WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. — A 140-year-old Presbyterian church was destroyed after strong winds swept through the region this past weekend.

What was once a building filled with history is now a pile of bricks, twisted metal beams and splinted wood.

“It was such a beautiful building,” said Grant County Deputy Judge Executive Colton Simpson. “Everybody was just so saddened to see it destroyed.”

Simpson is the former head of Grant County Historical Society. He said construction crews begin reconstruction nearly two years ago, and are now working to clean up the mess.  

“The owners of the property were currently rehabbing it, and they were going to do some incredible things with it,” Simpson said. 

The church was built in 1885, and has served the community in various ways over the years, from a place of worship, to an eye doctor’s office and even an old bookstore. But with its destruction, residents can only look back on its history through old publications and photographs. 

A photo of the Williamstown Presbyterian Church was featured in a 1901 souvenir publication by the Williamstown Courier. 

“This publication is... very old in itself,” Simpson said. “One of the only reasons that we have a picture of this church is because around 1901... they wanted to preserve back then.” 

While the loss has been devastating for the community, Simpson said he is confident that the owners and the community will rebound.

“The owners have restored many historic buildings in Williamstown,” he said. “I know they were just as saddened as we were, but I trust them to do some amazing things with the property.”

The future of the site remains uncertain.