Downtown Stories is a place where we’ll share experiences and recollections about beautiful Downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana. Have a Downtown Story that you want to share? Email us at [email protected]

The Lightbulb

By Barbara Brewster, October 2025

Merriam-Webster defines downtown as “the main business district or central part of a city or town.” I would add the “heart of the city.”

Growing up in the late 40’s and 50’s, I lived what was then referred to as “way out in the country” complete with a RR1 Box 12 address. I didn’t know much about downtown or what it was. But I do remember riding with the family at night on a street bright with neon signs, especially one that my younger sister always wanted to see. “Walking shoes” she called it. It was a shoe store in the 400 block of Spring Street. I think it had a large sign over the window with shoe outlines in several neon colors that came to life progressing upward, lighting one shoe at a time to simulate walking. That was my only knowledge of downtown. Clueless, but really too young to understand.

At Christmas I remember the strings of lights strung across Spring Street with green wreathes hanging in the center. I sat in Bensinger’s Furniture Store window one year, posing for an artist to sketch my portrait in pastel chalk, and watched sidewalks crowded with people rushing to finish their shopping at the local stores. J C Penney, Bacon’s, and Yeoman’s Linda Shop come to mind. Public Service Indiana and Indiana Gas Company had offices on Spring Street too, all decorated for the holidays.

Warder Park was always interesting, with all of the trees adorned in 5′ tall white coated trunks. Never knew why they were coated, didn’t have a clue to “downtown.” In the late 50’s early 60’s, I went downtown to attend then Jeffersonville Junior High School, then Jeff High, and went home to the “country” at 3 o’clock, still clueless as to what “downtown” meant.

Jeffersonville has gone through many changes since those days.

The opening of Youngstown Shopping Center in the late 1950’s saw stores move out of downtown to the suburbs, so that’s where we shopped. Urban Renewal was the new thinking. It’s mantra …. “it’s old, ugly, not worth renovating, tear it down.” Downtown became almost non-existent. Empty stores, empty parking spaces, very few people. Didn’t go there. The 70’s-80’s brought new street lights, trees and a renovation came to Spring Street, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. And since I was working in downtown Louisville, that’s where I shopped. Like the concept of “the cloud” in today’s world, “downtown” was just a word that had little meaning to me, the unknown. Just old buildings. No clue.

In the 90’s, a new group, Jeffersonville Main Street, Inc. it was called, came into being. “Downtown Revitalization” was the keyword. My late husband, Sonny, was asked to serve on the initial board, and called me at work one day to get my opinion as to whether he should accept. He had grown up downtown, and felt compelled to accept, but still wanted my input.

After hearing the mission and purpose, I told him yes, do it. So began my 35-year relationship with JMSI, and my slow development of an understanding of downtown. The light was beginning to flicker.

Slowly, changes were seen…new ideas, concepts. Many people and organizations were working together to restore the pride in the downtown area. The City of Jeffersonville, Historic Landmarks, Jeff-Clark Preservation, Jeffersonville Main Street along with individuals like Dr. Rita Fleming, with ideas to improve the area, joined forces, and luckily some businesses stayed in their downtown locations. Later, grants from JMSI have become available for retail “Storefront” and residential “Front Porch” building improvements in the downtown area. Because of the building of the Lincoln Bridge and development of the Big Four Bridge, houses in the Historic District were moved to vacant lots on Pearl Street to be rehabbed into offices and retail space. Others were moved, renovated and became new homes for residents. Downtown was waking up, but the lightbulb was still not fully working.

My first realization that downtown was more that streets, buildings and sidewalks was the beginning of the Warder Park Concert in the Park series, sponsored by Jeffersonville Main Street. My husband came up with the idea of an old fashion Sunday afternoon band concert to bring people back downtown. He met with a bit of resistance…’ nobody would come downtown on Sunday afternoon for a band concert, he was told, but was given the go ahead. There were 4 concerts the first year, and being a member of the River Cities Concert Band, which performed twice, I was there. The crowds were small at first, but grew with each concert. One year led to another, the Bandstand was built with much of the construction work completed by local downtown businessmen. Concerts were changed to Friday nights and expanded to run mid-May thru mid-Sept. My husband’s dream was for the concerts to reach the 25-year mark. After Sonny’s death in 2016, Mayor Moore, the City, and Parks Board, graciously added a name to the gazebo in Warder Park, and bands now perform on the “Sonny Brewster Bandstand.” Thanks to many people, the City of Jeffersonville, Parks dept, Jeff Police and Fire, we will celebrate season 35 next year. I was finally getting the downtown concept. It’s not just buildings etc., it’s stores, churches, people, friends, events, restaurants, retail all rolled into one enjoyable package.

