If walls could talk
Mooreland Mansion
Kentucky
1891
Col. Daniel Lawson Moore
1847 - 1916
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
MOORELAND MANSION
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Daniel Lawson Moore was born in 1847. He was the son of Dr. James Harrison Moore
and Mary (Messenger) Moore. He received his education under a private tutor, and finally entered Centre College where he continued for 3 years. He then began the study of law, and in time he was licensed to practice at the bar. He never practiced his profession, he preferred the more profitable fields of agriculture and stock raising.
He married Henrietta Mcbrayer November 15, 1870, they had a total of 3 children together before his 1st wife Henrietta passed away in 1882. Daniel Moore suffered such deep feelings of sorrow, he left his 3 children with their grandparents as he traveled West where he found fortunate investments. He established a large ranch in Colorado, where he entered into the business of raising cattle and horses. He was recognized as one of the leading stock-raisers of Colorado. In 1873 he founded the D.L. Moore Distillery, near Burgin, which he operated until 1899. He was president of Mercer National Bank, he also owned a sawmill in Mississippi, castle ranch in Colorado, and several cotton plantations in Mississippi.
Daniel Lawson Moore married Minnie Ball in 1891 and began building “Mooreland Mansion” for her. The 11,500 sq ft home took 5 years to complete, and with a total cost of $50,000 ($1.4 million in today's money). The Romanesque Revival Mansion had 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and with a total of 11,500 sq ft, the home was the largest in the county at that time.
Daniel Lawson Moore passed away at his home in 1916 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Minnie Moore remained at Mooreland Mansion and took over the businesses in Colorado and Mississippi until her death in 1937.
Mooreland Mansion had been sold many times throughout the years and eventually became neglected and abandoned for almost 15 years and was in severely bad shape, after numerous auction sales, the home seemed to be doomed. Then in 2020 the home was once again scheduled to be auctioned, the home was sold to a retired couple who saw what the home was and could be again and purchased it to restore to its original condition. They plan to do all the work themselves and take the time to enjoy the process every step of the way. They said the process will take time, but we are in no rush. The work began almost immediately and continues to this day.
The auction date was getting closer, and I was walking around the property taking photographs. There were people there walking and exploring the home, I was approached by an older gentleman who began telling me about the house. I then learned that the gentleman worked for Minnie Moore, he said every day after school he would walk to the house and do work, he said almost everyday she would have him pull any weeds or grass growing in the gravel driveway. He was telling me how Mrs. Moore was very particular with her home and grounds, everything was in pristine condition, he kept saying that she would be so upset to see her home in this condition.
