Early Settlers
Before the land now encompassing
Seneca Gardens was settled by Europeans, it was a favorite hunting ground
for the region's Indian tribes. Animals
that provided the Indians with meat for food and hide for clothing
frequently came to Beargrass Creek to drink.
The Indians would hide in the hills overlooking the creek until
ready to attack an unsuspecting prey.
The kill would then be taken back to the hills for processing to
avoid alerting remaining animals of the hunters' presence.
Arrowheads, pottery, and other artifacts used by these tribes have
recently been found within the City.
Years later as settlers continued
their push from the Atlantic coast, the land, as part of a larger tract,
was purchased by Judge John Speed and his second wife, Lucy Gilmer Fry. Fry was a Virginian who had family ties to Thomas Jefferson.
On the southern portion of the
estate, the Speeds built their home in 1810 - the historic
"Farmington". Visitors
frequently were granted hospitality at the home.
It is said that the Speeds entertained volunteers for the War of
1812 who passed Farmington sometimes in entire companies.
It was at Farmington that Abraham
Lincoln spent three weeks in 1841 while he courted Mary Todd, of
Lexington. Lincoln was a close friend of Joshua Speed, son of Judge
Speed and Lucy Fry. It is
said that on this visit Lincoln and Joshua's brother, James, spent many
hours discussing the problems facing the country.
James, who stood strongly against slavery, was named U. S. Attorney
General in Lincoln's second administration.
In the early to mid 1800s, the
Speeds sold sections of their estate.
In 1825 and 1846 Jacob Wetstein, a German gardener, bought tracts
of land from Judge John Speed. This
land included much of what is now Seneca Gardens.
He built his home there in 1846 and established Wetstein Community
Church (Methodist) on the corner of his property facing Taylorsville Road.
The church no longer stands on that site.
Later, Wetstein's granddaughter and her husband, Edward F. Weigel,
owned and lived in the original farmhouse with their two sons.
Weigel, who was President of Wetstein Land Company, mortgaged his
house and adjoining land in order to
participate in the development of much of the property into the
Broadmeade subdivision. In
1929 he was financially "wiped out" and shot himself in the
upstairs front bedroom of the house.
The 13 acres that remained in his name, the house, and a cottage
reverted to the holders of the mortgage, including the Presbyterian
Seminary. Wetstein and Weigel
are still remembered by having nearby streets named for them.
When the Overstreets bought the
Wetstein house and six acres in 1936, they heard from various sources that
the house was haunted. Sam
Overstreet seemed unconcerned as he replied "When our boys get there,
the ghosts will leave". For
years the property was used as a "private park" for the children
in the neighborhood. Baseball,
football, swamp fox, and kick the can were favorite games played on the
property. The original Wetstein house has been beautifully modernized
and is located at 2501 Denham Road.
Another early settler, Paul
Discher, bought land adjacent to and northwest of Jacob Wetstein's
property from Joseph Hildebrandt. Born
June 7, 1816 in Baden, Germany, Discher came to America in 1835 and
immediately settled in Jefferson County.
In 1845 he married Teresa Huber, also from Germany.
They had nine children. In
the 1871 Louisville Directory, Discher is listed as a huckster (a vendor,
often at a haymarket) at Citizens' Market.
His residence, then listed as "country", was on what is
now Meadow Road. Unfortunately, it no longer stands. In 1872 Discher died, but members of his family lived in the
area until the middle 1900s. Discher
Land Company, headed by Fred Moellein, was the co-developer (with Wetstein
Land Company) of Seneca Gardens.
Another Seneca Gardens house built
in the mid-1800s, Cardinal Hill, remains tucked among trees on the hill
overlooking the eastern end of Trevilian Way.
When the house was built and by whom is not entirely certain.
In a brochure written in the 1970s to promote its sale, its owner,
R. C. Riebel, stated that it was built in the 1860s.
The original owner was not mentioned.
When the house was again being sold in the 1980s, a sales flyer
dated the house to the early 1840s. It
further stated that James Speed, son of Judge John Speed and Attorney
General under Lincoln, was the builder.
Regardless of its precise origins, the Greek Revival house graces
the wooded hill on which it still stands.
Sitting in a deep grotto northeast of the house, the original
spring house is now protected by fencing, but can still be seen from
Trevilian Way. Among the
individuals who have owned and lived in the house are R. C. Riebel, who
served as Seneca Gardens City Clerk for 32 years, and Col. C. E. Sears,
who was editor of The
Courier-Journal newspaper.
Local legend says that the
Cardinal Hill owners and the Wetsteins were involved in the underground
railroad, which helped black slaves escape to freedom.
Some say that a tunnel linked the two houses and was used for that
purpose. Another story is
told that a cave runs from Cardinal Hill to near Lakeside Swim Club.
