Answers sought in castle home fire
Woodford site's future uncertain, its owner says
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By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press
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BY PAT McDONOGH, THE C-J
The Woodford County castle home's outer walls appeared unscathed after Monday's fire. It is owned by Thomas R. Post, an attorney who grew up in Lexington. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
VERSAILLES, Ky. — A handful of spectators stopped yesterday to watch as firefighters and police searched through the smoldering remains of a Central Kentucky landmark castle that burned the night before.
The cause of the fire at the home has not been determined.
Since construction began in 1969, locals have used it as a directional point of reference amid the rolling hills and horse farms of Woodford County.
No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported around 8:30 p.m. EDT Monday.
Woodford County Fire Chief Bennie Green said "we really don't know anything" about the cause of the fire.
Kentucky State Police Sgt. Phil Crumpton said the agency sent an arson investigator yesterday to aid in the investigation, a routine response to such a fire.
The castle's beginnings date to a trip to Europe taken by Rex Martin and his first wife, Caroline. They fell in love with homes with big walls around them. The couple bought 60 acres in 1968. The Martins divorced in 1975, while the castle was still under construction, and never moved in.
The castle includes an outer wall with turrets and parapets and an oversized central gate. Inside the wall is the unfinished main house and a swimming pool. Early yesterday, it appeared the house had collapsed. The outer wall appeared unscathed.
Martin, a real estate developer, died last August. His family sold the property in November for nearly $1.8million to Thomas R. Post, a Miami lawyer and real estate investor who grew up in Lexington.
Post renamed the property The Castle Farm of Thomas R. Post. He told WLEX-TV by telephone yesterday that the damage to the castle "is a real loss to me."
In a statement released to WKYT-TV, Post said the future of the castle "has yet to be determined."
Full Version: Answers sought in castle home fire
Posted on Tue, May. 11, 2004
Blaze destroys landmark Woodford County castle
House, inner turrets consumed as crowd gathers with cameras
By Jenny Robertson, Greg Kocher And Jennifer Hewlett
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS
The castle on Versailles Road, a fairy-tale structure that was a Central Kentucky landmark for decades, was heavily damaged by flames last night in a spectacular fire that shot flames higher than its turrets.
The fire apparently began shortly after 8 p.m. and drew gawkers that clogged Versailles Road for hours.
"It was like a huge fireball. Honestly, it was like something from a huge movie set," said Pat Stilz, a neighbor.
The outer stone walls and turrets were still standing late last night. But the interior turrets and unfinished house were destroyed.
The castle had never been lived in, but was being renovated after the property was sold last year.
A man who was staying in a mobile home inside the walls escaped unharmed, another neighbor said.
Many people sat on nearby fences with cameras and camcorders to watch the flames. Pisgah Pike, which runs beside the castle, was closed.
Police with bullhorns tried in vain to disperse the crowds.
The fire was reported by people on cell phones who had spotted the smoke and flames from Versailles Road. The structure was engulfed when firefighters arrived.
"It's a hopeless feeling when you drive up to something like that because you know there's not much you can do with it," said John Varner, the assistant Woodford County fire chief.
The castle is near the Fayette County line, but only Woodford County firefighters were called out.
Trucks had to shuttle water to the castle from the Woodford County school board offices on the neighboring property.
Woodford County Fire Chief Bennie Green said he could not immediately determine a cause. He speculated that lightning could have stuck one of the inner turrets.
An investigator from the Kentucky State Police will arrive today to try to find a cause, Green said.
Construction work had been taking place on the castle, neighbors said.
Thomas A. Post, a Miami lawyer and real estate investor who grew up in Lexington, bought the castle last year for nearly $1.8 million.
Post had said he had big plans for the castle. He planned to renovate the interior and shore up the roof.
He had said he would use it as a residence "at least for a year to get the feel of it and enjoy it."
Eventually, he said, he envisioned using the place for charitable events.
Contacted in Miami last night, Post said, "I have a severe problem and I need to clear this line." Then he hung up.
Longtime Lexington build-er Rex Martin Sr. started building the castle in 1969 -- and never quite finished.
Martin, who had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years, died last August in a nursing home. He declined many requests for interviews about the castle.
There were a number of stories about why a castle was built in Central Kentucky, but most were myths, said Martin's former wife, Carolyn.
On a trip to Europe, "We fell in love with the homes with the big walls around them," Caroline Martin said. That was what they hoped to build -- a house with a big wall around it.
