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About Us
Lewisport, as the name implies is a river town. Its origin and progress are tied to the Ohio River. It was by way of the river that early settlers came to Lewisport, settled and earned their livelihoods. The flat, fertile farm land was densely forested and needed to be cleared for farming. Farmers and loggers, working together and often one, floated their wares to markets to the south on flatboats made from the felled trees. Upon reaching their destination, these flatboats were dismantled and sold for building materials and their owners traveled overland back to Lewisport often via the Natchez Trace. Among these settlers were James and John Prentis and their friend, John Lewis. The Prentis brothers laid out the town of Lewisport in 1837 and named it for their friend John Lewis who was a very early settler and large land owner.
The river has been friend and foe to Lewisport. The town was laid out with a wide space of public land to the north of Front Street that was to be used as a common. This land and Front Street were lost to erosion beginning in the late 1800s and completed by 1920. Front Street was the early business district which then had to move south, away from the river since space for only one of the original businesses remained. Chronological records list year after year such entries as: “River on Rampage” and “River Surrounds Lewisport.” In 1937 came the prototype flood of all floods in Lewisport (as well as other Ohio River towns). Records indicate the extent of its devastation: 151 of 168 homes and 28 of 30 businesses were in water.
The river provided a “coming of age” event for many Lewisport boys (and some girls) as swimming the Ohio offered a ceremonial measurement of their toughness. Coupled with swimming the river was also climbing the “old” water tower.
The water tower is a Lewisport icon to progress. It represents the first of many, many grants, individual and corporate gifts and other creative methods that have funded major projects. Included among these are, the sewer and water systems,1936 and 37; Lewisport Consolidated School ,1937; City owned Lewisport natural gas, 1958; and luring Harvey Aluminum 1963 through issuance of industrial building revenue bonds for $50,000,000 (which caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal). Recently, grants and gifts have extended and upgraded gas, sewer and water systems; built a commemorative park; rip rapped the river bank by the park; built a pavilion in the center of town; restored one of the early buildings to house the Hancock County Farm Museum and upgraded curbs, guttering and sidewalks that provide handicap accessibility.
Linked to progress is the railroad, built in the late 1800s, which became a major transporter of people and goods. The railroad opened Lewisport to the outside world. Before a high school was established in Lewisport in 1917, many students rode the “Plug” to Owensboro to continue their education. Many caught the passenger train to shop in Owensboro and Louisville.
The confluence of factors such as rich, flat land; the Ohio River and close terminals; the railroad; U.S. Highway 60; minerals such as coal, clay, and silica; geographic location; ready work force and City infrastructure, place Lewisport in an enviable position for industrial/business interests. The beautiful Ohio River provides excellent building sites and outstanding recreational opportunities.
Citizens of Lewisport have possessed initiative, ingenuity and a “can do” spirit through the years. As opportunities opened someone stepped in. People work together and in conjunction with agencies to accomplish much. Perhaps the thread that runs brightly throughout Lewisport’s history is friendship. From the beginning of its history friendship was demonstrated in selecting the name Lewisport instead of Prentisport. Of all the benefits of a small town, friendship is foremost. Neighbors care about one another. Recorded in our history are such happenings as in 1929 as “World Series bet paid. Huber Richards rolled a peanut from in front of Hayden’s Store to the corner of Joe Pell’s store to pay a bet with Hal Hayden” or “On the same day, Herbert Owens rolled an egg for two blocks with a croquet mallet. The results were many broken eggs.” These things still happen here although they are not recorded in history. In its almost “Mayberry-ish” environment, it is not hard to see why “Every day is a good old day in Lewisport,” and that it is a place where people come to visit and return to stay.