THE AREA:

 

The mouth of Beargrass creek with rowing skiffs in the lower right.

 

An undated photo from Eva Bandman Park looking west. The Beargrass Point is on the left with the upper end of Towhead near center. The big Four Bridge can be seen in the distance through the trees.

 

 

THE SITE:

 

September 1935 - Here is the site of the future Louisville Yacht Basin. This photo was taken from just north of Padgett House looking northeast. This was to become the preferred perspective of many other photos taken of The Harbor through the years.

 

These trees were at the western end of the site. The Harbor would begins here and continues upriver to the tree line in the distance. Beargrass Creek is just past that.

 

THE PROJECT:

 

From George Goodman's project notes. "Project #110 District 6: Construction of Boat Harbor, Louisville, KY on Ohio River. Project will include floating docks, slips, motor posts and a comfort station. It will be a great improvement to the community as there are no facilities of this nature at present in or around Louisville and pleasure craft are scattered up and down the Ohio River." 

 

 

 

Another shot of the excavation looking west with the dike on the right. The smaller of the two steam shovels is on the left with its huge counterpart in the distance right center. The pile driving rigs can also be seen in the distance near center.

 

As work progressed in earnest, the latest heavy machinery was brought to bear. Looking west from the upper harbor with your back to Beargrass Creek, the natural Dike that would later become The Harbor Island can be seen on the far right.

 

Winter 1935 - Looking east from what is now the Harbor Bridge work has been stopped by heavy rains. A wharf boat can be seen in the distance riding well above the basin floor. The Ohio is probably at about 16-17 feet in this shot. Another foot or so and the newly excavated  basin would be prematurely filled and ruined.

 

Workers huddle under a construction shed with skip trucks parked nearby. It appears all equipment has been removed to higher ground. This also shows that at the time, Towhead Island extended all the way to the Beargrass Point. It has since receded at least 50 yds downstream.

 

An enhanced portion of the previous photo showing Padgett House on the left and some of the other last remaining structures along Fulton St. The long low building near center may have been the school that is know to have been located in the immediate area.

 

Looking east, a gang of workers hand finish the excavation while others continue to drive piles at the upper end.

 

On Mar 3 1936, The Ohio recorded its 14th highest crest on record at 31.60 ft on 03/29/1936. It is certain the work was stopped and damage done. This may explain why the Harbor did not open till late fall.

 

A wonderful view of workers lifting a new piling into position for driving. Notice the winch engine belching smoke and the capstans at the lower right. Many boats can be seen moored along the southern shore of Towhead Island in the background. The project seems to have become a spectator sport.

 

By late spring? 1936, this northeast facing shot shows the River is now very very low; little water can be seen between here and the IN shore. The third lowest Ohio River level on record was recorded at 6.0 ft on 02/05/1936. It appears low water persisted since the foliage shows this is obviously later in the year.

 

Another awesome early summer photo looking southwest from The Harbor Island shows workers hand finishing the scour inhibiting rip rap at the base of The Harbor Bridge.

 

July 23, 1936 - Hon. Neville Miller, Mayor of Louisville, spades away some of the dirt near the The Harbor Island to permit water from the Ohio River to fill the City's new pleasure boat basin.

 

July 23, 1936 - Water from the Ohio River pouring into the basin. The man in the hat at center George Goodman. Mayor Miller can be seen with his hands on his hips. Although Mr. Goodman seems intent on the task at hand, the Mayor is clearly delighted.

 

By late summer, The Harbor was substantially complete; only the finger docks were needed.

 

By late summer, The Harbor was finished and all that was missing were the boaters.

 

By the fall of 1936 first tenants move in.

 

Some of the early tenants included some very fine vessels as well as more recent versions of the old shanty boats that later evolved into our modern houseboats.

 

By late 1936 The Harbor was in business. Boats owners were eager for the opportunity to winter in a real harbor. Little did they know what fate had in store for them in just a few months.

 

The flood of 1937 absolutely ravaged the area. This is River Road just inland and west of The Harbor. Little is known of the specific fate of the harbor, but if this photo is any indication, it was bad.

 

This photo shows a portion of the totally destroyed area just inland of The Harbor. Although The Harbor survived, most of this neighborhood known as The Point did not.

 

 

 

This motor launch is typical of the cruisers in use at the time. This particular vessel was sold new at Marine Sales and Service and was still stored there until 2004 when it was sold and moved north.

 

 

An interior view of the yacht "Etta J." They don't make 'em like this anymore.

 

Stockbroker C.B. Stansbury at The harbor in late 1935.