The Bullitt County History Museum

It Happened in December

The following article by Charles Hartley originally appeared in The Pioneer News on 29 Dec 2014. It is archived here for your reading enjoyment.


We will look back 10, 20, 40, and 80 years to capture glimpses of what was happening in Bullitt County in each of these years. Today we will focus on the month of December.

2004 - 10 Years Ago.


Old friends from the little one-room Zoneton grade school had a reunion. Those attending included Ina Fay (Mobley) Raymond, Mary Ruth (Mobley) Smith, Robert L. Farmer, Nell (Ball) Porter, Clyde A. Raymond, Sara (Ball) Crumbacker, Betty Nell (Crumbacker) Dever, Walter Crumbacker, Kathleen (Mobley) Owen, Mary Bell (Gentry) Farmer, Bebe (Bell) Hamilton, and Mildred (Crumbacker) Tennill.

The North Bullitt High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted 8 new members: Kevin Crisp, Kim Dial, Shelly Dial, Garry Jervis, Carl Owens, Jim Perdue, Dr. Bob Wagoner, and Kyle Wise.

The following Bullitt Countians competed in a 4-H Shooting Sports program. Hayes Cullin placed third in the 22 sport rifle competition. Kala Gifford was fourth in the Archery Recurve Bow event. Giselle Warren was fifth in that event. Kelci Johnston was 7th in that event, and 9th in both Archery Bowhunter and Archery Target events. Lauren Gifford took 8th place in Archery Recurve, and Austin Hodge was 15th. Ethan Thompson took 4th in that event, 10th in Bowhunter, and 13th in Target. Jake Whitener was 10th in Recurve Bow and 15th in Target. Matt Clark placed 6th in Bowhunter, and Ian Thompson was 17th in Archery Target.

North Bullitt inducted five new members into the National Honor Society. They included senior Liz Cunningham, and juniors Miranda Curl, Sara Gleason, Sarah James, and Chris Kmiec.

Mt. Washington Middle School's sixth grade academic team placed first in the competition at Bardstown. Devin Mueller took first place in math, and Alex Hutchins was first in science. The school also won the quick recall competition.

And, John Zehnder placed first in the Roby Elementary Science Fair with his "Mixed Up Colors Unmixed" project. Way to go, John!

1994 - 20 Years Ago.


Moise and Grandson


Chris Smith


Andrea Duvall and Santa

I wonder if Moise Napier remembers holding his grandson, Zack Maupin, on his lap for a picture in The Pioneer News. Moise was practicing to be a grandfather in a Children's Choir presentation at First Baptist of Mt. Washington.

Louise Bischoff, writing for the Hebron/Zoneton community, reported that Jess Perkins, who was turning 89, was doing fairly well; that John Harper was feeling better after surgery, and that Garland Higdon was back to work after having some back problems.

Here's a list of bright kids. All of them were on St. Aloysius' principal's list for making all A's. They included Paige Barnsfather, Adam Embry, Corey Embry, Thomas Guelda, Sue Ellen Thompson, Warren White, Meredith Amshoff, Laura Flischel, Katie McCubbins, Emily Zurkuhlen, Kelby Bryan, Whitney Faust, Bri'enne Greenwell, John Ryan Hesch, Jasper Smith, Sandra Amshoff, Rachel Anderson, Patrick Deeley, Amy Karr, Dodie Wrocklage, Stephanie Flischel, Michelle Crigler, Katie Morrison, Sarah Rogers, Tiffany Sphal, and Maria Spalding.

Mrs. Wanda Richardson, the organist of Pleasant Grove Church for 23 years, retired. I do miss hearing organ music.

Friends and family gathered at Spencer County High School to honor the 74th birthday of Lloyd Mullins, and thank him for making a difference in their lives. Mullins came to Mt. Washington High School in 1954 as a baseball and basketball coach. He coached for 12 years and was assistant principal there for three years before moving to Spencer County.

