The Bullitt County History Museum

It Happened in July

The following article by Charles Hartley originally appeared in The Pioneer News on 28 Jul 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 July.

1999 - 15 Years Ago.

Bryan Rogers and Buddy Sohl of the Bullitt Amateur Radio Society were pictured climbing a radio tower during the society's annual field day at the Zoneton Fire Department.

The paper printed pictures taken at the Roby Elementary School field day. Among those pictured were Chris Walker, Kyle Glass, Holden Landrum, Nick Roten, Brandon Campbell, Chase Geulda, and Lindsay Hester.

Major Joe Riggins, J.R.O.T.C. instructor at Bullitt Central, announced his retirement after 19 years at the school.

The paper also pictured Major Riggins with his award winning cadets including Jacob Ballou, Sandra Richardson, Dee Dee Birge, Jennifer Ricketts, Bucky Hobbs, Christopher Harper, Brian Etherton, Alex Echols, David Eades, Cassie Boblitt, Jeremy Allen, Tiffany Burks, Shannon Blevens, James Denson, Joshua Owens, Ashley Stasel, Jeffrey Hudson, Michael Shoulders, Logan Haycraft, Craig Lee, and Clinton Phipps.

Coach Debbie Lloyd led a 90 member swimming squad into the Bullitt County Dolphins' first season as a part of the Louisville Swim Association. The article mentioned Kelly and David MacDonald from Mt. Washington who had twice reached the state high school swimming championships. Lloyd was assisted by Liz Crigler and Jessica McClearn.

Alice Waters of Lebanon Junction earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Auburn University.

Keela Pile was still smiling after winning two gold medals at the Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina.

David Barnes, Josh Riggle, James Foster, Danielle Simmons, Betty Miller, Brandon Beatty, Kerry Lavely and Lyle Bates attended the FFA Convention in Louisville where their group was awarded the State Gold Emblem for the 8th year in a row.

I wonder if Lindsay Higdon, Ashley Powell, Becky Richardson, Jill Decker, Dione McKinnon, Sarah Ford, Sarah Downs, Sarah Graves, Andrea Fenwick, and Erin Cahl still have their dancing shoes on. These girls danced at Dance Design Studios at Gatlinburg.

The Under-13 Mt. Washington All-Stars won the District 6 Babe Ruth Baseball championship. They included Joseph Braun, Joey Downs, Michael Faust, Cliff Florence, Joshua Henry, Troy Hobbs, Devin Lee, Zach Maupin, Sean Sharpe, Nathan Spalding, and Nathan Willoughby, and were coached by Steve Chesser, Donnie Lee, and Joe Downs.

Holly Skidmore received a scholarship from the Homemaker's Club to go with the ones she had received from the Woman's Club, R.E.C.C., and two others. She was attending Georgetown College.

Myrtle Price and Mary Sue Bleemel were saddened by the passing of their mother, Mattie Eva (Cundiff) Roby. Mrs. Roby was 95.

And Morace and Horace Burns celebrated their 90th birthdays this month. They were born in 1909 to Will and Bertie Burns. Happy Birthday Gentlemen!

1984 - 30 Years Ago.

Frank Simon of Publisher's Printing announced that they would be building a new plant in Lebanon Junction. I hear that turned out pretty well.

C. F. Haley Jr., Bullitt County Judge Executive, reported that $40,000 had been set aside to fund a county-wide numbering system.

Camp Crescendo celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Bruce Thomason and Ruth Sohm attended an auctioneer's convention in Minneapolis.

Elizabeth Ann Werkmeister showed off a tortoise she found while on a hike at the Camp Shantituck Pioneer Day Camp.

Ruth Owen, the LJ correspondent, and the employees of the Belmont Minit-Mart welcomed Mike Burks and family back from their vacation. Back to work Mike!

She also mentioned that Billy Cox still had six puppies to give away to a good home; and that Cutty Cartwright was in charge of the body shop while Ardell and Danny Holbert were vacationing in Las Vegas.

Oretha Ridgeway, the Nichols correspondent, commented on several of the elderly folk in her community. Charles Lee was home after a stay in the hospital; Hal Gray was having eye surgery; and Dewey Foster split his time between tending his garden and visiting his wife in the convalescent home.

Out at Pleasant Grove, Lois Simmons reported that Dewey Simmons had returned from Georgia with a special dog.

She also reported that Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Proctor took Mrs. Fern Lloyd to the funeral home Sunday and they stopped by to see Mr. Rosslee Bridwell.

Frances Riggs at Belmont wrote that the Belmont Church was having a picnic at the home of Clifford and Barbara Etherton. Were you there?

The paper reported that Mandi Houston of Bullitt County won the title of Kentucky 1984 America's Little Miss at Cave City.

Also, Greg Barr was part of a summer youth team sent out by Georgetown College. Greg was doing the preaching. I hear he got pretty good at that.

Dennis Philpot, Jeff Philpot, Tammy Price, John Hilton, Charlie Ploetner, Larry Keating, Russ Ricketts, Russ Brooks, Mike Shea, David Bates and Steve Gary attended FFA camp at Hardinsburg.

Don't you miss these times when the newspaper was where you kept up with the folks in your community?

1954 - 60 Years Ago.

