The Okolona District
The Okolona District covers 33 square miles, stretching I-65 from the Watterson Expressway, South to the Bullitt County line. We operate three stations; two on Preston Highway and one on Rangeland Road. In our District, we service a variety of residential homes, as well as interstate roads including I-65 and the Gene Snyder Freeway. We also service commercial businesses including Ford Louisville Assembly Plant (LAP), United Parcel Service (UPS) and General Electric (GE).
The Department is led by Chief Chris Gosnell. He leads a force of 50 career firefighters, 18 volunteer firefighters & two Administrative Staff. The Chief reports to the Board of Trustees consisting of three Mayor-appointed members, two property-elected representatives and two firefighter-elected members. The Board meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at Station #1. The public is always welcome to come see how the inner workings of a fire department are managed.
The Department is led by Chief Chris Gosnell. He leads a force of 50 career firefighters, 18 volunteer firefighters & two Administrative Staff. The Chief reports to the Board of Trustees consisting of three Mayor-appointed members, two property-elected representatives and two firefighter-elected members. The Board meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at Station #1. The public is always welcome to come see how the inner workings of a fire department are managed.
Our History
The area was settled in the late 1700’s by families from mostly VA and PA. Family names like McCawley, Robb, Bates, Beeler and Moore just to name a few. The area settled was further south near what is now Cooper Chapel Road and Mount Washington Road and was known then as Fish Pool for all the ponds and streams that dotted the landscape. There was once a store with a post office bearing the name Fish Pool (1854 to 1856). The area north was near what is now Fern Valley Road and was referred to as the Cross Roads community. Due to the vast wet lands, the middle did not get settled until mid 1800’s and was known as Meadow Home for the Church and School near the McCawley Road and Preston.
The original name for Preston was Shepherdsville Pike for the route it followed to Shepherdsville from Louisville, later named Preston Street (named for William Preston) as it extended from Louisville southward. Each little area seemed to have their own church, school and general stores.
In April 1889, George B. Kyser owner of a local general store (near what is now Preston and Trio on west side of street) felt it was time for the area to get its own post office again. An application was filled out and sent in to the Washington DC, and on it was the name last used by the area’s last post office “Fish Pool”. New rules in Washington required post office’s to be kept to single word names and the Post Master General having an apparent fondness for the just ended civil war, crossed out the name “Fish Pool” and wrote the name “Okolona” in its place. Okolona was the site of a famous battle during the civil war, it is believed he wished to honor this event by naming our post office after this battle place in Mississippi? Upon approval, our new post office was called the Okolona KY Post Office.
Many stories have been spoke of about a huge oak tree that was located on Okolona Terrace, behind then Millers Grocery Store. This tree photographed in early 1930's and then believed to be as old as some of the early settlers of the area, was adopted as an origin of the naming of the community. The high school called their school paper The Acorn. Community flags had oak leaves as symbol to the community, this tree stood well into the 1970's, and was featured in many news articles. It is however the general opinion that our community name had come from our post office, then from this massive and mighty oak? This opinion dates back to 1922 in an article in the Louisville Herald News Paper from Sept 8.
By the late 1800’s it seem the business area was beginning to form near Preston and Robbs Lane, and Maplewood Road, which would both be used for the creation of Outer Loop. By late 1920’s businesses like Peoples Garage, Okolona Bank, Motherhead Ice Cream, Sellers Feed and Hardware Store and Miller Grocery, (later VanFleet's) were where many Okolonian’s where getting most there goods and services.
In 1905 the Inner Urban Railroad was expanded out the area now know as Okolona. The line was built on the east side of Preston Street and rail line ended where Golden Corral now sits, a covered shed was built and on it was placed the name "Okolona". The line was later extended to just past Blue Lick Road so the car could turn around. With this stop being just south of Preston and Robbs Lane, many settled and the center area began to grow tremendously. As automobiles become abundant and bus service created, the inner urban rail line stopped running about 1930.
