Clintonville Farmers Bank: First established in 1903, by William F. Heathman the farmer’s banks were established by Heathman who was a farmer, county supervisor, postmaster, and civil war veteran. The bank sits on the road and is addressed 109 Austerlitz, the banks closed within around 20 years of being open after a robbery. One night in May of 1924 a group of unknown men attempted to break into the vault. They used an acetylene torch to cut through the bank’s lock and then attempted to blow the safe with nitroglycerin. Though they broke the outer safe their attempts to open the inter safe failed. The burglar then fled after a nearby neighbor sounded the alarm.
The following July attempted to rob the bank in broad daylight. around 9:30 a.m. one morning four men driving a stolen Cadillac stopped at the bank, three men entered the bank. The three men proceeded to order the two employees of the bank Frank Buchanan, a bank director, and Walter Gibson, the cashier, to put their hands up. Buchanan refused and began to fight one of the men getting shot in the process. Gibson retrieved a weapon and fired a shot at the gang leading them to feel. Buchanan sadly died at the scene, and two of the four known would-be robbers were also injured but got away. Within days the fugitives were found and identified as Newport men with a shady criminal past. Following their arrest, all four men were convicted in Bourbon Circuit Court. The driver Robert Mullen was sentenced to life in prison, Elmer Hall, George Farrell, and Richard Newhouse received the death sentence and were executed the following year. Shortly after the tragedy the bank closed. Though the bank never reopened it functioned as a residence for approximately 30 years, a church for 20 plus, and a clogging studio for nine. Nowadays the bank is a realick of the past every moment is being lost to time and the elements.
Clintonville cemetery: The Clintonville cemetery is a small cemetery that is still in operation and maintained by volunteers. The graves can be seen maintained with polished stones and flowers, while just on the other side of the cemetery old stones dating back to the Victorian era can be seen decorating and barley readable from the years of erosion and history.
Clintonville Consolidated School: the Clintonville consolidated school building is part of the former school still standing in Clintonville. Built in 1925 the Brick gymnasium is all that stands. Nowadays the windows are boarded up and the portions of the brick structure appear to be attached by metal siding.
