Archive for the 'Louisville History' Category
February 8, 2008
Rising waters, soaring spirits
An excellent account of the 1937 flood
For generations of Louisvillians, the 1937 flood was much more than a historical event. It was a watershed. And hundreds, maybe thousands, grew up on the stories of good humor, courage and endurance [...]
Posted in 1937 Flood Stories, Louisville History | Tags: 1937, flood, KY, Louisville, Rick Bell |
January 6, 2008
George Rogers Clark born on November 19, 1752 and later was a soldier from Virginia during the American Revolutionary War. He was the leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war, Clark is best-known for his capture of Kaskaskia and Vincennes which greatly weakened British hold in the Northwest Territory and the [...]
Posted in George Rogers Clark, Louisville History | Tags: Corn Island, George Rogers Clark, Indiana, Locust Grove, shebarrett |
January 6, 2008
In 1830 the Louisville and Portland Canal opened for business. Until then the only way down the Ohio River was through the Falls of the Ohio. These were a series of rapids that had to navigated by experienced river men. During the course of the rapids the river dropped 26 feet and was a [...]
Posted in Louisville History, Portland Canal, The River Captian Legend, Vintage Postcards | Tags: Dam, KY, Louisville, McAlpine Locks, Portland Canal, shebarrett, Shippingport |
January 6, 2008
Shippingport, Kentucky was given to John Campbell in 1785 for his service in the French and Indian War. At that time it became known as Campbell Town. It was sold in 1803 and renamed Shippingport.
The population grew from 98 to over 500 and at one time challenged the 4th Street Wharf in downtown Louisville. [...]
Posted in 1937 Flood Stories, Louisville History, Shippingport Kentucky, The River Captian Legend | Tags: Canal, French and Indian War, KY, Louisville, Portland, Shippingport |
December 29, 2007
Construction on the bridge began in August 1910 and was completed in November 1912.It cost over $2 million dollars. It was one of the heaviest and largest plain truss bridges on earth.
(In this vintage postcard you can see the K&I Bridge)
It was primarily designed to carry railroad traffic and is is 70 feet wide
It has [...]
Posted in K&I Bridge, Louisville History | Tags: Bridge, Indiana, K&I, Kentucky, New Albany, Portland |
December 16, 2007
THE RIVER CAPTAIN
Author Unknown
As for legends along our waterways
Here is one that still persists
The Ohio has a riverman
Long dead who can’t resist
watching as the boats go by
up and down the river
“Beneath the knobs in Indiana
Where the sunset splendors wane
Stares a captain through the porthole
Of his grave say rivermen
Watching as the boats go by
Up and down [...]
Posted in Louisville History, The River Captian Legend | Tags: captian, Ohio River, River |
December 12, 2007
Fontaine Ferry Park
. Aaron Fontaine bought the site where the amusement park would stand from William Lytle in 1814. At that time the property was called Carter’s ferry which later was named Fontaine Ferry. Here stood a house that faced the Ohio River and a landing for boats.It was located at 230 Southwestern Parkway, Louisville [...]
Posted in Fontaine Ferry Amusement Park, Louisville History | Tags: Amusement, Fontaine, KY, Louisville, Park |
December 12, 2007
“Big” Jim Porter
The Kentucky Giant
This to my knowledge is the only image of Jim Porter . The image has been used for various promotional items- it is actually a drawing that he posed for during his life time.
7 Feet 8 Inches Tall
An Inch Shorter Than He Claimed
Jim was very small and sickly as a [...]
Posted in Big "Jim" Porter, Louisville History, The Kentucky Giant | Tags: Big Jim, Charles Dickens, Jim, Kentucky, Louisville, Porter, shebarrett, Shippingport |
December 12, 2007
Catherine Warer, interviewed by neighbor Georgia M. Denk- 2400 Block of Slevin Avenue
On Sunday, the police came to the house and made us leave. They took us to the tobacco factory at 24th and Main Street. People with dogs had to go to the fifth floor.
There was no heat, no place to wash up, and [...]
Posted in 1937 Flood Stories, Louisville History | Tags: 1937, flood, KY, Louisville, Ohio River |