Juniors Matt Kurk and Matt Porter, freshman Dennis Waddell, and seniors Mark Robinson and Reimar Walthert represented Bullitt East in the All-District band.

Chris Smith was pictured as Santa Claus during the Christmas Festival at Mt. Washington Elementary School.

George Valentine announced that he would retire as school superintendent in June. The paper also announced that his son, Tommy had received his Doctor of Philosophy degree at Southern Seminary. Tommy began his ministry at First Baptist of Prestonburg in October.

Tim Couch scored 31 points in Bullitt East's 85-61 victory over Bullitt Central. Brian Miles added 16 for the Chargers. Derek McClellen scored 11 and David Miller 10 for the Cougars.

Alison Bass scored 25 points and Lisa Mason added 17 as the Lady Chargers easily defeated Bullitt Central. Tabitha Gibson led BC with 12 points.

Kyle Wise scored 15 points and Ricky Spears added 17 more as North Bullitt earned Coach Larry Wooldridge's first victory at the school in an easy victory over Bullitt Central. Pat Lee scored 15 and Derek McClellen 11 in the loss for BC.

Everett and Lucille Tyler Stevens celebrated their 60th anniversary. During their early married years, they operated a country store in the Kings Church community of Bullitt County.

And, two-year-old Andrea Duvall enjoyed skating with Santa Claus at the Skate-O-Rama. Wonder who fell down first?

1974 - 40 Years Ago.

The members of the first Grand Jury sworn in by newly appointed Circuit Judge C. V. Sanders included Harold Meredith, Blayne Hancock, Beverly Ann Davenport, Joe Cephus Hadly, Shirley Shepherd, Thomas Nusz, James Allen Sweat, Alvine G. Foster, Lester Tindle, Jr., and Donald Crady who served as foreman.

Phillip Capps led the Shepherdsville Junior High Rams Ninth Grade team to a 44-31 victory over New Haven. Phillip had 10 points, 16 rebounds, and hit 6 of 8 free throw attempts. Mike Seaton added 9 points, and Donnie Doan had 8 points. David Masden, Robbie Williams, Sammy Swearingen, and Tony McCubbins helped make defense a team effort.

The Girls' team defeated New Haven 31-10 behind Debbie Philpott and Cleda Greathouse who each had 14 points. The Rams' defense, including Kay Thacker, Stephanie Deacon, and Debbie and Cleda did a fine job.

Bill Robey and wife entertained George Wigginton, L. M. Hogg and their wives, Mrs. Betty King and her son, Steve Roby and wife, Mike Robey, Dr. Larry Robey, and Miss Mary C. Holsclaw for a fine dinner.

At Mt. Washington, Melanie Armstrong won the Conservation Essay Contest, and Randolph Settles won the Poster Contest. Carla Jo Washburn and Alice Elen Ryan took second and third in the essay contest. Jon Kalewski and Anthony Lucas took second and third in the poster contest.

Tom Waller was pictured at his desk, hard at work as the new Commonwealth Attorney.

Danny Bishop of Shepherdsville began working as a forest ranger for the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

The Salt River Masonic Lodge 180 of Mt. Washington was building a new lodge on Fischer Lane. Among their long time members were Basil Scott, Wybel Ellaby, and Stylar Harris.

The Nichols Peanut Baseball Team was pictured in the paper. Named were Danny Bruce, Troy Dunn, Russell Bowling, Ronald Miller, Timmy Allen, Barry Dockery, Bobby Hedges, Greg Dockery, Rocky Graham, Kenneth Sanders, Brent Glass, Brian Sexton, Rodger Mircle, Brian Cornett, Craig Smith, Kenny Gathof, and coaches Ron Wiemer and Robert Hedges. Doug Smith also coached the team.

Roy and Della Kulmer were pictured in the paper as they prepared to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.

Bill Miller, who attended the National 4-H Congress in Chicago as Kentucky's state champion in the 4-H dairy project, owned 40 Holsteins with his father, A. J. Miller, and five cows on his own.

