November 10th 1976: 40th Anniversary of the Manual High School Race Riots (Vol.1 Issue 4)

On November 10th, 1976, a violent incident at duPont Manual High School resulted in over 30 students suspended, 16 students injured, and 8 arrested by the Louisville Police department.

According to duPont Manual historian Mike McDaniel in his 2005 book on the history of the school, November 11, 1976 was "quite probably the worst day in the history of Manual."

The incident, referred to as a 'race riot' by the Board of Education and faculty at the school,  was extensively covered by reporter Wanda Nichols, in several articles in the Courier Journal.

According to Nichols investigation, tensions had been rising between white and black students for awhile at the school, but unrelated to the 'busing for desegregation' disturbances happening around the same time, such as at Durrett and Fairdale high schools, as Manual was exempt from court-ordered busing because its racial makeup already met federal guidelines; At the time duPont Manual had about 1,600 white students and 800 black students.

Students reported to Nichols that for some time white students complained that they were punished more harshly than black students for infractions. Manual Principal George Sauer addressed parents at a meeting that night reassuring parents that 'We don't care what color they are. The same offense gets the same punishment regardless of race.'

But students told Nichols that the riot that occurred in the cafeteria on the morning of November 10 was over an incident with two black students who had previously been suspended returned returned to school that morning and harmed a white girl. Next 150 white students stormed the hallways chanting 'White Power' which resulted in a vicious clash in the cafeteria shortly before 11 am. that ended with 20 police officers rushing into the school to stop the riot. An unnamed security guard told Nichols "those kids were really trying to kill each other."

Wanda Nichols found that two Manual girls were treated at area hospitals for injuries congruent with a physical assault, although one of the girls, Bonnie Boston, reported that she was unable to determine the race of the assailants. For the rest of the week Manual High School was surrounded by police cars and guarded by over a dozen officers. "The worst I've ever been hurt in 18 years I've been in the school system" Principle Sauer told Nichols about the actions of his students; "I was ashamed. I was embarrassed."

The history of duPont Manual High School shows an altogether opposite interpretation of tolerance than of the actions on November 10th 1976. dupont Manual High School is an amalgamation of two High Schools, Female High School (opened in 1856 as the counterpart to Male High School) and duPont Manual Training High School (for boys) opening in 1892. They merged in 1950 becoming the coeduactional duPont Manual High School.
And even though Male and Manual have the oldest football rivalry in the state (dating back to 1893), the two schools (and football teams) successfully merged from 1915 to 1919.

duPont Manual eventually moved past the incident, what Principal Sauer called the "blemish on the school's name," and in 1991 Manual was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School  by the United States Department of Education, the highest honor the department can bestow on a school.

duPont Manual High School (Public Domain Photo)

Source Guide:

 "Stand Up and Cheer : the Official History of du Pont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky" by Mike McDaniel (2005). 

"Racial Fight at Manual High School causes several injuries,  two arrests" by Wanda Nichols in the Courier-Journal. Nichols, Wanda (1976-11-11).  

"Calm Restored, Manual Seeks Causes of Unrest" by Wanda Nichols in the  Courier-Journal. (1976-11-12). 

 "Manual teachers want money for more security guards" by Wanda Nichols in the  Courier-Journal. (1976-11-13). 

November 2nd, 1920: Power of the Vote Gives Black Citizens a Chance for a future (Vol. 1 issue 3)

   On November 2nd, 1920, Louisvillians voted on the University of Louisville's municipal bond issue for using $1 Million of taxpayer money to expand it's Belknap Campus. The bond issue needed a two-thirds 'affirmative' vote for passage, but the bond issue failed by more than four thousand votes.

The University of Louisville's written history by the the University Archives and Records Center states that the university at the time believed that only the passage of this bond issue would insure the University's future but the municipal bond was defeated by a concerted effort by the African American community in Louisville using the power of the vote to voice their needs.

