• We offer beds that are Medicare and Medicaid certified.
• We offer both inpatient rehab & continued outpatient rehab services.
• All rooms have electric high/ low beds and cable TV.
• The full in-house rehab unit provides PT, OT, ST.
• Admissions can be processed 24/7.
• Nurses are on duty and onsite 24 hours a day.
• Private rooms are available for short-term rehab.
• Newly added semi-private rooms are available for long-term care. VISITORS ARE WELCOME EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. Come to see our residents and friendly staff in action. Feel free to contact us to learn more about the unique, sophisticated healthcare environment at Valhalla Post Acute.
RENÉE LARR STEVE WISER
810-0011 CHIEF
At the northeast corner of Main Street and Harrison Avenue in the Middletown Historic District sits a quaint building which, if its stone walls could talk, would reveal more than 200 years of the fascinating past of this eastern Jefferson County community.
Before delving into the distinctive background of this charming structure, the myths surrounding it must first be dispelled.
A former historic marker once stood at this location that contained several inaccuracies. While now removed, this plaque remains in cyberspace and continues to generate misunderstanding.
Accurate documentation of historic sites and individuals has greatly improved over the past 30-plus years due to online sources such as genealogy and research databases. Prior to the advent of these vetted computer-accessed resources, stories of people and places typically were based on family recollections conveyed over decades via verbal and handwritten accounts, which were not the most reliable for verifiable facts.
Such are the tales once associated with this humble edifice, now known as the Benjamin Head House (11601 Main St., Middletown, Kentucky). The former plaque described Benjamin Head as a “Revolutionary War veteran captain.” Yet, verified genealogical records show the Benjamin Head who built this house was born in 1782 — one year before the Revolutionary War ended. However, there was another Captain Benjamin Head elsewhere in Kentucky who did serve in the Revolutionary War. The confusion between the two Benjamin Heads evidently stems from their shared death year of 1837.
The second misinformation on the plaque noted that the “fact” was based on a “legend.” But this “legend” was inscribed and therefore became accepted as truth. The claim was that the Head House “once changed hands as the result of a poker game.” This assertion was even repeated in a 2012 Courier Journal article.
However, descendants of John Hansbrough, who obtained the house from Head in 1821, deny this ever happened, citing Hansbrough’s strict religious beliefs, which
forbade gambling.
Another myth claimed treasure was hidden inside during the Civil War to protect it from thieves. No loot was ever found.
Lastly, even digital resources can be flawed. The website FindAGrave.com lists Benjamin Head’s birth year as 1780, but his headstone clearly states 1782. The discrepancy stemmed from a misreading of his obituary, which noted he died “in his 56th year.” That phrase means he was between 55 and 56 years old at his death.
With the myths addressed, here is the verified history of the landmark. Benjamin Head was born in January 1782 to Hadley and Mildred Head in Virginia, according to Ancestry.com. He settled in Middletown around 1804 and by 1815 was a town trustee. (Middletown was chartered in 1797 and named because it was the midpoint between Shelbyville and Louisville on the old turnpike road, now Shelbyville Road.)
Head partnered with Basil Nicholas Hobbs (1786-1837) and Benjamin Lawrence in the
Head, Hobbs & Lawrence General Store. Head traveled by horseback to Philadelphia and Baltimore to purchase supplies, while Hobbs kept the books.
In 1808, Head married Harriot Hobbs (1787-1824), sister of his business partner Basil. Their father, Nicholas Hobbs (17471793), was the grandfather of Edward Dorsey Hobbs, who later helped establish
the Anchorage community.
As for Head’s other partner, Benjamin Lawrence, his history remains unclear. He is often confused with another Benjamin Lawrence who fought in the Revolutionary War.
According to Middletown historian
Edith Wood, construction of the Head House began in 1813—not 1812, as other sources and the former plaque state. Head completed it in 1815, but sold it just six years later to John Hansbrough. The reason for the quick sale remains unknown.
