The “K & I” and I bridge, built in 1881, was the first bridge between Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana. it was originally built with wooden planking on the side of the single railroad track upon which horses and buggies could carry passengers and goods across the river. When it was rebuilt with two lines of railroad tracks, single lane metal roadways were constructed on either side. Because of the sound that tires made on the metal grading below, the bridge was often called “The Humming” bridge by local residence who often crossed.
Having driven over the bridge back then, I was pleased to revisit it again with Louisville West End, native Fred Straub on March 16, 2024.
The song I sing in the background is entitled “The Ohio” and was written by Tim Krekel (1950-2009), Louisville’s beloved singer songwriter who grew up in Louisville’s west end. His “West End Song (Ooh Wah Ooh),” accompanied by Eddie Hysinger on harmonica, says it all!
Video-
copyright 2024 by RVS@VANSTOCKUM.COM all rights reserved
Song-
“The Ohio” by Tim Krekel, copyright Tim Krekel
(sung and played by Reggie Van Stockum)
#reggievanstockum
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1 Comment
Sammie Hayes
January 18, 2025 at 1:33 pmThanks for the history of the K&I bridge, I was doing a paper on a history timeline of art in Louisville and decided to use the K&I. Glad I did and found your video to show me exactly how it worked back so long ago.