Thursday, July 9, 2009Memories of Fontaine Ferry
Ask any Louisville native in their 40s or older about Fontaine Ferry Park, and their eyes may light up as they recount summer days spent at the skating rink or on the carousel. The 64-acre West Louisville amusement park is now the subject of an exhibit at the Frazier International History Museum. But there are less idyllic parts of this Louisville story; African-Americans weren't admitted to Fontaine Ferry until 1964 - and then only after years of protesting and picketing by people both for and against integrating the park. A spree of vandalism and attacks against workers on opening day, 1969, closed the park that had been open since 1905. We'll share memories of the park, hear from historians, and learn about the Frazier exhibit, this Thursday on a show about Fontaine Ferry.
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