What’s in a name?

Behind the Chenoweth name in Louisville, KY

An old-timey page shows a drawn portrait of a man named Richard Chenoweth, "The Famous Pioneer."

Capt. Richard Chenoweth is known as one of LOU’s founding fathers. | Library of Congress

When you live in Louisville for long enough, you start to see the same names popping up again and again.

Brown, Frazier, Breckenridge, Chenoweth. Whether they’re designating streets or are the namesake of popular cultural institutions, you’re bound to see a few of these well-known names.

So, today we’re digging up the history of one of these families, the Chenoweths, to learn how they came to be such predominant Louisvillans.

Who is the original Chenoweth?

Known as one of the seven founding fathers of Louisville, Capt. Richard Chenoweth was contracted by the state of Virginia to build Fort Nelson — which is now Fort Nelson Park downtown at 705 W. Main St.

He and his family made their way to the 502 from Frederick County, Virginia on the expedition with George Rogers Clark in 1778.

Not long after arriving, he became the Jefferson County sheriff in 1781 + the Justice of the Peace of the Jefferson County Court in 1783.

Though that all seems great, Chenoweth was plagued by financial issues — since he was never adequately compensated for his work on Fort Nelson — and his family fell victim to an attack known as the Chenoweth Massacre in 1789.

The site of the massacre, the Chenoweth Fort-Springhouse, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Though he died in debt in 1802, the Chenoweth name lives on most recognizably as the well-trafficked street Chenoweth Lane and shopping mall Chenoweth Square.

Bonus: Learn more about Chenoweth’s stomping ground at the Historic Middletown Museum at 11700 Main St.

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Wednesday, October 26

Venardos Circus | Wed., Oct. 26 - Sun., Oct. 30 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park, 1101 E. River Rd., Louisville | $16.00 - $46.00 | Created by a former Ringling Bros. Ringmaster, this traveling circus showcases aerialists, acrobats, comedy, magic + more.

Thursday, October 27

Oct. 27 Comedy Night at Gravely | Thu., Oct. 27 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Gravely Brewing Co., 514 Baxter Ave., Louisville | Free | Get your tricks at this comedy show featuring local comedians.

Friday, October 28

Trick or Treat at the Ballpark | Fri., Oct. 28 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Louisville Bats, 401 E Main St, Louisville | $5+ | Get your costumed kiddo the baseball trick-or-treat experience + stay for a screening of “Halloweentown.”

Saturday, October 29

My Morning Jacket | Sat., Oct. 29 | 7 p.m. | KFC YUM! Center, 1 Arena Plaza, Louisville | $36.00 - $65.00 | See Jim James in costume at this beloved local band’s homecoming show.
Norton Commons Fall Festival | Sat., Oct. 29 | 2-5 p.m. | Norton Commons, 10712 Meeting St., Louisville | Free | Celebrate the harvest season with trick-or-treating, train rides + face painting.
October Spooktacular: Showing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) | Sat., Oct. 29 | 8 p.m. | Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th Street, Louisville | $14.00 | Get ready to “Time Warp” at this 1970s cult classic starring Tim Curry being shown on the big screen.
Spirit Ball: A Victorian Masquerade | Sat., Oct. 29 | 7-11 p.m. | Conrad Caldwell House Museum, 1402 Saint James Ct, Louisville | $200.00 | Celebrate Halloween in the most haunted neighborhood in the city with Victorian cocktails, gourmet appetizers + a tarot card reading.

Sunday, October 30

Pup-r-treat | Sun., Oct. 30 | 3-7 p.m. | Paristown , 720 Brent St. , Louisville | Free | This one’s for the dogs — bring your furry friend in costume to collect toys + treats to take home.
Sunday Showcase: Dia de los Muertos Community Day | Sun., Oct. 30 | 1-4 p.m. | Speed Art Museum, Louisville | $10+ | Celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday by leaving an offering + enjoying live music, dancing, and art activities.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

58º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Open

You can now get Honey Creme Donuts in the 502. The popular New Albany-based shop opened a walk-up window at 651 S. 4th St. in the lobby of CC’s Kitchen. Honey Creme offers a variety of danishes, brownies + donuts. It’s open daily from 5 a.m.-1 p.m. 🍩

