I try to take so many historical trips that I find myself backlogged with my writing more often than I’d like. This is the case again! I took this trip to the Ferguson Mansion back in November of 2023 with my DAR Chapter. I took plenty of pictures at the time, because I knew I wanted it to become a blog post. So, here I am now in late August scrolling through a thousand pictures to find the ones I took almost a year ago. I recently posted on my Facebook page that I would spend the winter catching up on all my writing. I don’t think that’s a stretch. It just might take all winter to get caught up. So, here I go on the first of what I hope are many new posts coming your way over the next several months. Enjoy!
Before the Filson Historical Society
If you are a Louisville resident, you likely know the building pictured as the Filson Historical Society, because the Filson has been using the Ferguson Mansion as their headquarters since 1986. I always thought that this building was built for the Filson, but I was so very wrong about that. It wasn’t until I toured the mansion that I learned the history of this lovely place.
So, what is the story behind the building and for whom was it built? Let’s take a look!
Edwin Hite Ferguson (1852 – 1924)
Edwin was born in Kentucky on February 13, 1852 to John Ferguson Jr. and Sarah J. Moore Ferguson. While I could find nothing on his younger years, Edwin was definitely in Louisville by 1888 when two major events occurred. Sometime that year, Edwin, an industrialist, began a cottonseed-oil business called Kentucky Refining Company. Also that year, on August 22, Edwin’s father passed away and was buried in Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery. (So, we know that he, his parents, and siblings were very likely in Louisville sometime before 1888, if not much earlier. It’s also possible that Edwin and his siblings were born in Jefferson County.)
Edwin’s company, Kentucky Refining Company, quickly grew to the 2nd largest company of its kind in the world.
Ten years later, on June 9, 1898, at the age of 46, Edwin married Sophie Marfield (26 yrs. old) in Ross County, Ohio. They quickly welcomed their first, and only child, Margaret Fullerton Ferguson, into the world on September 6, 1899.
A Mansion for a Family
In 1901, Edwin called upon William J. Dodd of Dodd and Cobb Architectural Firm – one of Louisville’s leading architectural firms – to design a home for himself and his family. Dodd was the well known architect of Louisville’s Seelbach Hotel, as well as the Kentucky Capital Building. So, if you ask me, Edwin knew very well that he wanted not just a home, but a status-symbol that would show off his business success and social status.
The Ferguson Mansion was completed in 1905 and was the finest Beaux Arts architectural style in the city. Costing $100,000 to build, it was the most expensive home ever built in Louisville at that time. (It would cost an estimated $2,000,000 to build today.)
Above: First floor interior photos of the Ferguson Mansion displaying the imported fireplace, decorative walls, and elaborate woodwork. / Photos Courtesy of KHT
The mansion included central heating, Tiffany glass light orbs, a mosaic-tiled entrance with matching sun porch, murals, paintings, and incredible woodwork, that included a walnut paneled living room and a gorgeous staircase. The Beaux Arts style was showcased through its symmetrical facade, “rusticated” first floor, decorative walls, oval cartouches over doorways, a fireplace cut from white stone imported from Italy, and so much more!
This beautiful mansion was the home to the three Fergusons: Edwin, Sophie, and Margaret, along with their six servants.
Above: First floor interior photos of the Ferguson Mansion / Photos Courtesy of KHT
A Short Success
Now remember, the home had just been finished in 1905. Sometime between 1905 and 1907, Edwin began making some risky business moves causing his own company to kick him out of his own business. His fortunes slowly began to dwindle and by the Spring of 1924, he was forced to sell his beautiful home.
Sadly, Edwin died less than two weeks after the sale of his Ferguson Mansion. He died on May 10, 1924 in Louisville at the age of 72. Edwin was buried in Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. I can only assume this decision was made because of Sophie. Her parents were buried in Grandview Cemetery. That is also where Sophie and Edwin’s daughter, Margaret would be buried in 1929 – at just 29 years old. Sophie would later be buried there, in 1951, at the age of 78.
The Pearsons and Beyond
The Pearson Family purchased the Ferguson Mansion in 1924 and turned the home into their funeral home business – Pearson Funeral Home. The 1st floor became the funeral home while the family lived on the second and third floors. It was then that the central staircase was removed (for a smaller one off to the side), and a side entrance added, to allow easy movement of caskets in and out of the building.
The Pearsons ran their funeral home in the Ferguson Mansion for nearly 50 years, living in the home until 1977. The home then passed through two more owners.
In 1979, the mansion was sold at auction to real estate developer Frank Metts for $230,000. During the Metts’ ownership, the mansion was used as the headquarters for John Y. Brown Jr.’s gubernatorial campaign. John Y. Brown Jr. went on to become Kentucky’s 55th Governor, serving from 1979 to 1983.
It was in 1984 that the Filson Historical Society purchased the home and carriage house. Renovations began right away and were completed in 1986. The renovation won the Filson a preservation award for adaptive use of space in a mansion.
Visiting Today
“The Filson Historical Society, founded in 1884, is a privately supported historical society dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the significant history and culture of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley.”
The Filson Historical Society
Below: The side entrance to the Ferguson Mansion./ Photo Courtesy of KHT
Above: The Original Carriage House is connected to the new Collections Building by a skywalk. / Photos Courtesy of KHT
The Filson is such a treasure and because of their hard work and dedication, the Ferguson Mansion still stands today. The first floor of the mansion is seen as close to period as possible. They were not able to bring back the lost staircase, of course, but a photograph is displayed in the museum allowing you can see the beauty that once was.
The second story, where bedrooms were once located, has been repurposed to research rooms, a gallery space (where you’ll see paintings that you won’t see anywhere else), and offices. The addition, which connects the mansion to the Wood Carriage House, contains more gallery/museum space and their research library. The carriage house now holds their main entrance, restrooms, and a rotating gallery space.
The newest addition, the Owsley Brown II History Center, added in 2016, is also part of the tour.
Guided tours are available throughout the week, but reservations are required as the slots often book up in advance. Make sure to check their website for tour information and reservations. The Filson is also open for genealogical and/or historical research. There is a small fee to use the library, unless you are a member. There are rules that must be followed while using the research library, so I again recommend you check the website ahead of time to make sure you follow the “can and can nots” of library use.
Reflection
If you have not had the opportunity to see the Ferguson Mansion, you absolutely must! The pictures just don’t do it justice! To truly appreciate the grandeur and craftsmanship, you must see it in person. Not only that, but visiting brings tourism dollars, which allows for the constant upkeep and preservation of such a rare treasure. Take the time. Make the trip. Tour the mansion and facility. I promise you will NOT regret it!
Seriously, what are you waiting for? Get out and see Kentucky!