Lost and now found: An employee finds the “holy grail” of KU artifacts
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sometimes there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But in our case, it was a very old sign.
Last month, we asked you on Facebook and Twitter to help us track down a very historic item. It’s a sign marking KU’s first building in Versailles. It has been missing for years. The last company record indicated it had been acquired by Versailles District Manager Henry Carl.
After we put out the call for help, tips came in from various sources on social media. Several tips indicated the son of the late Henry Carl still lived in Versailles in his father’s house. One of our employees Tim Smith ran into a member of the Carl family at an auction and mentioned the sign. The relative gave Smith the addresses of the younger Carl.
“When I first drove by, there was no one home and I thought perhaps no one lived there,” he said. “But I happened to drive by another time and saw a truck in the driveway, so I swung in and was able to talk to Mr. Carl. He said his dad told him ‘Someday someone will want this.’ Mr. Carl thought it may be in the barn and said he’d take a look and give me a call after a few days.”
Just 20 minutes later, Carl called Smith back and said he’d already found the sign.
“He was willing to give the sign to us so we can properly display it as a major part of our company history,” said Smith. “We’re very thankful for his willingness to share a part of KU’s history with us.”
The sign is currently being framed and will be displayed in the lobby of the KU General Office in Lexington.
Last month, we asked you on Facebook and Twitter to help us track down a very historic item. It’s a sign marking KU’s first building in Versailles. It has been missing for years. The last company record indicated it had been acquired by Versailles District Manager Henry Carl.
“When I first drove by, there was no one home and I thought perhaps no one lived there,” he said. “But I happened to drive by another time and saw a truck in the driveway, so I swung in and was able to talk to Mr. Carl. He said his dad told him ‘Someday someone will want this.’ Mr. Carl thought it may be in the barn and said he’d take a look and give me a call after a few days.”
Just 20 minutes later, Carl called Smith back and said he’d already found the sign.
“He was willing to give the sign to us so we can properly display it as a major part of our company history,” said Smith. “We’re very thankful for his willingness to share a part of KU’s history with us.”
The sign is currently being framed and will be displayed in the lobby of the KU General Office in Lexington.
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