By Historian Steve Wiser
This story is part of our ongoing series to celebrate the 75th anniversary of St. Matthews’ incorporation throughout 2025 by highlighting some of the more interesting parts of the town’s history.
Long a source of debate, the spelling of Breckenridge Lane has baffled motorists and historians. Combined with Breckinridge Street downtown, the similar street names can be confusing, especially for newcomers.
An article by Courier-Journal columnist Jim Adams 30 years ago tried to set the record straight. Adams researched the Breckinridge name in Louisville and Kentucky, but could not find any with the spelling of “Breckenridge”. This is the only account that references this street name conundrum.
For those still uncertain of how this name came to be, let’s time-travel back 240 years to 1783.
Pioneer and surveyor John Floyd, who was wearing a bright scarlet overcoat, was traveling in the vicinity of today’s Preston Highway and Snyder Freeway area. His red clothing made him an easy target for an Indian attack that mortally wounded him. He was only 32 years old (or 33, since we don’t know his actual birth month and day). One of Floyd’s companions on this tragic day was Alexander Breckinridge, hence the beginning of this name-spelling saga.
Via the land grant process, John Floyd had acquired 2,000 acres of land along the middle fork of Beargrass Creek between present-day Taylorsville Road and Breckenridge Lane. His widow, Jane Buchanan Floyd, married her husband’s companion who survived the Indian attack, Alexander Breckinridge, and they lived on Floyd’s property, known as Floyd’s Station.
As you drive along Breckenridge Lane near Jamestown Apartments, you will see several historic markers that mention details of John Floyd’s life. Most do not stop to read this fascinating history.
Alexander and Jane had three sons, one of whom was named James Douglas Breckinridge. James was a lawyer and served as a U.S. Representative from 1821 to 1823. James’s nephew was James Breckinridge Speed, who became a very successful businessman. UofL’s Speed School and Speed Art Museum are named in his honor.
Are you noticing a trend here, with locations bearing the name Breckinridge? James D. Breckinridge eventually acquired the former Floyd property and built a house on present-day Pee Wee Reese Road, on the opposite side of the intersection with Denham Road. This house was later demolished when Bowman Field was constructed.
Eventually the property was owned by William Shakespeare Caldwell and his wife, Mary Eliza Breckinridge, who was a niece of James D. Breckinridge. Caldwell invested in real estate and purchased most of the land in the present-day Shelby Park neighborhood. Being the primary landowner, he named the streets for his family: Caldwell Street, Mary Street, Gwendoline Street and, you guessed it, Breckinridge Street!
Now we have a Breckinridge Street and Breckenridge Lane, both derived from the same family name. An official in city government felt this was too confusing for Louisvillians, and in the early 1960s decided to change the spelling of the St. Matthews street to Breckenridge.
In 1993 newspaper columnist Jim Adams noted that someone suggested there might have been a phantom resident by the name of Robert Breckenridge who may have lived in this vicinity. However, long-time acclaimed Louisville historian George Yater disputed that possibility. He cited the John Floyd – Jane Floyd – Alexander Breckinridge connection.
One unsolved mystery in all of this is that one of the daughters of William and Mary Eliza Caldwell has the spelling of her name on her Cave Hill Cemetery gravesite as Mary Elizabeth Breckenridge Caldwell! Hmmm.
A way to keep the names straight is that Breckenridge is on the “east” side of town, and Breckinridge Street is “in” town.
John Floyd, whose death triggered this naming muddle, is also remembered by location names like Floyd Street, Floyd’s Fork and Floyd County. Breckenridge, though, probably should have been called Floyd’s Lane since John originally owned the land. And maybe St. Matthews could have been called Floydstown or Floydsville.
Floyd led a colorful but brief life. He traveled to Williamsburg, Boston, the West Indies, England and Paris, and interacted with legendary figures like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark. One may wonder how Floyd would view the way his short life has kept us guessing for more than two centuries. His legacy has left an indelible footprint on our community.
Now that we have sorted out the confusion of Breckinridge Street and Breckenridge Lane, what should be done about Blankenbaker Lane and Blankenbaker Parkway? Should one of these maybe be spelled Blankinbaker? This can be left to future historians and cartographers to reconcile these similar names.
I hope you were able to follow this maze of the genealogy of the Floyd and Breckinridge families. You can now drive safely around town knowing who’s who – as well as which street is “in” downtown, and which one is in the “east” in St. Matthews!
Steve Wiser, FAIA, is a local architect, historian and author of numerous books on Louisville architecture and history. He regularly gives talks on local history at the St. Matthews Library.
