American Treasures empower people to save them! With perseverance, and developing partnerships, the heart of this important effort is Holt’s own community has saved a national treasure. On September 24 from 9:00-a.m. 2:00 p.m. CDT you are invited by the Friends of the Holt Home, and Breckinridge County Fiscal Court to view what tJAG Joseph Holt’s own community has done to bring back the Showplace of Breckinridge County.

If you come you will experience a significant transformation with this stately home that now has the 1st and 2nd floors furnished with beautiful, period, museum quality furniture. The home will have numerous new uses and soon will hopefully, be Home of the United States Army JAGS Corps.

Judge Joseph Holt, a locally raised national figure, known best as “Lincoln’s tJAG”, era of the 1860’s has been given a new hearing and his historic home given a new lease on life. President Abraham Lincoln chose Holt for his tJAG during the Civil War. Later, after Lincoln’s death Joseph Holt was the prosecuting judge of the Lincoln Conspiracy Trial. Holt developed what is now the modern-day JAG Corps, and the 41st Judge Advocate General, Stuart W. Risch from the Pentagon is planning a spring visit to Holt’s historical home that is an important part of the Regiment’s history.

Keynote Speaker: MAJ Hannah E. Purkey, JA Group Judge Advocate, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

New this year: Visitors will view restored fireplaces and an original mirror to the home hanging in the Centre College Room. Thanks to a grant from the Kentucky Colonels Good Works Program, an HDA ramp has been built. Floors have been stained, and landscaping has been added to the beautiful Holt grounds.

Guests will be entertained by the returning Civil War Baseball game with dedication to the Ball field.

“A must see stop” like nothing else in Kentucky for an enjoyable day with family and friends with events of a silent auction, guided tours where visitors see and learn of the recreated atmosphere the Holt’s would have entertained, firing of the 14th Kentucky Light Artillery, a vintage baseball game of local talent, (visitors please bring lawn chairs), Monday’s Food Truck, a presidential wreath -laying ceremony at Holt’s monument, patriotic music, distinguished guest speakers, period music, Breckinridge County High School Concert Band, Kentucky Home Guard Band, reenactors, Guilderoy Byrne Band, Berea Festival Dancers and local performers.

The latest book about the mansion’s restoration: Pick up a copy of Joseph Holt Mansion: Saving and Restoring the Home of Lincoln’s Judge Advocate General, by local author Susan B. Dyer.

Donations are much appreciated and needed as the Friends of the Holt Home Inc. and volunteers work hard to bring the yearly event free to the public.