The Bullitt County History Museum

It Happened in March

We first covered months of 1998, 1983, 1953 and 1923 in articles published in The Pioneer News in 2013. Now ten years later, we take another look back, this time 25, 40, 70 and 100 years with a refreshed look at the month of March in these years.

1998 - 25 Years Ago.

The Mt. Washington Middle School Future Problem Solving Team of Erin Sapp, Elizabeth Hunt, Becky Firesheets, and Hollie Delaney won first place in the regional competition, a first for any Bullitt County team. Also, in the science competition, John Wigginton placed first and John Stover was third. Both advanced to state along with the FPS team.

The Girls' 29th District All-Tournament Basketball Team included Nicki Randall, Erika Smith, and Lindsey Wegley of Bullitt East, Stephanie Crable, Kelly Humphrey, and Leigh Logan of Bullitt Central, and Jennifer McMillion and Bonnie Phelps of North Bullitt. Randall, Crable, and Humphrey also made the All-Eighth Region Team.

On the boys' side, the team included Chris Devine, Gerick Greenwell and Robert Lindsey of Bullitt East; Wes Bridwell, Daniel Brown and Matt Perry of Spencer County; Josh Travis and Jason Rheaume of Bullitt Central; and Chris Keith and Brian Mattingly of North Bullitt. Travis and Mattingly also made the regional team.

Brenda and Bill Horlander of BB's Consignment were featured in a "Focus on Business" section in the paper. We wonder when the humorous signs began.

Campbellsville University announced that Dewayne Preston Frazier and Samuel Neal Potter of Bullitt County were among 99 who made the Dean's List with perfect 4.0 averages. Others from Bullitt County who were honored included Christopher Chad Floyd, Stacia M. Payton and Stacey Denise Willis.

Jeff Gossett, a former Cougar player, was named as Bullitt Central's new head football coach.

Roger Hayes announced that he would retire as Roby Elementary's principal at the end of the school year.

The Knights of Columbus closed its Bullitt County council and divided its remaining funds among four Catholic churches and one high school. The Knights Hall and lot was donated to St. Aloysius Church in Shepherdsville.

And Bruce Lee won the Yukon Quest International Dog Sled Race in Alaska. Lee grew up in Shepherdsville, the son of Headie and Wilma Lee. It was his first race victory.

1983 - 40 Years Ago.

Nan Ellen Stewart, news editor for the Pioneer News, in an editorial about women in society, closed with the statement "We don't necessarily have to rule the roost, we just want to be up there with the roosters."


Pam Eddington

Adrian Jones, Mrs. Virgie Jones, and Rick Fetty announced that their hardware and furniture business was changing into a used furniture and appliance store as soon as they could liquidate their current inventory.

Dr. Gary Pursell announced the opening of his dentistry office in Shepherdsville Square. Evening and Saturday appointments were available.

A young sports editor, Mike Farner (is he still around?) wrote about how basketball seniors Mike Fleetwood, Jimmy Masden, Ray McCubbins, and Monty Edwards capped the regular season with a 73-42 victory over East Hardin.

Pam Eddington was selected as a contestant in the 1983 Miss Kentucky Teen U.S.A. pageant. She was sponsored by Hairport and Margie's Shop-N-Save store.


Hilda Lee McDaniel

Paul Whitworth who was majoring in Agriculture Education at UK, made the Dean's List.

Bullitt Central Cougars' basketball team defeated North Bullitt for the 29th District title, 63-55. This was their third title in a row.

Dennis Tate, who had been responsible for transporting the voting machines, resigned from that job.

At the Bullitt Central Science Fair, Darrin Leonard Donahue placed first in general science, Stephanie Ann Troutman was first in botany, David Leon Sheeks first in zoology, Hila Lee McDaniel first in Advanced Biological Science, Kevin Lance Mann first in Chemistry, and Cathy Grace Biggs first in physics. Hilda McDaniel was awarded best overall project.

Bullitt East Lady Chargers defeated Spencer County 73-22 in the district basketball tournament.

Jimmie Bennett, a local school teacher, was named as chairman of the Harvey Sloane for Governor campaign in Bullitt County.

Bullitt Central's boys' basketball team made it to the semi-finals of the regional tournament before losing a heartbreaking 72-71 overtime game to Carroll County.

Grace Elden, in her Shepherdsville column, wished happy birthdays to Michelle Pack and Kimberly Hardy. She also congratulated Billie Lee and Carol Lee who have just opened "Lee Ceramics & Gift Shop" on Highway 44E.

Rosanne Conlin of Lebanon Junction was playing basketball for the Lady Tigers of Campbellsville University and they had won their regional tournament.


Janis Gentry

While complaining about the lack of space, County Clerk Nina Mooney said, "When this record room was built there were only six attorneys in the county. Now there are close to 20, and they are running all over themselves when they work here."

Dorothy Hartsell provided the music for the Irene Carroll Scholarship Dinner and Style Show.

Bill Porter of Monarch Hardware was reporting a 35 percent sales increase for last year.

John Perry wrote about the role of Janis Gentry as the Bullitt County service center manager for the American Red Cross since 1980.

Two buildings, each scheduled to house 10 one-bedroom units were scheduled to be constructed on the site of the former Lebanon Junction High School. Mayor Gerald Tamme took part in the ground-breaking along with Judge Executive Clifford Haley, and Magistrate James Sweat.

