Waggener High School
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Waggener High School Remembering St. Matthews During The 1950’s 1st. Edition This is one of many sections that contain information, photos, newspaper articles, internet items, etc. of the St. Matthews area and especially of Waggener High School. Many of the items came from Al Ring’s personal collections but many people have helped and I have tried to give credit where I can. The purpose of this “collection” was to create the history of Waggener and the students and teachers who were there during my time. Being retired I now have time to do many of the things I have al- ways wanted, this project is just one of them. The collection is continuing today, so if you should have old or new information on the St. Matthews area from 1950 to 1962 or Waggener High, please contact Al Ring. All graphics have been improved to make the resolution as good as possible, but the reader should remember that many came from copies of old newspaper articles and photos. Credit to the source of the photos, etc. is provided whenever it was available. We realize that many items are not identified and regret that we weren’t able to provide this information. As far as the newspaper articles that are not identified, 99% of them would have to be from one of three possible sources. The Courier- Journal, The Louisville Times or one of the Voice publications. Books that we have used for some information include, Randy, Cactus, Uncle, Ed and the Golden age of Louisville Television, Wag- gener High School Alumni Directory 1996, Waggener Traditional High School Alumni Directory 2007, Memories of Fontaine Ferry Park, St. Matthews The Crossroads of Beargrass by Samuel W. Thomas, St. Matthews, 25 Years a City Two Centuries a Community, St. Matthews 1960-1995, Wag- gener Lair’s 1958 to 1962, The Holy Warrior, Muhammad Ali, Louisville’s Own (An Illustrated En- cyclopedia Of Louisville Area Recorded Pop Music From 1953 to 1983). Explanation of the following pages, (Please Read) This section is limited to remembering the St. Matthews community during the 1950’s. This is mostly done from newspaper articles from various newspapers including the different Voice newspapers and The Courier-Journal, and The Louisville Times. The Voice Of St. Matthews, April 20, 1950, Advertisement The Voice Of St. Matthews, June 26, 1952, Rooster Fights of Gilman’s Point The Voice Of St. Matthews, July/August, 1952, Polio The Voice Of St. Matthews, June 15, 1953, Nobody In 1900 Believed ‘53 St. Matthews Possible The Voice Of St. Matthews, September 23, 1953, This Is St. Matthews The Voice Of St. Matthews, September 29, 1954, Polio The Voice Of St. Matthews, Various Advertisements, 1954 The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 6, 1955, St. Matthews Story In 1954 Was One of Growth With More To Come The Voice Of St. Matthews, 1955, Advertisements and other The Voice Of St. Matthews, May 5, 1955, Polio Shots The Voice Of St. Matthews, November 17, 1955, Steve Porter’s (61) father. The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 12, 1956, St. Matthews Not Altogether Suburban After 1955 The Voice Of St. Matthews, September 27, 1956, Phone Numbers The Courier-Journal, October 20, 1956, Louisville Wins Business Area The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 3, 1957, Mallon Plan, Church Growth, Court Decision Highlight 1956 The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 3, 1957, Other 1956 News Events The Voice Of St. Matthews, February 14, 1957, John Walser Makes Name For Self Here The Voice Of St. Matthews, July 18, 1957, Gary Young Wins Derby The Voice Of St. Matthews, August 15, 1957, St. Matthews Schools The Voice Of St. Matthews, August 15, 1957, A salute for our schools The Voice Of St. Matthews, October 31, 1957, Voiceland Map The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 2, 1958, News in 1957 almost a carbon of former years The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 1, 1959, St. Matthews area restless in ‘58 The Voice Of St. Matthews, April 2, 1959, History Of St. Matthews The Voice Of St. Matthews, July 16, 1959, In Ten Years… The Voice Of St. Matthews, July 16, 1959, Civic, fraternal and veterans groups enrich community life The Voice Of St. Matthews, July 16, 1959, Advertisements The Voice-Jeffersonian, April, 1970, Various History Articles Jim Herron (60) Collection: L & N St. Matthews Station The Voice, July 25, 1974, 25th Anniversary Issue The Voice of St. Matthews, April 20, 1950: 4 Page —Advertisement OTHERS HAVE INCORPORATED, WHY CAN’T ST. MATTHEWS? TAX RATES ARE AT LOW POINT EVERYWHERE BUT LOUISVILLE Let’s talk taxes. Not on the LOUISVILLE LEVEL. The “experts” don’t like to talk about Louisville’s tax rate. It’s too high. Yet, when you ask the “experts” why Louisville’s tax rate is so high, they just shrug and mumble something about the “high cost of services. Louisville’s tax rate is the highest in its history. It is $2.97 for each $100 property valuation. And if things keep on going as they are in Louisville, the tax rate will go HIGHER than that. Louisville’s tax rate is based on a total property appraised value of approximately $560,000,000 That will yield Louisville this year 1950 approximately $15,000,000. At least half of that will be spent on the public school system of the City of Louisville. The other half will be spent on the City of Louisville’s General Purpose, for all other munici- pal services—including fire, police, sanitation, and such. Audubon Park has a 75-cent tax rate on approximately $3,000,000 appraised property value. And 20 cents of that rate is frozen in a street-building fund. It is a beautiful city of which its citizens rightly con be proud. Richlawn has a 50-cent tax rate on approximately $3,000,000 ap- praised property value, It is growing into a beautiful residential city. Indian Hills has a 75-cent tax rate on approximately $2,000,000 ap- praised property value. It compares favorably in beauty with any other resi-dential city in America. Anchorage has a 40-cent tax rate on approximately $7,000,000 appraised property value, and has reduced its tax rates twice in four years. It is nationally-famous as a residential city. Shively has a 20-cent tax rate on a property valuation estimated to be appraised at more than $200,000,000. In 1939, Shively’s appraised property valuation was approximately only $13,000,000. It is a bustling, up and coming city, with great possibilities like THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS. Druid Hills has a 30-cent tax rate on approximately $2,500,000 appraised property value. It is attractive and desirable as a residential city. We could name more incorporated cities in Jefferson County with similar low rates on taxes. Let the “experts” name you the disadvantages of incorporating. St. Matthews has a population estimated at 10,000 to 12,000. THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS has an appraised property value, estimated by the Louisville “experts” at $16,000,000. IT IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT LET THEM TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT. It will not require a high tax rate to maintain, develop and beautify St. Matthews. In fact, the law will not permit us as the sixth class CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS to charge a tax rate higher then 75 cents. AND WE WILL SPEND EVERY PENNY OF THAT TAX MONEY ON OURSELVES, ON OUR COMMUNITY. St. Matthews is a strong spiritual community with many churches. We have over ten churches in our area. With the help and support of these churches and our churchgoers, we can keep our spiritual strength and grow strong. It is our greatest protection against vice. We want the good things for THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS. You do, too. BUT WE WANT THOSE THINGS PAID FOR OUT OF OUR OWN MONEY. WE DON’T WANT OUR TAX MONEY SPREAD ALL AROUND LOUISVILLE. We want to spend our tax money AT HOME to develop, beautify and maintain THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS has a desirable and attractive place to live and bring up our children. There is no reason that THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS cannot be as beautiful and as desirable a residential city as Oak Park, Illinois, the renowned example of better living. Court action was filed Tuesday, April 18, by Raymond C. Stephenson, Louisville attorney and member of the Louisville Board of Education, further complicating the St. Matthews situation in attempts to block THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS. Signers of the petition of suit are: Clarence W. Hardin, 3816 Hycliffe; Frank H. Stallings, 157 Wiltshire; Charles Booth, 204 Colonial Drive; Mrs. Alice Wick, 4059 Richland; Don Chitwood, 316 Breckenridge Lane; Hugh Doyle, 400 Oread Road, and A. B. Root, 3611 Hycliffe. More efforts to try to divide and conquer us. Beware of petitions to join in this action. The Voice of St. Matthews, April 20, 1950: 4 Page —Advertisement DON’T LET SCHEMING INTERESTS SMASH ST. MATTHEWS LET’S ACT NOW TO SAVE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY Louisville Doesn't Want To Annex Us Its Only Wants To Stall and Delay Us Louisville does not actually want to annex St. Matthews. Louisville has had 25 years in which to annex us. Now why this sudden haste? It only wants to hinder, delay and scuttle our plans to incorporate and grow. The officials of the City of Louisville have been advised by prominent and responsible citizens of the City and the County not to touch St. Matthews.