History buffs and historic homes

The home of Edwin E. Pearce, a notable Fleming County banker, was originally built in 1869 as a wedding gift for his daughter.

One of Vicky Rucker’s favorite things in the historic Pearce-Fant house is the original fireplace mantles and grates.

Fleming County is home to numerous stately old dwellings that are just as beautiful today as they were when first built and the Rucker home on East Water Street is one example.

Built in the late 1800s, what is known as the Pearce-Fant house, has had several occupants through the years.

Pearce and Fant were notable business men in Fleming County and both owned the property at different times.

According to architectural historian, Camille Wells, the traditional construction dates the house to 1869.

After she examined the home, Wells concluded that the brickwork indicated the main block was constructed in at least two sections.

William Fant and Washington Vanlandingham owned and operated brick kilns in the eastern end of Flemingsburg and it is believed the bricks were made from one of those mills.

Based on Wells findings the earlier western section, left in the photo, is constructed of Flemish bond brickwork with chalked mortar joints, the T-bar section, to the left was built sometime later, making it impossible to know how much of the first structure was demolished in the addition process.

Most of the stylistic details, notably the ironwork porch, date from the second major construction period.

Edwin E. Pearce was born in 1822 in Poplar Plains, he entered the banking business in Fleming County around 1875 and was president of Fleming County National and later the Deposit Bank of Pearce and Fant Company.

Edwin was married twice; his first wife was Ana Clarke of Mason County with whom he had four children and his second wife was Mollie Fant.

It is believed that Edwin Pearce had the house on East Water street built as a wedding gift for his daughter, but she chose to live someplace else, so Edwin moved into the home where he lived until his death in 1896.

Pearce’s business partner, William S. Fant bought the grand old home sometime around the early 1900s. Like Pearce, William Fant became very wealthy and owned property all over the United States.

In addition to the residence on Water Street, Fant also owned 40 acres of land on Suddath Street or what we know today as Ingram Ave and 375 acres near Sharpsburg known as the Saunders tract.

William Fant was a member of the Flemingsburg Christian Church and was engaged in the milling business with mills in Pleasant Valley and Nepton but sold those in later years.

After the passing of William Fant, the home was purchased by the Foster family.

It is not known how long the Foster family occupied the Pearce-Fant house.

In 1958 the house and lot became the property of the Rucker Family and to this day Vicky Rucker resides in the home where she spent her childhood.

Vicky believes the additions made to the home were done by Mr. Fant in the 1920s.

“I think Mr. Fant put in the closets when he added the bathroom and at one time there was a staircase that lead to the upper floor from the kitchen”. Vicky said. When the Fosters lived here, Mrs. Foster had the huge fireplace in the kitchen enclosed because she said it was in the way.”

The inside shutters that flank the floor to ceiling windows, pocket doors, fireplace mantels and hardwood floors are all original as are the chicken house, cellar and smokehouse that remain on the grounds.

“When we first moved here there were numerous outbuildings, a dairy barn, a corn crib, large oak and maple trees lined the yard’. Vicky said and went on to add, “I remember there was also a white picket fence that ran the length of the backyard and mother had clothes lines strung from tree to tree.”

When Vicky was growing up the house was heated with coal and one of her favorite chores was to collect the heat source each day.

“It was the most fun thing for me to take my little bucket and hatchet to gather in the coal. My little dog Rastas would always go with me,” Vicky said.

As a history buff, Vicky said she has always enjoyed learning about the families who lived in her house over 100 years ago.