The Latham Cottages

Historic Hopkinsville homes

Originally, there were three Latham Cottages on Campbell Street in Hopkinsville. One cottage was torn down in the early 1960s to make room for a gas station that was moved in from another location.

The cottages were built by Mr. John C. Latham, Jr., as Hopkinsville's first rental houses in 1889. They're particularly noteworthy because they were the first houses in Hopkinsville with central heat, running water, and electric lights.

Virginia Park is directly across the street from the cottages. I was standing in Virginia Park when I took this picture. Mr. John C. Latham, Sr., once lived in a large, beautiful home on the site of Virginia Park. After he died, the house was moved to another location and the property was donated as a park to the city of Hopkinsville.

I read somewhere that Mr. Latham, Sr., didn't like to look at the freight depot and railroad tracks when he sat on the large veranda that encircled his house. When Mr. Latham, Jr., built the Latham Cottages, they blocked the unpleasant view.

The cottages were sadly dilapidated when we first moved to Hopkinsville, but recently, both have had new roofs and exterior maintenance. They look very nice now.