Cultural History of Charlie Vettiner Park - Louisville Metro Government

Cultural History of Charlie Vettiner Park
basis of truck farming, and a degeneration of soil quality. Finally, in more recent years, many
factions have redeveloped the earlier truck farming methods. Soils are managed sustainably.
Produce is nurtured for taste and quality rather than for transport. Markets are justifiably more
local, thereby nurturing the relationship between the farmer and the consumer.
Fairgrounds. In addition to producing for markets, many in the Fern Creek area wanted
a place to showcase their goods a little closer to home. The Farmers and Fruit Growers
Association was formed; one outcome of this association was the beginnings of the Jefferson
County Fair Association (Fern Creek Woman‘s Club 1976). This in turn led to the creation of
fairgrounds on first Beulah Church Road and secondly on what became known as Fairgrounds
Road. At the second location, the fairgrounds included a racetrack, grandstand brought from the
earlier 1903 Exposition in St. Louis, and a merry-go-round. In its heyday, it was a county fair
hard to beat.
The society put up a shed two hundred feet long at Fern City, on grounds in all
comprising fifteen acres of land, and fenced the whole. …The success of this enterprise
was guaranteed to the people of Jeffersontown last year (1882), when the most
sanguine expectations were realized. Fruits, vegetables, and everything, in fact, raised
and manufactured by farmers and their wives, graced the tables at this fair, and much
encouragement was given to agriculturalists in attendance (Williams, Volume II
1882:23).
Epidemics and Disasters
The town of Jeffersontown and surrounding area was ravaged by a number of natural,
incendiary, and epidemiological disasters during its history. Fires destroyed portions of the town
in 1921 and again in 1925 (Johnston 1997). A devastating tornado flew through the Louisville
area in 1890, causing much of the area to be rebuilt. Epidemics of various kinds hit the
Louisville area often. Smallpox hit in 1804 and 1817; yellow fever hit in 1822 and again in 1878;
and cholera hit in 1832, 1833, 1849, and 1852 (Baird 2001). These changes in population
demographics are probably reflected in local cemeteries as well as shifts from downtown
Jeffersontown to the rural area. Such was the experience of the Bryan family (Johnston 1997).
Famous People: Charlie Vettiner
Charlie Vettiner is a native Louisvillian who greatly influenced the developed of parks and
recreation on the city, county, state, and national levels. A brief biography was prepared by Ms.
Becky Walker, which was donated to Metro Parks. Vettiner‘s early life is included in this source
as are many of the awards and honors he received later in life. The following section addresses
Vettiner‘s role regarding athletics, the Jefferson County Playgrounds and Recreation Board, and
the community. Photos and memorabilia are provided courtesy of Becky Walker.
Vettiner‘s involvement with physical education and recreation began while still in college at
Western Teachers College (Jeffersonian 1946). There, Vettiner was on state championship
football and baseball teams (Figure 12). In addition, he was also on the track, basketball, and
tennis teams.
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