Interview with Norma Ryan, October 6, 1982

Partial Transcript: Born on Murray St. Bad winter, moved closer to [St. James Catholic] church. Eastern Parkway Bardstown Rd, then [1829] Edenside. Remembers moving liquor to Edenside during prohibition.

Partial Transcript: Father worked for a distillery. Prohibition "wrecked" the liquor industry. Job with National Bank of Kentucky, which failed during the Depression. Job with tobacco company for the rest of his life.

Partial Transcript: Brother was born on Sherwood. Earlier parents lived on East Berry St. Father went to Cherokee Park every Sunday; determined to move to the Highlands. First Sherwood, then Beechwood; E. Pwy & Bardstown Rd where White Castle [was in 1982]

Partial Transcript: Photo of children on porch on Fourth of July. Doesn't remember if for parade or just there. People from all over town "streamed down Edenside;" like commercial works now;

Partial Transcript: At E. Pwy., all houses. At Bonnycastle, Pepper's Bakery, Cherokee Theater - silent movies. Slang & Yenner's [sp?]Grocery; Bottler's Drugstore; Pete Rosier's meat market; Epinger [sp?] Saloon near Sherwood; Heckler's Grocery.

Keywords: Cherokee Theater; Epinger [sp?] Saloon; Heckler's Grocery; Model's Drugstore; Pepper's Bakery; Pete Rosier's Meat Mkt; Slang & Yenner's [sp?] Grocery

Partial Transcript: Model Drugstore replaced a house. Uptown Theater opened and "we were in our glory." At Edenside, Rostan's [sp?] Grocery where went after bath & confession on Saturday.

Partial Transcript: Played prisoners' base - describes. "Edenside was out playground. Not much traffic.

Partial Transcript: Baxter Theater at Highland. Walked there even in winter In summer, an open air [theater] across street where "triangle comes in." Walking home in winter "all carrying those dishes", given away at theater.

Partial Transcript: When we grew up, we lived on the streetcar. Didn't have a car then. Took it to work; to school, Mercy Academy on E. Broadway. Put pins on rails to see how streetcar flatten it. Had a Baxter and a Bdwy streetcar. Not certain if transferred or car turned to go on Bdwy.

Partial Transcript: In teens went to town on Saturday. When worked had Saturday afternoon off, went to town to buy clothes. No racks, had to tell a clerk what you wanted. Lists stores: Stewart's, Feston's [sp?]; Byck's; Selman's; Coleman [?]-Strauss

Partial Transcript: First Dr. Simpson, ENT Brown Bldg, then skin dermatologist. Then WHAS, secretary to program director. 2nd woman in TV with Mary Ann Gifford who had cookie program. Started in 1946. First in radio. War came along, worked in powder plant in Indiana.

Partial Transcript: During Depression, paid $12 per week. "Scrounged around for jobs." Their doctor, Dr. Simpson, needed a girl so got me. Retired from Bellarmine College, her last job. Graduated from Mercy Academy and went to work.

Partial Transcript: Didn't want to leave family. Wanted to come home and talk about her day. Family loved music. We all played the piano; brother, cello; mother had an almost operatic voice. Bowen

Partial Transcript: Music was all they did. Both played the piano. Taught Ms. Ryan's mother singing. Bowens' always playing or talking about music. House across street from the school.

Partial Transcript: 2 brothers, 2 sisters. One brother died at 5 yrs. Youngest sister born late in mother's life so we practically raised her. She's now a Carmelite nun.

Partial Transcript: All crazy about sports. Brothers played all sports. We always had a baseball glove played hard ball. Went to Colonels baseball games every night at Parkway Field. Played tennis in Tyler Park but mainly in backyard.

Partial Transcript: First was a wood school. In 5th grade when present bldg. built. Discuss photo of them on top of school. Climbed all over the school when being built.

Partial Transcript: Probably Ms. Ryan's sister. Then "entrepreneurs" came around with donkeys to take photos of children on them. "Had a perfect captive audience." Probably taken on Murray No donkeys on Edenside. Probably taken 1913 or 14.

Partial Transcript: When cars came in Donaldson's Bakery Wagon delivered through neighborhood. Ice cream man. Ice delivered; card in window indicated how much; for ice box. We would jump on wagon; horse drawn. Milk delivered. Poured cream off the top to use in coffee.

Partial Transcript: House around them. Took piano lessons at "sisters' house" at Norris. Didn't practice, had other things to do.

Partial Transcript: Thinks father went often. Car rides at night to cool off; thinks she learned to drive there.St. James had their picnic at Big Rock. "Like a garden for us." Mostly drove around; got to know all the roads; if you followed the lamps, you could get out. Three Sisters at entrance to Seneca. Had to cut one down. Tornado hurt us "like it was our own body."

Partial Transcript: Man wouldn't sell to the church so built around him. Torn "fairly recently." Man not a Catholic, "in enemy territory." Now part of the parking lot.

Partial Transcript: Shows a house on [northeast] corner of Bardstown & Barringer, It was a beautiful brick house [1982] a parking lot for Treasure Island coin store. [2017 - a cigar store].

Partial Transcript: Must be the cleaners [on corner of Edenside & Bardstown]. Was a grocery, then ice cream parlor for a short time, then Parrot Cleaners.

Partial Transcript: Only her and her mother left. House too big. Decided to sale. Languished for a couple of years. Finally Mr. Hettinger who was in real estate, bought it, tore down house, built apartments. Thinks he calls them the 1829 Edenside. Moved in 1964. She took pictures of house being torn down. Also took a beautiful tree which "sheltered us many times" A maple tree. Raking the leaves.

Partial Transcript: Garage. When moved to house, there was a loft, tore it down. When first moved in, grandmother lived with family. Kept chickens; did all the cooking. Her father's mother

Partial Transcript: Large backyard. Mother put washing machine out there in summer; always had the clothes lines full.

Partial Transcript: Very nice wood. The mantle - "all you had to do was polish it. High ceilings. 1950s TV set.

Partial Transcript: Looking away from Bardstown Road. Barn, "sure it's been destroyed." Buildings behind house were sheds, "very primitive." For storage.

Partial Transcript: I was changing. Good friends, the Fries [sp?] moved; that was hard. Not much physical change. Had no desire to moved to suburbs after WW II.

Partial Transcript: The Highlands was a great place to be. Had troopers from Pennsylvania helping with typhoid shots at St. James School. People stayed with us.

Partial Transcript: Her parents bought house from Jacob [Bren?]. Mr. Beck, a widower, lived next door with his 2 sisters and their daughter. Doesn't remember Mr. Jethro. Remembers Mr. Mayer, Mr. Stewart, "and Geisling ... we would drive him crazy." Remember Staylands [sp ?]; Doesn't remember Lydia Stahl, the Kohlers, House at 1831 torn down.

Partial Transcript: Mary Ann Nofsinger [Edger] in her class (cf. interview with Florence Nofsinger.) Doesn't remember Audrey Reese [Cruse] (cf. interview). Remembers her brother Ralph, lived down at Quadrant. About 25 in her class.