The historic Ken-Rad Lamp Plant has cleared another major hurdle on its path toward being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board unanimously approved the nomination June 26 without questions or concerns, according to Dr. Zak Leonard, historic preservation manager with the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation. The nomination will now move to the National Park Service for final consideration.
If approved by the National Park Service, the former industrial complex at 601 E. Ninth St. would be added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Earlier this month, Leonard presented the nomination to the Owensboro Historic Preservation Board, where he outlined the building’s historical significance and why he believes it qualifies for the National Register.
Leonard told the board the building was constructed in 1919 as an American Cigar Company plant before being acquired by the Ken-Rad Tube & Lamp Corporation in the 1930s. He said that by the 1940s, Ken-Rad had become Owensboro’s largest employer and one of the city’s defining industries.
“Ken-Rad was Owensboro’s main employer by the 1940s and, according to one newspaper, pulled the city up with it economically with every step it took toward becoming one of the outstanding industries of the South,” Leonard said during the meeting.
Leonard also told board members that Ken-Rad was not only the largest producer of light bulbs in the South during its peak, but also one of the world’s largest manufacturers of radio tubes. He said the federal government temporarily seized control of the company’s operations during a 1944 labor dispute because of its critical role in supporting the World War II effort.
“The federal government considered the company to be such a vital contributor to the war effort that it staged an atypical complete takeover of its operations during a labor dispute in 1944,” Leonard said.
According to Leonard, the nomination establishes a period of significance from 1919, when the original building was constructed, through 1953, when the Ken-Rad Corporation was formally dissolved. Although Westinghouse continued operating the facility after purchasing the company in 1945, the building remained closely associated with the Ken-Rad legacy.
Current owner Kelly Skelton said the state board’s approval marks an important step toward preserving one of Owensboro’s most significant industrial landmarks.
“Securing this historic approval is a significant milestone,” Skelton said. “As a local developer invested in our history, my goal is to save this landmark.”
Skelton said the building’s history is one of the reasons he believes it deserves preservation.
“This building has an incredible story; Leo Monarch built it after his family’s famous 19th-century whiskey empire collapsed, pivoting into tobacco before the site eventually became Ken-Rad,” he said.
Skelton said the redevelopment team is still evaluating the property’s long-term use, which could include residential units, assisted living or commercial space.
“We are keeping an open mind regarding the final vision for the space — whether it becomes residential units, assisted living, or a commercial hub — to ensure it best serves the community,” he said. “We want the 9th Street Commons to be a major anchor for the Monarch neighborhood’s revitalization over the next five years.”
Skelton said the next step is to continue working with city and state officials to pursue grants and other funding opportunities while stabilizing the building. He said construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2027.
If approved by the National Park Service, the Ken-Rad Lamp Plant would join a select group of Owensboro properties recognized for their historical significance.
