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Between June 16 and June 24 2001, Kentucky Heritage Assessments, Inc. was hired on behalf of Gaskin Developments to perform an Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey of part of the property known as The Old Hagan Farm, in order to assess archaeological potential as part of planning for the widening of Highway 25. Mr. Allan Cole requested this work on behalf of Covington Utilities to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This project is federally funded and falls under the responsibility of the State Environmental Protection Agency (Permit Number KY0019872) and is administered by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Department for Environmental Protection.
Initial survey consisted of fieldwalking along 20ft transects, however the discovery of a large number of segments of iron chains and one half of a set of 19th century leg cuffs led to reduction of survey transects to 10ft intervals. In areas of high concentrations of artifact finds, 3ftx3ft test units were dug. This led to the discovery of the charred remains of a structure at the site now designated as the Hagan Barn Site (25KT148). Initial assessment of finds indicated an early 19th century date of construction for the structure, with evidence of use through the 21st century, including drug paraphernalia associated with modern occupation through the late 1990s before the property was expropriated by the state.
Initial test units returned additional evidence of slavery at the barn, including parts of hand tools for tobacco cultivation and additional chain and cuff segments. On June 23, work at the Hagan Barn Site was halted due to the discovery of human remains. County Coroner’s office initially determined that they were related to the 19th century origin of the site. However, on June 24, a feature was detected that cut into the original burial pit that was determined to be more modern, and local police were called in to assess the site as a modern as well as a historical crime scene.
Local stories surrounding the Hagan Farm Site indicate that it may have been used for criminal activity over several periods before it was destroyed in a fire in 1997 – a fire also related to modern criminal activities.
This is a significant site that will require further mitigation once the criminal investigation is complete. Kentucky Heritage Assessments, Inc. is cooperating with the Covington Police Department, as the complex nature of the site makes it difficult to distinguish modern from historical crimes and archaeological remains from forensic evidence. Additionally, the Kentucky Society for Black History has submitted a petition to have the site added to the register of historic places, associating the site with historical accounts of slaving operations in 19th century Kenton County.