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Whether through the local newspaper or other means, Harry Enoch has long kept Clark Countians informed about the area’s history and uniqueness. 

His work does not go unnoticed. 

Enoch was recognized by the Clark County-Winchester Heritage Commission with the prestigious Historic Preservation Award at the annual Pig Pickin’ event this month. 

“We just thought we’d acknowledge his individual contribution to [telling] the history of the community,” said Steve Justice, President of the Clark County-Winchester Heritage Commission. 

Enoch, originally from Mount Sterling, moved to the area in 1999, just before the beginning of the 21st century. 

Residing in the area near Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve, he took an immediate interest in the area’s history where he currently resides.

“The history of that area was kind of slow to unfold,” Enoch said. “I stayed at that for a while and started writing about it.”

It wasn’t long before Bill Blakeman, an editor for the Winchester Sun at the time, approached him. 

“He encouraged me to submit articles on local history, and that’s where I started,” Enoch acknowledged. “I think it’s been about twenty years writing articles on local history for the [Winchester] Sun. It’s something that intrigues me on an infinite number of subjects to explore.” 

Asked what some of the most exciting topics to explore were, Enoch responded. 

“I’ve really enjoyed investigating Indian oil fields and finding out that the history of that is really located in some of our local documents,” he said. “One of the other surprises was…an Indian camp. It was…located on a map drawn by surveyors, and it’s where the Shawnee spent the night before laying siege to Boonesboro [in 1778]. It turns out that the Indian camp is just below my house on Lower Howard’s Creek, down below the waterworks on Lettie Lane.” 

Enoch acknowledged that one of the most exciting parts of research is finding such information, even if it was originally unintended. 

“It’s always surprises like that [which] keep me going,” he said. “One of the more recent developments is putting all the back issues of the Winchester Sun online. That’s proved infinitely fruitful. It’s almost a swamp waiting for you to wade in and keep you there.” 

Enoch added that another interesting piece of information he gathered during the course of his research included understanding just how deeply rooted certain families are throughout Winchester and Clark County. 

He offered advice for future historians. 

“There’s so much material out there [that] it’s good to get specialized in some area,” he said, noting the Clark County Public Library and Bluegrass Heritage Museum as great resources for research. “It takes time. It takes patience and somebody to help and point you in the right direction.” 

He also remained humble regarding his success. 

“It was an awfully nice gesture. I’m not sure I’m deserving of it…I have been plugging away at preservation for a long time. “There’s so much still to discover…history still unfolds every day.”