Lewisport's first business district stood along the river on Front Street, where Joseph C. Pell built the first permanent store in 1841 and where his was the only structure left standing on Front Street after the 1849 fire; another early merchant was I. B. Hayden. In 1882 the street began crumbling into the river, and by 1920 only a footpath remained, with Fourth becoming the main business street instead. Here, on Dec. 23, 1864, pro-southern guerrillas led by Hawesville native Bill Davison and Isaac Coulter captured the Morning Star, killed three Union soldiers, and robbed other passengers and crew of some $3,000 in cash and jewelry. On Jan. 4, 1865, the same guerrillas burned the Daviess Co. courthouse at Owensboro, though the records were saved.