The 1949 S.H.S. class held their 25th reunion at the Best Western. Attending were Anita Hester Allen, Louise Waters Browning, Mary Katherine Higgins Gray, Bill Hardy, Robert Holsclaw, Roger Holsclaw, Emogene Shepherd Huff, Ottie Morris, Bill Newton, Sharlene Waters Noltmeyer, Johnny Noltmeyer, Gale Ratliff, Delbert Ridgway, Nancy Williams Robison, Coleman Robinson, Peggy Magruder Simms, Jimmy Stansbury, Dan Weller, and faculty members Ann Taylor, Henley Taylor, and Eula Mae Ferguson.

Clara Simmons, the Pleasant Grove correspondent, informed us that Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Gentry and Susan, Mr. and Mrs. James Robinson, and Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Armstrong and family went to the King's Table for Thanksgiving Dinner.

And, she also said that Mr. and Mrs. Alvine Foster entertained their son Larry and wife and children at a Thanksgiving breakfast. I bet the kids still remember Beulah's cooking.

1934 - 80 Years Ago.

The Belmont correspondent reported that Mrs. Minnie Coakley spent a Sunday with Mrs. Lizzie McCubbins; that Miss Ruth Napper spent a Saturday and Sunday home with her parents; Mrs. Effie Brown and son Lawrence spent a weekend in Louisville; and that Miss Doris Purcell of Louisville spent a Sunday at home with her mother, Mrs. Fannie Powers.

Not to be outdone, the correspondent from the community around the Victory school reported that Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weller and son were Sunday visitors of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Jones and son in Shepherdsville; Miss Pauline Daugherty had Bible drill in Victory School on Friday; and several families in this neighborhood had killed hogs.

William F. Russell reported that the Shepherdsville High School basketball team defeated Chaplin behind the 12 points scored by Buster Rodgers. The junior varsity team also won, defeating Chaplin 28-18 with Clifford Cundiff scoring 11 points.

He also reported that Reba Hall and Cleo Underwood would represent the school in the County Spelling Bee; and that Cleo and Dorothy Cruise would be in the penmanship competition.

Speaking of spelling bees, the grade school competition was held in the Shepherdsville gym on December 15, and the winner was Gerald McQueen of the Bullitts Lick district. Harry C. Bradbury of Belmont was second; Nathaliel Tracy of Zoneton was third; and Eula Kathryn Ridgway of Mt. Olivet was fourth. Helen Mitchell of Lebanon Junction won the high school competition.

The Belmont school reported it's fifth month honor roll. It included J. W. Jackson and Harry C. Bradbury in the 8th grade; Aileen McCubbins, Betty Ingram, Mary Dowdy, Lucile McCubbins, Melvin Thurman, and Elmer Easton in the 7th grade; Willie Mae Bradbury and Kathleen Raley in the 6th grade; 5th graders Evelyn Hefley, Richard Rhoades, and James Ingram; 4th graders Ethel Raley, Junior Laswell, Ethel Hefley, Millard Wineholder, Janice Raley, and George E. Bradbury; 3rd graders Nellie Easton and Gerald Napier; 2nd graders Paul Hefley and Wilbur Raley; and 1st graders Billy Milam, Gilmore Raley, Annie Heffley, Charles E. McCubbins, and Samuel Raley.

The paper reported receiving a subscription renewal from J. W. Gaban of Fort Pierce, Florida. He wrote that he had been taking the paper ever since Prof. Gwynn started it about 51 years earlier.

Down at Lebanon Junction, the Freshman and Sophomore girls of the Home Economics class organized the "Cookie-Sewie" club with the following officers: President Mary E. Durham, Vice President Dorothy Thomas, Secretary Mildred Clark, Treasurer Marion Collings, and Reporter Jessie Lee Shearer.

Geo. W. Maraman & Sons would sell you hams at 16 cents a pound.

And Mary Evelyn Milam wrote to Santa and asked for "a doll in a suitcase, apples, oranges and plenty good things to eat."


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/december4.html