After they returned home, the couple looked for land where they could build a house surrounded by an 8- to 10-foot wall. What they envisioned was driving through gates into a large courtyard with a fountain in the center.
They bought 60 acres at the corner of U.S. 60 and Pisgah Pike.
Their son, Rex Martin Jr., said after his parents got back from Europe, he remembered his father sitting outside on their patio, sketching plans.
He was "enthralled with the castles. And he said he could build something like that," Rex Martin Jr. said.
"I was happy that the person that bought it had a lot of feeling for it and wanted to fix it up and enjoy it," he said yesterday.
Another neighbor, Anne Eberhardt Keogh, said a lot of work had been taking place in and around the castle.
"They put on a whole new roof," she said. "They were very busy ... work crews there pretty much on a continuous basis since Mr. Post bought the place. "
The castle was a traffic-stopper on Versailles Road.
Dale and Patty Logan, who have lived and worked on a nearby horse farm for 18 years, said they saw many cars swerve suddenly to the shoulder of the road after a driver spotted the castle.
They once saw a woman hop out of a car with a camera, and with the car still in gear.
"We saw a lot of wrecks," Dale Logan said.
The Logans said they looked at the castle at 8 p.m. and saw no smoke or flames. At 8:20, they saw smoke.
"We saw all this cloud of smoke just rolling," Patty Logan said.
David O'Neill of Lexington was among those who came to watch the castle burn.
"I'm overwhelmed, I really am," he said. "It's truly a loss for the Bluegrass because it was such a landmark.
"I want somebody to explain why it burned up. It sat here vacant for years and all of a sudden -- POOF! -- it went up in smoke."
Karen LaBach, who was watching the fire last night, said her father, Sidney Eugene Mitchell, was an engineer who helped design it.
Rex Martin Sr. kept suits of armor, maces and other movie props inside and would let people play with them, she said.
At one point, as a moat was being built in front of the castle, Martin asked her father whether he thought it should be filled with piranhas or alligators.
"It was a dream, and I hate to see it go up in smoke," LaBach said.
Blaze destroys landmark Woodford County castle
House, inner turrets consumed as crowd gathers with cameras
By Jenny Robertson, Greg Kocher And Jennifer Hewlett
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS
The castle on Versailles Road, a fairy-tale structure that was a Central Kentucky landmark for decades, was heavily damaged by flames last night in a spectacular fire that shot flames higher than its turrets.
The fire apparently began shortly after 8 p.m. and drew gawkers that clogged Versailles Road for hours.
"It was like a huge fireball. Honestly, it was like something from a huge movie set," said Pat Stilz, a neighbor.
The outer stone walls and turrets were still standing late last night. But the interior turrets and unfinished house were destroyed.
The castle had never been lived in, but was being renovated after the property was sold last year.
A man who was staying in a mobile home inside the walls escaped unharmed, another neighbor said.
Many people sat on nearby fences with cameras and camcorders to watch the flames. Pisgah Pike, which runs beside the castle, was closed.
Police with bullhorns tried in vain to disperse the crowds.
The fire was reported by people on cell phones who had spotted the smoke and flames from Versailles Road. The structure was engulfed when firefighters arrived.
"It's a hopeless feeling when you drive up to something like that because you know there's not much you can do with it," said John Varner, the assistant Woodford County fire chief.
The castle is near the Fayette County line, but only Woodford County firefighters were called out.
Trucks had to shuttle water to the castle from the Woodford County school board offices on the neighboring property.
Woodford County Fire Chief Bennie Green said he could not immediately determine a cause. He speculated that lightning could have stuck one of the inner turrets.
An investigator from the Kentucky State Police will arrive today to try to find a cause, Green said.
Construction work had been taking place on the castle, neighbors said.
Thomas A. Post, a Miami lawyer and real estate investor who grew up in Lexington, bought the castle last year for nearly $1.8 million.
Post had said he had big plans for the castle. He planned to renovate the interior and shore up the roof.
He had said he would use it as a residence "at least for a year to get the feel of it and enjoy it."
Eventually, he said, he envisioned using the place for charitable events.
Contacted in Miami last night, Post said, "I have a severe problem and I need to clear this line." Then he hung up.
Longtime Lexington build-er Rex Martin Sr. started building the castle in 1969 -- and never quite finished.
Martin, who had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years, died last August in a nursing home. He declined many requests for interviews about the castle.
There were a number of stories about why a castle was built in Central Kentucky, but most were myths, said Martin's former wife, Carolyn.
