On This Date - Henderson History

On May 13, 1970 Henderson County School System was awarded a $181,122 grant for vocational education for 6th, 7th & 8th grades.

On May 13, 1975, Russell Below, a former Henderson County Superintendent of Schools and City High Principal, was named to head the Henderson City School System. Below said the possibility of a city-county school merger was not going to stop him from accepting the position.

Special thanks to Frieda Dannheiser and Donald Hazelwoood for their History of Henderson County, published 1980.

On This Date - Henderson History

On this date in 1930 - Henderson paid tribute to Mary Towles Sasseen as the founder of Mother's Day with an impressive ceremony at Fernwood Cemetery on Sunday May 11, 1930. Her grave was decorated with loads of flowers and a marker was unveiled. The principle address was delivered by S.O. Heilbronner, local attorney. To see more on Henderson's own Mother's Day Founder go to Netta Mullin's Mother's Day History from the Henderson County Historical & Genealogical Society.

Don't forget your Mother this Sunday!

On May 11, 1954, Leslie Reynolds, administrator of Methodist Hospital, was named by the city school board to fill the 2 1/2 year unexpired her, of C. Royden McCollom, who had recently dies.

On May 11, 1955, a twister-like storm hopscotched out of Union County hitting Morganfield with a "smashing blow". The storm made its way across the southern part of Henderson County leaving damage estimated unofficially at $125,000. The Dunbar School in Morganfield was unroofed causing injury to three children.

On May 11, 1975 it was announced that a  forum on collective bargaining for public employees sponsored by the Henderson Community College Chapter of the Kentucky Association of Community College Professors would be held in the Municipal Center the following Thursday. The forum was to provide everyone in the community an opportunity to express their opinion on collective bargaining. 

Special thanks to Frieda Dannheiser and Donald Hazelwoood for their History of Henderson County, published 1980.

More Henderson History - Mill Housing

The Mill Housing are significant historic structures. Located between 1200 and 1338 Washington Street in Henderson's Historic East End, the two story duplexes provided housing for the employees of Henderson's Cotton Mills. According to the History of Henderson County the Henderson Cotton Mills were built in 1883 and the apartment houses were built in 1885. The Cotton Mill also built a frame schoolhouse on Powell Street in 1885.

In 1922 Consolidated Textile Corporation bought the Cotton Mill and in 1931 they closed the mill. On April 24th, 1937 Bear Brand bought the cotton mill and resumed operations on June 14th of that same year. After 1937, Bear Brand gradually sold off the Mill Housing on Washington Street to private owners, but in 1941 - 1942 resumed the tradition of Mill owned homes and opened Pope Street with the construction of 14 new homes.

See the PDF scan on the Mill Housing from the Henderson Historical Homes Book published in 1985.
Mill Housing PDF

Special thanks to Frieda Dannheiser and Donald Hazelwoood for their History of Henderson County, published 1980.

On This Date - Henderson History

The History of Henderson County, Kentucky was still on my desk this morning. I decided to flip through the 1000+ pages and discovered there is a history section by date. Did you know on this date in in 1929 the city school board adopted a budget of $154,100 for the 1929 - 1930 school year, a figure slightly lower than the previous year's budget.

And on this date in 1954 the Henderson County Soil conservation District became official with the election of its first board of directors and approval of a work program. The following officers were elected:

• Frank Street - Chairman
• G.H. McMurtry - Secretary - Treasurer
• James McConathy - Vice Chairman
• George Crafton & Hugh Jones - Board Members

And on this date in 1974 the City-County Planning Commission approved a zoning change by the Henderson Golf & Country Club to allow a new clubhouse and golf course to be on their site on U.S. 60 East.

Special thanks to Frieda Dannheiser and Donald Hazelwoood for their History of Henderson County, published 1980.

More Audubon History

Frieda Dannheiser and Don Hazelwood's "History of Henderson County , KY" from 1888 to 1978 in 1980 provides additional history on the East End, including interesting information on the business climate. Please see the link below to download a PDF with more East End history.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwGWYup23ldYN01haFhpSHVrUXc

History of Henderson County, KY outlines Aududon History

Frieda Dannheiser and Don Hazelwood printed a lengthy "History of Henderson County , KY" from 1888 to 1978 in 1980.  Chapter XVII of the book outlines the history of the East End, a city within a city.

John James Audubon built a two story log cabin on a small hill which is now the site of Loeb and Shelby Streets in 1815. At the writing of this book in 1980 the editors report that Audubon had its own drugs stores, soda fountains, fire stations, barber shops, grocery stores, dry cleaning establishments and other places of businesses.  The population of Audubon in 1880 was estimated to be 60 people and 1889 the population had grown to 200. In 1913 the population of Audubon was estimated to be 3,200.

The industrial expansion began with the cotton mills which were built in 1883. The Henderson Cotton Mills remained in operation under that name until 1922.

The Audubon history in this book highlights the lives of several residents and important milestones for the community. The link below takes you to a PDF of just the sections relating to the Audubon area. It's a quick and easy read and probably has information that many long time residents don't even know.

Enjoy!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwGWYup23ldYeDBRc0w3U2VERE0

Great crowd at Easter

We had nearly 50 aunts, uncles and cousins for  lunch on Easter at our home this year. It was a wonderful day. The weather was perfect. Having so many of my family together at one time reminds me of going to my grandmother's for lunch on Sunday's after church. My mother was the baby of eight and as many of the kids that could would come nearly every Sunday for lunch. It was a wonderful treat to play in the yard or go exploring in the barn or just watch my uncles play horse shoes. Sometimes we would have watermelon or home made ice cream What a treat!

We didn't make home made ice cream on Easter but we did enjoy being together. Life is good!!

Easter 2012 at 724 Center Street

House Renovations Are Put On Hold For Now

We spent nearly a year planning the renovation and addition for the house. The plans that Tim did are amazing. The kitchen that Suzi designed it exactly what we wanted. Unfortunately, we have decided that we will have to wait at least another year before we build. Cie Le Vie! But the project is shovel ready!!!

We did finish painting the outside. The house is in great shape and ready for whatever comes next. I guess I'll just have to focus on the gardens for now.

Finished painting  Spring of 2012

Here it is! The Old Purple House

We bought the house, sight unseen, when we first moved back to Henderson in 1998. Even though my husband had never seen the house painted purple, if anyone asked where we lived, he always responded "the old purple house". He had never seen the house painted purple until I brought this picture home this week. I found the picture in the files at the Kentucky Historical Society. They included it in the filing for  the Alves Historical District Application. I actually think it looks pretty good purple. It may be a good thing I didn't have this picture when I was picking out paint last year for the house.

724 Center Street in the 1980's