View here was taken around 6PM, December 26, in Jeffersonville, Indiana looking at Louisville, Kentucky. In between the two places is the Ohio River. I often compare Louisville to Richmond, Va, and the river is one big reason. Like the James in Richmond, the Ohio River defines the city, and in fact was the reason for its founding. Falls at the Ohio River were a crossing point and at that point the city was founded. It is especially impressive at night and I liked this photo that I took. Much of the city is new, but a lot of the city is reused and recycled, it is a new and growing place, but also with a vibrant history as well.
This is the old Colgate factory. The clock there is one of the largest in the world (at one time it was in the top five). I will have a nighttime photo of it on my photo page very soon (probably as you read this, but if not soon). Colgate was built as a State Prison, and was later converted to a factory. Colgate closed it a few years ago, those were some great jobs, but as with so many manufacturing jobs in so many places, many such places in both Indiana and Kentucky have gone over the last few years (and this is also before the election of Obama..its been a long ongoing process). The future use of this complex is unclear but it remains silent and empty for now.
A nice view of the Ohio River and the Big Four Bridge. It is being converted to a walkway across the river in a long term ongoing plan. Bridges are a big problem in the area. There are three across the river in the Louisville area, the Clark Bridge, the Kennedy and the Sherman-Minton. The Sherman-Minton had some damage which has closed it, making traffic problems huge in the area and resulting in massive traffic jams. Louisville has grown substantially since the 1960's, but has not built a new bridge since that time (the Kennedy being the newest around 1962 or so) and they are paying a high price for that mistake now.
Jeffboat has been building ships and barges since before the Great Depression when it was the Howard Shipyards. The Navy took it over during the war and it built a great number of ships (especially landing craft) during that period. It is one of the largest employers in Jeffersonville, Indiana and is the largest inland shipbuilder in the US. Those giant cranes are really impressive. Along with barges, they also build casino steamboats, which is what they started out doing (without the "Casino" part) when they began operations way back in the day. A most impressive company located along the shore of the Ohio River.
I enjoy my visits to the area, this one was short (basically two days) and due to the travel situation with the bridges I did not make a trip over to Louisville this time. The bridge is supposed to be repaired by March, and that should improve matters greatly in that area. Hopefully, things will be back to normal for everyone, across the river traffic has been a real adventure according to family and friends in the area. I look forward to my next visit there, and hope you have enjoyed this short look. More photos can be seen on my photo page of the Louisville area.
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