The Bullitt County History Museum

It Happened in April

The following article by Charles Hartley originally appeared in The Pioneer News on 28 Apr 2014. It is archived here for your reading enjoyment.


In this column we will look back 15, 30, 60, and 90 years to capture glimpses of what was happening in Bullitt County in each of these years. Today we will focus on the month of April.

1999 - 15 Years Ago.

Brooks Elementary students got the last laugh on their school principals when Principal Carol Wright was left sitting on the roof of the school, and Assistant Principal Brenda Pirtle found herself taped to the wall. It was all in good fun following a fund-raising contest to raise money for Relay for Life.

Erica Hardy, a student at St. Aloyius, placed fifth in the State Spelling Bee after winning the Bullitt County contest.

I wonder if Sam Allen, Zach Flynn, Michael Frye, Harley Noe, Corey Lanham, Adam Nusz, Nicholas Shaner, and Kyle Wheatley remember getting their picture in the paper for completing the Cub Scout "God and Me" study program at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church?

Executive Director JoAnn Yates and Tourist Commission Chairman Mark Edison welcomed the community to the ribbon cutting that opened the Paroquet Springs Conference Centre for the first time.

Ian Akridge was pictured in the paper after being honored two consecutive weeks as Cadet of the Week for the Bullitt Central JROTC.

The following young people won ribbons and awards for their public speaking skills at a March 4-H competition: Veronica Decker, Regina Bischoff, Allen Beeler, Alex Young, Stephanie Judd, Laura Beeler, and Tiffany Rash.

Tashia Rash placed first and Lindsay Harned second in the Conservation Essay Contest, while Kasey Cook won the poster contest, with Laura Lawson placing second.

At regional competition nine North Bullitt FBLA students advanced to the state competition, including Sarah Weimer, Coleen Marshall, Crystal Freelan, Angela Bischoff, Leah Ferguson, Richard Glidden, Beth Maccabee, Mark Rawlings, and Michelle Collins.

Mount Zion Baptist Church held a celebration in honor of pastor Michael N. Smith's 16th year at the church.

Overdale music instructor Debby Murrell was all dolled up in a poodle skirt as she led the fifth grade band at the All-County Band Concert.

Meghan Brimer, Ashley Brock, and Amanda Avery were honored for their Young Author entry One Single Loss. The book was judged best in the middle school, in the county district, and was one of The Courier-Journal award winners.

And I wonder if Tom Barr remembers speaking about journalism and newspapers during Career Day at Hebron Middle School. The students sure seemed interested.

1984 - 30 Years Ago.

I found a number of interesting advertisements in this month's papers. Did you know you could buy pre-cut utility studs for 99¢ at the 44 Lumber & Hardware, and baby chicks for 58¢ at the Southern States Bullitt Co-op? At Hardy & Mooney you could get a free trimmer kit with the purchase of a trimmer; and Winn Dixie was offering Dog Chow for $1.99. While over in Mt. Washington, Tom Jasper Chevrolet was offering an '84 Chevette for $4888, and Houchens was selling platter bacon for 98¢. Now what do all of these have in common?

Diane Cruze-Mills wrote a nice piece on Oretha Ridgeway of the Nichols Community. Mrs. Ridgeway had been the community newspaper correspondent for 37 years, and had been involved with the Nichols School all her life beginning in 1918 when she entered the first grade there.

Bullitt Lick student Tiffany Rice demonstrated her spelling talent by winning the Bullitt County spelling bee, and then winning the Fifth District competition. I know her parents Jay and Pat Rice were proud of her.

Conservation essay contest winners were announced with Jimmy Werkmeister of Bullitt Central taking first place, and Jennifer Fraley of Hebron placing second. Amy Scott of Hebron won the poster contest and Troy Windhorst of Maryville placed second.

Nell Sanders Pike was the Master of Ceremonies for the annual style show put on by the Bullitt County Woman's Club. Barbara Sue Longacre was the first model presented. Also modeling were Kara Longacre and Shawn Pickett, and Lucille Warren and her escort, Courtney Longacre.

Ruth Owens, the Lebanon Junction correspondent, reported that Tim Mariman out on Belmont Road had a narrow miss when a wayward shell from Fort Knox landed and exploded behind his barn. The Mariman's were thinking about moving.

Ruth also reported that the rumor was that Jessie Bohanon was to be Cutty Cartwright's new agent for getting his mail order bride. I wonder how that worked out.

Meanwhile at Pleasant Grove, Clara Simmons reported that a bunch of folks including Mrs. Helen Foster and her daughter Lanna visited in the home of Mrs. Fern Lloyd; and Larry Foster and his family had dinner with his parents, Alvine and Beulah Foster.

And the paper announced the passing of Mrs. Ivy T. McBride who was 96. She was a former school teacher, past director of TC&I laboratory in Birmingham, a charter member of the Bullitt County Woman's Club, and a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. As a side note, Mrs. McBride wrote The Growth of Catholic Missions in Bullitt County. We have a summary of that publication, but have not been able to locate the original source. If you know where we can obtain a copy, please give us a call at the History Museum (502-921-0161).

