
Inside Lakeside Swim Club with Brigid Kaelin
Season 2 Episode 4 | 28m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
Local musician, artist and author Brigid Kaelin explores the history of Lakeside Swim Club.
Nestled behind a non-descript gate in a residential area of Louisville's Highlands neighborhood sits Lakeside Swim Club. It's more than a swimming pool, it is a man-made lake built into an existing rock quarry. Local musician, artist and author Brigid Kaelin explores the history and her connection to the club. She also gives us an inside look at her career in music and her love for Louisville.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Inside Louisville is a local public television program presented by KET

Inside Lakeside Swim Club with Brigid Kaelin
Season 2 Episode 4 | 28m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
Nestled behind a non-descript gate in a residential area of Louisville's Highlands neighborhood sits Lakeside Swim Club. It's more than a swimming pool, it is a man-made lake built into an existing rock quarry. Local musician, artist and author Brigid Kaelin explores the history and her connection to the club. She also gives us an inside look at her career in music and her love for Louisville.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Inside Louisville
Inside Louisville is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.
I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.
THIS WEEK WE TAKE TO YOU LAKESIDE SWIM CLUB AND INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PERSON WHO TRULY WROTE THE BOOK ON THE LEGENDARY SWIM CLUB, BRIGID KAELIN.
♪ THERE IS NO PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE THAN CAN KENTUCKY WITH YOU ♪ >> NOW YOU MAY RECOGNIZE BRIGID'S NAME AS A TALENTED MUSICIAN, BUT SHE RECENTLY TOOK A DEEP DIVE TO EXPLORE A PLACE VERY IMPORTANT TO HER PERSONALLY, LAKESIDE SWIM CLUB, NESTLED IN AN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE HIGHLANDS, LAKESIDE IS A LOCAL LEGEND.
IT'S A PRIVATE POOL BUILT INTO A REAL ROCK QUARRY.
BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE SWIM CLUB IS EXCLUSIVE BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE COST.
YOU SEE THIS SWIM CLUB IS TECHNICALLY OWNED BY THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE AROUND IT.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE SURROUNDING HOMES, YOU GET A CERTIFICATE MEMBERSHIP TO THE CLUB.
YOU ALSO GET TO INVITE ONE FAMILY TO JOIN YOU AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER EACH YEAR, WHICH MAKES A MEMBERSHIP VERY HARD TO COME BY.
BUT TODAY, YOU GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT THIS 100-YEAR-OLD SWIM CLUB.
CHRISTIE DUTTON TAKES US INSIDE LAKESIDE.
>> LAKESIDE SWIM CLUB IS NESTLED INTO THE BELL NAP NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE HIGHLANDS HERE IN LOUISVILLE AND IT IS A DESIRABLE LAND MARK, A HIGHLIGHT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN IT'S 100 YEAR HISTORY, THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
IN THE 1920s, LAKESIDE WAS A ROCK QUARRY SIMILAR TO THIS ONE WHERE MINERS DUG UP LIMESTONE FOR QON INSTRUCTION UNTIL WORKERS ACCIDENTALLY HIT AN UNDERGROUND SPRING.
THEN IT FILLED AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE EQUIPMENT OUT FAST ENOUGH SO THERE WAS EQUIPMENT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE IN THE 20s, 30S AND 40s.
>> DECADES UNDER WATER UNTIL THE LAKE WAS DRAINED TO REMOVE THE EQUIPMENT, THERE WERE TRACTORS, MINING TOOLS AND RAILROAD TRACKS.
THAT WASN'T THE ONLY THING IN THE WATER.
>> IT WAS DARK.
IT WAS MURKY.
THERE WERE CAT TAILS, THERE WERE FISH, THERE WERE SNAKES, THERE WERE FROGS.
>> THE LAKE WAS EVEN STOCKED WITH SMALL MOUTH BASS FOR FISHING BUT SOON THE COMMUNITY WAS DRAIFG SOMETHING MORE COMPETITIVE.
>> THEY STARTED A SWIM TEAM AND IT BECAME A SWIM CARNIVAL INITIALLY TO HAVE RACE TO SEE WHO COULD GET ACROSS THE POOL THE FASTEST.
SOME TALENT SHOWED UP AND COULD YOU TEM THEY WERE SWIMMERS AND ATHLETES AND THEY HIRED COACHES AND STARTED THIS SWIM TEAM IN 1928.
