Interview with John H. Mallon, January 12, 1983

Partial Transcript: Numbered in sequence as built

Partial Transcript: First inhabitants were fairies. Exterminated by a tribe of Indians wiped out by an smallpox epidemic.Medical Arts Bldg. covers cave where D. Boone stored furs; last station on Underground Railroad.

Partial Transcript: First house, late 19th century. House with 7 gables hence Hawthorn Hill. Burned, replaced with a brick house, now #14.Unpaved road from Barret Ave. to house. 4 more houses built.

Partial Transcript: Mr. Ecker owned brick [original] house + 14 acres. Barrett Ave being paved.

Partial Transcript: Summit Ave developed on site of Mrs. Mingle's dahlia farm, 1926. West, Shurtz's (?) farm extended to Goss Ave. North: apple orchard. Hawthorn Hill was an island amid urban development.

Partial Transcript: Mr. Ecker divided his property into lots. Dedicated land to city to widen & extend the Hawthorn Hill road. New houses on both side of roads, more rapidly as depression began to lift. Went from 4 to 20 houses. Children played in street.

Partial Transcript: Great elm in middle of road: slowed traffic; site of annual picnic.

Partial Transcript: Sissy Craig. Conroy: know she was a great cook; Mallon: Sissy and Laura Lewis sponsored annual picnic and other hill parties.

Partial Transcript: It was all farce. Elected a "mayor" at annual picnic. Mallon was hard to beat. Platform: "most attractive women in the world lived on Hawthorn Hill."

Partial Transcript: Cave was a worry because of children. When covered, parents were happy but children were not.

Partial Transcript: Mallon: "really can't say" Doesn't remember it being wall in.

Partial Transcript: Garage on Barrett facing H.H. There when Mallon moved in. Mrs. Issen (sp?) said the cut off Barrett graded for paving; that city built existing garage to compensate. Not maintained. Is city responsible? Garage has no use now. Steps to property but hazardous.

Partial Transcript: Mallon doesn't know when it burned. First house on the Hill.

Partial Transcript: House built in 1825. Conroy: heard quartered Confederate soldiers. Encampment along Valley Road. Mallon thinks Louisville was occupied by Union soldiers. Agree that they don't know. Mallon suggests Conroy ask the Filson Club.

Partial Transcript: Conroy heard Castleman on Morgan's staff. Mallon never heard him mentioned with Morgan. Morgan's right hand man was named Basil Duke. Mrs. Hemming was Duke's his daughter.

Partial Transcript: Mrs. Mengel sister of Mallons' landlady, Mrs. McNair. Only way to coal was in a horse & wagon through Mrs. Mengel's dahlia farm who wouldn't allow it. Mallon's landlady persuaded her to. Dahlia Farm becomes Summit Ave.

Partial Transcript: Condition of existing road. Used mules to grade. Tied mules on Mallon's back fence at night. Tape runs out.