Audubon, Henderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audubon
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 Audubon
Location in Kentucky
Audubon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Henderson County |
| City | Henderson |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
42420
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| Area code(s) | 270, 364 |
Audubon, also known as the "South Side", is a neighborhood in Henderson, Kentucky. It's a busy part of the city with many streets forming its borders. The Audubon Grade School building is a well-known landmark in this area.
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History of Audubon
During the 1800s, people mostly traveled by walking or on horseback. This meant that towns and villages needed to be built close to each other. East of Henderson, two small villages grew up. Today's Clay Street was the dividing line between their school districts. Weaverton was to the south, and Audubon was to the north.
Local stories say that the famous bird artist, John James Audubon, built the very first house in this wooded area. It was supposedly at the corner of Loeb and Shelby streets. The area started to grow more when the Cotton Mill was built in 1883. The mill also built houses for its workers in 1885. A furniture company, first called Ohio Valley Furniture Co., opened in 1886. It later became Marstall Furniture in 1895.
By 1900, the Cotton Mill employed 600 people, paying them $8,000 each week. Marstall Furniture had 150 workers, who earned $2,500 weekly.
Early Schools in Audubon
The Cotton Mill also built the first schoolroom in the area. It was near the corner of Letcher and Powell streets. An old city judge, Ed Hare, remembered in 1950 that only younger children went to this school. Many older kids had to work in the mill, some starting as young as nine. Ed Hare himself began working at age 11. Another resident, Mrs. Hattie Williams, recalled seeing children walk to work barefoot, even in the snow.
Despite these challenges, education became more important. By 1898, two teachers were needed, and one of them, John Dillahay, taught 90 students. Working conditions improved by 1900, and parents wanted more education for their children. So, an addition was built onto the school.
In 1905, the Audubon area officially became part of Henderson. Residents then asked for a new school. The board of education bought a church and its land for $2,675. This was at the southeast corner of Letcher and Clay streets. Spalding Trible was hired as the architect for the new Audubon Grade School.
Construction started in 1906, and the school opened its doors in 1907. At one point, it had the largest number of students in the public school system. Sadly, the school closed in 1976 after its furnace exploded.
The Audubon post office closed in 1895. However, the government still recognized Audubon as a town as late as 1950. A letter sent to an address in "Audubon" was still delivered!
Audubon Heights
Audubon Heights is considered part of the larger Audubon area. Its boundaries are Powell Street to the east, S Alvasia Street to the south, Cherry Street to the west, and S Green Street to the north. In the 1800s, this neighborhood was seen as the main part of Audubon. This was because it was closer to Green Street and its businesses, making it more convenient.
Douglas High School and Integration
The only school in Audubon Heights was Douglas High School. This school was specifically for Black students from both the city and the county. In 1965, desegregation happened in the city school system. This meant that schools became open to students of all races. Douglas High School then merged with Henderson City High School.
After the merger, Douglas High School was turned into a public swimming pool. Later, it became the John F. Kennedy Center, a community hub. Both Black and white students then attended Henderson City High School. The last location of that high school is now known as Henderson South Middle School, located in the Audubon Heights area.
