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    Legendary Locals of Louisville
    Legendary Locals of Louisville
    Legendary Locals of Louisville
    Ebook329 pages2 hours

    Legendary Locals of Louisville

    By Kris Applegate

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    About this ebook

    Despite humble beginnings on Corn Island in 1778, the city of Louisville has grown to legendary status. Courageous individuals have worked together overcoming hardships, defeating enemies, celebrating victories, and laying the foundation for our river city. Louisville is the home of many legends including boxing great Muhammad Ali, William Clark (of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition), baseball star Pee Wee Reece, Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence, Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer, sculptor Ed Hamilton, and author Hunter S. Thompson. Other legends who have called Louisville home include Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Harland Sanders, actor Tom Cruise, and inventor Thomas Edison. Louisville boasts the nation s largest annual fireworks display, the world s largest baseball bat, and The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports also known as the Kentucky Derby. You are invited to read about these and more exceptional folks who have shaped our eclectic city called Louisville.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLegendary Locals
    Release dateJun 23, 2014
    ISBN9781439645871
    Legendary Locals of Louisville
    Author

    Kris Applegate

    Authors Kris Applegate and Jarenda Miller are members of the Pulaski County Historical Society and natives of Pulaski County. They share a love of history and of preserving the past for future generations.

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      Book preview

      Legendary Locals of Louisville - Kris Applegate

      deadline.

      INTRODUCTION

      In the beginning, there was a river—a river called the Ohio—that stretched 981 miles from Pennsylvania to Illinois serving as a barrier between Kentucky and Indiana. The Ohio River served a key role in transportation and trade for folks living along its banks. These people knew the river was smooth and easily navigable, except for one rapid-filled barrier where the river actually dropped 26 feet—the treacherous Falls of the Ohio River.

      In 1778, America was a mere toddler fighting for Independence from British rule in the Revolutionary War. The land we now call home was considered the west. It was thickly settled with towering forests capable of conveniently hiding British soldiers, Native Americans, and dangerous animals. Our area was considered a primitive wilderness. However, a few brave folks risked their lives exploring and settling the land we call home. Louisville’s story begins back in May 1778 when Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark and his militia arrived on the 70-acre unnamed island owned by Kentucky County, Virginia. Clark and his group built a makeshift fort on the island and planted crops. In honor of the bountiful harvest, the land was called Corn Island. But for safety purposes, the group members decided to move to the mainland, where they quickly built the first of its kind, the Fort on Shore.

      In 1780, Clark named the area Louisville after King Louis XVI of France for his support against the British. Within the year, 300 families moved to town. Unfortunately, the fort did not provide adequate defense. Plagued by attacks from Native Americans, Richard Chenoweth used his own money to build one of the strongest forts in the west. In 1781, Fort Nelson was completed and kept residents safe until the end of the Revolutionary War. Shortly before the war ended, Kentucky was formally admitted as the 15th state of the Union. Jefferson County, named in honor of Pres. Thomas Jefferson, was one of the first three counties established in Kentucky. As more and more settlers arrived, the town developed a street plan, a fire department, and a general store. The first log courthouse was built in 1784, the first church in 1790, the first hotel in 1793, and the first post office in 1795. When the University of Louisville (UofL) was founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1800, the population was only 359, but that would soon change.

      In the 1800s, Louisville was making a name for herself. As traffic on the Ohio River increased, so did visitors. Due to the location of the Falls of the Ohio River, each and every passenger traveling west was forced to stop in Louisville, causing a tremendous influx of people. Many of the travelers decided to make Louisville their home. With the increase of both locals and travelers, service businesses grew at an exorbitant rate. Stagnant ponds were drained, buildings were erected, homes were built, and the streets were filled with traffic. As the town grew, the idea of frontier life quickly faded. In 1810, the population had grown 400 percent.

      It has been said that Louisville became a city with the creation of the steamboat. With the use of the powerful steamboat, neither freight nor passengers had to leave the boat due to the Falls of the Ohio River. With the practicality of shipping, the Ohio River opened up to even more trade. Louisville’s population tripled from 1810 to 1820. In 1830, the Louisville and Portland Canal was completed. The canal allowed boats to completely circumvent the Falls of the Ohio River and easily travel from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. All the while, the city continued to grow, and in 1840, Louisville had the 12th-largest city population in the United States—five spots ahead of St. Louis. As the population continued to soar, so did the emergence of schools, hotels, restaurants, and manufacturers.

      In 1850, the Louisville & Nashville Railroad was established. It was completed in 1859, and again due to its central location, Louisville became an important hub for both rail and river transportation.

