Waggener High School - RingBrothersHistory.com

The Voice, July 25, 1974:Reading it now 20 years later, I am astounded at how much I wrote and how fact-filled the history is. Its inordinate lengthrequired us to publish it two weeks running.Frankly, I think I wrote more than anyone wanted to know about St. Matthews, dating clear back to pioneer days. I hadstudied county records, doctors’ theses and old newspapers — and had interviewed old-timers like Tony Eline. And I put itall in. But long and rambling as it is, I am proud of one thing. Not a single fact in those thousands of words was ever challengedfor accuracy.I served as news editor and then editor of The Voice from the fall of 1950 till the fall of 1960, except for an eight-monthperiod in 1952 when I lived in Europe.During those years of the ‘50s -- golden for the nation and for me personally in fond retrospect-- St. Matthews grew up.Most of the shopping centers including the Shelbyville Road Plaza and The Mall were built, as were most of the schoolsincluding Waggener, Stivers and St. Matthews Elementary. Most of the sixth-class cities were formed. As editor I applaudedand promoted this development.My old publisher, Al Schansberg, took a leading role in publicizing and promoting Little League, Pony League and theBabe Ruth League, all of which were formed during the 1950s.Dick Clay, an old college chum, and I organized the old St. Matthews Community Theatre which during the ‘5Os stagedsuch classics as “You Can’t Take It With You,” “Ten Little Indians” and ‘Hedda Gabler.” We were aided by many amateurenthusiasts including Wanda Receveur, Gladys Griffin, Rowena Freeman, Lin and Reeda Bivins, Tappy and Van Fell andmany, many others.But the achievement of which I am proudest was building the Eline Memorial Library in St. Matthews near Harvey BrowneChurch.This rewarding adventure began on a quiet day in The Voice office in late 1957 or early 1958. I was alone, it was a Thursday,the paper was out, there was nothing much to do and I was smoking a cigarette and staring out the window when alittle old lady walked in and introduced herself as Harriet Cowman.We liked each other immediately and I nodded sympathetically when she said she was surprised that a thriving communitylike St. Matthews had such an inadequate library. The existing facility was a rented one-room affair on St. Matthews Avenuejust north of Shelbyville Road, open only 12 hours a week (if memory serves) and operated by the Louisville PublicLibrary.“If I get a drive started to build a new library, will you give us publicity?’ she said.“Yes, rna’am, you can count on it.”She turned to leave and then changed her mind. She looked me right in the eye. “(think you’re the man to build the library,”she said.I refused. I had just been divorced, was feeling very sorry for myself, and had no stomach for any crusades, not even one asworthy as a library.But she was a woman who could not accept ‘no.” She kept after me until I reluctantly agreed. Shortly afterward, we calledour first meeting in The Voice office, inviting all the civic clubs and municipalities to send representatives.It was snowing on the appointed night and only eight people showed up, including myself and Harriet Cowman. We werediscouraged but did not give up. Oddly enough, exactly one year from that date the library was completed and dedicated.I was elected first chairman of the Library Committee, druggist Price Webb (now dead, alas) of the Lions Club was vicechairman, and Harriet was chief cheerleader. We asked the civic clubs and municipalities to each appoint an official representativeto the board. Many of them did.Tony grumbled: A. J. . Tony Eline donated the land. He was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in St. Matthews’history, having made a fortune in real estate development and auto sales. He gave us the two lots on which the library nowstands and added $10,000 to the gift. In return we agreed to name the library after his son, Sidney, who was killed in WorldWar II.Tony was an argumentative man. He suggested we get Augustus and Doumas, architects, to design the building and superviseits construction. Then he grumbled after we did because Ed Augustus and John Doumas — who generously did all thework for nothing — hired union labor to carry out construction. “I could have got it done a lot cheaper,” he complained.“But, Mr. Eline,” I protested. “You recommended them to us.”“Well, I didn’t know they'd use union labor.”25th Anniversary Issue“But I thought you had worked with them before. Why did you recommend them?