Crestview

Condensed from an article By Jim Reis

It started as Vets Village and became the city of Crestview.  Located behind Cold Spring, Crestview was developed as a subdivision for WWII veterans.

The area was dominated by Robert Dodworth's farm on an 1883 map.  The other landmark was Rev Charles Lurker's home.  Dodsworth as a landowner and businessman whose holdings included a large farm along what is now Dodsworth Road.  He also owned a house in Newport and thousands of dollars worth of stock in the Newport and Alexandria Turnpike Company, First National Bank, and the Red Men's Hall Association in Newport.

Dodsworth died in January 1885 at the age of 82.  His will divided the estate among his wife and their eight children, Sallie Belle, Henry, Martha, John, Robert C, James, Charles and Andrew.  Rev Lurker conducted Dodsworth's funeral and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.  A reporter described Dodsworth as a respected businessman with high morals.

On January 29, 1947 the Vet Village Home Builders met to discuss buying enough land to build 200-300 homes.  Many Campbell County veterans were living with relatives or renting apartments with the price of homes too high for most of them.  A location was selected but kept secret to avoid high prices.  On March 16, The Kentucky Post reported that the site selected was 52 acres near the intersection of Uhl Road and Dodsworth Lane.

Groundbreaking was held July 13 with Governor Simeon S Willis officiating, Union Light Heat and Power Company donating and installing a flagpole.  The Kersten O'Day Veterans of Foreign Wards Post in Dayton provided an American Flag.  Officers of the veterans association on that day were William Slaline, president; Jack Strassel, vice president; William Toner; secretary; Walter Bricking, treasurer; Edward Illig, assistant treasurer; Bruce Henneberg, attorney; and Edward Thornburn, accountant.

In 1950 Vets Village was not a city, but simply a residential in an unincorporated part of the county. The civic association launched a Name the City Contest.  The winning name, announced October 24, 1950 was Crestview.  Dolores Dixon won the $75 bond.  A J Jolly submitted a petition to the Campbell County Court on November 3, 1950 seeking incorporation of Crestview.  Circuit Judge Ray Murphy approved and appointed the first officials; William Toner, Charles Raming, Wilbur Lancaster, Blaine Marz and Edward Storer, trustees;  Dr Howard Kaurish, police judge; Mrs Clyde Wilemon, treasurer; Walter Ashmore, marshal; Erwin Smith, assessor and Mrs. Robert Williams, clerk.  The trustees picked Toner as mayor.

Crestview has never had any schools or churches.  Students go either to St Joseph Catholic School in Cold Spring or the county schools.  Today there are 160 homes and 356 residents.