They were colorful people who enjoyed the outdoors, recreation and beer -- preferably all at the same time. Story Avenue featured several breweries in those days, including the famous Oertel's. In its heyday in the late 1800s, nearby Phoenix Hill Brewery and Park included a beer garden and picnic grounds with large shade trees, terraced gardens with a center fountain, a huge pavilion with a bandstand and dance floor, a bowling alley, a stage and a roller rink, all of which contributed to the area's suburban quality. The biggest attraction was the 111-foot bar, where residents drank Bohemian Beer from the Brewery. Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson and William Jennings Bryan all delivered speeches at the park.
But the park was closed in the wake of prohibition in 1919 and the brewery was demolished in 1938. Afterward, much of the actual land from Phoenix Hill was excavated for use as landfill elsewhere in the city.
Then, Phoenix Hill was also known as the "East End." It was one of many German communities formed during the period from 1847 to 1867, when about 1 million Germans emigrated to the United States. At the end of the Civil War, Louisville had more than 14,000 German natives in its population of approximately 100,000.
Like other German-based communities, Phoenix Hill maintained a small park or garden as the center of its social activity. In 1866, the Phoenix Hill Brewery was built and a public recreational site was developed in an area bounded by Hull Street and Baxter, Barret and Rubel avenues. The community rose to popularity as a premiere recreation area.
A large pavilion contained a roller skating rink, four bowling lanes, a dance floor, a stage and a 111-foot bar where Bohemian Beer was served. Terraced gardens graced the vast grounds, complemented by a fountain and picnic tables under large trees. From the park people could view downtown Louisville. German neighborhood bands seranaded patrons. Food and beer were sold.
In 1897, lady contestants were featured for the first time in its six-day bicycle races, the "bicycle bowl"; the duo of Montgomery and Stone appeared at the park before going on to vaudeville. There were policemen's and firemen's picnics, and the cakewalk was reportedly introduced to Louisville at the park. Bohemian and lager "Phoenix Beer" produced by the brewery was cooled and aged in arched stone caverns that ran under the resort ark.
Prohibition closed the brewery in 1919. In 1938, the decaying brewery was torn down and the area was used for landfill. A few stones from the walls and stables still stand at 508 Baxter Ave.