Saint Joseph's Area Association, Inc.

Saint Joseph's Area Association, Inc.

HISTORIC HOSPITAL ONCE CLAIMED SITE ON EASTERN PARKWAY

By Tom Owen (Inside of U of L 11/86)

In the past several years, the open field and vacant buildings on the northwest corner of Preston Street and Eastern Parkway have awakened with new life. U of L played a major role in the development of the handsome University Park Apartments and the exciting Mendelsohn Recreational Complex on the sprawling 21-acre site.

Despite all the newness, history has a substantial place on Eastern Parkway. In the mid-19th century, the property was part of Samuel Churchill's rural estate out on Flat Lick Pike-now Preston Highway. Miller Avenue-the short street that runs immediately beside Eastern Parkway in from of the University Park Apartments-likely bears the name of the family that farmed there in the 1880's.

In about 1910, a brand new Eastern Parkway was laid through the farm, bringing new subdivision and making what was then the Robinson farm ripe for a new use.

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth had operated a hospital in downtown Louisville since the 1830's. By the early 1920's, movie houses and shops threatened the tranquility of their St. Joseph Infirmary, which had been at 637 S. Fourth St. since 1853. The sisters, assured of a good price for their downtown property; sold to the developers of the Loews-United Artists theater complex-now the Palace Theater and the Theater Building-and set out for the Robinson farm in the suburbs.

Opened in 1926, their modern, 325bed hospital was the largest health-care facility in the region. St. Joseph's Infirmary was well received, ultimately adding a several hundred-bed wing, a nursing student dormitory and an all-purpose gymnasium-auditorium. Out back in a grove of trees, a lovely grotto for prayer and meditation was constructed.

The old hospital's main building was demolished and Humana proposed to donate most of the site as a public park. The park plan was dropped after St. Joseph's area residents opposed the idea on grounds that a vast public space would invite crime.

In the meantime, the area housing authority agreed to renovate the old hospital nursing dormitory into Lourdes Hall, a senior citizens residence. Humana donated the rest of the site to the University of Louisville. A generous pledge to pay for turning St. Joseph's multi-purpose building into a modern recreation building into a modern recreation center accompanied the gift. (Today's excellent Humana Gym is the result.)

Recently, an asphalt running track, basketball-volleyball court, soccer field and two tennis courts haven been added. A putting green and picnic area in the grotto, along with open-air handball courts, are on the drawing board. The entire recreational facility was recently named for Ellis Mendelsohn, longtime HPER professor and director of intramural sports at U of L.

After considering several options, U of L leased the remainder of the old hospital site to Brown-Noltemeyer, a local real estate development company. The 224-unit University Park Apartments, which gives priority to U of L students, facility, and staff was completed this year.

The new complex also pays homage to history, since the roadways are named for former university presidents, such as James Pirtle, Raymond Kent and others.

There's a lot new on the redeveloped northwest corner of Preston Street and Eastern Parkway, but the memory of the 19th century farms, the old St. Joseph's Infirmary and an honored university still graces the site.

About our association

HISTORY

The association takes its name from the infirmary that once stood on the corner of Eastern Parkway and Preston Street. The sisters of Charity of Nazareth had operated the St. Joseph’s Infirmary in downtown Louisville since the 1830’s. In 1926, the infirmary was re-located to what was part of the mid 19th century Samuel Churchill rural estate on Flat Lick Road-now Preston Highway. A modern 324-bed hospital was the largest health care facility in the region. A 200-bed wing, a nursing student dormitory and an all-purpose gymnasium-auditorium were added in later years. In 1927 on the back of the property in a grove a trees a lovely grotto for prayer and meditation was dedicated.

In 1970, the Sisters of Charity sold their now aging infirmary to what is now Humana Inc., once a local hospital chain. Ten years later the new owners closed St. Joseph’s Infirmary, re-locating nearby on Poplar Level Road as Audubon Hospital. That hospital is now known as Norton Audubon Hospital.

The old hospital’s main building was demolished and Humana proposed to donate most of the site as a public park. The park plan was dropped after St. Joseph’s area residents opposed the idea on grounds that a vast public space would invite crime.

This is not what the neighborhood wanted. To have a bigger voice in the process they incorporated in 1979 as a neighborhood association and became a tighter knit community. After several years and many discussions with the city of Louisville, then Humana hospital and the University of Louisville an agreement was struck. After considering several options the University of Louisville leased the reminder of the old hospital site to Brown-Noltemeyer, a local real estate development company. The 224-unit University Park Apartments who gives priority to University of Louisville students, facility and staff was completed in 1986.

