Preservation at its best is reflected in the Judge Joseph Holt home that can be viewed at the 9th Annual Holt Community Day Sept. 23, 2017.

The Hardinsburg mansion of President Lincoln’s Judge Advocate General will be open to the public during community day activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.CDT.

Since last year, the home’s exterior brick has been cleaned, the historic fence completed and architects have planned restoration work for the front porch, iron works, front twin entrances and the home’s interior work. Plans also are being confirmed to make the Holt Home a national meeting location for the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General units across the nation.

One of the new events at this fall’s community day will be a performance by the Berea Festival Dancers, a youth group conducting Civil War era dances in period costumes. The young people, ages 11-18, also will invite viewers to participate in dances as their program concludes. Director Jennifer Rose Escobar leads the group in performances throughout Kentucky, the nation and internationally.

Other activities include a Civil War baseball game, music by period bands and singing groups, infantry demonstrations and canon firing, and an appearance by President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Larry and Mary Elliott.

The Guilderoy Byrne Band, the Kentucky Home Guard Band and the Breckinridge County Concert Band are scheduled to perform as are the Breckinridge County Chamber Singers.

Col. James Bagwell, staff judge advocate for the Army’s Cadet Command and Fort Knox, will be the keynote speaker at 11 a.m. and Judge Kelly Easton, portraying Judge Joseph Holt, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Judge Holt, Breckinridge County’s most famous son, was appointed Judge Advocate General by President Lincoln and prosecuted the presidents’ accused assassins in the Lincoln Conspiracy Trial. Judge Holt built his home in the 1850s during his time of national service in Washington City from 1857-1875.

The Holt Home and surrounding 19.5 acres were acquired by Breckinridge County Fiscal Court in 2008. The 6,225-foot mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to undergo extensive restoration. Restoration is expected to be completed in 2018.

Berea Festival Dancers is a youth community performance group with dancers ages 11-18. The group performs a variety of antebellum, American, English and Danish folk dances in striking period costumes for schools and organizations throughout Kentucky, the USA, Canada, Denmark and beyond.

They will be performing antebellum dances at the historic Holt Home at this year’s 9th Annual Holt Home Community Day on September 23 with Director Jennifer Rose Escobar.

See photos below for other exciting events happening at our 9th Annual Community Day!