>> LAKESIDE SWIM TEAM HAS PRODUCED 11 OLYMPIANS, THE FIRST TWO IN 1940.
>> MARY MOREMAN RIDING AND AN HARDING QUALIFIED FOR THE 1940 OLYMPICS BUT DID NOT GET TO COMPETE BECAUSE OF WORLD WAR II.
WHY WOMEN?
BECAUSE THE MEN WERE GETTING SHIPPED OFF OVER TO WORLD WAR II SO THEY FOCUSED ON WOMEN SWIMMING.
>> CERTIFICATE MEMBER MARTHA PUCKETT REMEMBERS THE FOCUS ON SWIMMING AND THE SWIM CARON THAT WILL-- SWIM CARNIVALS.
>> I HAD A BATHING SUIT WITH SEQUENCE SEEK WINS ALL OVER AND JUMP OFF THE HIGH DIVE AND WOULD I SWIM OVER TO THE SIDE AND THAT WAS LIKE I WAS LIKE A STAR.
>> MARTHA JOINED THE SWIM TEAM IN THE 1950s AS IT BECAME A SAFER PLACE TO SWIM BUT IT LEFT A MARK.
>> I REMEMBER I HAD BLONDE HAIR AT THE TIME.
AND IT WOULD TURN GREEN EVERY, KIND OF A CHARTREUSE COLOR.
YOU KNEW IF SOMEONE SWAM FOR LAKESIDE AND WERE BLONDE, THEY HAD GREEN HAIR.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIT TODAY.
>> GENERAL MANAGER MARY GRAVES HAS HER OWN HISTORY BEGINNING IN THE 1950s AND 60s.
>> AS A CHILD GROWING UP HERE, THIS WAS OUR PLAYGROUND.
>> MARY'S EARLIEST MEMORY OF LAKESIDE IS JOINING THE SWIM TEAM WHEN SHE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.
>> I MADE LIFETIME FRIENDSHIPS BEGINNING AT THE AGE OF 5 AND A LOT OF THOSE FRIENDS ARE STILL MY BEST FRIENDS TODAY.
>> SHE EVEN REMEMBERS A BRIEF TIME IN THE 70s WHERE THEY TRADED IN SWIM SUITS FOR ICE SKATES.
>> AND IT WASN'T A SMOOTH ICE SKATING RINK LIKE WE KNOW OF TODAY.
IT WAS TRULY JUST FROZEN WATER ON A SECTION OF THE DEEPEST PART OF THE LAKE.
SO IT WAS LIKE A POND.
BUT WE HAD FUN.
>> CREATING THEIR OWN WINTER FUN AND THEIR OWN SUMMER GAMES.
>> POPSICLE STICK.
EVERYBODY HAD POPSICLES BACK THEN.
STICK IT DOWN IN THE SAND AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD COME UP AND WHOEVER SAW IT FIRST YELLS DIBBLE DABBLE AND DOVE IN AND WHOEVER GRABBED IT, THEY GOT TO BE THE HIDER THE NEXT TIME.
[LAUGHTER] >> MARY BECAME THE OPERATIONS MANAGER IN THE 80s AND THEN GENERAL MANAGER IN 2015, HELPING TO SHAPE LAKESIDE TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
>> THIS SPECIAL PLACE, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS AND WE HAVE LAKESIDE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
I CAN GO TO MY BACKYARD-- CAN YOU HEAR IT?
YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPY SOUND.
>> SO THOSE MEMORIES OF SEEING MY GRANDCHILDREN AND MY CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE AREA AND JUMPING OFF THE ROCK AND HAVING FUN, IT'S THE SAME MEMORIES MY SISTER AND I HAD HERE.
>> IT'S HARD TO SUM UP LAKESIDE'S 100-YEAR HISTORY, WHICH INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM FISHING TO ICE SKATING, TO COMPETITIVE SWIMMING WHERE OLYMPIANS WERE MADE.
BUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT 100 YEARS, IT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT HOW THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND WHAT THINGS WILL REMAIN EXACTLY THE SAME FOR KET, I'M CHRISTIE DUTTON.
>> NOW WE TALK TO THE WOMAN WHO WROTE THE BOOK ON LAKESIDE.