Because of the “downtown” feeling, the hard work of so many, Jeffersonville downtown is a destination. Restaurants, shops, coffee shops, of course the “Best Candy Store in America,” Schimpff’s, Sugar Maples, and other century old businesses including Coot’s Funeral Home and Heuser Hardware, bring people from far and near to downtown. The Big 4 Walking Bridge invites people from Louisville who are astonished at the treasure we have. There are things to do year-round.

Summer Warder Park Concerts, Riverstage concerts, The Depot Events, July 4th Parade and Program, Wine Walk, Farm to Table Dinner, Farmers Market all thriving. October saw the return of Steamboat Nights and Trick or Treat at Big 4 Station. Winter brings Holiday Open House, Small Business Saturday, Christmas Cookie Stroll, Christmas Parade and Light Up Jeff, Chili and Brew Fest in February. And there’s always the opportunity to walk the riverfront or bridge and enjoy the Ohio River. All of these events bringing people back to the downtown area to enjoy our wealth. And what a great day in May when our downtown was able to celebrate the reenactment of Lafayette’s visit to Jeffersonville. Watching the parade progress over the walking bridge from Louisville, which included the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, gave this non downtown resident a real feeling of pride in what downtown has and is capable of. I sat with some ladies from Columbus, Indiana who were so complimentary of what we often take for granted.

“Downtown??” Growing up I wondered why anyone would want to be or live there? Too noisy, too dirty, too something or other. Now I get it. A place to go to live, shop, have a great meal, sit with friends over a cup of coffee, or simply be still and enjoy life, and I get to enjoy it, too. Another flicker of the lightbulb.

These days, I find myself there several days a week. Whether it be working with Main Street projects or meetings, Warder Park Concerts, the July 4th Parade, or attending other events. Lunch with friends, after volunteering at Center for Lay Ministries, is usually at one of the local restaurants. Downtown. I’m there. Tuesday’s having lunch at Schimpff’s with a group of friends, some old, some new, then playing cards with JHS Class of ’65 girlfriends at Pearl Street Game and Coffee. Downtown. A lifelong friend and I have lunch at O’Shea’s often, always sitting at the table by the window to people watch while we eat. And we see lots of people, both working and shopping downtown. And I enjoy walking along Spring Street, visiting the variety of shops there.

Downtown.

I don’t live downtown now, in fact I actually live a little farther away than I did growing up, but I’ve come to realize what it is and what it means to those who do live there, and I’m reaping the benefits of “downtown.”

The lightbulb has finally come on.

Barbara Brewster is Chairperson of the Jeffersonville Main Street Concert Committee, President of the JMSI Board, and a resident of Jeffersonville.

The river is still there

By Emma Ellis, October 2025

One of my favorite things to do in Downtown Jeffersonville is, and this may sound a little silly, to go check and see if the river is still there. It is a family tradition on Sunday morning after church, we drive down Riverside Drive to check on the Ohio River. And I know that might sound a little pointless, like, where could the river possibly be going? It’s a river. But it is calming and beautiful to go and just look at the river, take note of it. We don’t do anything other than drive pass. We don’t stop. We don’t take notes or measurements, we don’t even take a photo. We just drive past it, and someone will comment, “The river looks glassy today,” “look how high the water is this week,” “do you think that is a tree stump or a deformed duck in the middle there?” and the rest of us will hum and nod.

Looking at the river isn’t just reserved for Sunday morning drives; in fact, I almost can’t leave downtown without driving down to check on it, no matter what day of the week it is. It is also a wonderful place to picnic, to walk, or to take a date. When I was a kid, we used to meet my dad for lunch down at the river all the time; all the best places to picnic were downtown. The riverside had enough picnic tables scattered around so that you could eat in peace with your family. The beautiful trees are old enough to provide shade, and when you picnic down by the river, there is always a breeze, so even on those hot mid-summer days, you could still eat outside.

The river is also a beautiful place to walk, whether you’re trying to get some exercise in or just trying to work off that dessert. It’s a great place to go – I like walking by it on summer evenings. I remember meeting my cousins for a family dinner downtown and walking down to the river to watch the fireworks being shot off after the Bat’s baseball game. All of the kids would line up on the fence and oohed and awed until they stopped. When the Big Four walking bridge was opened, we would go down almost nightly to see the lights on the walking bridge reflecting in the river. Like moths to a flame, if we see the walking bridge lights, we have to go down Riverside Drive to look at all the colors dancing in the water.

