 years) are also recognized.

          During the Kentucky Bicentennial (1992) Kentucky started a “Heritage Farm Program” that recognized historic farms and ranches. The Kentucky legislature passed a law in 1980, revised July 15, 1982, titled “Kentucky Register of Heritage Farms” (Ky. Rev. Stat. 171.388)  stating that to qualify a farm must comprise at least 40 acres, shall have been owned by the same family at least 100 years, be an active farm, and contain a structure more than 50 years old.  Farms are certified by the Kentucky Heritage Council, in conjunction with the State Preservation Office. An official certificate is issued and signed by the Governor and various officials.

          Ohio County is blessed with two Sesquicentennial Farms and five Centennial Farms.  The following information is “as of” the year  2000 and taken from a book titled: Kentucky’s Historic Farms: 200 years Of Kentucky Agriculture, Turner Publishing, Inc. Paducah, published 1994, 1996, and 2000.  Authors were Clark Ph.D., Thomas; Beatty, Durwood W; Jarratt, C. Ardell; Amos, Christine; Hudson, Karen E.

OHIO COUNTY SESQUICENTENNIAL FARMS

         1.  BELL ACRES:  The Bell Acres, located in Centertown, is owned by Mertigene Bell and Betty Jo (Bell) Nall.

          The farm was originally purchased in 1833 by Jared Tichenor, great-great-great-grandfather. Ann (Tichenor) and Collier Tichenor, great-great-grandparents, obtained the farm on April 18, 1853. On February 19, 1885 James A. Tichenor, great-great-uncle, became owner of the farm. Mary Caroline (Tichenor) Bell and Marion Worth bell, grandfather and grandmother, bought the farm in 1906.  Silas Noel Bell and Elizabeth (Kittinger) Bell, parents, owned the farm as of December 17, 1917. In October 1985 Mertigene and Betty Jo became owners of the farm.

          The original purchase included 100+ acres.  Of the original purchase 76 acres are presently retained.  The farm now consists of these 76 acres with 35 acres (21 acres CRP program) being actively farmed. They raise corn, wheat and beans.

          Our great-great-great-great-grandfather Daniel Tichenor of Morris County, New Jersey, sold his plantation there in 1796. He then bought 2,500 acres in Kentucky from John Howell. The land was situated in the point between Rough Creek and Green River.  He and his family came to Nelson County, Kentucky.  When he came to view the 2,500 acres in the point he stated, ‘it was wild country fit only for wild animals and Indians to hunt in.’  He resided in Nelson County until his death.

          The original house was two large rooms made of log.  Later this was enclosed and six rooms added.  The house has been torn down.  The barn and a corn crib are still functional.  The original is made of hand-hewn logs put together with wooden pegs.  There is also a barrel made from a hollow sycamore log.”