Interview with Florence Nofsinger, September 8, 1982

Partial Transcript: Mrs. Nofsinger's age: 92 1/2 years Lived on Castlewood for 49 years; on Edenside for 12 years but 1 year spent abroad. Year spent abroad. [In 1930s] Names countries visited. Why - because older daughter wanted to go abroad rather than go to college. Lived in Paris where daughter studied art & French.

Partial Transcript: Born and grew up at [1024] Cherokee Rd. Lived there when married. Moved to 2nd & Breckinridge for one year. Then back to Highlands. Why she liked the Highlands.

Partial Transcript: Liked Tyler Park; the beautiful fireworks in TP; always gave a party. Lived at 1636 opposite the park. Neighbors: the Boyd Martins; Mary Limon Tyler and sister Lucy; Monsignor Horrigon grew up there [see under "St. James School."]

Keywords: Monsignor Alfred F. Horrigon

Partial Transcript: Both Nofsinger daughters went to St. James School. Talk about classmates; why it was a "good school." Mrs. Edger started in 1927.

Keywords: Frank Burke; Monsignor Horrigan

Partial Transcript: Organized activities for children; plays; the original stage [on east side of park]. Nofsingers had parties for the fireworks.

Partial Transcript: Many trees now; then row of shrubbery; no tall trees. Photos from 1910s show no trees.

Partial Transcript: Grocery stores: Bardstown at Highland Ave; Baxter & E. Pwy; A&P on Bardstown "above Grinstead"; Burgers, Bardstown Rd & Edenside. Sweet shop in shotgun house next to grocery on Baxter & E. Pwy; later a gas station; Kohl's Drugstore [location?]

Keywords: A & P; Burger's Grocery

Partial Transcript: When growing up on Cherokee Rd., family had a gas tank in backyard. Gas delivered; chauffeur filled car tank.

Partial Transcript: Family one of first to get a car. Before had 3 horses; afraid of the car so got rid of the horses. Had a coupe & carriage and coachman. Mother drove carriage but never an auto. Car, a Pierce Arrow. She had a pony.

Partial Transcript: Picked wild flowers; played tennis a few times; wore long skirts; mainly rode horse or pony. Had a pony drawn sleigh. Pony slides into a street car and suffers so bad, had to be shot.

Partial Transcript: Mule pulled cars turned around at Cave Hill. Drove horse & carriage downtown. Kindergarten at Mrs. . Hampton's school, 4th & Walnut, where Stewart's [Department Store] is now. Paved & unpaved streets.Hitching post for horse.

Partial Transcript: Seelbach Hotel, Pendennis Club, MacCauley Theater.

Partial Transcript: Kindergarten at Mrs.Hampton's school; Lucia [now Bloom] Elementary. 12 years old, to Collegiate School on 4th St. near Oak St. Took streetcar, Broadway to 2nd. Barrett Ave. streetcar.

Partial Transcript: Mr. Bradsby [Louisville Slugger] owned her house before bought it. Baseball bats chopped up for kindling.General Castleman had house on Baxter and Hill Rd.

Partial Transcript: Horses going by Castlewood house on gravel road; bonfires in Tyler Park

Partial Transcript: Erhmann's Bakery near Grindstead Dr., then Daisy Lane. Mr. Miller's drugstore near Highland Ave. Movie on Bardstown "behind us on Cherokee Rd." Tape runs out.

Partial Transcript: Grandfather had 1000 acres, 100 slaves in Girols(?) County. Son to war with a slave. Sold plantation after the war. Said that General Sherman camped there. Visited when very young, thought it was fun.

Partial Transcript: Was a salesman. Met her mother in Nashville. Came to Louisville from Germany at 5 yrs. Learned cigar making in Cuba; started a cigar factory at 26 W. Main St. Nearby Carter Dry Goods Store; hat maker, thinks name was David or Meyers.

Partial Transcript: Parents lived in 1100 block before she was born. Moved to house in next block [1024] where she grew up. 3 of seven children died.

Partial Transcript: At a skating rink after a friend's party. Moved in with her parents.

Partial Transcript: Had city water but very muddy. 3 servants and a laundress. Servants quarters in back of house; "torn down this summer." Had gas lamps, then electricity when she was about age 10. Picket iron fences taken down, donated for arms during World War I.

Partial Transcript: Doesn't fireworks in Tyler Park. Went to fireworks at Fountaine Ferry, an amusement park. Story about going there for rides with other girls.

Partial Transcript: Designed by Enid Yandell, noted Louisville sculptress. In world's fair, not sure which one. Per Filson Club request, her father had it bronzed & donated to Louisville Story of why statue moved from near Hogan's Fountain to Eastern Pwy. She unveiled it when moved.

Partial Transcript: So many houses built. Bus route extended from Barrett past her house. Bicycles on Castlewood. Used to sit and count cars. Quite a few wrecks before the traffic light Baxter "over 20 years ago.

Partial Transcript: Husband, a realtor, didn't think he would make much money.

Partial Transcript: President of real estate board; automobile club. Company named Everest Nofsinger.

Partial Transcript: 100 different plants; trims bushes in park so people can see when come around the corner [at Baxter].

Partial Transcript: Used to have a lot of concerts when Harry Curry was living; head of Musicians Assn Classical music. Curry was a violinist. First on east side stage; moved to west side. People could park on the Baxter bridge.

Partial Transcript: Mrs. Edger remembers "always a lot of excitement under the bridge." Thinks "young ladies." Body dumped in their front yard. Drunks in the bushes. Pocket book, cow in front yard. In 1930s; 1940s. Lights on the bridge cut down on these things.

Partial Transcript: Thinks Castlewood is the oldest suburb in the Highlands. Most people have lived until they died."
Will stay until I die or am incapacitated. Just love it. Mrs. Edger: Children & grandchildren do too.