When my parents were dating, one of the things they would do was go down to the river together. They would meet up on their lunch break, and sit on the docks that stick out into the river, eat their lunch, and read to each other. Which I always imagined as so romantic, it sounded like something out of “The Notebook” to me. It’s a peaceful place to think too, down by the river. It’s good for the soul to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Even if you don’t keep tabs on the river like I do, can you imagine Jeffersonville as not a river town? Would Jeffersonville even be here if the river wasn’t? How lucky are we to have our downtown start at the edge of the river? Only a handful of places are home to the banks of the Ohio River; other places can’t build that, they can’t copy that. The city of Jeffersonville is here today because it was built on the banks of the Ohio River, and more than 200 years later, the river is still here. It’s changed, it’s grown, it no longer freezes over in the winter, it rises and falls, but it still ferries barges back and forth, and it still is at the foot of our charming downtown. Every time we drive downtown, the river is still there. And it is kind of comforting to know that no matter how busy or stressed you are, no matter how badly you messed up, or how epically you crashed and burned all of your plans, the river will still be there.

Emma Ellis is a writer and resident of Jeffersonville.

Close enough to Mayberry

By Bob Hill, September 2025

Friday night in a city park in way Southern Indiana. OK, Jeffersonville. Band shelter included. Occupied by a couple identified as “Take Two.” With two fine musicians added. Four sure. The weather slowly announcing there is a September.

Lots of people – lots of older people with a smattering of families – sitting on self- lugged lawn chairs. The Take Two duo carefully explaining the genesis of their music, most of it from the 1930s, 40s and 50s with some Beatles and Kris Kristofferson updates. Had no idea he wrote “Help Me Make It Through The Night” more than 50 years ago. I’d forgotten he had written it at all.

The evening was mostly My Father’s Kind of Music: Jazz. Blues. Ella. Nat King Cole. Benny. Buddy. Those folks. All very nicely done. My old man played their big round records one at a time on an old player perched on our living room table.

Early on Friday night a little girl popped onto the small stage in front of the bandstand for a solo performance, twirling and prancing to the music, arms in the air, oblivious to her audience. Then she ran back to her family sitting on lawn chairs, all smiles, hugs and happiness. Later on a younger couple took the stage, dancing very well, gently twirling as if everyone was watching.

It all just felt good, needed, if not necessary. Nobody was talking tariffs, politics or Putin. Several old friends came up to talk, catch up. A woman came over to talk about a book I had written that included her husband. The music floated across the green grass and up through trees decorated in lights. Somebody mentioned “Mayberry.” Close enough.

Bob Hill is a writer, former columnist for the Courier-Journal, and new resident of Downtown Jeffersonville.

My English Family’s Visit to Downtown Jeffersonville

By Kathryn Jacobi, September 2025

We often take for granted what we see every day in our own backyards. Some years ago, I was visiting Paris and a friend took me up to her apartment and apologized for its tiny living space and plain décor. Then, I looked out her big picture window and saw the Eiffel Tower gleaming in the night.

It took a first visit from my English family last autumn to help me more appreciate what’s in my own backyard. They are world travelers and their professions often require them to travel to many cities in the U.S., South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. They live close to Cambridge, England and work takes them to London several times a week.

However, nothing prepared them for their visit to our little Jeffersonville. The week they were here the weather was perfect and the trees were in their autumn glory. Though we took them to Churchill Downs and visited horse country in the Lexington area, what they enjoyed the most was being in downtown Jeffersonville. Our house is just four blocks from the Big Four bridge. They were very charmed with our downtown as it gave them a glimpse of the “real America.” We laughed when they repeatedly remarked that being here was like “being in a movie.” They genuinely loved being here.

Jeff is a small town at its best. They loved the shops and the restaurants – especially O’Shea’s and Ramiro’s — and our close proximity to everything. We walked the bridge and Riverside Drive to the Falls of the Ohio. They marveled at the size of the Ohio River that’s just around the floodwall from our house. One day while they were out walking on their own, they discovered Schimpff’s. They loved it, of course.

Though we have always appreciated living in downtown, their reactions helped us take a fresh look at what may seem mundane because we see it every day. We bought our house 33 years ago when downtown seemed a bit “tired.” We have witnessed the vibrant growth and remaking of Jeffersonville’s downtown and are very proud to call downtown Jeffersonville our home. So, kudos to Jay Ellis and Jeff Main Street for their vision and work in making our own backyard a place that greatly impressed my world-travelling English relatives.

Kathryn Jacobi is an educator and resident of Downtown Jeffersonville.