Red Bird Ranger Station (Club House)

Consultants working with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet worked to survey the Red Bird Ranger Station in 2023. These investigations documented the Red Bird Ranger Station, a c. 1924 Colonial Revival District Ranger Station/Clubhouse in Clay County, Kentucky, as well as its associated complex of administrative, residential and support buildings and structures. During survey, additional support resources were recorded that were not present in the original 2017 National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Peabody-Fordson Historic District.  The property is characterized by a large Colonial Revival structure that originally served as the company office for the Peabody Coal Company and its successor, the Fordson Company, a branch of the Ford Motor Company, which is located on a 23-acre property in the Daniel Boone National Forest that was established in 1937. ​​

​The Red Bird Ranger Station helps to document the continuing fascination with Revival styles in American architecture into the early twentieth century.  Revival styles were popular in the nineteenth century particularly following the Industrial Revolution as they harkened back to an earlier era prior to industrialization.  That continuing nostalgia gave rise to a plethora of revival styles including Dutch Colonial seen in this resource.  Though it has minimal architectural embellishments, the style was undoubtedly a deliberate choice by the Peabody/Fordson Coal Company, giving the company office a house-like appearance as it was a style commonly used in, and associated with, residential architecture. In fact, the structure was used as housing for survey crews, engineers and draftsmen.  Local craftsmen, specialists in woodworking and stonemasonry, constructed the structure utilizing localized sources for sandstone to craft the foundation and interior fireplaces.  The woodworkers handmade the wall paneling using walnut, oak, maple and American chestnut.  The original wood floors are still intact.​