Question:  In old pictures of UK, there’s a pretty big pond at the corner of what is now Limestone and Euclid…I was wondering if you knew when it was dredged and why…I’ll attach a picture I found on one of UK’s websites.

Answer:  I found a description of the lake in the publication “The University of Kentucky A Pictorial History by Carl B. Cone: 

In 1890 the trustees commissioned Merry L. Pence to survey prospects for a lake to be fed by the Mulligan and Maxwell springs.  On July 8, 1890, Pence reported that for about $4,500 the college could construct a lake a quarter-mile long, six feet deep at the Limestone end and three at the upper end.  The result was a pleasant spot for summer boating and winter skating.  But in about twenty years nature and “progress” had turned it into a swamp and restoration was not feasible.  The problem was resolved during the early 1920s by grading, channeling and draining during preparation of the grounds for building Alumni Gymnasium and McLean Stadium.

Linda Niemi

Photo: UK Special Collections Department

Filed under: Lexington History