Luther H. Echols was a jeweler and optometrist whose Main Street businesses reflected Henderson’s growth and modernization in the early 20th century. Born in Scottsville, Kentucky, in 1890, he studied at Bradley Polytechnic Institute before establishing his jewelry and optical store in Henderson around 1915. His early advertisements in the Henderson Morning Gleaner promoted precision optical care alongside fine diamonds and watches, marking him as both craftsman and professional.
In 1922, Echols moved his enterprise to a new storefront at 123 North Main Street, later founding the Peerless Optical Company on Second Street. His shops offered eye examinations and expert fitting of glasses using “scientific methods,” earning him a reputation for modern, reliable service. The Echols family were active members of the community, hosting social events at their Washington Street home.
In 1931, Luther and his wife, Evelyn Klee Echols, moved to Lexington, where he managed the optical department at the J.D. Purcell Company until retiring in 1954. He passed away in 1968 at age 78 and was buried in The Lexington Cemetery. Dr. Echols’s legacy endures as one of Henderson’s early professional optometrists and trusted Main Street businessmen.