BRIGID KAELIN.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW HER MOST AS LOCAL MUSICIAN AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER MUSIC CAREER FIRST I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BOOK, LAKE SIDE.
AND IT IS SUCH AN INTERESTING HISTORY OF THIS REALLY FASCINATING PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOUISVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD WHAT MADE YOU-- YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR MOM PLANTED THIS SEED FOR AN IDEA A LONG TIME AGO.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK?
>> IT WAS PIE MOM, I WAS A LAKESIDE RAT, SHE WAS A LAKESIDE RAT.
AND IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR, IT'S WHEN THE LAKE OPENED AND WE SPENT ALL DAY THERE.
IT WAS OUR CHILD CARE.
IT WAS THE 80s AND NOBODY WAS WATCHING US.
SHE GREW UP THERE.
THERE WAS A BOOK WRITTEN IN THE 80s THAT WAS A HISTORY AND MADE ME START THINKING ABOUT THIS USED TO BE NATURAL LAND.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY.
I BECAME OBSESSED AND I ALWAYS IMAGINED THAT BOOK BIGGER AND FULL COLOR AND I THOUGHT-- IT ENDED UP BEING MY COVID PROJECT REALLY AND IT TIMES WITH THE 100th ANNIVERSARY.
>> 100 YEARS AND IT REALLY DOES HAVE QUITE THE HISTORY.
>> AND SUCH A HISTORY FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
GROWING UP THERE WAS THE BIGGEST PRIVILEGE FOR MANY REASONS AND NOT EVERYBODY GETS THAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S SO HARD TO EXPLAIN AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY AGAINST IT BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE CLUB AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO I TRIED TO REALLY DIG INTO WHAT IS IT?
IT'S A NON-PROFIT COOPERATIVE THAT WAS STARTED IN 1924 BY SOME NEIGHBORS WHO DECIDED NOT TO KEEP IT COMPLETELY TO THEMSELVES.
BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE IF A BUNCH OF NEIGHBORS SHARED A BACKYARD AND DECIDED TO PUT A COOL PLAYGROUND FOR THEM SO YOU KNOW, IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY AND YET IT'S BEEN ORGANIZED INTO THIS WAY WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN COME?
NOT AS MANY AS I KNOW WOULD LIKE TO UNFORTUNATELY BUT IT'S COOL.
>> I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S LIKE YOUR FAVORITE PLACE AS A KID GROWING UP.
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC CHILDHOOD MEMORY FROM THERE THAT IS YOUR FAVORITE?
>> I JUST USED TO LOVE GOING WITH MY PARENTS AND WE WOULD ALL TAKE A BOOK AND LOOK FOR A LOUNGE CHAIR AND SPEND ALL DAY READING, GOING OFF THE POOL, DIVING BOARD, I WAS DIVING BOARD OBSESSED, LEARNING COOL TRICKS, GOING BACK AND READING, RUNNING HOME FOR LUNCH, COMING BACK AND DOING THAT ALL DAY EVERY DAY AND MAKING FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ONE-- I WAS AN ONLY CHILD AND I REMEMBER THAT'S WHERE I MADE FRIENDS AND WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS SO I WOULD WALK TO THE DIVING BOARDS AND SEE SOMEBODY DOING SOMETHING COOL AND BE LIKE HEY, CAN YOU TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT?
WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND?
IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN-- PEOPLE CAN LET THEIR KIDS KIND OF ROME.
ROAM.
WE WATCH THEM BECAUSE WATER SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S A COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE CAN GO AND KNOW THEY'RE SAFE, THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND PEOPLE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
>> WHEN YOU ARE RESEARCHING THE LONG HISTORY OF LAKESIDE FOR THIS BOOK, WERE THERE-- WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST?
OR WERE YOU SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW?
I BECAME OBSESSED WITH THIS.
MY HUSBAND IS SO SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THIS, LISTEN TO FUN FACTS FROM A MEETING IN THE 1940S.
BUT I ALSO REALLY, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO DIG INTO THE IDEA OF EXCLUSIVITY AND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THE LAND AND I LEARNED A COUPLE THINGS.
I SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE U OF L ARCHIVES LOOKING AT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IT SURPRISED ME THAT MUCH LIKE LOTS OF HIGHLANDS, IT WAS RESTRICTIVE TO BOIDZ BOTH PEOPLE OF AFRICAN AND HEBREW DESCENT BUT THIS AREA WAS NOT RESTRICTED TO HEBREW DESCENT.