It is uncertain as to whether the stories are factual and if the
cave and tunnel were the same.
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Development of the Seneca Gardens
area began with the platting of the Broadmeade Subdivision in 1922. Generally, Broadmeade and Meadow Roads were included in the
land developed as a joint venture by the Discher Land Company, headed by
Fred Moellein, and the Wetstein Land Company, directed by Edward F. Weigel.
As mentioned earlier, each company derived its name from a family
with long-standing holdings in the area under development.
At least a portion of this land had been a potato field owned by
Weigel. Most of the houses
were built during the prosperous years of the 1920s.
In 1926, the Wetstein Land Company
platted an expansion of the Broadmeade Subdivision.
It appears that Valletta Road was developed at this time. Valletta
was also extended from Trevilian Way to Taylorsville Road, with lots laid
out on its western side. Six
lots closest to Taylorsville Road on the eastern side of Trevilian were
also platted along with two on Taylorsville Road east of Valletta.
In 1931 the Wetstein Land Company
platted most of the remaining area north of Trevilian Way between Valletta
and Seneca Park. Included
were the easternmost section of Seneca Drive (then called Wetstein Way),
Dell Road, Wood Creek (then called Broadview), and Seneca Valley Road
(then called Gladstone).
The final tract to be developed
was a small area between Trevilian Way and Dell Road and between the
eastern terminus of Seneca Drive and Seneca Valley Road.
Denver and Edith Cornett platted this land in 1937.
Several of the houses were built
by a prominent local architect, Stratton Hammond.
Examples of his work include 2313 Meadow Road, 2504 Seneca Valley
Road, and 2543 Dell Road.
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Incorporation
of the City
Instrumental in the development of
the Broadmeade and Seneca Gardens Subdivisions was the Fidelity and
Columbia Trust Company, which had constructed all roads and the street
lighting system. As long as it was interested in the property, roads and
lights were maintained at the company's expense.
In 1939 the company disposed of its remaining property in the area
and immediately notified the residents that it would no longer maintain
roads, mow grass on vacant lots, or keep the lighting system operational.
The residents immediately met with
Louisville Mayor Scholtz to determine whether the city was
contemplating annexation of the area.
Louisville had just completed a study concluding that a purely
residential area cost the city more to service than the income it
produced. Upon being advised
that there were no such plans, residents petitioned the Jefferson Circuit
Court for incorporation in order to continue road maintenance, street
lighting, weed cutting on common areas, and garbage collection.
On September 26, 1939 the
Jefferson Circuit Court entered in action # 261,927, styled John M. Burge,
et. al., petitioners, to incorporate the City of Seneca Gardens and
appoint its first Board of Trustees.
On October 2, 1939 those named by the court met to form the first
government of the City. C. E.
Baker was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees by the other members:
C. J. Holloway, Hugo G. Klosterman, Ernest Gaillard, and J. Hillsman
Smith. Sworn in to appointed
positions that night were James Curran, Marshall; John M. Burge, Assessor;
W. G. Frank, Clerk; and W. D. Hough, Treasurer.
William H. Crutcher, a Notary Public, officiated the swearing-in
ceremony and was named the City Attorney at the next meeting.
The first full-year City budget,
developed by John M. Burge, called for total expenditures of $1,600,
requiring a tax rate of $.25 per $100 of assessed value.
In December, 1939 the City symbol,
the head of an Indian, was adopted. It
was introduced by W. J. Smith of the Seneca Gardens' zoning commission.
With the exceptions described in
the following section, the City in 1939 had generally the same boundaries
as today.
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City
Expansion
In 1941 lots between Trevilian and
Taylorsville Road were included in the City.
Later that same year property south of Trevilian on Valletta was
also annexed.
In 1943 homeowners on the eastern
side of Carolina Avenue voted 23 to 3 to be
de-annexed from the City. The
Trustees immediately passed an ordinance to satisfy that desire.
It appears that many of the lots involved were actually partially
inside the City of Louisville and partially in Seneca Gardens.
It was some years later before these same lots were wholly brought
into Louisville.
In 1946
Cardinal Hill and the two lots facing Seneca Park Road immediately
south of Trevilian Way were added to the City.
The current boundaries were
finalized in 1950 with the annexation of the original Wetstein home, then
owned by Dr. and Mrs. Sam Overstreet.
That same year the Overstreets had extended Denham Road across
their property to Valletta. Lots
they were developing on that extension, along with the land which now
contains the Keneseth Israel Synagogue, were also annexed at this time.
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Sewer
System
In 1940 the Army constructed a
very large air base on Bowman Field.
