Phillips' Folly, Greek Revival building in Maysville, Kentucky.
Phillips' Folly is a three-story brick residence in Maysville featuring Federal-style entrances and Greek Revival windows. The facade displays a two-tiered columned portico with segmental dormers that showcase the crafted design of its era.
Construction began in 1825 under William B. Phillips, Maysville's second mayor, and was completed in 1831 after six years of building. The residence emerged during a time when local leadership was shaping the city's growth and character.
The home served as a childhood residence for Stanley Forman Reed, who later became a United States Supreme Court Justice. His formative years here connected to a career that would shape the nation's legal landscape.
The property sits on Sutton Street in Maysville and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors should expect a 19th century building with traditional stairs and period features that require some navigation.
The foundation uses dry stacking construction without mortar, a rare building technique from that era. The basement contains a wooden jail cell connected to an underground tunnel, revealing the home's practical security measures.
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