Meandering Through Memories of Mount Washington by Violet Wise Mount Washington was founded around 1833, and now it’s impossible to interview someone who’s lived here since it was founded, however we can still talk to people who lived here for quite a while, long before larger neighborhoods started being built. Arletta Walker moved to Mount Washington around 1970, she built a house in the small neighborhood of Cedar Lake dr, while there are now six houses, a church, and an apartment complex, contrasting the vast expanse of trees and farm land from when she moved here. When interviewed she had a large amount of stories to tell about how Mount Washington was when she lived here, in which she only moved out in 2002. One of her favourites she told was about the time her husband, Edgar Walker had lit a small bonfire and had almost lit a cornfield on fire. Of course it never fully spread to the dried out corn but something that big could have definitely reshaped part of Mount Washington. When asked about how she felt about Mount Washington growing she said she liked it better when the town was smaller and she knew everybody. Which was partially why she moved to a small town in Missouri. “I live in a nice small community across from the senior center I volunteer at. I know everyone that lives in the neighborhood. Just how I like it,” said Walker However she still visits, one of her daughters lives in her old home along with two of her grandchildren. Both of her grandchildren being my brother and I. My mom and aunt both grew up in Mount Washington, my aunt attended Bullitt East. Her picture is even up in the lobby, under the students with the top 10 highest GPA scores of 1988. Both my mom and my aunt went to Mount Washington Middle when they taught half of the fifth graders in the county. As previously mentioned my grandma was a large part of the community and knew a lot of people, one of the biggest changes she pointed out was the new park. Before there was a park there used to be an older woman that lived there that taught a lot of the children in Mount Washington how to play piano. Supposedly she even had her own children’s orchestra for a while that would play for the church during smaller events. This older woman that lived there was a large part of Mount Washington when she was around.
Arletta Walker, Becky Wise, and Nancy King in front of their barn. Becky Wise and Nancy King are the daughters of Arletta Walker. “It was always enjoyable going outside and letting the girls play,” said Walker.
Arletta Walker and her daughter Becky Wise at a family reunion in Mount Washington. “I believe Mount Washington was the best place to rasie my two daughters,” said Walker.
“I live in a nice small community across from the senior center I volunteer at. I know everyone that lives in the neighborhood. Just how I like it,” said Arletta Walker. 6