Immediately thereafter, representatives of the U. S. Surgeon
General contacted the City Board of Trustees and requested that immediate
action be taken to correct a very dangerous situation which existed in
Seneca Gardens. Because of the existence of limestone close to the surface,
the homes' septic tanks were not functioning properly. Sewage was draining into streams and ditches in the City,
which in turn drained into Beargrass Creek.
The Army considered the situation dangerous to their troops
stationed at Bowman Field. Obviously,
the Board of Trustees also became concerned for City residents' safety.
The City prepared plans to install
a sewer system to replace the septic tanks and were ready to let contracts
for its construction when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December
7, 1941. With the outbreak of war, all activity had to be temporarily
suspended.
In 1943 the Army again requested
that the situation be rectified and advised the City that restrictions due
to the war no longer prevented construction of the sewer system.
In November of that year, residents voted to issue bonds in order
to pay the entire cost of the project.
A request was then made to the
City of Louisville to connect this system to their sewer system.
This began a long struggle between the two cities.
Louisville insisted that only annexation into their city would
create the potential for connecting the sewer systems. In November, 1944, Seneca Gardens residents voted on
annexation by Louisville. Although
voters clearly said "no", the election was voided because poll
overseers gave the ballot to all voters at the precinct rather than
limiting that question to Seneca Gardens residents.
Once it was clear that residents would not agree to annexation,
Louisville's Board of Aldermen said the connection could occur, but the
price set was deemed extreme by Seneca Gardens' Trustees.
Finally, in 1946, an agreement was
reached with Louisville and bonds were sold.
When finished, the sewer system cost $69,700, of which $54,000 was
raised through bonds which matured from 1950 through 1974.
All houses were required to connect to the sewer and cease use of
their septic tanks, ending the waste problem in the city.
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City
Government
From the time the City was first
formed in 1939, it has been a sixth class city.
This designation is based solely on population.
Sixth class cities include less than 1,000 in population.
Until the mid-1970s the elected
officials of the City included five Trustees, one of which was chosen by
vote of the five as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Today these positions have been replaced by the Mayor and four
Commissioners, who together comprise the city commission.
The Mayor, elected for a four-year
term, is a full participating member of the commission.
Additionally, the Mayor:
o
presides at meetings,
o
calls special meetings,
o
makes and signs all bonds, notes, contracts, and written
obligations of the City
o
is recognized as the ceremonial head of the city government.
Commissioners are elected to
two-year terms in November of even-numbered years. Their terms begin
January 1, of odd-number years.
The
commission as a whole:
o
establishes and enforces appropriate city ordinances and
regulations for the general public's health, safety, and welfare
o
supervises the day-to-day operations of city government
o
establishes and fills appointed positions as required by the city
o
provides sufficient revenues to operate city government through the
adoption of an annual budget and by levying taxes and establishing fees
for city services
o
appoints a new mayor or Commission member if a vacancy occurs in the
office
Until the mid 1970s a Police Judge
was also elected by the residents. This
person presided over the court in which citations issued by the City were
enforced. The City Marshal,
one of the City's appointed positions for many years, was responsible for
enforcing City regulations and ordinances.
From 1963 to the early 1970s, the City supported the Marshal by
hiring a police officer who patrolled the City and issued traffic
violations. Court was held in homes, typically that of the Police Judge.
Currently, this protection is provided through a contract with the
City of Louisville Police.
The only appointed City position
required by the state is the City Clerk.
This position is responsible for:
o
maintenance and safekeeping of the City's permanent records
o
taking and filing minutes from meetings of the city commission
o
publishing ordinances adopted by the city commission
Until the early 1980s, a tax
assessor was appointed to establish the property values used in
preparation of City property taxes. Today,
the county property assessment is used for that purpose.
A Treasurer is appointed to keep
the financial records of the City. This
position is directly responsible for collection of City taxes and
disbursement of payments approved by the Commission.
Further, the Treasurer supports the annual audit performed by a
party uninvolved in the City government.
The City Attorney provides legal
consultation to the Commission and ensures that ordinances, orders, and
resolutions conform to state and county statutes and are legally
defensible.
The City Engineer is appointed to
oversee the day-to-day maintenance of streets, drainage, lights, etc.
Additionally, the position provides consultation to the Commission
regarding the City's physical infrastructure and frequently oversees
implementation of related projects approved by the Commission.
A new appointed position, City
Arborist, was created in 1990 to oversee the City tree planting program
and to provide consultation to the Commission as to whether to approve
permit requests for removing trees in the City right-of-way.
Since 1988, over 300 trees have been planted through the tree
program in which the City and residents jointly purchase trees for
planting in the right-of-way. It
has also helped residents obtain trees at reduced prices for planting in
other locations.
For lists
of individuals who have held elected or appointed positions in the City,
please visit City
Commission/Elected History.
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