In the meantime, the area housing authority agreed to renovate the old hospital-nursing dormitory into Lourdes Hall, a senior citizens residence. Humana donated the rest of the site to the University of Louisville.

During this time period the Adath Israel Cemetery, also known as the Temple Cemetery, became a nationally recognized historic site within the association. The cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Located at 2716 S. Preston Street, it is in the southeast portion of the association. Adath Israel is historically significant because of its architecture, design and religious significance. Most of the monuments were erected between 1875 and 1924

The association formed a group of residents in 2000 called the Grotto Grannies and Grandpa’s to oversee the once neglected Grotto and Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes located at the Old St. Joseph Infirmary site. With much time and work on the Grotto and Garden they accomplished having the Grotto and Garden designated into a local and state historical landmark. The association has succeeded in having a Kentucky Historical Highway Marker erected at the corner of Preston Street and Eastern Parkway in honor of the St. Joseph Infirmary and another Kentucky Historical Highway Marker to be erected in June 2005 in honor of the Grotto and Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Recalling 25 years

The St. Joseph Infirmary was to be demolished and a park was planned for the site. This is not what the neighborhood wanted. To have a bigger voice in the process they incorporated in 1979 and became a tighter knit community. After several years and many discussions with the city of Louisville, then Humana hospital and the University of Louisville an agreement was struck.

The Louisville Housing Authority agreed to renovate the old hospital-nursing dormitory into Lourdes Hall, a senior citizens residence. The multi-purpose building was turned into a modern recreation center for the students and staff at the University of Louisville. A running track and several tennis courts have been added and the neighborhood takes advantage of the facilities . After considering several options the University of Louisville leased the reminder of the old hospital site to Brown-Noltemeyer, a local real estate development company. The 224-unit University Park Apartments who gives priority to University of Louisville students, facility and staff was completed in 1986.

In 1981 the Saint Joseph’s Area Association sponsored the inauguration of an open house program with city police, in which beat officers from the Louisville Police Department met with local residents at a house in the neighborhood. This program spread to other parts of the city.

Since that time my association has had many ups and downs that we have worked thru. One of the current downs has been what was mostly owner occupied residences are becoming rental property to students. What was once a one car family residence now sees up to six students in a residence with six cars to park somewhere. Our streets were not made for parking on both sides of the street and two-way traffic. These are smaller streets. Off street and on the street parking has become a problem. Nowhere to park residence are using their required front yard as parking area. Along with more people the more trash and litter become a problem, more speeding cars going down the small streets.

Another down has been the boarding up of the once thriving J. Stoddard Johnston Elementary School with separate boys and girls entrances to a now closed day-care center for the children of the University of Louisville staff and students. Along with several boarded up properties I can see some areas in my neighborhood depreciating because of unkempt property due to owners or tenants that do not seem to take pride in their area.

The ups have seen many small businesses thriving in the neighborhood with many being well known throughout the city. Such as Eastern Parkway and Bradley Avenue with Cottage Inn and Dairy Kastle Ice Cream, Preston Street and Eastern Parkway with White Castle and PicPac Supermarket, Lynn Street with formerly Swiss Park now the Sheriff’s Lodge 25, Preston Street with Brown Bag Deli & Pub and Klein‘s Bakery now operating as Nord‘s Old Fashion Bakery. The Ising family has kept a business open on Preston Street since 1898 from a grocery to a hardware store to floor covering. The area has a low turn over in the businesses.

We have seen the YMCA Safe Place Service relocate their headquarters and housing facilities in a renovated building occupied for many years by Med Venture Medical.

The association formed a group of residents called the Grotto Grannies and Grandpa’s to oversee the once neglected the Grotto and Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes located at the Old St. Joseph Infirmary site. With much time and work on the Grotto and Garden they accomplished having the Grotto and Garden designated into a local and state historical landmark. The association has succeeded in having a Kentucky Historical Highway Marker erected at the corner of Preston Street and Eastern Parkway in honor of the St. Joseph Infirmary and another Kentucky Historical Highway Marker to be erected in June 2005 in honor of the Grotto and Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes.

As we are continuing to work thru our downs we hope the ups have been many and have made life better in the area. We are continuing to strive for a better neighborhood. The association’s purpose is to be a positive influence for the community

Email us
stjosaa@hotmail.com