On a trip to Europe, "We fell in love with the homes with the big walls around them," Caroline Martin said. That was what they hoped to build -- a house with a big wall around it.
After they returned home, the couple looked for land where they could build a house surrounded by an 8- to 10-foot wall. What they envisioned was driving through gates into a large courtyard with a fountain in the center.
They bought 60 acres at the corner of U.S. 60 and Pisgah Pike.
Their son, Rex Martin Jr., said after his parents got back from Europe, he remembered his father sitting outside on their patio, sketching plans.
He was "enthralled with the castles. And he said he could build something like that," Rex Martin Jr. said.
"I was happy that the person that bought it had a lot of feeling for it and wanted to fix it up and enjoy it," he said yesterday.
Another neighbor, Anne Eberhardt Keogh, said a lot of work had been taking place in and around the castle.
"They put on a whole new roof," she said. "They were very busy ... work crews there pretty much on a continuous basis since Mr. Post bought the place. "
The castle was a traffic-stopper on Versailles Road.
Dale and Patty Logan, who have lived and worked on a nearby horse farm for 18 years, said they saw many cars swerve suddenly to the shoulder of the road after a driver spotted the castle.
They once saw a woman hop out of a car with a camera, and with the car still in gear.
"We saw a lot of wrecks," Dale Logan said.
The Logans said they looked at the castle at 8 p.m. and saw no smoke or flames. At 8:20, they saw smoke.
"We saw all this cloud of smoke just rolling," Patty Logan said.
David O'Neill of Lexington was among those who came to watch the castle burn.
"I'm overwhelmed, I really am," he said. "It's truly a loss for the Bluegrass because it was such a landmark.
"I want somebody to explain why it burned up. It sat here vacant for years and all of a sudden -- POOF! -- it went up in smoke."
Karen LaBach, who was watching the fire last night, said her father, Sidney Eugene Mitchell, was an engineer who helped design it.
Rex Martin Sr. kept suits of armor, maces and other movie props inside and would let people play with them, she said.
At one point, as a moat was being built in front of the castle, Martin asked her father whether he thought it should be filled with piranhas or alligators.
"It was a dream, and I hate to see it go up in smoke," LaBach said.
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Posted on Wed, May. 12, 2004
Castle's future uncertain after fire
OWNER DEVASTATED AFTER INVESTING MONEY, EFFORT
By Greg Kocher
CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU
VERSAILLES - The Miami lawyer who bought the Woodford County castle last year said he is uncertain about the property's future since a Monday night fire gutted the residence-to-be.
"I am so exhausted from this project. I haven't given any thought to the future," Thomas Post said yesterday from Miami by telephone. "I worked for two years on this project: A year and a half to buy it, and six months of heart, sweat and labor to try to fix it.
"And we were almost there. I mean, we had all new air conditioning, all new electric, all new plumbing, an all new septic tank. And I am at a loss. So the question is, what is the future? I haven't had time to think about the future."
Meanwhile, a Kentucky State Police fire investigator began an initial examination yesterday of the charred home within the castle walls. Trooper Ron Turley, a state police spokesman, said it was too early to determine a cause.
There was some speculation that lightning might have triggered the blaze, and Turley said the National Weather Service will be consulted to see whether any strikes were pinpointed in the vicinity.
"There's no indication of anything suspicious at this time," Turley said.
Post said he had not heard anything conclusive on a cause. "I've heard all kinds of rumors or suggestions, but nothing of merit in terms of actualities. I'm told that there was a lot of lightning."
Post, who graduated from Lafayette High School and received degrees from the University of Kentucky, bought the castle property for nearly $1.8 million in November, three months after the death of its previous owner, Lexington contractor Rex Martin Sr.
Post had hoped to turn the structure into a showplace residence that would double as a site to hold fund-raising events for charities, schools and hospitals.
He said work began earlier this year to repair the damage from last year's ice storm.
"When we bought the place there were holes in the roof that were 5 feet wide or bigger in a couple of places from the severe ice storm that the property had suffered back in February 2003," he said. "So we had to do repairs and renovations at the same time, to some degree."
Through the years, the castle had become part of Central Kentucky lore.
As tourists on a trip to Europe, Rex Martin Sr. and his first wife, Caroline, fell in love with homes with big walls around them. After they returned to Lexington, the couple bought land in 1968. The Martins divorced in 1975, while the castle was still under construction, and never moved in.