I GREW UP HEARING STORIES THAT I DON'T THINK JEWISH PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED.
THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED FROM THE BEGINNING AND WERE THE MAIN MEMBERS BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AREAS WHERE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO BUY PROPERTY IN LOUISVILLE.
SO THAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME.
AND I ALSO LEARNED, AND YOU KNOW, SAYING THIS KIND OF THING MAKES IT SOUND, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DEFENSIVE OF LAKESIDE'S PAST, I TRIED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMATIC THINGS STRAIGHT ON BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD, I FEEL LIKE.
BUT I DID LEARN THAT IN RESEARCHING I FOUND THE VERY FIRST BLACK FAMILY THAT JOINED AND SPOKE TO THEM AND HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION AND INCLUDED THEIR STORY.
AND IN RESEARCHING THAT, DIFFICULT LEARN THAT LAKESIDE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PRIVATE CLUB TO ACTUALLY INTEGRATE IN THE 60s AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FULLY FACT CHECK BECAUSE THE OTHER CLUBS I CALLED DIDN'T KEEP RECORDS.
BUT THE MINUTES THAT I'VE FOUND SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WERE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT THIS FAMILY, FIRST OFF IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL.
I WAS READING WITH BAITED BREATH, LIKE OH NO, THIS IS THE BAD PART AND THEY ALL JUST SAID OKAY, UNANIMOUS.
THIS IS FINE.
IT WAS SURPRISING AND THEY HAD TO HAVE A MEETING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE 60s AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT HAD JUST PASSED BUT THEY SAID IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT PRIVATE CLUBS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND OTHER CLUBS IN LOUISVILLE ARE NOT INTEGRATED YET SO IT SURPRISED ME THAT LAKE SAID SAID THAT'S FINE.
MOVING ON.
LET'S GO TO THE DIVING BOARDS NOW.
>> WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO INCLUDE THAT HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN RACISM BUT ALSO THE HISTORY THEIR OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND ENSLAVED PEOPLE?
>> YES, WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING, I REALLY WANTED TO TELL THE FULL PICTURE AND THAT INCLUDED SITTING WITH THE UNCOMFORTABLE PARTS OF LAKESIDE'S PAST AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE CERTIFICATE MEMBERS, WHICH ARE THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND RUN IT AS A NON-PROFIT, IT'S UP TO THEM.
I KNOW THEY WANT TO MAKE LAKESIDE A MORE INCLUSIVE FEELING PLACE.
WE WANT TO HAVE INCLUSIVE BATHROOMS.
WE WANT TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE FACILITY SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES.
AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE A TRAIL BLAZER.
AND SO IN WANTING TO DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE, I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT YOUR PAST AND REALLY, REALLY TELL THE STORY AND SAY YES, THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAIRY FARM.
BUT GUESS WHAT?
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, IT WASN'T PROFITABLE.
I WONDER WHY?
AND DIG INTO THE, YOU KNOW, ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF RECORDS THAT EXIST STILL AND SAY OH THAT'S WHY.
THESE FAMILIES OF GENERATIONAL WEALTH, THEY WEREN'T THE ONES SEWING THE SEEDS AND MILKING THE COWS.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO FIND THE PAST OF THE LAND AND THEN HONOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE BEFORE THE SETTLERS CAME.
>> IT REALLY IS FASCINATING.
SO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS.
A REAL QUARRY, RIGHT?
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY?
>> YES, AND INTERESTING THING, TOO, IS THAT I LEARNED THERE WERE 19 OTHER QUARRIES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AROUND THE SAME TIME.
AND WHAT THEY WERE MINING FOR WAS LIMESTONE ROCKS TO BUILD BUILDINGS BUT ALSO TO PAVE MANY OF THE STREETS IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.
SO MOST OF THEM, I MEAN THEY'RE LAND FEATURES.
THEY STILL EXIST.
IF YOU GET ON GOOGLE EARTH, THEY STILL EXIST.
LAKESIDE WAS PUBLIC FOR A WHILE IN THE 40S AND THERE WERE FOUR QUARRY SWIMMING POOLS IN THE 40S.
WHERE ALL THE SOLDIERS FROM THE WAR, FORTD KNOX AND BOWMAN FIELD HUNG OUT AND PARTIED.