1954 - 60 Years Ago.

The S.H.S. seniors presented the play, "Meet Me in St. Louis." In the play the Smith family was portrayed by Sam Hardy, Beverly Simpson, C. L. Lane, Carolyn Carpenter, Ina Charles Roby, Bernice Smith, Alice Ryan, and Ed Wigginton. Others in the play included Rose Koch, Shirley Jo Stansbury, Neva Kalwat, Margaret Summers, Eugene Elder, Lloyd Maraman, John McGill, Arthur Miller, and Roy Carpenter.

Mary Robert Barger, Alice Ryan, and Betty Jo McMillen competed for the annual D.A.R. Young Homemakers Award by wearing clothes they made themselves. The costumes were judged by Mrs. S. N. Brooks, Mrs. W. F. Masden, and Mrs. C. T. Korfhage.

Billy Ford Swearingen was awarded the DeKalb award at the Mt. Washington F.F.A. Father and Son banquet.

The Mt. Washington correspondent reported that Phil Lockett and wife moved into their new home on the Shepherdsville Road, and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Owen, Jr. moved into the place vacated by the Locketts.

Senator Alben W. Barkley made a stop in Shepherdsville because "he did not want his friends to feel he had forgotten them."

WHAS-TV hosted a debate between Charles Farnsley, former Louisville mayor, and T. C. Carroll, local lawyer, and Frank Bunce, manager of Bernheim Forest, representing Bullitt County. The subject was "City living vs. Rural living." Seems that the Chamber of Commerce was trying to publicize Bullitt County as an ideal place to live.

Raymond Terry, Director of Pupil Personnel, reported that the Bullitt County school census for 1954-55 totaled 2,715 children, an increase of 166 from the previous year.

Mr. and Mrs. Jess Brumley of Mt. Washington observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Sheriff Hilary Bleemel and Deputy William R. French traveled to Pennsylvania to return a prisoner who "sawed" out of the local jail some weeks earlier.

The Bardstown Junction correspondent reported that Joe Mooney and some boys from the Senior Class had returned from Washington, D.C. where they had a wonderful trip.

Catherine and Roger Wigginton announced the opening of their Mid-Way Sandwich Shop on Preston Highway midway between Okolona and Shepherdsville.

And the Hebron correspondent reported that, after a trip to the cemetery, she and her brother J. R. Ball stopped at the Mid-Way Sandwich Shop and had a "toothsome roast beef sandwich." Are they still open for business?

1924 - 90 Years Ago.

The Mt. Washington P.T.A. reported over 70 active members. They were led by Mrs. Preston Parrish, President; Professor Otis Brown, 1st Vice President; Mrs. Charles Long, 2nd Vice President; and Mrs. Paxton Parrish, Secretary and Treasurer.

Charles Lee Bradbury, Stanley Muir and Crumbacker Jenkins returned home from Georgetown College for a brief visit.

Otis Porter advertised that he was quitting farming and selling his place about a half mile north of Bardstown Junction. Several others seemed to be doing the same thing in a time when it was getting harder and harder to make a living on a farm.

J. F. Combs' home burned, but a large number of volunteers helped to save most of the contents.

Several men were advertising stud service. O. H. Masden was offering his registered Percheron Stallion and fine jack at his barn in Shepherdsville; J. V. Ashby had a six year old black Draft Stallion housed at the fairgrounds; and W. A. Crenshaw was offering a fine young Jack at his barn near Lotus.

The Grand Jury returned more indictments than had ever been issued before in the county. Most of the cases were for whiskey hauling, selling and moonshining.

The Baptist Church in Shepherdsville reported a fine revival led by Evangelist H. S. Summers of Campbellsville who preached twice daily for twelve days. Music and singing was under direction of Professor Jack Sanders. Orchestra consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Sanders and Miss Margaret, with Misses Smith and Patterson at the piano. Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Hornbeck had the visiting Evangelist in their home. and Mrs. T. C. Carroll and Mrs. R. I. Kerr, headed the Entertainment Committee. Baptismal Service was held at Salt River, on the south side above the Railroad Bridge.

The seventh and eighth grades of Lebanon Junction School, with their most efficient teacher, Miss Bertha Trunnell, went on a hike Monday afternoon. After leaving town, they ascended one of the pretty knobs, made more beautiful by wild flowers, dogwoods, and red buds. At almost the very summit, a fire was made and soon bacon, weiners and marshmallow were sizzling over the burning embers. When all appetites were well satisfied, they began the descent with a heavy tread but a happy heart.

And in the "Personal" column we read, "Don't fuss, don't cuss, insure with Gabe and Gus." That's Bealmer and Swearingen, for the uninformed.


Copyright 2014 by Charles Hartley, Shepherdsville KY. All rights are reserved. No part of the content of this page may be included in any format in any place without the written permission of the copyright holder.


The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 13 Jan 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/happened/april4.html