Razing the Pewee Valley Train Station
Newspaper clipping from the Oldham Era, date unknown, showing the rafters of the train station as they were exposed during the demolition process. Courtesy Donna Russell.
This article below is from the Oldham Era (date unknown, although probably ca. March 1960):
Old Pewee Valley Station Being Razed
Pewee Valley is losing its 93-year-old railroad station and hereby another symbol of bygone days falls victim to progress. Considered at one time one of the best-constructed stations between Louisville and Cincinnati, the building is being razed by David Pearman and in its place will be built by the State Highway Department a section of road to take out the curve now existing.
It was commented that now is being razed a symbol of what long-time Pewee residents consider the town's "finest period" --- 1867 when the depot was built through the early 1900's.
The razing of the station will be completed in about two months. Mr. Pearman was quoted as saying that he does not expect to make any money on the project. "I took the job," he said, "so that Pewee Valley people could get material or items from the structure as historical reminders at a low price." He added that the native poplar, ash and oak timbers are still sturdy.
Miss Mary G. Johnston, daughter of Annie Fellows Johnston, the famed author of the "Little Colonel" books, said the building was financed by businessmen living in Pewee Valley. At first it was leased to the L.&N., and years later was turned over to the the railroad, she recalled.
"One of mother's stories, 'Two Little Knights of Kentucky' opened in the station," Miss Johnston said. "Every evening the station was the scene of great excitement when horse-drawn rigs met the men as they returned from their offices in Louisville. And ice cream never tasted as good as it did on the station platform -- with cinders in it."
The railroad through Pewee Valley was built by the old Louisville and Frankfort Railroad with origins dating all the way back to 1830 when the Lexington and Ohio Railroad was chartered. Although the station at Pewee was not built until 1867, the line between Louisville and Frankfort was completed and placed in operation on September 8, 1851. The line between Frankfort and Lexington had been completed earlier by the Lexington and Ohio and much of the trackage was subsequently built by the successor railroad, the Lexington and Frankfort. They were consolidated in 1869 to form the Louisville, Cincinnati and Lexington Railway and this was purchased by the Louisville and Nashville on July 1, 1881, which began actual operation on November 1 of that year.
In passing, it is well to recall that Milton H. Smith, president of the L&N from June 11, 1884, to October 6, 1886, and again from March 9, 1891, to February 22, 1921, the date of his death, lived in Pewee Valley for many years.
W.W. Harbourt, Pewee Valley, retired L&N agent who worked at both the Crestwood and Pewee Valley stations, started at Pewee Valley about the time of World War I and learned telegraphy at that station and was manager for Western Union.
Miss Anna Lutz states that the building once housed a telephone exchange. Older residents remember when Jurey's frame grocery store across the railroad tracks burned July 4, 1912. He had the Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Company's exchange on the second floor. After the fire the exchange was located in the L & N building until the store was rebuilt.
About 1895 boxing matches were held there. At one time Garret (sic) S. Foley, father of the late James J. Foley, had a butcher shop in the basement.
People by the hundreds would come by train to Pewee Valley to the 100-room hotel across the railroad where the Old Confederate Home once stood. Naturally the station was a gathering spot for all who patronized the hotel where band music was a feature.
The station had a white and colored waiting room in addition to an express room. Churches in the community used to have food sales in the white waiting room. Originally the platform was of large wooden planks but these were later supplanted by concrete on which children frequently went roller skating.
The last occupant of the depot was Robinson Industries, which handled Styrofoam, a lining for refrigerators manufactured by General Electric. This firm used the building for two or three years...
Old Pewee Valley Station Being Razed
Pewee Valley is losing its 93-year-old railroad station and hereby another symbol of bygone days falls victim to progress. Considered at one time one of the best-constructed stations between Louisville and Cincinnati, the building is being razed by David Pearman and in its place will be built by the State Highway Department a section of road to take out the curve now existing.
It was commented that now is being razed a symbol of what long-time Pewee residents consider the town's "finest period" --- 1867 when the depot was built through the early 1900's.
The razing of the station will be completed in about two months. Mr. Pearman was quoted as saying that he does not expect to make any money on the project. "I took the job," he said, "so that Pewee Valley people could get material or items from the structure as historical reminders at a low price." He added that the native poplar, ash and oak timbers are still sturdy.
Miss Mary G. Johnston, daughter of Annie Fellows Johnston, the famed author of the "Little Colonel" books, said the building was financed by businessmen living in Pewee Valley. At first it was leased to the L.&N., and years later was turned over to the the railroad, she recalled.
"One of mother's stories, 'Two Little Knights of Kentucky' opened in the station," Miss Johnston said. "Every evening the station was the scene of great excitement when horse-drawn rigs met the men as they returned from their offices in Louisville. And ice cream never tasted as good as it did on the station platform -- with cinders in it."
The railroad through Pewee Valley was built by the old Louisville and Frankfort Railroad with origins dating all the way back to 1830 when the Lexington and Ohio Railroad was chartered. Although the station at Pewee was not built until 1867, the line between Louisville and Frankfort was completed and placed in operation on September 8, 1851. The line between Frankfort and Lexington had been completed earlier by the Lexington and Ohio and much of the trackage was subsequently built by the successor railroad, the Lexington and Frankfort. They were consolidated in 1869 to form the Louisville, Cincinnati and Lexington Railway and this was purchased by the Louisville and Nashville on July 1, 1881, which began actual operation on November 1 of that year.
In passing, it is well to recall that Milton H. Smith, president of the L&N from June 11, 1884, to October 6, 1886, and again from March 9, 1891, to February 22, 1921, the date of his death, lived in Pewee Valley for many years.
W.W. Harbourt, Pewee Valley, retired L&N agent who worked at both the Crestwood and Pewee Valley stations, started at Pewee Valley about the time of World War I and learned telegraphy at that station and was manager for Western Union.
Miss Anna Lutz states that the building once housed a telephone exchange. Older residents remember when Jurey's frame grocery store across the railroad tracks burned July 4, 1912. He had the Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Company's exchange on the second floor. After the fire the exchange was located in the L & N building until the store was rebuilt.
About 1895 boxing matches were held there. At one time Garret (sic) S. Foley, father of the late James J. Foley, had a butcher shop in the basement.
People by the hundreds would come by train to Pewee Valley to the 100-room hotel across the railroad where the Old Confederate Home once stood. Naturally the station was a gathering spot for all who patronized the hotel where band music was a feature.
The station had a white and colored waiting room in addition to an express room. Churches in the community used to have food sales in the white waiting room. Originally the platform was of large wooden planks but these were later supplanted by concrete on which children frequently went roller skating.
The last occupant of the depot was Robinson Industries, which handled Styrofoam, a lining for refrigerators manufactured by General Electric. This firm used the building for two or three years...
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