Our History
The area, now known as Okolona, was settled in the late 1700’s by families from mostly Virginia and Pennsylvania. Family names like McCawley, Robb, Bates, Beeler and Moore settled the area. The area settled in the southern portion of the district around Cooper Chapel Road and Mount Washington Road was known 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 to the north, near what is now Fern Valley Road, was referred to as the "Cross Roads" community. Due to the vast wet lands, the middle portion of the district was not settled until mid-1800’s and was known as "Meadow Home" for the church and school near McCawley Road and Preston.
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. An application was filed and sent in to Washington D.C. The name proposed on the application was the name last used by the area’s post office “Fish Pool”. New rules in Washington required post office’s to be kept to single word names. 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 told throughout the years of a huge oak tree that was located on Okolona Terrace, behind the 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 a 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 came from our original post office, not 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 seemed the business area was beginning to form near Preston, 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) where many Okolonian’s were getting most their goods and services.
In 1905 the Inner Urban Railroad was expanded out to form the area now known as Okolona. The line was built on the east side of Preston Street and the rail line ended where Golden Corral now sits, a covered shed was built and on it was placed the name "Okolona". The rail 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 the Jefferson County School System. They 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 meetings were often held at the school and at Motherhead’s where ball fields had been built. Around 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 the organizational process was 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 certain 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 the 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.
In October of 1943, Claude Priest, owner of the Peoples Garage, originally housed the equipment utilized by Okolona Fire Department which consisted of a motor, a fire pump, and a water tank all placed on a trailer and towed by member’s 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. On August 5th 1947 the first run (a house fire on McCawley Rd.) was made with new truck. By June 1948 it was decided that a new pump could be placed on the front of the 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. Upon return a new water tank and body was fashioned to the chassis, this original truck is still owned by the department and utilized in parades and other events. In the following 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. Work was started 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. Okolona Fire Protection District's success would never have been possible without the community and their unwavering support.
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. An application was filed and sent in to Washington D.C. The name proposed on the application was the name last used by the area’s post office “Fish Pool”. New rules in Washington required post office’s to be kept to single word names. 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 told throughout the years of a huge oak tree that was located on Okolona Terrace, behind the 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 a 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 came from our original post office, not 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 seemed the business area was beginning to form near Preston, 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) where many Okolonian’s were getting most their goods and services.
In 1905 the Inner Urban Railroad was expanded out to form the area now known as Okolona. The line was built on the east side of Preston Street and the rail line ended where Golden Corral now sits, a covered shed was built and on it was placed the name "Okolona". The rail 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 the Jefferson County School System. They 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 meetings were often held at the school and at Motherhead’s where ball fields had been built. Around 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 the organizational process was 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 certain 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 the 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.
In October of 1943, Claude Priest, owner of the Peoples Garage, originally housed the equipment utilized by Okolona Fire Department which consisted of a motor, a fire pump, and a water tank all placed on a trailer and towed by member’s 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. On August 5th 1947 the first run (a house fire on McCawley Rd.) was made with new truck. By June 1948 it was decided that a new pump could be placed on the front of the 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. Upon return a new water tank and body was fashioned to the chassis, this original truck is still owned by the department and utilized in parades and other events. In the following 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. Work was started 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. Okolona Fire Protection District's success would never have been possible without the community and their unwavering support.
