Mary Arvin was born in Henderson, Kentucky. She graduated from nursing school in Owensboro and then joined the Red Cross Harvard Base Unit #5 which was sent to France in 1917. She cared for patients throughout the war years and witnessed two German night raid bombings before coming home to Kentucky and being honored by all three major allied forces. This is the first installment of BADASS KENTUCKY WOMEN.

Cholera was a real problem in the 1800s. We didn’t know where it came from or how to treat it. In Springfield, Kentucky, one slave stayed behind while his owner and several other people fled the area completely. He ran the businesses of those who left while caring for the sick and dying. Research comes from ‘It Happened in Kentucky’ by Mimi O’Malley, and The National Center for Biotechnology Information.

In the late 1980s, a Louisville woman named Brenda Sue Schaefer went missing. For months, police and FBI were extremely frustrated. They knew who did it, but they didn’t have the evidence to prove it. After going cold for months, they finally got a break in the case. But what would normally be an ending to a tragic true crime story, would just be the beginning. Get ready to be frustrated! For details on this case, check out the book ‘Double Jeopardy’ by Bob Hill. On behalf of this series, I’m asking listeners to make a donation to The Center for Women and Families. Head to www.thecenteronline.org. Thank you

In the late 1980s, a Louisville woman named Brenda Sue Schaefer went missing. For months, police and FBI were extremely frustrated. They knew who did it, but they didn’t have the evidence to prove it. After going cold for months, they finally got a break in the case. But what would normally be an ending to a tragic true crime story, would just be the beginning. Get ready to be frustrated! For details on this case, check out the book ‘Double Jeopardy’ by Bob Hill. On behalf of this series, I’m asking listeners to make a donation to The Center for Women and Families. Head to www.thecenteronline.org. Thank you

In the late 1980s, a Louisville woman named Brenda Sue Schaefer went missing. For months, police and FBI were extremely frustrated. They knew who did it, but they didn’t have the evidence to prove it. After going cold for months, they finally got a break in the case. But what would normally be an ending to a tragic true crime story, would just be the beginning. Get ready to be frustrated! For details on this case, check out the book ‘Double Jeopardy’ by Bob Hill. On behalf of this series, I’m asking listeners to make a donation to The Center for Women and Families. Head to www.thecenteronline.org. Thank you

Find out what happens to Belle and her Megowan St. mansion in part 2 of the Belle Brezing story. A great resource on Belle and the history, politics and economic revolution of Lexington is the book ‘Madam Belle: Sex, Money and Influence in a Southern Brothel’ by Maryjean Wall.

Belle Brezing had a difficult childhood and early life. The odds were definitely against her. But she managed to create a life so interesting and impactful we still consider her a Lexington Legend today. Find out how her life was intertwined with politics, economics, and of course the lucrative horse industry during the late 1800s and into the early 1900s. Be sure to check out the book ‘Madame Belle: Sex, Money and Influence in a Southern Brothel’ by Maryjean Wall.

This episode will be tough to listen to. Both of these children were murdered before they even had a chance to really live. But their stories are every bit a part of Kentucky history as any other topic I’ve covered and touch an important point which is- if you suspect someone is abusing or neglecting a child, go with your gut and report it. To report in Kentucky, you can call the Kentucky Statewide Child Abuse Hotline at 1-877-597-2331

Mastodons and stag moose and giant sloths, oh my! This story is actually a little sad but also fascinating and you will come away with some excellent fun facts for future use. Source material for this episode includes “It Happened in Kentucky- Remarkable Events That Shaped History” by Mimi O’Malley and ‘Pre-Historic Animals in Kentucky and the Ohio Valley’- R.B. Gilbert- Register of Kentucky State Historical Society Vol. 7 No. 20

Louisville has toyed with the idea of bringing back commuter light rail. And some say the infrastructure is already there in Louisville. Here’s a brief history of streetcar and commuter rail transportation in Louisville and the surrounding region. For a great photo archive go to historiclouisville.weebly.com/interurban-elevated-rail.html. Other source material include ‘A Brief History of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad’ by Charles B. Caster & ‘Curious Louisville: Why Did Our Streetcars Go Away? And Can We Bring Them Back?’ By Erica Peterson (WFPL). Send me your thoughts.