If Northern Kentucky Were a Bourbon...
I couldn’t resist asking local historian Dave Schroeder how he’d describe our history if it were a bourbon. His answer was perfect:
“Bourbon has the woody notes from the trees of the nation, the sweet flavor of honey and corn that are staples of Kentucky cuisine, and the silky smoothness that reminds me of the mighty Ohio, the reason NKY exists!”
Northern Kentucky's Bourbon Roots
In the late 1800s, the Kentucky River Valley – particularly Northern Kentucky – boasted plenty of corn, access to water via the Ohio River and surrounding creeks, and a transportation network helped along mightily by steamships. Could the situation be any riper for making whiskey?
Not according to the Samuels family (you might have heard of their bourbon: Maker’s Mark) and the O.Z. Tyler family and their Old Forester and Kentucky Bourbons. Both were instrumental in establishing large-scale distilleries. Old Pogue, Boone County, and Neeley Family were making bourbon in those days, too.
With bourbon booming, something new and innovative began: distilleries started blending whiskies and selling bourbon by the bottle, not just the barrel. These steps went a long way in laying the groundwork for the modern bourbon industry.
Bringing History to Life
With America’s 250th quickly approaching, I had the pleasure of talking to a NKY historian Dave Schroeder and asked him to walk us through Northern Kentucky in the late 1800s.
A Bustling, Booming Riverfront
“Immigrants arrived by the hundreds each week – mostly Germans from Hannover and Oldenburg, followed by the Irish fleeing famine. German churches, schools, breweries, and beer gardens quickly shaped the skyline and culture. Streets were crowded, noisy, and dirty – filled with horse-drawn buggies, stables, and saloons standing side-by-side with family homes. Women shopped daily at bustling butcher shops and markets, while the riverfront landings were beehives of activity, shipping everything from tobacco to bourbon.
Industry boomed with slaughterhouses, steel, railroads, and breweries like Bavarian in Covington and Wiedemann in Newport. The air was thick with coal smoke, the ground with horse waste, and sanitation lagged – cholera epidemics swept through neighborhoods. Yet, amid it all, Northern Kentucky was prospering, alive with growth, energy, and opportunity.”
Building the Roebling Bridge
Of course, no story of 19th-century Northern Kentucky is complete without the Roebling Suspension Bridge. When I asked Dave how it impacted riverfront life and trade, he explained:
“Plans for a span across the Ohio began in the 1840s but were stalled by steamboat companies, legislative hurdles, and lack of funds. Amos Shinkle, a coal magnate and developer, changed that. He formed the Cincinnati and Covington Suspension Bridge Company, sold stock to investors on both sides of the river, and pushed the project through Kentucky and Ohio legislatures. Shinkle hired John A. Roebling, whose design would become the world’s longest suspension bridge when it opened January 1, 1867. It was more than an engineering marvel — it linked north and south, carrying livestock, raw goods, and bourbon barrels that fueled the region’s economy. Operated as a toll bridge, it quickly turned a profit and under Shinkle’s leadership became both a vital crossing and a powerful symbol of Northern Kentucky’s growth.”
It’s hard to imagine thousands of bourbon barrels not crossing that bridge year after year.
Women and the Gilded Age
Like many of us, I’ve been watching The Gilded Age. In Season 2, Mrs. Roebling quietly issues orders for the Brooklyn Bridge, then warns that revealing her role could mean society would reject it. How accurate is that portrayal? Dave explained:
“In the mid-1800s, men dominated business, finance, politics, and higher education, while women were largely confined to the home or charitable work. A woman with skills in a traditionally male field would likely have been ignored or pressured to remain silent. Without the right to vote, women’s influence was often wielded indirectly through their husbands. Upper-class women sometimes had more freedom, as household help allowed them to socialize, exchange ideas, and engage in reform movements.
These women would later lead abolition, suffrage, and social change. While a few broke through societal barriers, most were denied the education or opportunities to show their talents – making the secrecy portrayed in The Gilded Age a plausible reflection of the era’s gender norms.”
Amos Shinkle: Dreamer and Builder
Shinkle himself is one of the most fascinating figures in Northern Kentucky history. What drove him?
“Raised in rural Ohio, he worked on riverboats and quickly grasped how vital trade and transportation were to the nation’s growth. When he settled in Covington during an economic boom, Shinkle combined timing, connections, and an intuitive business sense to build an empire. He was trusted, creative, and driven — a dreamer who identified needs and met them.
His love of architecture shows in the homes he built and in hiring John A. Roebling to design not just a bridge, but a beautiful one. Shinkle also gave back, funding the Covington Protestant Children’s Home, Methodist missions, and countless charities. He not only pushed the Suspension Bridge into reality but left a legacy of civic leadership and generosity that still shapes Northern Kentucky today.”
Carnegie Libraries: Palaces for the People
Bridges weren’t the only symbols of civic ambition. Northern Kentucky also built Carnegie libraries — palaces for the people. Dave shared:
“Covington’s Carnegie Library was built to impress: carved wood staircases, a limestone exterior, a stained-glass dome, and a grand theater. It wasn’t just for books – the theater hosted World War I rallies, suffragette gatherings, civil rights meetings, school plays, and more.
What I’m most proud of is this: in 1901 the library board declared ‘free library service to every man, woman, and child in Covington,’ making it one of the first in the South to provide racially integrated service. From the start, the Covington Library – now the Kenton County Public Library – has served everyone.”
Want More Local History?
Think you know your Northern Kentucky history? Join Dave Schroeder and The B-Line® at Second Sight Spirits for Bourbon and Northern Kentucky History Trivia on Wednesday, November 5, from 7–8:30 p.m.
In honor of Amos Shinkle and his compassionate legacy, a special cocktail will be offered, benefitting the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, which he founded.
