The Point
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The Point was a thriving 19th century neighborhood on the river opposite Towhead Island just east of the Big 4 Bridge and extending to the Beargrass Creek cutoff at the Ohio River. Beargrass Creek originally emptied into the Ohio near 4th St.
Starting in the 1840s it was home to many upper income residents who had moved from New Orleans, giving the area on Fulton Street the nickname "the Frenchmen's Row". They built many mansion houses in the area, the best known of which was the Heigold House, completed in 1853.
Over time, The Point evolved as a working class neighborhood with a mixture of small factories and mills, frame cottages, and small brick homes. From the 1850 census forward, the area was home to butchers, mill laborers, weavers, and others who worked in area businesses. Shops along what is now Story Avenue served the residents of the area.
In 1854 many houses were demolished when Beargrass Creek was rerouted from its original outflow near 4th St. in downtown Louisville to its current location through the area. The Point was always susceptible to flooding as the flood in 1933. Many houses were torn down after the flood of 1937. Another flood was in 1945.
Today the only remaining structures are the front facade of the Heigold House and the Padgett House. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Heigold facade was moved to a roundabout on Frankfort Ave near River Road.
Starting in the 1840s it was home to many upper income residents who had moved from New Orleans, giving the area on Fulton Street the nickname "the Frenchmen's Row". They built many mansion houses in the area, the best known of which was the Heigold House, completed in 1853.
Over time, The Point evolved as a working class neighborhood with a mixture of small factories and mills, frame cottages, and small brick homes. From the 1850 census forward, the area was home to butchers, mill laborers, weavers, and others who worked in area businesses. Shops along what is now Story Avenue served the residents of the area.
In 1854 many houses were demolished when Beargrass Creek was rerouted from its original outflow near 4th St. in downtown Louisville to its current location through the area. The Point was always susceptible to flooding as the flood in 1933. Many houses were torn down after the flood of 1937. Another flood was in 1945.
Today the only remaining structures are the front facade of the Heigold House and the Padgett House. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Heigold facade was moved to a roundabout on Frankfort Ave near River Road.
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