U of L at that time did not accept black students, and yet was looking for taxpayer money to fund the institution.  According to The University of Louisville, a written history of the University by Dwayne D. Cox and William J. Morison, The black community expressed their opposition on the grounds that tax dollars from black Louisvillians would be used to support higher education for white students only, they forced the university and the city to make funds available for African American higher education if they wanted to see the bond issue pass.

The University worked with leaders in the black community who wanted an African American liberal arts university established in Louisville. The University of Louisville Trustees agreed to set aside 10% of the $1 million bond issue ($100,000) for this purpose and in 1925 the bond issue was passed due to the support of the black community.

On February 9, 1931, the Louisville Municipal College for Negroes opened under the administration of the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville, for the purpose of meeting the higher education needs of the black community. With 6 faculty members, under the instruction of Dr. Rufus Clement as Dean, the school offered a four year liberal arts curriculum and had a inaugural class of 83 students.

The Louisville Municipal College was one of only three liberal arts colleges for African Americans established in the United States at that time and operated for 20 years, with Florence Johnson as its first graduate and graduating more than 500 students by the time it closed in 1952.

www.thisdayinpopculture.com

Louisville Municipal College for Negroes
(Courtesy of University of Louisville 
Archives & Special Collections)

Reference List:
Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (U of K) http://nkaa.uky.edu/record.php?note_id=1410

University of Louisville Database on Louisville Municipal College  http://louisville.edu/lmc/history2.html

The University of Louisville By Dwayne D. Cox, William J. Morison
https://books.google.com/books?id=770eBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=university+of+Louisville+1920+municipal+bond+issue&source=bl&ots=xr_QBQAn_L&sig=KPODHn7rYgAtON7BjlFk5FVzV1w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqzNSkw4XQAhXK7yYKHc4GBZwQ6AEIMTAE#v=onepage&q=university%20of%20Louisville%201920%20municipal%20bond%20issue&f=false

October 29, 1960: Muhammad Ali Vs The Lawman (Vol.1 Issue 2)

     On October 29th, 1960, Louisville Boxing legend Muhammad Ali (known as Cassius Clay until his name change in 1964) made his professional debut at Freedom Hall in Louisville, winning a six-round match against professional boxer and police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia, Tunney Hunsaker. Also born in Kentucky (in 1930 in Caldwell County) the more seasoned Hunsaker, whose eyes had been swollen shut during the fight, spoke graciously of his defeat according to a 1961 article in The Ring Magazine, remarking "Clay was as fast as lightning" and "I tried every trick I knew... but he was just too good!"

Ali, also known as The Louisville Lip, was well known for his trash talking of rival boxers but in regards of his first professional opponent, Ali spoke highly of his talent, remarking that one of the hardest hits he ever received in the ring was delivered by Hunsaker.

    Hunsaker's boxing career ended just two years later after a knockout punch by professional boxer Joe Shelton left him in a coma for nine days. Hunsaker recovered and continued to serve Fayetteville West Virginia as police chief for 38 years and was inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall Of Fame.

According to Ali's autobiography the two remained good friends throughout their lives.  Tunney Hunsaker died at the age of 75 in 2005 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Reference List:

1961 article "Glove Action" in The Ring Magazine.

Box Rec: Tunney Hunsaker http://boxrec.com/boxer/9362

Law Enforcement Hall of Fame: http://www.aphf.org/

The Greatest: My Own Story - Muhammad Ali

www.thisdayinpopculture.com 

October 18 1918: The City Is Saved By Women (Vol.1 Issue 1)

Sealbach Hotel circa 1905. Public Domain

On October 18th, 1918, an emergency meeting was held at the Sealbach Hotel concerning the rapid spread of the influenza virus in Louisville. The outbreak, known later as the 1918 Flu Pandemic that would infect 500 million people worldwide, spread quickly around the world aided by the movement of troops involved in WWI. Military installations tended to be hit hardest, and Louisville happened to house the largest World War I Army training camp in North America, Camp Zachary Taylor.  Camp Taylor housed over 45,000 enlistees and officers in 1,530 buildings over 3,376 acres.