And Shepherdsville Middle School reported its third grading period honor roll with Cheryl Mayes, Kim Alvey, Anissa Bennett, Lea Ann Hardy, Cindy Hobbs, Jennifer Mudd, Debbie Robinson, and Kimberly Hardy having straight A's.

1953 - 70 Years Ago.

A Shepherdsville Ground Observation Corps post was organized on March 10 at Shepherdsville High School. Its purpose was to have volunteer civilian observers to watch for possible enemy aircraft; a sign of the times.

"Operation Fire Truck," a fund-raising campaign was organized at a Lebanon Junction community meeting at the high school. C. N. Shaw was campaign chairman, and was assisted by Mrs. Ella Able, Mrs. Fred Bishop, Mrs. Elmer Bryant, Mrs. Russell Argenbright, L. W. Demaree, and David Lovell.

Alberta Troutman directed a "Gay Nineties" variety show for the P.T.A. in Mt. Washington featuring costumes and songs of that era.

The "Sousa Band" of Shepherdsville High School, directed by Anna Hodge, presented its annual spring concert in the school gym. Tickets were thirty-five cents.

The Pep Club of Shepherdsville High School was sponsoring a basketball game between faculty and students; admission was ten cents.


Frye Haley

The Belmont Homemakers had a cake sale in Mrs. L. W. Demaree's Furniture Store in Lebanon Junction.

A variety of politicians announced as candidates for various offices including Leo Bleemel as state representative, C. L. Troutwine Sr. as county judge, C. V. Sanders as county attorney, and Leo Bishop, Jack Bleemel, Franklin Foster, and W. A. Gentry as candidates for sheriff.

Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Swearingen (Sug and Ella) celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Thomas Conniff and Jack Kohler of Shepherdsville, and Charles Fernbach of Clermont were delegates to the Kentucky state convention of the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society.

Frye Haley of Lebanon Junction joined the staff at the Peoples Bank of Shepherdsville. Haley was active in Masonic work and was then Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.


Bert Hall

The Bullitt County Woman's Club met at "The Meadows" hosted by Mesdames Newton Helm, J. W. Pope, Frank Chase, Marie Haines, John Summers and Miss Helen Rhea.

Bert Hall, ex-state legislature and county sheriff, died in Mt. Washington. He has been a director and president of that community's bank.

At the annual meeting of the Bullitt County Farm Bureau, held at the Shepherdsville High School auditorium with over 500 in attendance, Woodrow Masden was elected president and C. T. Korfhage vice-president for the coming year. An old-fashioned square dance was held at the close of the meeting.

A new barber, Walter "Pee Wee" Keith joined Nick's Barber Shop.

And "The Jolly Club" of young married women in Mt. Washington had their annual outing, spending the day in Louisville shopping, dining at the Blue Boar, and going to a show.

1923 - 100 Years Ago.

The citizens of Cane Run district placed $550 in R. M. Hocker’s hands to be paid on a new modern school house to be erected on the pike leading from Belmont to Lebanon Junction.

These Bullitt County students were enrolled at Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College: Mary Buckman, Robert Tyler, Lillian Daugherty, Ruth Murray, Mary Ping, Mabel Snellen, Johnson Ash, Madge Forrest, Meta Riley Cooper, Beryl Hall and Anna Wise.

Bullitt County Bank, organized in 1889 as E. W. Hall and Company Bankers, finally had a home of its own with the grand opening of its fine facility at the corner of Main and Second Streets. The festivities included a free lunch, singing by Professor Sanders accompanied by his wife on the piano, and a guessing contest to determine the amount of money in a jar. Howard Cundiff came closest, missing the correct total by eleven cents.

J. F. Collings, justice of the Shepherdsville police court, found himself in a bit of a pickle during a nighttime storm. Hearing the fierce wind and thunder, he stepped out on his porch in his night clothes to check out the approaching storm when the wind blew his door shut and locked behind him. The storm was so loud that he couldn't awaken anyone to let him in.

John Conniff, who came to America from Ireland in 1867 and settled at Chapeze in Bullitt County in 1881, died of cancer. He owned a fine farm at Chapeze, and was a director of the Peoples Bank.

Hardy Cruise of Bardstown Junction advertised that he had 19 shoats for sale.

Clarence Holsclaw, proprietor of the "Mountain Top" fruit farm, died following a bout with pneumonia that weakened his heart. He was a son of Hardin and Jane Holsclaw who owned the orchard before him.

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Greenwell sold their home near Bethel Church to Pete Bleemel for $900 and bought a house and lot in Mt. Washington adjoining the old Methodist Church for which they paid $600.

The Hebron correspondent remarked that Tom and Laura Borax had been married on March 28, 1874 by Rev. George Rogers and had lived in the community a long time. She suggested folks make plans to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with a shower.

And Mary Engle, Elizabeth Harned, Lora Mae Deacon, Mary Triplett, Thelma Masden, Katherine Taylor, Audley Hatfield, Evelyn Adams, Hewitt Harned, Kenneth Bailey, Clarence Stansbury, Lynton Weller, Stanley Muir and Crumbacker Jenkins were seniors at Shepherdsville High School.


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/march3.html