A member and treasurer for non-profit Hopkinsville Historic Community, Tammie Van Buren took a moment Tuesday morning — and asked Christian County Fiscal Court to use its power, real effort, creativity and patience to save the 521 Weber Street building.
Its significance to the downtown scene, she said, is far too great.
Built in 1839, Van Buren noted that Christian County historian William Turner calls the structure “a sentinel on the landscape” — having stood vigilant for more than 175 years as the only thing left built before the American Civil War.
It nearly came down then, and has escaped perils since.
Van Buren pointed at the demolition of the Phoenix, old Tiger Stadium and Ellis Ice House as potentially key chapters in lost historic preservation opportunities, and further urged that downtown Hopkinsville “doesn’t need another parking lot.”
Van Buren said she sent a letter to Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam and all magistrates two weeks ago regarding these matters — following fiscal court’s decision to surplus the location.
From that moment on, Gilliam said the property will exist on either one of two timelines:
+ An individual, or group of individuals, opts to purchase and remodel the property in the name of historic preservation.
+ Or it will be altogether razed for more space in the downtown area.
This stance remains unchanged, and at this time, there is no scheduled demolition.
Van Buren implored fiscal court to “find an owner.”
Currently uninhabited, Gilliam has stated multiple times that he isn’t sure how any potential proprietor would get the structure back up to standards, as officials with Hopkinsville Fire Department have reported serious foundational integrity concerns and considerable termite damage.
Meanwhile, Hopkinsville Historic Community maintains an active Facebook account, and as a group of neighbors that live in the Anvirdale and Mt. Pleasant historic districts in Hopkinsville, the organization has earned its non-profit status through grant writing and beautification of Christian County.
In other court news:
— Magistrates approved the first reading of the 2025-26 annual tax rate, which embraces a recommended lowering from 17.6 cents to 16.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value. Gilliam noted that this court has already lowered Christian County’s ad valorem from 18.1 to 17.6, and that these changes are more than just a valuation of property reassessments, but a “testament to growth” in the community. A special-called fiscal court meeting has been set for 8:30 AM August 22, in order to hear and approve a second reading.
— Hopkinsville-Christian County Human Rights Commission Executive Director Raychel Fort Farmer reported her office handled 38 cases and complaints for discrimination during the 2024-25 fiscal year, an average of one every 10 days. Her office does get “a lot of general calls” from people that don’t really know what to do in some general situations, but discrimination is a lead concern.
This past month opened the first reporting for 2025-26, and already she said six discrimination claims have been filed; four from one employer and two from another. All complaints, she said, have been sent to the state’s commission.
A pair of Fair Housing seminars discussing right, responsibilities and fair tenant laws are right around the corner, too. One is planned for Friday, August 29, from 10 AM until 1 PM in Oak Grove’s Valor Hall. Another is planned for Saturday, August 30, from 8 AM until 1 PM in Hopkinsville’s PeADD office.
The Unity Breakfast, themed “Humility, Unity and Peace” remains scheduled for Thursday, October 23, at the Bruce Convention Center. Doors open at 7 AM, and Farmer said half of the allotted tickets have already sold. Early bird sales end this Friday.
