Kenton Library Archives

10/10/2026

10/09/2026

The Birth of Covington’s Fire Department

Covington’s first firefighters were volunteers, working with hand-pumped engines that were often as difficult to operate as they were to transport. The city’s first engine house opened in 1833, and by 1836, Covington had organized its first volunteer fire company.

For nearly three decades, firefighting remained a largely volunteer effort. But by the 1860s, the system was showing its weaknesses. Outdated equipment, inexperienced crews, and poorly coordinated responses made it increasingly difficult to protect the growing city.

In 1864, Covington officially abandoned the volunteer system and established a paid professional fire department, with L.D. Croninger serving as its first Fire Chief.

Just one year later, a new fire engine house was constructed at 100 West Sixth Street. Designed by architect Dan Seger, the sandstone-and-brick Romanesque building was built to accommodate the rapidly changing world of firefighting, with a large apparatus bay below and living and administrative spaces above. It would become an important home for Covington’s firefighters as the department grew and new technologies transformed the way fires were fought.

Learn more next week for !

10/07/2026

Stories from the Rugby School Class of 1905

Kirtley J. Morris (1862–1953)
by Bobbye Winterberg

Born in Bourbon County, KY, in Jan.1862, Kirtley J. Morris was the son of William G. Morris and Elizabeth Tucker. He was the fourth youngest of ten and spent his youth assisting on his father’s 308-acre farm.

Kirtley graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan University as part of the Class of 1883, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. On Feb. 23, 1897, while serving as principal of the Rugby School, he married Henrietta "Retta" Davis in Wi******er, Kentucky. The couple welcomed their first son, William, that same year, followed by Charles, Sarah, and Robert. Tragically, Robert died young at just 25 years old.

In 1905, in addition to his leadership at the Rugby School, Kirtley briefly served as Supt. of Covington Schools. In 1909, newspapers announced that the Morris family was relocating to Emporia, VA.

In 1913, Kirtley was hired as principal of Laurel High School in Maryland. His tenure began with a turbulent period. The previous principal, Roger Manning, had been dismissed after 14 years but fought the decision in court. Winning his appeal, Manning returned in March 1914, leaving the school with two principals and creating significant friction. Kirtley was widely popular among the student body. In fact, over half of the students staged a walkout to protest Manning's reinstatement. The following school year, Kirtley was transferred to the new Hyattsville High School, a move he likely welcomed.

Known affectionately by his students as “Professor,” he served as principal until his retirement in 1933. During the 1930s, he also served on the faculty of the Univ. of Maryland College of Education. Retta was equally dynamic and civically engaged, serving as a magistrate/justice of the peace in Prince George's County, an exceptional role for a woman in the 1920s. Uncompromising in her duties, she earned the nickname “Two-Gun Morris” for her fierce crusade against bootleggers.

10/06/2026

A sincere thank you to everyone who came out to the Highland Cemetery Tour on Saturday!

10/05/2026

The History—and Hauntings—of Molly Malone’s

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub sits inside one of Covington’s older buildings, but its history stretches back long before the pub opened its doors.

The building at East 4th Street was constructed in 1888 by Joseph Hermes, a German immigrant who operated a saloon there. Decades later, Alban Wolff Sr. purchased the building in 1926 and used it for his printing business, while the upper floors were converted into apartments.

It was during the Wolff era that one of the building’s most enduring stories supposedly took place. According to local legend, a woman named Beulah, who worked for the Wolff family, discovered her husband with another woman. The story says that she shot and killed him in a fit of jealousy. Exactly how much of this story can be verified through historical records remains unclear, but the tale became an important part of the building’s later ghost lore.

And apparently, Beulah may not be the only thing said to have remained behind.

When Jack Quinn’s occupied the building beginning in the 1990s, employees reportedly began sharing stories of strange occurrences inside. Lights were said to turn themselves on and off. An elevator reportedly moved without anyone operating it. Employees described hearing unexplained sounds and, in some accounts, even sensing or hearing a woman inside the building.

When Molly Malone’s opened in 2007, the stories came with the building.

These accounts have since become part of the folklore surrounding the pub. They don't prove that the building is haunted—but they do tell us something fascinating about how ghost stories develop and survive. Stories passed from employee to employee, business to business, can become part of a building's identity just as much as its bricks, businesses, and occupants.

So the next time you're at Molly Malone's, look around.

10/05/2026

Happy World Teachers’ Day!

In 1966, Mrs. Nona Stricker of South Fort Mitchell was honored by her students as a favorite teacher. Her students submitted her name in a contest, and her prize was a bushel of apples.

But Mrs. Stricker decided to share her good fortune. Rather than keeping the apples for herself, she donated her time to help organize a Ladies Guild for Hope Cottage, which provided shelter and care for children temporarily separated from their parents.

It’s a wonderful example of how a teacher’s impact can extend far beyond the classroom. Happy World Teachers’ Day to all the educators who inspire, encourage, and give back to their communities!