Interview with George Hammer

Segment Synopsis: Where Mr. hammer grew up, why he moved to St. Matthews, the early days of St. Matthews Hardware and how Hammer took over. Mr and Ms. George Wurster were the original owners of St. Matthews Hardware.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Hammer moving to Nanz Avenue. What Nanz looked like in 1941 when he moved there. What the neighborhood was like at the time. What the neighbors were like. George's kids when he moved to St. Matthews and where they went to school, Holy Spirit. Details on Holy Spirit in 1941. Total number of kids and where they went to high school, Sacred Heart and Trinity.

Segment Synopsis: Kids remaining in St. Matthews. George selling the hardware store to his son Peter. George bought Ms. Wurster out in 1961. Number of employees at the hardware store. Building and business expansion. How the neighborhood expanded during his time, it was all farm when he moved there. Subdivisions in the area in the forties. Mention of Eline.

Segment Synopsis: Hardware store switching form catering to farmers to homeowners. Paint/hardware. No real farmers anymore. Early days of St. Matthews such as the Produce Exchange and potato farming business. Typical amount of business on Saturdays in the early days.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Hammer's previous business experience, nothing really. Customers' loyalty and support of the hardware store. The decrease of farming in the area. Farmers breaking up their farms, where they were located, how they felt about it, what they farmed etc.

Segment Synopsis: Early families to open the St. Matthews National Bank. Banking in St. Matthews throughout the years.

Segment Synopsis: The affect of the train on business. Passengers coming to St. Matthews on the L&N. Early days of the train in St. Matthews and the location of the old Depot.

Segment Synopsis: Other hardware stores in St. Matthews. Mention of Self's Hardware, Messner Hardware, Chism Hardware. Cock fights in St. Matthews, before his time. Other businesses in the area - Bauer's, a blacksmith shop, grocery etc.

Segment Synopsis: Running down the block on Shelbyville Rd remembering the businesses that were there in 1941 when he moved there. The names of the shops and the businesses. A little on how the street has changed throughout the years.

Segment Synopsis: George is still talking about the businesses in St. Matthews in the early days.

Segment Synopsis: WWII affect on the Hardware Store, rationing. Going back to talking about businesses in the area.

Segment Synopsis: Discussing businesses in St. Matthews. Some detail on some of the families in the area. How some of the businesses have changed over the years. Where some of the families lived.

Segment Synopsis: The Wurster's history. Moving from Schnitzelburg to St. Matthews. When they moved, why they moved, living upstairs etc. Renting out the second floor.

Segment Synopsis: Information on the Zhender's place. Families that have bought each other out. A lot of talk on the saloons and restaurants in the area.

Segment Synopsis: Moving across Chenoweth Ln. Blacksmith Shop, bank, White Castle, pool hall, Gerstle's, automotive garage etc. An unnamed person contributes to the conversation.

Segment Synopsis: Continued conversation on evolution of the area. Lynn Olympia, George Hammer, and an unnamed person have a free form conversation trying to figure out where businesses were located and when they were closed. They reference a source of information that they have in person.

Segment Synopsis: Farmers going to the saloons in the area. They were nice places where women felt welcome as well. Restaurants in the area, Canary Cottage. Why there were so few restaurants

Segment Synopsis: Mention of Ray's, either undertakers or doctors. Other doctors in the area in the early days.

Segment Synopsis: Early days of the St. Matthews Business Association. References another oral history. The formation of the Business Association from a local club. Mr. Sanders and his son Al starting the association. It began to combat the zoning commission's desire to make one way streets throughout St. Matthews.

Segment Synopsis: Continuing to discuss the St. Matthews Business Association. Talking to Howard Hunt an attorney to help set up the association. It has been in existence ever since. Early programs and projects with the Business Association and Ms. Wurster's disapproval causing Mr. Hammer to leave the association. Good deeds of the Business Association and referencing another oral history.

Segment Synopsis: Referencing an article about his name and people commenting throughout the years about it. Referencing a stack of articles they have in front of them. Pete taking over the hardware store. Mr. and Ms. Creason writing an article about Hammer's name.