On September 24 the Louisville Times reported over 100 soldiers at the camp had caught the flu. By the next day that number more than doubled, and within a week it had infected 2,100 soldiers.
Officers at Camp Taylor enacted measures to protect the city; soldiers were prohibited from entering movie theaters, restaurants, and other establishments in Louisville. Military Police were stationed in strategic  locations in town to stop soldiers from entering the public but it was too late. On October 12th the health department reported 2,300 cases in the general population.

By the time members of the state Board of Health, the U. S. Public Health Service, military authorities, and Kentucky health officers met at the Sealbach Hotel the city was in a desperate situation. The Louisville Board of health reported citizens falling over in the streets across the city.
The meeting proved effective, albeit with decisions unpopular to the public; The state Board of Health ordered effective the next day all saloons, soda stands, and malt shops must close between 6:30 pm until 6:30 am. Churches and synagogues could open for individual prayer and meditation only as well as a ban on public funerals. A state-wide order closing all churches, schools, and places of amusement was also in effect.
Louisville citizens banded together volunteering their services. The Women’s Service League and Louisville Automobile Club worked together in organizing a motor pool to help nurses carry out house calls. The Louisville Times reported that the women in particular aided in the effort, donating their automobiles and services to help the nurses make an astounding 2,589 house calls by the end of the month. Nurses were working seven days a week trying to stop the epidemic. The Louisville Board of Health reported having to force nurses and volunteers to take breaks and rest as they were pushing themselves too far in trying to keep up with so many infected.
The work was intensive and took its toll on the medical community and volunteers alike, but it worked. The Currier-Journal reported a decline in reported cases on November 11th. At a second meeting at the Sealbach it was decided that the citywide ban could be lifted and by the holidays the city began to get back to normal. Schools and places of worship reopened, saloons and soda shops too.
Although the toll was great, the Louisville board of health reported 6,736 cases of influenza, with 577 deaths between late September and mid November, it was far less than other metropolitan areas in the region, with Cincinnati, Dayton, and Nashville being hit worse.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates between 30 and 50 million people worldwide died during the pandemic, making it one of the worst natural disasters in human history, with an estimated 675,000 Americans among the dead.

1918 Red Cross Station for Flu Pandemic.
Library of Congress. Public Domain

Reference List:

University of Michigan Digital Library http://quod.lib.umich.edu/lib/colllist/

U.S. Government Influenza Archive http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-louisville.html#

1918 Flu Pandemic Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

December 1st, 2012 Pro Wrestler Taeler Hendrix win's OVW Championship for a third time (Vol.1 Issue 7)

On December 1st, 2012, professional wrestler Taeler Hendrix defeated Taryn Terrell to win the Ohio Valley Wrestling Women's Championship for a third time in a 'poop in the pool' match during the Saturday Night Special at Davis Arena at 4400 Shepherdsville Road in Louisville.

Taeler had held the title twice before, but it was currently held by professional wrestler Taryn Terrell.
The rules of this title match stipulated that the loser had to jump into a kiddie pool filled with what was described as 'Taeler Hendrix' dog's poop'.

According to the GWH Radio Network, Taeler Hendrix had dumped 'dog poop' over Taryn Terrell's head during a previous OVW match.

 Before the max had even started, Taryn jumped into the ring and attacked Taeler while her back was turned and started beating Taeler's face into the rope posts. This gave Taryn the upper hand and for most of the match it seemed she would hold onto her title. But at the last minute Taeler was able to turn the tables on Taryn with a mule kick to win the Women's Championship title for a third time.

As stipulated, Taryn had to get into the 'poop pool', but as she bent over to get in Taeler ran up from behind to kick her and Taryn swiftly moved out of the way as the new champion fell in.

November 23rd 1918: As for Victory Parades, 3rd time's a charm (Vol.1 Issue 6)

Click Here to Read  This Week in Louisville History: Third time’s a charm for World War I victory parade On leoweekly.com

November 18th 1926: First Royalty to visit Louisville to much delight, and a few children's sadness (Vol.1 Issue 5)

Click here to read This Week in Louisville History: Queen Marie of Romania visits the city on leoweekly.com