ALL THESE QUARRY SWIMMING POOLS.
SO IT WAS INTERESTING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS, I DON'T KNOW, THIS QUARRY EXISTED AND WHAT IT WAS BEFORE, IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT BIG.
THEY DUG IT OUT ONCE DYNAMITE WAS INVENTED.
SUDDEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOT OF-- BECAUSE OF THAT IT WASN'T ALWAYS A BLESSING.
SOME OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT POPPED UP BEFORE LAKESIDE EXIST, THEY COMPLAINED, THERE WAS LOUD CONSTRUCTION AND HAMMERING DYNAMITE.
NOBODY WANTED TO LIVE NEXT TO THE GIANT QUARRY BUT THEY MADE IT SOMETHING SPECIAL.
>> IT IS AND NOW 100 YEARS LATER... >> YES.
>> SO YOU TALK ALSO ABOUT IT BEING A THIRD PLACE FOR YOU, EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS AND WHY IT WAS THAT PLACE FOR YOU.
>> SO A THIRD PLACE IS A SOCIOLOGY TERM WHERE PEOPLE NEED THEIR FIRST PLACE HOME, THEIR SECOND PLACE THEIR WORK.
BUT PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO REALLY THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, ALSO NEED A THIRD PLACE.
AND FOR MANY PEOPLE IT'S THEIR CHURCH.
FOR OTHERS IT'S PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR OTHERS A FAVORITE BAR.
AND COMMUNITY PARKS DON'T HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF FEELING AS THEIR CLUB, THEIR SWIMMING POOL, THE PLACE WHERE THEY WANT TO SWIM AND I THINK FOR LAKESIDE, THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY, I THINK, THAT'S WHY IT STILL EXISTS 100 YEARS LATER IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS QUIRKY PIECE OF LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.
THEY FEEL SAFE THERE.
THEIR CHILDREN THRIVE THERE.
AND IT IS JUST SUCH A LOVELY PLACE TO SEND A SPEND A DAY.
>> DO YOU THINK LOUISVILLE IS A GOOD PLACE TO FIND THOSE TYPES OF THIRD PLACES?
>> I DO THINK SO.
LOUISVILLE, I KEEP COMING BACK HERE AND KEEP TRYING TO MOVE AWAY AND KEEP COMING BAM AND I THINK IT'S HIT THIS MIDDLE GROUND OF IT'S NOT TOO BIG AND IT'S NOTED TOO SMALL.
SO THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
I DO THINK LIKE MOST CITIES HAVE YOU TO SEEK OUT THIS-- I LIVED IN NEW YORK FOR YEARS AND IT WAS-- IT IS EASY TO BE ANONYMOUS THERE AND THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO BUT HAVE YOU TO BE THE ONE TO INITIATE.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM, LOUISVILLE HAS PLENTY.
>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT YOUR CAREER IN MUSIC AND ALL OF THE PLACES IT HAS TAKEN YOU IN PLAYING WITH SOME FANTASTIC NAMES.
SO GIVE US A BRIEF BACKGROUND OF YOUR HISTORY IN MUSIC.
>> I STARTED PLAYING MUSIC BEFORE COULD I REMEMBER BUT I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS A VIABLE CAREER SOURCE AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE I GREW UP MY DAD WAS A BARTENDER.
MY MOM WORKED FOR THE STATE AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU HAVE TO BE A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER OR SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH I WAS GOOD AT SOMETHING.
I MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OBVIOUS PLACE TO START MUSIC.
I PLAYED MUSIC TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE AND MY EXPENSES BUT I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS A CAREER AND I CAME BACK TO LOUISVILLE BECAUSE MY MOM WAS SICK AND SHE WASN'T EXPECTED TO LIVE.
SHE LIVED ANOTHER 17 YEARS OR SO.
IT BROUGHT ME BACK AND WHILE SHE WAS UNDER GOING CANCER TREATMENT THE FIRST TIME, I WAS PLAYING MUSIC, MY DAD BARTENDERRED AND I WOULD PLAY AT MIDNIGHT SUPER LATE AND PEOPLE STARTED COMING INTENTIONALLY AND I THOUGHT WOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY, ALLOWS ME TO TELL GREAT STORIES.