      In 1883, the world saw the debut of Thomas Edison’s electric lightbulb at the massive Southern Exposition. More than 4,600 hand-blown lightbulbs were used, and a coal-fired generator was needed to provide the energy needed to light the exhibition. After the exhibition ended in 1887, the building was razed. A multitude of Louisville’s wealthiest inhabitants built country estates there. Once called the Southern Extension, the area, which encompasses 48 city blocks, is now known as Old Louisville and is the third-largest neighborhood of its kind in the United States.

      Louisville continued to grow and thrive during the 1900s. In the early 1920s, Louisville saw the opening of Bowman Field, which was both the city’s and the state’s first commercial airport. As with the steamboat and railroad, Louisville became a prime location for business. This became evident in 1980 when UPS moved its air hub to Louisville.

      Due to an increase in population densities and the number of residents working in Jefferson County, the Louisville Metro area was established in 2003. The metro area consists of nine Kentucky counties (Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Meade, Shelby, Trimble, Henry, Nelson, and Spenser) plus four Southern Indiana counties (Clark, Floyd, Harrison, and Washington). The metro area is regularly referred to as Kentuckiana.

      Unfortunately, Louisville has seen its share of pain. Sons and daughters were lost due to epidemics, civil unrest, national wars, and world wars. Louisville has survived fires, devastating tornadoes, and floods. The most notable and historic flood was the flood of 1937 when floodwaters rose 57 feet above flood stage, leaving much of Louisville covered in mud and muck. Yet, with each disaster, Louisville residents have worked together to mend their city and strengthen their community.

      Since 1778, people of Louisville have loved their city. In good times and bad, they have nurtured it, supported it, and made it what it is today. Through it all, Louisville and its people have proved legendary.

      An Exciting Finish . . .

      On the first Saturday in May, the eyes of the world turn to Louisville for The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. Rain or shine, since 1875, the infamous horse race has showcased the best three-year-old thoroughbreds in the world. The Kentucky Derby is often called The Run for the Roses, as a blanket containing 554 red roses is draped over the winning horse. Louisvillians love the derby and keep the century-old traditions alive, such as sipping on mint juleps, wearing extravagant hats, and eating Kentucky burgoo. Whether fans watch from home, Millionaire’s Row, or the infield, they all watch with anticipation, hoping their horse wins. Fans delight in the electrifying excitement of the derby—from the moment the horses are loaded into the gate until the instant the winner crosses the finish line. Here in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby is more than just a horse race, it is a legend all on its own. (Courtesy of Mary Ann Braden.)

      CHAPTER ONE

      Newsworthy and

      Notable Legends

      Several months after General Clark and his crew arrived at Corn Island, they decided a fort would be better served on the mainland. They packed up their minimal belongings and sailed the short distance to what would become Louisville. As Clark stepped from the boat onto the fertile soil, what did he think? Did he dream of a bustling town with paved roads and elegant buildings reaching toward the sky? Did he dream of a city that would serve as a central hub for river and rail traffic for nearly a decade? Could he stare out over the tree-covered land and envision the metropolitan area Louisville is today? Or did he simply shrug his shoulders, pull the boat ashore, and hope for the best? Unfortunately, these questions will never be answered, but people are glad he arrived and are thankful to all the brave men and women who bore the responsibility of nurturing the city into what it is today—a place known as home.

      Chapter one focuses on more than just General Clark. These legends include many of those valiant souls who founded Louisville. In addition, civic leaders, politicians, and a few transient legends who made their mark on the city are included, and there are also heroes, crooks, and one kook—all legendary.

      Did you know?

      According to legend, Prince Madoc of Wales sailed to America in 1170 (300 years before Columbus). He came ashore in Alabama and traveled north. During his travels, he visited the Falls of the Ohio River. There was reported evidence of his visit on the Devil’s Backbone in Charlestown, Indiana. Although Prince Madoc disappeared later in his journey, stories still abound of white Indians, remnants from structures similar to those in Wales, and Welsh words carved into stones.

      Jerry Abramson

      Lt. Gov. Jerry Edwin Abramson was first elected mayor of Louisville in November 1985 and was reelected three times, serving until 1999. Following the consolidation of Louisville Metro, Abramson was elected twice again serving from 2003 to 2011. Abramson encouraged outside investment in the city and attracted many new businesses. He was instrumental in developing the Riverwalk to entice people back to the shores of the Ohio River. In 1996, Newsweek named Abramson one of the nation’s Top 25 Most Dynamic Mayors. In 2012, Abramson became Kentucky’s lieutenant governor. (Courtesy of Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson.)

      Charles W. Anderson Jr. (1907–1960)

      In 1935, Anderson became the first African American elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, serving until 1946. He worked to improve economic and educational conditions for the poor and fought segregation. He was appointed a delegate to the United Nations in 1959 but was killed the following year when a train struck his car. (Courtesy of James Fenison.)

      Gen. Robert Anderson (1805–1871)

      In 1860, Anderson traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, to command forts in the harbor. Anticipating attack, he moved his militia to

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