This aerial picture of Louisville was taken in the early 1960s.

Beginning in the upper left corner was an area of town that many called “the quarters”. How it came to be called that, I do not know. But that was where a lot of black families lived.

The railroad tracks can be see below that area.

The cotton gin owned by John Woodward is the large white structure above and to the right of First Baptist Church’s steeple.

Below the gin lies the Masonic Cemetery, the old library, community house and city park the Masons donated to the city.

The old First Baptist Church building can be seen on the corner of Park and South Church Streets. Caty-corner to the old church is The Winston Hotel. Above the hotel is Butter’s Photography Studio.

If you look to the right of the old hotel you can see The Strand Theatre and then further to the right you find Main Street.

Looking up (westward) on West Main you can see where old homes lined the street just beyond Richardson Wholesale and Louisville Motor Company.

On Main Street you can see the old courthouse and the large building on the corner of Main and Columbus where the Masonic Lodge is located.

McCully’s Grocery Store and the old fire department building can be seen on the south of Columbus to the right of First Presbyterian Church.

Near the bottom center is a large white building that was Harris Funeral Home.

Behind the post office was the Jessie Mitchell home. At one time it was a rooming house.

Across the street from the post office was a Sinclair station that butted up to McCully’s Grocery. Below the post office was a home, then below that was Green-Wilks Funeral Home.

Above that, to the right of the post office was Louisville Bottling Works where Cokes were bottled.

Near the center of the photo, right side was where Taylor Machine Works began about 1937.

Above there on North Court Street was an area that was known as Tin Can Allie many, many years ago. There was a livery stable there, and a few bars were located along that side of Main... Long before my time.

In the upper center, right side of the photo is the Presbyterian U.S Church. When I was younger I was told one of the stain glass windows portrayed Jesus, and he had six fingers on one of his hands. I never was able to confirm that to be true. Good story for kids, but I have no idea if it is true.

Near the top middle, right side was located Spring Street. It was said that in the early years of the town, that was where the water came from. At one time there was said to have been a well in the center of Main Street. It was either in front of the courthouse, or where the monument is now located. I do remember an old well that once stood on the west corner of the courthouse lot. I’m not certain if it was really a well or just a place to spit tobacco and throw pennies. If my memory serves me correctly the old courthouse was erected about 1878 and replaced by the existing one about 1964.

The one place in town that I feared most was the County Health Department located south of the jail on North Court. That’s where I was taken for vaccinations. That was back when they gave shots with needles as big as pencils… or so it seemed. Once my father had taken me there for a shot and I was determined not to make it easy on them. My father, an aid, and Nurse Estes were holding me down trying to give me the shot in the rear when I managed to bite, claw and kick my way to freedom. I made it half-way up the sidewalk, nearly to Main Street, with my pants around my ankles before I was apprehended and dragged back to the health department. It was one of my finer moments. However, that day I did not get a sucker for good behavior.

There are many other old structures in the picture you may recognize that I did not mention. I hope this brings back some good memories for you.

_______________
Rick Algood
February 18, 2017