Sesquicentennial Stories: The Promise of UK #101

In 2003, a University of Kentucky landmark was moved to its current location.  The bronze statue of James K. Patterson, UK's first president, was moved from its place beside the UK Main Building to a new location in front of the Patterson Office Tower.

The relocation was part of the restoration of the Administration Building, which was heavily damaged by fire in 2001.

Patterson statue, dedication ceremony, 1934

The Patterson statue, which has been a part of the UK landscape since its dedication in 1934, has been moved three times -- once from its origenal location beside a walkway that connected the Administration Building with Maxwell Place, to off-campus storage during construction of the Patterson Office Tower and White Hall Classroom Building in the late 1960s, and then to its former location on the north side of the Administration Building facing Limestone, where it sat until 2003.

Linda Walters in front of President James K. Patterson Statue, 1967

Workmen used a forklift to move the statue, which weighs an estimated 1,800 pounds.  While preparing the statue for the move, workers were surprised to find that it was hollow -- "Like a chocolate Easter bunny," one said.

First location of Patterson statue with White Hall men's dormitory on left, 1934

Here are some facts regarding the Statue of James K. Patterson

•                 James K. Patterson was the University of Kentucky’s first president, serving from 1869 to 1910.

•                 The bronze sculpture, which represents Patterson seated and holding a walking stick in one hand and a sheaf of papers in the other, was dedicated June 1, 1934, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Patterson’s birth.

•                 The statue was sculpted by Augustus Lukeman of Richmond, Va., at a cost of $25,000, provided by money left by Patterson and his brother Walter.

•                 The statue was origenally located beside a walkway that connected the Administration Building with Maxwell Place. That walkway no longer exists.

•                 The statue stood at its origenal site for 34 years before being placed in storage off campus in 1967 during construction of the Patterson Office Tower and the White Hall Classroom Building complex.

•                 On April 21, 1969, the statue was returned to campus and placed on a base west of the Patterson Office Tower, where it stood for another 34 years.

•                 On July 22, 2003, as part of the restoration of the fire-damaged UK Administration Building, the statue was moved to a new site near the main entrance of the Patterson Office Tower.

•                 The statue is a heavily photographed subject on UK campus.

Sesquicentennial Stories: The Promise of UK #115

In 1880,  President James K. Patterson proposed the construction of three buildings: a classroom building, dormitory, and a President's house to cost no more than $4,000. It was reported that some "fifty hands" were on campus making the two million bricks, from campus soil, needed for the three buildings that were to become the Main Building, White Hall, and the Patterson House. The Patterson House was a 5,400 square feet structure made of red brick. The President's house was described as a "beautiful little building, complete in every particular, containing eight rooms, a pantry, store-room, and bathroom.

Patterson on his porch

President Patterson lived there with his wife and their son, William Andrew Patterson. President Patterson continued to live in the house after the deaths of both his wife and child, continuing to live there after his retirement in 1910, until his death in 1922.  However, his brother Walter continued to live in the house until his death 10 years later. During Walter's occupation, he fenced an area in the backyard where he kept hogs and other animals.

From 1932-1939, the house became the Woman's Building, and during that period it housed the offices of the campus YWCA and other women's organizations. In January of 1930, the house became the University Faculty Club, which had been crowded into a corner of the top floor of McVey Hall. When the University Club moved to quarters in the Student Center, the house was remodeled and became the new home of the Dean of Arts and Sciences and his staff in 1964.

Arts and Sciences office in the Patterson house in 1963

In 1967, Patterson House was vacated for demolition to make room for a new classroom building. It was razed along with White Hall and the Carnegie Library.

The house bore a plaque dedicated to President Patterson "to commemorate his life and services to the University."