Vernon Mothershead was elected president of the Chamber of Commerce for the coming year. Other elected officers were L. W. Demaree, first vice president; Bruce Hartsell, second vice president; Lee McArthur, Thomas Jeffries, Bruce Miller, and Burlyn Pike as directors; and Mrs. Ted Lesch continued as secretary-treasurer.

Frank Bunce was recognized with the Outstanding Citizenship Award for his service as president for the past three years.

As Circuit Court began its session, Judge Gentry swore in a Grand Jury panel consisting of S. N. Brooks, Jr., W. R. Cornell, Hugo Crenshaw, Robert Dever, Hugh Hall, Jesse Lee, Ben McAdams, Roy McCubbins, Roscoe Proctor, Roy Owen, Frank Robards, and J. E. Chappell who was foreman.

Dr. Bruce Hamilton, a Bullitt County native, assumed his duties as Shepherdsville's practicing physician this month.

The Belmont community was saddened at the accidental death of Norman Earl Heffley who drowned while trying to swim the Rolling Fork River near Pitts Point.

Mrs. Hattie Monroe, who had been associated with the Peoples Bank of Shepherdsville for many years, was employed as treasurer of the Bullitt County schools, replacing Mrs. Nellie Mae Masden who recently resigned.

The Lebanon Junction reporter wrote that Kate Haley had been sick with pneumonia, but was improving; that Otho Quick was slowly improving; and that Clyde Samuels was able to get up from his bed after being very sick. She also reported that Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Stark were all smiles over a new baby boy born in late June.

Gabe Bealmear was offering to sell his 12' outboard runabout which he said was excellent for fishing. Any takers?

S.H.S. Principal E. E. Rodgers purchased an excellent piano from Mrs. Chester Hill for the school. Now they have three available, one in the gym, one in the lunchroom, and one in the music room, so entertainment can be had in all three places without having to move a piano.

I found it interesting that Mr. and Mrs. Henry Settles left for a three-week vacation in Daytona Beach, Miami Beach, and (this is the interesting part) Havana, Cuba. My, how times change.

The Jones Gift Shop of Shepherdsville sent a big package of fans to Bethel Methodist Church. Cheap air-conditioning.

The Hebron correspondent wrote, "We enjoyed a trip to Shepherdsville one morning last week, and stopped in the Hardy Super Market. We were thrilled to see such an array of good things to eat, and the fine service."

Miss Mary Curtis Smith attended the Steven Foster Music Camp at Eastern Kentucky Teacher's College. She was also concert mistress of the All State High School Orchestra at UK.

The community was saddened to hear of the death of Mrs. Anna Brooks Summers, who at 97 was the oldest surviving graduate of Nazareth College. Her ancestors founded the Brooks community, and donated the land for the Hebron Presbyterian Church. She was the widow of Wilson Summers.

The death of A. E. Funk, Sr. was reported in the same issue. A former county attorney of Bullitt County, he began his law practice in Shepherdsville, and was assistant attorney general of Kentucky in the administrations of Johnson and Chandler.

Governor Wetherby was in town to help break ground for the new turnpike to be built between Louisville and Elizabethtown. Have they finished that road yet?

And the Bullitt Bookmobile made its first official run this month. How many of you remember getting books that way?

1924 - 90 Years Ago.

James W. Croan, who was sheriff of Bullitt County from 1918-1921, was appointed Shepherdsville Police Judge by acting Governor William Perry. The paper said that "Judge Croan will do exactly what he thinks is right, and will not play any favorites. He is a just man and will decide all cases strictly on their merits. We congratulate the town on his appointment."

By the way, Acting Governor Perry was married to Mary Jo Hagan of Chapeze. While in charge, he also made H. H. Glenn and Lee Hamilton Kentucky Colonels.

Lloyd Patterson and Pinkie Jones got married. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mack Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Patterson provided the place, and served cake and ice cream afterward. The young folks planned to stay with her folks for a spell.

H. E. Stivers and Henry Stivers got the contracts for hauling children to the Nichols Consolidated School.

Rev. Rees Northern died at his home near the Fairgrounds. He was 89.

Mrs. Eva Brown lost her leather handbag somewhere between Bert Pope's and the Salt River. Anyone seen it?

Circuit Court was in session with the following men serving on the Grand Jury: J. M. Cundiff, Will Burns, Wathen Viers, E. F. Henderson, C. A. Barrall, Herman Mothershead, Chas. Duvall, Frank Mathis, Nick Miller, P. L. Roby, N. H. Braithwaite, and Walter Coakley.

John Weller Holsclaw took Ethel Prather as his bride. In attendance were Mattie Fort, Thomas Hackney, Mary Cynthia Holsclaw, and the Rev. W. C. Harrison who performed the ceremony.

Mrs. Sue Rogers was looking to sell a large blackberry patch. She'd also hire some pickers.

The paper reported that Rowan Snellen had died. In his early youth he assisted Hardin Holsclaw in taking flat boats to New Orleans, and later worked for the railroad.

Myron "Bud" Combs lost his battle with tuberculosis. For many years he worked at the Troutman Bros. Store, and then at the Bullitt County Bank.

And Jesse Mann killed a rattlesnake that was eight feet long, and four inches around. Boss Hagan and Walter Mann couldn't believe their eyes!


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/july4.html