Central Kentucky is world famous for Thoroughbred horses and endless miles of rock fences (Dry stone walls).
There are more rock fences here than any place in the USA.
In Central Kentucky only 5 -10% of these 19th century dry stone walls built by Irish Immigrant stone masons still stand.
These stone masons passed their craft on to black slaves that became masters of the craft of building rock walls.
This is where the term,"slave walls" came about. Since I grew up here in the Bluegrass, this is what I always thought they were. I had no idea that the dry stone walls originated with the Irish immigration to the Bluegrass!
Our Kentucky rock fences are mostly built with local limestone that is plentiful in the fields. Once cleared and prepared for agriculture, the stone was easily used as border walls to pastures.
All the stones are laid free-handed with no mortar.