William Chambers purchased it after Hansbrough but abandoned it during the Civil War. The next long-term occupants were William H. and Catherine Abel, married in 1858, who lived there until 1877 when Dr. Silas O. Witherbee bought the home. Four of the Abels’ six children were born in the house. The Witherbee family owned it into the 1960s. They were related to the Wetherbys of Middletown, including Kentucky Gov. Lawrence Wetherby. In 1974, Chris Matthews purchased and restored the house.
Byron and Freda Chapman bought the home in 1996. Byron became Middletown mayor in 2001 and remains in office. Over the years, the Head House has been both a residence
and the site of businesses and a restaurant.
Capstone Realty purchased it in 2020 and conducted an extensive renovation for its headquarters, including re-supporting structural beams, refinishing the original ash wood floors, and other improvements. The Head House is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
After selling the house, Benjamin Head bought a farm several miles west that was later owned by his great-grandson Robert Chester Tway, who developed a dairy there. In 1923, Tway built a large home designed by the noted firm of Nevin, Morgan & Wischmeyer. Today, that house at 10235 Timberwood Circle in the Plainview neighborhood is owned by the City of Jeffersontown and serves as a civic center.
Following the death of his first wife, Harriot, Head married Margaret Nora Brengman (1805-1891) in 1824. Known as Nora, she was the daughter of Martin Brengman
and the aunt of Catherine R. White, who with her husband, James Goslee, built “The Anchorage” estate in the mid-1800s. Their property gave its name to the Anchorage community, connecting Head in a roundabout way not only to Middletown but also to the development of Plainview and Anchorage.
After Head’s death in 1837, Nora remarried Henry L. Garr. Head is buried in Middletown Cemetery, but his exact gravesite is unknown. His headstone, once damaged, is now displayed at the Middletown Museum at 11700 Main St.
Basil N. Hobbs is buried in Hobbs Cemetery in Anchorage. The gravesites of Harriot Hobbs Head, Margaret Nora Garr, and Benjamin Lawrence are unknown.
Steve Wiser, FAIA, is a local historian, author and architect. Jack Koppel is a local historian and docent at Middletown Museum.
In the heart of Middletown, our community is where neighbors become good friends and support is always nearby. Assisted Living residents enjoy 24/7 on-site staff, faithinspired support, and personalized care plans, including medication management to ensure comfort and safety.
Annually, our residents look forward to holiday and themed parties including Christmas Card decorating contests, Halloween costume parade, a Derby Hat Runway Show with Lunch, and a Veterans Day parade with cookout. Life-enriching activities bring constant smiles to our residents.
Christian Care Communities Middletown offers spacious suite with separate bedroom, community dining rooms, chapel and activity areas, and all with secure entry. When you tour, you’ll see firsthand how comfort and safety are top priorities, with emergency call buttons readily available in a welcoming home-like environment.
Our community encourages residents to engage in lively activities that meet them where they are. Our Activities Director, Leslie, works hard to develop creative and engaging activities for our entire community. Assisted Living residents, as well as our independent living apartment residents, can laugh and try new things together!
The calendar is always full with visiting choirs, bands, artists, experts, and local church youth groups – all of which spark joy in our residents with things like singing along to the oldies or working on a puzzle with a team of elementary school children. No day is the same, making wonderful new memories with selfies to share.
Assisted Living residents in Middletown thrive because of the warm environment, attentive staff, and thoughtful attention that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. Our goal at Christian Care Communities is to help residents live their best lives by providing trusted support and a nurturing environment.
In 1992, Kentucky circuit court clerks were looking for a way to give back to their community. One member of the group knew of a friend who had passed away while waiting for an organ transplant, and an idea was born.
What if they asked those who were renewing or getting their driver’s license for the first time if they’d donate $1 to raise awareness for organ donation?
“At the time, organ donation wasn’t really discussed,” says Shelley Snyder, executive director of Donate Life KY. “This was the first time in the U.S. the dollar donation
Writer / Melissa Gibson
transplant. Many of their stories are told on the Donate Life KY website.
“We just visited a hospital for a little guy who has been waiting on a heart transplant for more than 600 days,” Snyder says. “He’s in-patient. He can’t go to school. The only way he gets this heart is if people know about our mission, they support it, and they register.”
The donor-recipient system is full of stress, grief and often trauma on both sides of the coin. Families are either saying goodbye to a loved one or praying for a miracle to save the one who has been suffering for so long.
However, Snyder says there are still many misconceptions and misunderstandings when it comes to donations and transplants.
was implemented, and it was a success. The funds were put into a trust for organ donation education, and Donate Life KY was created.”
Across the country, a new name is added to the list of those waiting for organ donation every eight minutes.
There are currently more than two million registered organ donors, yet 17 people still die every day waiting for a transplant, leaving much more to be done.
Donate Life KY keeps a running list of those on the registry, as well as those waiting for a
“It can get a little clinical or complex to explain, but only 1% to 2% of people die in a way clinically required to donate organs,” she says. “The organs have to be healthy enough for transplant, and a match has to be found before the organs become not viable.”
This means once the heart has stopped and organs no longer receive blood, they cannot be used.
One misconception is that if a physician knows a patient is an organ donor, it might change their course of treatment. Not the case, according to Snyder.
“Because the heart has to continue beating and blood has to continue moving through these vital organs, medical personnel are
actually doing everything they can to save my life,” she says. “They are trying to get me stable. They also have no idea if I’m an organ donor or not. That system is handled through the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO).”
Hospitals are required by law to contact OPO when it’s determined a life cannot be saved. OPO evaluates the patient and the circumstances, determines if the patient is an organ donor, and only then speaks with family about the process.
If the patient has signed up to be an organ donor, the request is honored just like a will would be in the event of death.
Not only does making the decision ahead of time free family and loved ones from having to decide, it also begins the process of saving someone else’s life.
“More than 100,000 children and adults in America are waiting for kidneys, livers,
lungs, hearts, pancreases and intestines,” Snyder adds. “We can also donate tissues and corneas.”
While there’s been an incredible increase in willing donors, there’s also an increase in needed transplants.
“Decades ago, if you had a heart condition, we’d call in hospice,” Snyder says. “Today, we put you on the heart transplant list. When I started working at Donate Life KY, 22 people were dying every day waiting for a transplant, and now we’re at 17. But that’s still too many. No one should lose their spouse, child or parent. If we had 100% of the people in this country registered, we wouldn’t have a waiting list. It’s so rare when we’re able to use those organs, it’s going to take every single person willing to do it.”
At Donate Life KY, they support both parties: those waiting for organ transplants and those who have donated the organs of a loved one. Patients often travel great distances for treatment. In fact, Snyder said the number one reason for bankruptcy in the country is medical bills. The organization is able to assist with gas cards,
lodging expenses and medical equipment. Donor families can also receive support for transportation, lodging and cremation costs after the unexpected loss of a loved one.
“Donor families are the most amazing, generous people in the world,” Snyder says. “In their darkest moment, they choose to save someone else’s child, parent or loved one. There’s beauty in the humanity of it. Someone whose life has been saved wakes up every day thinking about their loved one.”
Volunteers are often touched by the Donate Life KY mission. Various committees support patients and donors, host fundraising events and more. Even those not directly affected often join the team to give back to their community.
“We cover the entire state of Kentucky,” Snyder says. “We’d love to have all the help we can get. We have a small but strong team. We have a lot of fun, and we want to shout this information and education from the rooftops.”
For more information, visit donatelifeky.org.
Margie B. Lung Cancer, 2019
At UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center, you’ll find success stories like Margie’s, thanks to our collaborative approach, early detection and pioneering treatments. Here, hope comes to life with our expert second opinions, advanced technology and personalized holistic care. We harness the power of academic research and groundbreaking clinical trials, only found here, to help survivors make more memories and keep living their stories.
Experience the power of world-class care, close to home at our three Louisville locations.
To find Margie’s story and other survivor stories, visit UofLHealth.org/BCCStories.