In 1857, the buildings[which?] were built and used to store whiskey barrels that had been produced from the distilleries nearby.[2] On a list of Louisville Most Endangered Historic Places, the buildings were slated for demolition in 2011,[3] but an agreement between the city, local developers, and preservationists saved Whiskey Row.
Numerous distilleries would transport whiskey barrels to the Louisville market for sale by train or wagon. Main Street became so extremely populated with whiskey firms that it decided to name the buildings Whiskey Row. Due to the countless roles that Kentucky played in the liquor market, it later became the leading producer for distilled spirits. Some of the top liquor companies such as Brown Forman, Greenbrier Distillery, John T. Barbee, amongst other major companies have their offices and businesses in Louisville.[4]
D.X. Murphy & Brother designed the Galt House Hotel and distillery buildings including:
107–109 West Main St., "built by the distilling firm of J.T.S. Brown and Sons, who, under several different titles including Brown, Foreman, and Company, had occupied two different
House of Weller, 121 W. Main Street, separately listed on the National Register in 1979
123 West Main Street, which had housed the Galt House Hotel, a hotel of international reputation developed by Norbourne A. Galt. The hotel was located originally (from 1835 to 1865) at 125–127 West Main and 129-31 West Main Street, then expanded in 1861 to what is now 123 West Main.[7] (With the expansion (?) designed by D.X. Murphy (HMDB source))
On July 6, 2015, a fire partially destroyed three of the Whiskey Row buildings extending from 111 to 115 W. Main Street. Developers vowed to continue redeveloping the properties.[8] The accidental fire began in the basement of one of the buildings that were at the time being renovated. The workers who had been renovating the building were trying to peel away old cast iron piping by using acetylene torches and grinders. According to Maj. Henry Ott, of the Louisville Fire Department, he believes that the slag left behind from these tools dropped and smoldered.[9] Once the fire started from the basement, it made its way up to the rest of the building and across to the two others. Thankfully, the buildings were vacant and there were no injuries.[10]
Development
As of 2014, some or all of the Whiskey Row buildings had been renovated into Old Forester Distillery[11] (its original 1880s home at 119 West Main Street), luxury apartments, restaurants, and retail businesses.[4] When the entire Whiskey Row project would be finished, the 100th block of Main Street was projected to include a distillery tourist attraction, two upscale hotels, and a huge retail outlet.[12]
