Cyclone Store
In 1885 a General Store called Cyclone opened at the southwest corner of Bardstown Rd. and Hwy. 44. It was apparently a stand alone as there were no other stores by that name at the
time. It was considered a “stock” business where people could buy stock and have a personal relationship and encourage growth. Albert Miller was the first manager who initially lived up
above the store. In 1906 James “Buddy” Gentry bought the store and continued sale of stock. Buddy had worked at Cyclone as a young man for several years.
Clarence Porter and Hubert Wigginton bought the store from Buddy in 1913. Sometime in the early 20’s Hubert sold out and started his own store in the old Methodist Church building behind Maccabee Hall. In 1937 Clarence was killed in a fatal vehicle accident along with an employee just south of the Salt River bridge. His son William Franklin Porter took over the reins and sometime during his tenure stock sales ceased but those that previously owned stock could continue hold it.
The store was fortunate it didn’t burn to the ground on Nov. 18, 1940 when Maccabee Hall burned to the ground just across the street. If not for a bucket brigade it would have. The heat blew out several of the windows facing Maccabee. The upstairs were converted to apartments and several teachers resided there. The north end of the building was separated and leased to Amos Brown’s IGA grocery in 1969. The property was eventually sold to a gas station company in the 80’s and razed. The business was moved down below at Hwy 44 and College St. William’s sons Larry and Chris participated in running stores in Mt. Washington and Shepherdsville and later Larry was sole proprietor of the one in Mt. Washington. The business was dissolved after 127 years in 201 .
