In the early 1800’s, the area now known as Centerfield was once known as Worth. This area was originally called Centerfield (likely based upon the fact it was four miles to Crestwood, Buckner, and Ballardsville) but was changed to Worth to avoid confusion since there was another Centerfield, KY. This area became a stopping point for food and rest as farming community wagons crossed the covered bridge at Curry’s Fork on their journey to Louisville. In 1850, Worth’s name was changed back to Centerfield when the post office merged with Crestwood’s.
Mount Tabor United Methodist Church
The Mount Tabor United Methodist Church dates back to 1835, when the congregation met for the first time in a log meeting house. In 1850, a brick church building replaced the log meeting house. This building was located approximately 100 feet west of the current church parking lot. A fire damaged the brick church building in 1874 and a frame church was constructed in 1875. In 1908, a new frame church was constructed with two chimneys and was heated with two coal stoves.
Mount Tabor Cemetery
Located adjacent to the church is the Mount Tabor Cemetery. Both D.W. Griffith and his father, Col. Jacob Wark Griffith, are buried in this cemetery. In 1950, a monument in the memory of D.W Griffith was dedicated at the site by the Screen Actors Guild of America. His monument also has an old rail fence around it which came from the Lindsay T. Smith Sr. place, near Griffith’s birthplace.
D. W. Griffith
David Wark "D.W." Griffith, a Centerfield native, was a pioneer in the film and movie industry. He was considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of the motion picture industry at his time. Between 1908 and 1913, Griffith implemented use of the moving camera, the close-up, the fadeout, flashback effect lighting, and the effects of editing and cross-cutting. Griffith is best known for directing his award-winning 1925 Civil War classic, “Birth of a Nation”. Alfred Hitchcock once remarked, “Every time you see a movie, you see something that originated with D.W. Griffith." He died in 1948 while residing in Hollywood. His body was returned to Oldham County for burial in the Mount Tabor Cemetery.
Historical Information and Images Courtesy of The Oldham County Historical Society.
In 1874, Centerfield’s population was 30 people. Judge Martin Demoss moved into the Worth (Centerfield) area when he was a young man in approximately 1840. He was first elected Justice of the Peace and then later was elected to the office of County Superintendent, the first to hold that office in our county. He was also County Judge for 12 years.
Notable History from District 6:
