MUSEUM MUSINGS - Jeffersontown

MUSEUM MUSINGS
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE JEFFERSONTOWN HISTORICAL MUSEUM
10635 Watterson Trail, Jeffersontown, KY 40299
Telephone, 502 261 8290
City Web Site: jeffersontownky.com
Volume XIII, Number 2, April 2012
MEETING: The next Friends of the Museum meeting is Monday, April 2nd, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. in the
Museum office.
EXHIBITS: The model airplane exhibit is still going strong. We are looking forward to Thunder Over
Louisville -- during that time, we hope to attract visitors who will be in town to see the impressive air show. Our
model plane display will give them something related to view while they are in town.
Folk Dancers of the World is the title of our current doll exhibit, which showcases the folk costumes and
dances of various countries around the globe.
July through December we are planning on having a Childhood Remembered exhibit, featuring artifacts
such as clothing, accessories, beds, dolls and toys from the 1860s through the 1960s. If anyone has something
interesting they would like to donate or loan for that exhibit, please let us know before June 15th.
NEW SIGN: In January, the City of Jeffersontown installed a new Museum sign at the back entrance of the
building. It bears the new city logo and is quite attractive.
DONATIONS: Sarah Bode donated four bisque dolls, two of which are currently in our Folk Dancers of the
World exhibit. Linda Butler also donated several folk dolls. Billy Sparks, whose father started the
Jeffersontown Little League, donated a couple of early Little League parade car signs. Carol Davis donated
some adorable baby clothes, kitchen items, and an early 1900s ironing board.
THE JEFFERSONIAN NEWSPAPERS owned by the Museum have all been microfilmed. Those dated
1907-1912 should be accessible through the City of Jeffersontown web site this summer. We are currently
scanning articles from all The Jeffersonian papers in our possession, adding them to our computer files of
information on people, places and events in Jeffersontown's history.
DID YOU KNOW that the original plans for the second Jefferson County Bank building apparently called for a
free-standing structure that would have looked very much like City Hall? The 1923 news clipping below,
shown between photos of the original 1904 building by City Hall and the 1927 structure at the corner of
Watterson Trail and Taylorsville Road, gives an idea of how different that corner might have looked.
In Loving Memory of JULIA SMITH
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of a very dear Friend of the Museum, Julia B. Smith.
Julia was born in Jeffersontown in 1923. She was the great-granddaughter of Frederick Stucky, who was a tailor
on the town square from 1820-1840. When Stucky retired, he built a two-story house at 3504 Marlin Drive on land
originally deeded to his grandfather, Martin Stucky, in 1792, and settled into a life of farming with his family. Frederick
was married to Louisa Myers Stucky, who was the daughter of Jacob Myers and Barbara Hoke Myers. Barbara was the
daughter of Andrew Hoke, who moved to Kentucky in 1795, and is the oldest burial in the German Reformed
Presbyterian Cemetery located by Thoroughbred Hall on Watterson Trail.
Julia's parents were Eva Stucky and Reuben C. Smith. She had an older sister, Mary Ellen (Boots), and a younger
brother, Bill. Mary Ellen and Julia were born at home on Watterson Trail, but in 1925, a fire on the town square
destroyed the house where they lived with their grandparents, Henry Frederick and Mary Cromey Stucky. Fortunately,
until they could get back on their feet, Julia and her family were allowed to live in the Mittler House, which had just
been sold back to the Lutheran Church to create a home for the elderly where the Good Samaritan Center now stands.
Julia retired from PNC Bank and was a lifelong member of Jeffersontown United Methodist Church. She will be
greatly missed.
Louisa Myers Stucky
Reuben, Eva, Boots & Julia
Frederick Stucky
Stucky House built c1840 at 3504 Marlin Drive
Boots, Henry F. Stucky, Bill, & Julia
The Smith family in 1937
Julia, Bill, & Boots Smith
Julia - 1940
Julia - 1941
May Day Fest at J'town School
Julia Smith