In 1925, a two room school was built by Jefferson County School System, and named it "Okolona School". The school was located on the site of the current Okolona Elementary School. It was originally grades 1-8, the school was added onto many times and by about 1933 it was grades 1 -12 and had become the center of the community. Special events and meeting where often held at the school and at Motherhead’s where ball fields had been built. In about 1929 the Preston Street Road Improvement Club was formed. Out of those meetings of 1941, were discussions for the need for a fire department and organizational processes were started. As a note the club was later changed to the Preston Highway Improvement Club.
In 1941 America entered WWII and protection of our communities was on everyone’s minds. The War Assets Administrations funded a program for the Office of Civilian Defense, where communities could apply for fire equipment as long as stipulations were met, those being a garage, a truck and manpower. Club members, which were mostly business owners of the community went to work with local political officials and application was made by E.P. White Jr, a county commissioner. Original word was that the community was too small and it was feared they would not be receiving their equipment. Reconsideration was given to small communities and award of equipment was made. Other local communities slated to receive equipment were Highview, Buechel, Fairdale, Lake Dreamland Anchorage and Middletown.
Oct 1943, Claude Priest owner of the Peoples Garage originally housed the equipment which consisted of the motor, fire pump and water tank all placed on a trailer and was towed by members vehicles to fires. Joe VanFleet, a local grocer becomes the first Fire Chief. As stated in the original OCD agreement, a used truck was bought by the club and in Dec 1944 the old equipment was all placed on a 1932 Ford Model B truck and this was used until May 1947 when a new 1946 Ford Cab and Chassis was ordered. Upon arriving, once again Claude Priest and members went to work moving the original WAA equipment over to the new truck. On August 5, 1947 the first run made with new truck was made to a house fire on McCawley Road. By June 1948 it was decided that a new pump could be placed on the front of the new truck and the truck could pump and drive at the same time. The 1946 Ford truck was sent to Dayton KY for the new fire pump installation. On return and new water tank and body was fashioned to the chassis, this original truck is still owned by the department and driven in parades and such. In as many years, the location changed several times as to where the truck would be stored, by late 1947 the truck was being stored in a shed built for it at Joe Snyder's gas station on Preston and Lone Oak. In 1949 the department separated from the Improvement Club and became the Okolona Volunteer Fire Department. By 1951 the need for a permanent fire station was decided, and a building was located in the center of Okolona on Preston Street across from Okolona Terrace, and work began by the volunteers on converting it into the fire station and on January 15, 1952 the first fire run was made from our new station. By June 1953 a new Ford Pumper truck was purchased and placed in service alongside the 1946 Ford Truck.
Well established at this point, the "Okolona Fire Department" was on their way to success and for many years was used as a model for other fire organizations to follow. None would had been possible without the community and their unwavering support.
The original name for Preston was Shepherdsville Pike for the route it followed to Shepherdsville from Louisville, later named Preston Street (named for William Preston) as it extended from Louisville southward. Each little area seemed to have their own church, school and general stores.
In April 1889, George B. Kyser owner of a local general store (near what is now Preston and Trio on west side of street) felt it was time for the area to get its own post office again. An application was filled out and sent in to the Washington DC, and on it was the name last used by the area’s last post office “Fish Pool”. New rules in Washington required post office’s to be kept to single word names and the Post Master General having an apparent fondness for the just ended civil war, crossed out the name “Fish Pool” and wrote the name “Okolona” in its place. Okolona was the site of a famous battle during the civil war, it is believed he wished to honor this event by naming our post office after this battle place in Mississippi? Upon approval, our new post office was called the Okolona KY Post Office.
