Waveland celebrates French frontier woman who started finished school in Lexington
Editor's Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city's history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.
Charlotte Mentelle came to Kentucky with a firearm in one hand and an etiquette guide in the other.
Well, not really, but she did come with a blunderbuss — a popular firearm — when she traveled here from France in 1789. Her story, and the story of her finishing school in Lexington, will be the subject of a Waveland Tea and Talk at 11 a.m. on June 14.
Mentelle was born in Paris, France on Oct. 22, 1770. The daughter of a doctor, Nicolas Francois Antoine LeClerc, she lost her mother at an early age, which left her father to raise her alone.
He raised her as he would have a son, and was stern and somewhat severe. For instance, in order to help her conquer her fear of death, he locked her in a room with the corpse of an acquaintance overnight. Consequently, she said she had few fond memories of childhood.
'Dr. LeClerc was disappointed that his only child was a girl,' said Susan Miller, historical interpreter and Waveland's curator. 'He essentially raised her as a boy.'
By 1789, she was an uncommon combination of both the 'womanly arts' and the 'manly skills' like shooting, fencing, and horseback riding. She fell in love with Augustus Waldemar Mentelle, the son of a geographer to King Louis XVI, and the two married.
Shortly after they wed, her husband fled France to escape being conscripted into the French Army as the French Revolution began. Charlotte Mentelle was determined not to be left behind.
In 1793, Mentelle followed her husband to America and tracked him down in Gallipolis, Ohio. Around 1795, they moved to Washington, Kentucky, in Mason County, and then to Fayette County.
It was here they settled and raised their eight children — one boy and seven girls.
Friends of Henry Clay, they moved to Rose Hill and were given lifelong use of the property in 1805. At first, Charlotte Mentelle taught dance and French at Transylvania Seminary. But by 1820, she had opened her own finishing school, Mentelle's for Young Ladies.
Students at the school learned French, geography, literature, social etiquette and dancing. A young Mary Todd studied there between 1832 and 1836, preparing her for her future role as the wife of President Abraham Lincoln.
Mentelle was eccentric even by American standards.
She was often seen walking down the streets of Lexington reading while dressed in a man's shirt. But her intelligence and upbringing, combined with the freedom she found in America, propelled her to teach young women to be educated and accomplished at a time when teaching young women wasn't necessarily something that was done.
Waldemar Mentelle died at the age of 77 on June 26, 1846, after a long and painful illness. Charlotte Mentelle lived on at Rose Hill until her death in 1860.
Both were well-regarded in the community and saw Lexington as it grew from a frontier town to a major metropolis on the eve of the Civil War.
'It is hardly necessary to say one word of her lofty character, her pure life and great intellect in this community, where she has been loved, honored and venerated for half a century,' her obituary in the Kentucky Statesman read.
'Entirely dependent through life upon themselves, and from their education incapable of following the usual avocations of life in a country, settling with a population strange to them, they commanded esteem and respect of all who knew them, and raised a large family nearly all of whom survive their parents, and are honored loved and trusted members of society,' the obituary said.
Their influence went on to impact generations to come.
After Waldemar Mentelle died, his son, Waldemar, Jr., purchased the land on which they had lived. In 1886, upon his death, the property was deeded to one of his sisters, Rose.
That land was, in turn, purchased by developers in 1905 and turned into a neighborhood development with a boulevard down the middle.
The development is now known as Mentelle Park and is the site of 48 residences built between 1906 and 1934. Just off of Richmond Road in downtown Lexington, the historic neighborhood is noted by limestone pillars at its entrance, as well as its entrance off Cramer Avenue.
When she came to the states, Mentelle brought a blunderbuss — a brass-barreled firearm, with its spring bayonet. The gun sits at Waveland, under the portrait of her husband.
Her story and the blunderbuss will be the subject of the presentation at Waveland on Saturday. Tickets are $40 per person and includes Solomon's Porch savories, scones and sweets, and Elmwood Inn tea. Call 859-272-3611 for reservations. Tickets are limited.
Have a question or story idea related to Lexington's 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.
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