Seeking a community role
Post couldn't say how much money he had spent on repairs and renovation of the house inside the castle walls.
"I will tell you that I have spent six months of the most enjoyable and productive time of my life," he said. "I'm a lawyer, so I don't normally get out from behind a desk. I loved it."
And in recent weeks, he had been eager to show a few people his progress and plans. Gary Gillis, Woodford County's property valuation administrator, said he toured the castle residence last week at Post's invitation.
It was as if the existing house had been gutted and then Post started from scratch, Gillis said. He estimated that about one-fourth of the necessary renovation work had been done.
"They had no appliances, no bathroom fixtures," he said.
Gillis and others said Post was trying to become a part of the Woodford County community. He was often seen eating at Sweet Potatoes restaurant in Versailles, and had indicated an interest in using local help for the renovation, Gillis said.
"We were all excited about what he was going to do," said Gary Jones, executive director of the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce.
Joe Girouard, manager of Sweet Potatoes, said Post had put up for bid two guided tours of the castle for a silent auction to benefit the family of a waitress killed in a recent car accident.
"He might be this big guy down in Miami and everything, but to see how he acts, he's down to earth," Girouard said.
Fire department didn't seek help
Also yesterday, Woodford County Fire Chief Bennie Green addressed questions about his department's response to the blaze. Green said he did not seek assistance from city departments in Versailles or Lexington because it wasn't needed and because the outcome would have been the same, with or without the help.
The Woodford department shuttled water to the fire from a hydrant at the neighboring property of the Woodford County Board of Education.
Lexington Assistant Fire Chief Morris Featherston agreed that, if the fire was too fully involved, assistance wouldn't have made much difference.
"Unless you've got an ocean of water that you can immediately dump on it, you can't put them out," Featherston said. "It doesn't matter how much help you've got there on the scene. If he had called Lexington, Georgetown, Jessa-mine County or whoever, the end result would be the same."
Post, who learned about the fire from a general contractor, said he plans to come to Kentucky to see the damage firsthand, but he didn't know when that would be.
"It was a one-of-a-kind piece of property. I've been there more than I've been home to get it back to where the community could be proud of it and where I could be proud of it," he said. "And I know that people that have driv-en back and forth daily between Versailles and Lexington have watched our progress and it has been significant. Like I say, we were almost there, so this has been a devastating blow."
Posted on Wed, May. 12, 2004
Castle's future uncertain after fire
OWNER DEVASTATED AFTER INVESTING MONEY, EFFORT
By Greg Kocher
CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU
VERSAILLES - The Miami lawyer who bought the Woodford County castle last year said he is uncertain about the property's future since a Monday night fire gutted the residence-to-be.
"I am so exhausted from this project. I haven't given any thought to the future," Thomas Post said yesterday from Miami by telephone. "I worked for two years on this project: A year and a half to buy it, and six months of heart, sweat and labor to try to fix it.
"And we were almost there. I mean, we had all new air conditioning, all new electric, all new plumbing, an all new septic tank. And I am at a loss. So the question is, what is the future? I haven't had time to think about the future."
Meanwhile, a Kentucky State Police fire investigator began an initial examination yesterday of the charred home within the castle walls. Trooper Ron Turley, a state police spokesman, said it was too early to determine a cause.
There was some speculation that lightning might have triggered the blaze, and Turley said the National Weather Service will be consulted to see whether any strikes were pinpointed in the vicinity.
"There's no indication of anything suspicious at this time," Turley said.
Post said he had not heard anything conclusive on a cause. "I've heard all kinds of rumors or suggestions, but nothing of merit in terms of actualities. I'm told that there was a lot of lightning."
Post, who graduated from Lafayette High School and received degrees from the University of Kentucky, bought the castle property for nearly $1.8 million in November, three months after the death of its previous owner, Lexington contractor Rex Martin Sr.
Post had hoped to turn the structure into a showplace residence that would double as a site to hold fund-raising events for charities, schools and hospitals.
He said work began earlier this year to repair the damage from last year's ice storm.
"When we bought the place there were holes in the roof that were 5 feet wide or bigger in a couple of places from the severe ice storm that the property had suffered back in February 2003," he said. "So we had to do repairs and renovations at the same time, to some degree."
Through the years, the castle had become part of Central Kentucky lore.
As tourists on a trip to Europe, Rex Martin Sr. and his first wife, Caroline, fell in love with homes with big walls around them. After they returned to Lexington, the couple bought land in 1968. The Martins divorced in 1975, while the castle was still under construction, and never moved in.
