
Central Hallway Cottage, Circa 1880, Louisville
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This was designed by Louisville native and prominent architect Willis Franklin Denny II (1874-1905).



Ways Baptist Church was organized in 1817 by Revolutionary War veterans near the present-day community of Stellaville, about three miles east of Wrens. It was named for John Way, who donated the land on which it was sited and was known originally as Darcy’s Meeting House. The members were originally part of Brushy Creek Baptist Church but were dismissed for some reason, perhaps because they had slaves or had disagreements over other controversial issues. Enslaved persons were among the first members of the new congregation. A log cabin was built first, then a more formal structure. William Donovan oversaw construction of the present structure in 1851. It features what appears to be a slave gallery (common in churches with slave members) and the labor was likely accomplished by the slaves themselves. After emancipation, they founded their own congregation nearby, known as Ways Grove Baptist Church.

It is a beautiful church and churchyard, and there is an historic cemetery across the highway.

I can’t locate any information about Zebina, but like so many other abandoned crossroad “ghost towns” it was probably never much more than a whistle-stop and a place where area farmers gathered to swap tales and “trade”.

The legend on the front of the store is difficult to read; the first word is indiscernible but the next words are “Cash Store”. Harold Smith writes: I was born and raised about two miles from the Zebina store. My family still owns land there. The store was owned by Leon Farmer back then.

The Coca-Cola mural is a ghost, too.