I CAN TELL THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SO I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED IT BECAUSE IT HAS BROUGHT ME ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I HAVE PLAYED A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS AND I LOVE BEING IN PEOPLE'S BANDS BUT I'M HAPPY TO PLAY BACKUP AND ACCORDION ON THE SIDE.
>> YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH OR ON STAGE WITH JACK HARLOW, EL HAVE IS COSTELLO.
>> HE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES TO PLAY WITH.
>> GIVE ME A RUN DOWN.
>> JACK HARLOW IS FUNNY BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGN IN FRASIER THAT TALKS ABOUT THE I'M HE OPENED FOR ME.
HE WAS A LAKESIDE KID, TOO.
BUT ELVIS COSTELLO THING HAPPENED BECAUSE OF OUR AMAZING LOCAL RADIO STATION, LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA.
I WAS DOWN THERE PROMOTING AN ALBUM AND I HAD TO LEAVE AND THEY WERE ABOUT TO INTERVIEW ELVIS COSTELLO.
I LEFT A NOTE FOR HIM AND WAS LIKE YOU KNOW, IF HE IS COOL, GIVE THIS TO HIM.
BUT IF HE IS NOT, PLEASE DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
HE WAS JUST GREAT AND HE CONTINUES TO BE GREAT.
HE GOT MY NOTE.
HE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AND SAID I HEAR YOU PLAY ACCORDION, COME ON DOWN.
HE CALLED ME LAST YEAR, FLEW ME IN NEW YORK.
I PLAYED WITH THEM AT A SOLD OUT SHOW RUN OF SHOWS HE DID.
>> INCREDIBLE.
>> AMAZING.
I PLAY SAW AND ACCORDION FOR HIM SOMETIMES BUT IT'S BEEN DELIGHTFUL.
IT'S ABOUT 15 YEARS OR SO.
>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PERSON YOU HAVE LAID WITH?
>> ELVIS COSTELLO HANDS DOWN.
HAVE I PLAYED WITH LOADS OF PEOPLE BUT HE IS SO GENUINE AND SITTING WITH HIM, HE IS EXACTLY WHO YOU WANT YOUR HEROES TO BE.
HE IS THERE FOR THE MUSIC AND FOR THE INTERESTING PEOPLE.
AND YOU KNOW, HE HAS HAD THE SAME BAND FOR 40 YEARS, WHICH MAYBE MORE THAN THAT, WHICH I FEEL FEEX A LOT BECAUSE IT SPEAKS A LOT BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO BE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S BAND AND IF THEY'RE NOT EASY TO WORK WITH, I'VE LEFT BANDS I WANT FLO PART OF.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THE MUSIC SCENE IN LOUISVILLE AND DID THAT CULTIVATE, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT CULTIVATED YOUR TALENT AND YOUR LOVE FOR MUSIC.
>> IT DID.
SO MY DAD WAS A BARTENDER AT AIR DEVIL'S INN AND I GREW UP HEARING ABOUT THE MUSICIANS THAT PLAYED THERE.
TIM WAS A BIG ONE.
SO WHEN I WAS A YOUNG TEENAGER, I WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY UP LATE TO WATCH HIM DO SOUND CHECKS AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE AND DO THE BAR.
EVERYBODY WAS SO ENCOURAGING OF ME AND THAT WAS UNUSUAL BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN MY OWN WRIJ LESS SO-- WERE LESS SO BECAUSE I WAS A GIRL.
LOUISVILLE HAD A GREAT MUSIC SCENE FOR LIKE INDY ROCK MEN AND BOYS AND YOU KNOW, I WAS MOCKED IN HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE I COULD READ MUSIC AND THAT'S NOT COOL.
BUT ONCE I GOT OUT TO PLAYING, I FOUND THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.
AND ALL THE COVID SHUTDOWNS HAD ME WORRIED IF THE COMMUNITY STILL EXISTS BECAUSE I DON'T GO RANDOMLY OUT TO BARS ANYMORE BECAUSE I'M OLDER AND I HAVE CHILDREN BUT IT REALLY WAS A GREAT WAY TO LEARN.
EVERYONE WAS ALWAYS UP FOR COLLABORATIONS AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> SO YOU HAVE TRULY LIVED ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> YES.
>> WHAT IS SPECIAL TO YOU ABOUT LOUISVILLE?
AND WHY DO YOU STILL CONTINUE TO CALL THIS HOME?
WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK?
>> I KEEP COMING BACK FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT STARTED AT LAKESIDE WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
AND HAS GOTTEN BIGGER AND BIGGER THROUGH THE MUSIC SCENE.
AND YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THIS TOWN WITHOUT SEEING SOMEBODY YOU KNOW AND USUALLY SOMEBODY YOU KNOW AND CARE ABOUT OR WHO IS INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND I HAVE LIVED IN LOTS OF PLACES THAT, YOU KNOW, I LIVED IN NEW YORK, SCOTLAND.
I LOVE SCOTLAND AND DEVELOPED SIMILAR COMMUNITIES IN THOSE PLACES.
BUT NOTHING THAT EVER JUST FEELS LIKE HOME THE WAY THIS DOES.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED TOO, WHEN YOU MOVED BACK, PART OF IT WAS WHEN AFTER YOU HAD KIDS, RIGHT?
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY LOUISVILLE IS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.
WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO MY PARENTS WERE HERE AND I FELT WEIRD KEEPING THEIR ONLY GRANDCHILD AWAY 4,000 MILES AWAY IN SCOTLAND AND OUR VISA RAN OUT.
>> THAT MATTERS.
>> BUT IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLACE.
I ENDED UP DOING A LOT OF CHILDREN'S MUSIC SHOWS WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNGER.
THEY COULD COME TO THEM AND TEACH KIDS HOW TO HAVE MUSIC IN THEIR LIVES FOREVER, NOT TO NECESSARILY BE A MUSICIAN, BUT YOU KNOW, MUSIC IS SO GOOD FOR FOR THE BRAIN.
I LOVED HAVING LAKESIDE WHERE MY KIDS I KNEW WERE SAFE AND OTHER PEOPLE LOOKED OUT FOR THEM.
NOT THE LIFE GUARDS BUT OTHER FAMILIES.
THERE WAS ONE WHEN MY TODDLER WAS POTTY TRAINING WHERE I HAD THE BABY AND I HAD TO RUN AND ANOTHER MOM I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SAID I'LL WATCH HIM AND GRABBED THE BABY FROM ME.
IT'S GOT THE MIX OF LOTS TO DO AND THAT SOUTHERN CHARM AND FRIENDLINESS WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
>> YEAH WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU NOW SEEING YOUR KIDS AT LAKESIDE, SOMETHING, A PLACE THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU AND ESPECIALLY THINKING OF YOUR MOM?
>> YEAH, IT MAKES ME MISS MY PARENTS A LOT, WISHING THAT THEY COULD SEE THEM AND SEE THIS PLACE SO IMPORTANT TO THEM AND WHERE MY MOM GREW UP AND WHERE I GREW UP BUT IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS COMMUNITY, TOO.
AND IT IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE AND I'VE MADE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THIS.
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND THEIR OWN THIRD PLACE.
AND THEY DO BUT AUTO THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE LAKESIDE IN THE WORLD SO IT'S-- THEY'RE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE AND I AM, TOO, TO GET TO GO THERE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL -- WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE FOR LAKESIDE PARTICULARLY, LIKE WHEN THEY'RE CELEBRATING 200 YEARS?
LOOKING BACK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS STILL AHEAD FOR LAKESIDE.
>> I HOPE IT SURVIVES THE TEMPLATE THERE, I HOPE THAT IT DOES.
I HOPE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS REALIZE THAT THE REASON IT SURVIVED FOR 100 YEARS, REMEMBERING IN THE 40S THERE WERE 40 QUARRY SWIMMING POOLS IN LOUISVILLE, EVERYBODY COULD GO TO ANY OF THEM.
THE REASON THAT LAKESIDE SEEMS TO HAVE EXISTED BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS SET UP.
IT WAS VERY FORWARD THINKING IN 1924 TO SET UP A CORPORATION TO TAKE CARE OF A PIECE OF LAND I THINK PEOPLE STEP UP AND VOLUNTEER AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT AND SAY THIS IS MY BACKYARD.
IF I WANT THIS TO BE AROUND IN ANOTHER 100 YEARS.
I CAN'T JUST SIT BACK ON MY LOUNGE CHAIR AND READ.
I HAVE TO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET'S ALL PICK UP OUR TRASH.
OTHERWISE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE RATES TO HIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT.
IT'S NOT A COUNTRY CLUB.
THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION.
IT'S CHEAPER THAN MANY OR ANY OTHER PLACE.
CHEAPER THAN THE Y WHEN YOU DO IT MONTH TO MONTH BECAUSE IT'S JUST A NON-PROFIT BECAUSE OF THAT THERE IS A LARGE STAFF OF LIFE GUARDS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AND ALL THESE THINGS.
THEY HAVE A GENERAL MANAGER AND MAINTENANCE MANAGER AND CONCESSION MANAGER THAT TAKE CARE OF THINGS AND IT'S NOT A BIG CORPORATION DESPITE BEING LAKESIDE CORPORATION AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER THAT IT'S STILL RUN BY A BOARD AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST HAVE A MEETING ONCE A MONTH.
IT MEANS ACTIVELY VOLUNTEER.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT LAKESIDE?
>> I HEAR ALL THE TIME IT'S JUST THAT SNOTTY PLACE FOR RICH PEOPLE AND IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WHEN I GO TO THE MEETING 400 YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE ACTIVELY KEPT THE FEES LOW BECAUSE THEY WANT IT TO BE AFFORDABLE.
THEY WANT IT TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO IS ABLE TO GET A MEMBERSHIP THE TRICKY THING IS 100 YEARS AGO THE BACKYARDS OF A FEW PEOPLE, 18 PROPERTIES BACK UP TO IT.
THERE IS LOTS OF QUARRY IN LOUISVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREAS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE NOBODY LETS ANYONE ELSE IN.
I THINK THAT'S IT.
I THINK IT WAS INCREDIBLE THAT THESE PEOPLE 100 YEARS AGO DECIDED ACTUALLY, LET'S INVITE OTHER PEOPLE TO THIS SUPER COOL PLACE.
SO IT'S DID I TO FIND A MEMBERSHIP BUT NOT EXPENSIVE AND ONCE YOU GET IN, PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MIDDLE-CLASS, THEY'RE, I'M SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF WEALTHY PEOPLE IN THERE, TOO BUT MOSTLY IT'S TEACHERS AND MY DAD WAS A BARTENDER.
IT'S NOT WILDLY EXPENSIVE.
IT'S JUST HARD TO FIND A MEMBERSHIP.
>> ONE THING, TOO, IS FROM YOUR RESEARCH, YOU FOUND THAT OR YOU MA I HAVE KNOWN THIS BEFORE THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY KAELIN'S QUARRY.
SO YOU GOT TO EXPLAIN THAT CONNECTION.
>> I DO.
I SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT IN THE BOOK.
I HAVE BEEN ASKED THAT SO MANY TIMES.
THE KAELINS EMIGRATED FROM A SMALL TOWN IN SWITZERLAND ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER LOUISVILLE FAMILIES, YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEM THAT CAME FROM SWITZERLAND.
THEY'RE RELATED TO ME BUT IT'S MORE LIKE FIFTH COUSINS.
I KNEW IT WAS THE NAME, I KNEW IT WAS THERE THEIR FARM, A DAIRY FARM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT I THIS I WE SHARED LIKE GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHERS OR SOMETHING.
>> BUT IT PULLED YOU BACK.
>> IT DID.
>> TO TELL THE STORY.
>> IT DEFINITELY MADE IT INTERESTING AND MADE ME GO DOWN THE ANCESTRY RABBIT HOLES.
SO MANY RABBIT HOLES I WENT DOWN.
>> I CAN IMAGINE.
YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK LAKESIDE FOR SALE THERE AT THE SWIM CLUB OR PURCHASE IT ONLINE AND CARMICHAELS BOOKSTORE.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM WHERE YOU CAN SEE MORE OF BRIGID'S SAW PLAYING SKILLS AND SHE SHARES HER FAVORITE MOMENT IN LOUISVILLE.
YOU CAN FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AT KET IN LOU.
YOU CAN WATCH SHARE AND STREAM THIS EPISODE ANY TIME ON ket.org/INSIDELOUISVILLE.
THANKS FOR TAKING TIME TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CITY WE CALL HOME.
I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Brigid Kaelin plays "Kentucky With You"
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2 Ep4 | 2m 20s | Bridget Kaelin performs "Kentucky With You" on the set of Inside Louisville. (2m 20s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
Inside Louisville is a local public television program presented by KET