Seeking a community role
Post couldn't say how much money he had spent on repairs and renovation of the house inside the castle walls.
"I will tell you that I have spent six months of the most enjoyable and productive time of my life," he said. "I'm a lawyer, so I don't normally get out from behind a desk. I loved it."
And in recent weeks, he had been eager to show a few people his progress and plans. Gary Gillis, Woodford County's property valuation administrator, said he toured the castle residence last week at Post's invitation.
It was as if the existing house had been gutted and then Post started from scratch, Gillis said. He estimated that about one-fourth of the necessary renovation work had been done.
"They had no appliances, no bathroom fixtures," he said.
Gillis and others said Post was trying to become a part of the Woodford County community. He was often seen eating at Sweet Potatoes restaurant in Versailles, and had indicated an interest in using local help for the renovation, Gillis said.
"We were all excited about what he was going to do," said Gary Jones, executive director of the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce.
Joe Girouard, manager of Sweet Potatoes, said Post had put up for bid two guided tours of the castle for a silent auction to benefit the family of a waitress killed in a recent car accident.
"He might be this big guy down in Miami and everything, but to see how he acts, he's down to earth," Girouard said.
Fire department didn't seek help
Also yesterday, Woodford County Fire Chief Bennie Green addressed questions about his department's response to the blaze. Green said he did not seek assistance from city departments in Versailles or Lexington because it wasn't needed and because the outcome would have been the same, with or without the help.
The Woodford department shuttled water to the fire from a hydrant at the neighboring property of the Woodford County Board of Education.
Lexington Assistant Fire Chief Morris Featherston agreed that, if the fire was too fully involved, assistance wouldn't have made much difference.
"Unless you've got an ocean of water that you can immediately dump on it, you can't put them out," Featherston said. "It doesn't matter how much help you've got there on the scene. If he had called Lexington, Georgetown, Jessa-mine County or whoever, the end result would be the same."
Post, who learned about the fire from a general contractor, said he plans to come to Kentucky to see the damage firsthand, but he didn't know when that would be.
"It was a one-of-a-kind piece of property. I've been there more than I've been home to get it back to where the community could be proud of it and where I could be proud of it," he said. "And I know that people that have driv-en back and forth daily between Versailles and Lexington have watched our progress and it has been significant. Like I say, we were almost there, so this has been a devastating blow."
Way bummer of a deal. Thats gotta make ya sick.
When I was by there some years ago I drove up to the gates, that outer wall is much higher then it appears and the whole place was huge.
You guys now have a engineer to find if you need one.... Sidney Eugene Mitchell
A disturbing point among many on this subject is how frequently a man and wife gets divorced about half way through the construction phase.
You guys now have a engineer to find if you need one.... Sidney Eugene Mitchell
A disturbing point among many on this subject is how frequently a man and wife gets divorced about half way through the construction phase.
guess its a good thing I'm not marrying the Barbs 
So many wise cracks, so little time, 
Almost makes you wonder if it is a possible insurange thing. That kind of place can eat a good chunk of money pretty quick. The man may have just gotten in over his head and found that as a possible out. Who knows.
It really is a beautiful place...I have seen it also from the gates, then learned bits and pieces through different channels. Even know of a couple that have been inside the walls during the construction phase. Makes you wonder.
It really is a beautiful place...I have seen it also from the gates, then learned bits and pieces through different channels. Even know of a couple that have been inside the walls during the construction phase. Makes you wonder.
It really does considering the amount all ready put into it by the new owner.
The towers could serve as apartments for guests I'd think.
Does your friends have any pictures you might be able to put up?
I didn't take any when I was there and those I posted are from the news papers with the articles.
The towers could serve as apartments for guests I'd think.
Does your friends have any pictures you might be able to put up?
I didn't take any when I was there and those I posted are from the news papers with the articles.
Cleave might... he said he was there last week playingwith sparklers in the courtyard - needed a break after being dissapointed that building ours was going to take longer than originally anticipated...
The people I know that have been in it, are my ex's parents. They have lived in Versailles for many years and knew the original owners. Not sure if they would have ever taken pics (pretty sure they would have!), but doubt they would even talk with me these days. They never really liked me much, especially since I wasn't from the best side of town, if you know what I mean. They are very wealthy and have a strong family history...I wasn't so lucky growing up. 
Their loss.
Their loss.
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