Many stories have been spoke of about a huge oak tree that was located on Okolona Terrace, behind then Millers Grocery Store. This tree photographed in early 1930's and then believed to be as old as some of the early settlers of the area, was adopted as an origin of the naming of the community. The high school called their school paper The Acorn. Community flags had oak leaves as symbol to the community, this tree stood well into the 1970's, and was featured in many news articles. It is however the general opinion that our community name had come from our post office, then from this massive and mighty oak? This opinion dates back to 1922 in an article in the Louisville Herald News Paper from Sept 8.
By the late 1800’s it seem the business area was beginning to form near Preston and Robbs Lane, and Maplewood Road, which would both be used for the creation of Outer Loop. By late 1920’s businesses like Peoples Garage, Okolona Bank, Motherhead Ice Cream, Sellers Feed and Hardware Store and Miller Grocery, (later VanFleet's) were where many Okolonian’s where getting most there goods and services.
In 1905 the Inner Urban Railroad was expanded out the area now know as Okolona. The line was built on the east side of Preston Street and rail line ended where Golden Corral now sits, a covered shed was built and on it was placed the name "Okolona". The line was later extended to just past Blue Lick Road so the car could turn around. With this stop being just south of Preston and Robbs Lane, many settled and the center area began to grow tremendously. As automobiles become abundant and bus service created, the inner urban rail line stopped running about 1930.
In 1925, a two room school was built by Jefferson County School System, and named it "Okolona School". The school was located on the site of the current Okolona Elementary School. It was originally grades 1-8, the school was added onto many times and by about 1933 it was grades 1 -12 and had become the center of the community. Special events and meeting where often held at the school and at Motherhead’s where ball fields had been built. In about 1929 the Preston Street Road Improvement Club was formed. Out of those meetings of 1941, were discussions for the need for a fire department and organizational processes were started. As a note the club was later changed to the Preston Highway Improvement Club.
In 1941 America entered WWII and protection of our communities was on everyone’s minds. The War Assets Administrations funded a program for the Office of Civilian Defense, where communities could apply for fire equipment as long as stipulations were met, those being a garage, a truck and manpower. Club members, which were mostly business owners of the community went to work with local political officials and application was made by E.P. White Jr, a county commissioner. Original word was that the community was too small and it was feared they would not be receiving their equipment. Reconsideration was given to small communities and award of equipment was made. Other local communities slated to receive equipment were Highview, Buechel, Fairdale, Lake Dreamland Anchorage and Middletown.
Oct 1943, Claude Priest owner of the Peoples Garage originally housed the equipment which consisted of the motor, fire pump and water tank all placed on a trailer and was towed by members vehicles to fires. Joe VanFleet, a local grocer becomes the first Fire Chief. As stated in the original OCD agreement, a used truck was bought by the club and in Dec 1944 the old equipment was all placed on a 1932 Ford Model B truck and this was used until May 1947 when a new 1946 Ford Cab and Chassis was ordered. Upon arriving, once again Claude Priest and members went to work moving the original WAA equipment over to the new truck. On August 5, 1947 the first run made with new truck was made to a house fire on McCawley Road. By June 1948 it was decided that a new pump could be placed on the front of the new truck and the truck could pump and drive at the same time. The 1946 Ford truck was sent to Dayton KY for the new fire pump installation. On return and new water tank and body was fashioned to the chassis, this original truck is still owned by the department and driven in parades and such. In as many years, the location changed several times as to where the truck would be stored, by late 1947 the truck was being stored in a shed built for it at Joe Snyder's gas station on Preston and Lone Oak. In 1949 the department separated from the Improvement Club and became the Okolona Volunteer Fire Department. By 1951 the need for a permanent fire station was decided, and a building was located in the center of Okolona on Preston Street across from Okolona Terrace, and work began by the volunteers on converting it into the fire station and on January 15, 1952 the first fire run was made from our new station. By June 1953 a new Ford Pumper truck was purchased and placed in service alongside the 1946 Ford Truck.
Well established at this point, the "Okolona Fire Department" was on their way to success and for many years was used as a model for other fire organizations to follow. None would had been possible without the community and their unwavering support.
