The KHM's History Center is continuing its research locating the old Boone Trace through present Knox County and documenting its location through deed research.

The latest area being researched is in the Bimble community, where the Trace enters south Bimble after leaving Turkey Creek along the old Dixie Highway road bed, later known as the old U.S. 25E. The old Trace, which was later the old Wilderness Road, can be entered at Parkway Salvage yard on State Route 3439, and by car can be driven to within about one mile of the intersection of old 25E and Route 1304.

The Museum staff's latest research on the Boone Trace in Knox County, Kentucky, focuses on the section in the Bimble community, indicated above.

Near the mouth of a side road known as Callahan Loop, the old Trace and later the old Wilderness Road begins to climb up and over a ridge once known as Rasnick Hill, then proceeding through a gap in this ridge. At the beginning of this incline and at the top of Callahan Loop stood an old pioneer tavern owned by Thomas and David Johnson in 1817.

In 1820 this area was sold to Alexander Hays, and in 1847 was sold to John Rasnick. Then in 1885, Rasnick sold the land to the children of his daughter, Rachel Yeager. In 1912, L.R. Yeager was deeded parts of the area. As a sidenote: an 1852 deed references a meeting house in the area. A 1932 deed in this area from L.R. Yeager and wife Lara to Margie Mills describes this Trace area as the following: beginning at the forks of the road meaning Fighting Creek Road, now 1304, and the old Dixie Highway, now south U.S.25E and Route 3439, and near the Yeager school house, which is now the site of Springfield Baptist Church, and running with the highway (Dixie) south to the line of Tom Callahan. Thence with the line of Tom Callahan (or the old state road) on Rasnick Hill to the line of James Mills and to Charlie Sizemore's land and to the county road leading up Fighting Creek to the community of Friendship. Thence with this road back to the Dixie Highway, which now the intersection of 1304 and old U.S. 25E south.

While this is not meant to be a deed change, these early deeds in the Bimble area make clear reference to the old line of Tom Callahan being the old state road (Wildnerness Road) and before, being the old Boone Trace. That the old Trace crossed Rasnick Hill through a gap in this hill. See photos.

Museum president Mike Mills and Museum researchers Steve Valentine and Doug Bargo stand in the Gap of Rasnick Ridge on Boone Trace at Bimble.

Museum researchers Doug Bargo and David Cornett stand on the old Boone Trace and later Wilderness Road at Bimble, Kentucky.

Here's another view of the old Boone Trace in the Bimble area. From left are Mike Mills, David Cornett and Steve Valentine.

Doug, David and Mike pose near the entrance to a cave on the old Boone Trace in Bimble area.

The old Rasnick homeplace on the Boone Trace, later Wilderness Road, in Bimble community.

Passing through this gap, the Trace of 1775 turns up the mouth of Shy Mug Hollow on the way to Trace Branch, and later the Wilderness Road continues on up Fighting Creek, now Route 1304 near what is Rice Hill Lane and through Bargo Loop and up present state route 1304 to Girdler.

The museum history research has now completed research and location of the old Boone Trace through three sections of southern Knox County: the Ely Hollow-Pogue Hollow Loop; the old Flat Lick Loop; and the old South U.S. 25 Bimble Loop.

Before spring, the Museum staff hopes to research the Shy Mug/Trace Branch area and continue on the way to Heidrick. You may follow us in this research on the museum website at knoxhistoricalmuseum.org. For information contact Museum president Michael C. Mills at 606-627-6856.