Legacy

Actor Leslie Jordan, who plays Phil on the Louisville-based sitcom “Call Me Kat,” died on Monday at age 67. Though he was from Tennessee, Leslie told The Courier-Journal that Kentucky was a place he knew well, as he used to exercise horses in Lexington before stardom + frequented nearby saddlebred farms in Shelbyville. (The Courier-Journal)

Eat

Chef Noam Bilitzer is popping up with his Meesh Meesh Mediterranean concept at the Eat Your Bourbon Marketplace at 2710 Frankfort Ave. on Sat., Oct. 29. Chef Noam, who won “Chopped” in 2018, will be offering salatim, hummus bowls, chocolate babka + an extra virgin olive oil washed gin martini pairing. 🥙

Try This

The Frazier History Museum’s new subscription bourbon club, Bourbon Limited, is delivering its first expression to members — a Peerless Small Batch Reserve — in the first week of November. The club allows members to purchase rare + limited-edition bottles of bourbon once every two months. Join the club. 🥃
At this week’s NuLu Nights event on Thurs., Oct. 27, The Local Seltzery will host 502 Cafe food truck + local creator Olivia Lally selling custom rugs.

Seasonal

Hermitage Farm is offering a new hayride and lantern tour through Sun., Nov. 6. The 1.5-hour tour includes a ride around the farm, a walking tour through the gardens, and access to the farm’s Art Walk immersive light show. Arrive 30 minutes early to catch a cider pressing demonstration.

Outdoors

Fall foliage is expected to reach its peak in Derby City next week, according to this interactive map published by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy the changing leaves at any of Olmsted’s 17 parks or Cave Hill Cemetery — we’ll be past peak by Mon., Nov. 7. (LEO Weekly)

Pets

The Animal Care Society is offering half-off on all pet adoptions through Mon., Oct. 31. The no-kill animal shelter is open Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. + on Thursdays 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Browse these adoptable pets to find your new furry friend. 🐱

Featured Deal

Nashville’s JW Marriott is offering a nightly discount on luxurious accommodations, including two complimentary Barrel-Aged Old Fashioneds, and 50% off nightly valet parking through Feb. 28, 2023 with code: ZX0.*

Shop

Cooler temperatures mean that it’s officially boot scootin’ season. Zulily is offering up to 40% off MUK LUKS boots + booties for a limited time. We love this pair of brown ankle boots that are on sale for $39.99. 👢*

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From the horse’s mouth 🐴

Celebrate Louisville’s first Hot Brown Week with “spokeshorse”

Six-year-old thoroughbred horse Somelikeithotbrown stands outside a garage wearing a branded silk that says "Kentucky Downs."

Somelikeithotbrown is a six-year-old throughbred with $1.6 million in career earnings. | Photo by Skychai Racing

Derby City’s first-ever Hot Brown Week is happening now through Sun., Oct. 30, and the event celebrating the 502’s culinary icon has the exact spokesperson to match.

Rather, spokeshorse. Six-year-old racing champion, Somelikeithotbrown of locally-based Skychai Racing, was tapped to represent the inaugural event, in which restaurants, including Cask Southern Kitchen and The Uptown Cafe, will be offering $10+ hot browns across the city all week.

Currently residing at Churchill Downs, Somelikeithotbrown has achieved 10 first-place finishes with career earnings of $1.6 million. He’s also the son of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown.

To participate in Hot Brown Week, download the app + check in at four or more different restaurants to be entered to win a $250 gift card. See the full list of participating restaurants.

Pro tip: If you rack up 150 points in the app during the week, you’ll win a special ‘Get Down with The Hot Brown’ t-shirt.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by City Editor Sarah.

Editor’s pick: Yesterday was The Brown Hotel’s 99th birthday — who knew it was a Scorpio?

While you can obviously get a Hot Brown there — since that’s where the dish was invented — the hotel’s contribution to Hot Brown Week is actually a pasta-ified version of the culinary icon with a rich garlic cream sauce + roasted vegetables. Book your table at J. Graham’s.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Meet these legendary LOU monsters here.

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Editorial: Sarah Shadburne, Katie Molck, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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