Copperas Spring School

Copperas Spring School

This photo was taken in 1998. At that time the old school could have probably been saved enough to restore. At this time it is beyond saving. Paul Edward Crowell that owns the old building said that he would probably have it torn down soon as no one could salvage it now. It had been used for storage for many years with no repair done on it at all.

The school building had two front doors. One for the boys and one for the girls. It was one large room. The old potbellied stove sat in the center of the room. Chalkboards were across one end of it and on part of one of the side walls.

Copperas Spring School got it's name from the sulphur spring that was located close by, and it was a copper color. There were two springs located near the school, the other was a clear spring which it is where the school got their drinking water.

This school closed in the fall of 1950 and consolidated with other schools. Children went to Marion or Mattoon.

Applegate School

This week in our local paper, The Crittenden Press, there is an ad seeking people that might be interested in trying to save the old Applegate school house. There are only two of these old wooden frame one-room school houses left in Crittenden County today. The other is Copperas Springs, which is beyond salvaging at this time. I'll do a column on it later.

Applegate is locate about 11 miles from Marion on Hwy. 60 East. The building belonged to Glenn and Angela Tosh. Mr. Tosh died a couple of years ago, so it now belongs to his wife, Angela. She and her daughters would like for the school to be saved or moved if anyone is interested in this project. It is in really bad condition as it has set empty for many, many years.

Applegate was a school as early as the year 1881. The name Applegate came from the man that owned the property that the school was located on. His name was William Applegate. He was from Union County and owned property in this area, and also operated some coal mines in that area. The community was known as Applegate Mines.

The pictures of the Applegate school shown above, the sketch on the left was drawn by Braxton McDonald, as he remembered it when it was a school building. The picture on the right is the way the building looked after 1929, when it was closed as a school and a local family used the school for a home. The front of the school was redone, with a door added in the center and the two doors made into windows. There were partitions added in the building to make rooms for the family, so the once one -room school now has several rooms.

Applegate was closed as a school in March of 1929, as it was one of six country schools in the area to be consolidated, and the children moved to the new school, which was being built at the town of Mattoon.

Big Day At Freedom Church May 1921

Freedom General Baptist Church

Freedom General Baptist Church was organized June 21, 1853. The first church was a log building with only one window to the side. The next church was a wooden frame building. The third building was destroyed by a tornado May 17, 1946, and was replaced in 1949. The fourth building which is the present one has a basement. This picture of the church was made in the 1970's. Since then the church has had several new upgrades including being redecorated and new pews bought. In 1972 it was enlarged by adding a new wing on each side of the building.

From a Crittenden Press article, dated May 20, 1921, we can read about the "Big Day At Freedom."

Last Sunday was a big day for Freedom Church and for all those who were fortunate enough to be present on that occasion. It was a big day in many respects, big from the fact that one of the largest and most wide awake country Sunday Schools of the county meets there every Sunday, and it's big on it's attendance and interest.

It was a big day from the standpoint of hospitality and never were there more gracious hosts at a day of the kind were the good people of Freedom that day.

The morning was given to the Sunday School and regular preaching service and then at noon a banquet was spread in the form of a good old fashioned basket dinner. It was not a "pickle and sandwich" affair but a real basket dinner with the finest of meats and countless number of good cakes and pies.

Shortly after the noon hour, the Rev. G. P. Dillon, who by the way was present at dinner, and who has a record as one who "shines" at basket dinners, talked for a short time and then the quartet consisting of Rev. and Mrs. W. B. Yates, Mrs. G. P. Dillon and George Yates sang several numbers.

Several from Marion attended the services and all of them are loud in their praises of the hospitality of the Freedom neighborhood.

The Automobile Parade

The Automobile Parade of 1913.

In the early 1900's Marion was progressing with the rest of the world. Automobiles or tin lizzies as many people called them were becoming popular. There soon were several on the streets of Marion. To show the new automobiles off Marion had a parade.

The automobile parade brought into requisition all the machines here about and exited much interest.

Great throngs were on the streets in the line of the procession. Each machine was full of pretty girls and each chauffeur thought he had the most precious burden.

Some of the machines were decorated beautifully. All of the girls were. It was an inspiring sight, one long to be remembered.

One spectator offered the suggestion "why not have them often and offer a prize for the prettiest, most unique, or original decorated car?"

Piney Creek Church

Piney Creek Baptist Church

Piney Creek Baptist Church was founded in 1844. The first preacher was Abraham DeBoe. The land was donated by Jacob Crayne and wife Nancy DeBoe Crayne or Robert Hill, Jr. and wife Eliza BeBoe.

On Thursday, July 25th, 1844, a meeting was held in a grove on the waters of Piney Fork of Tradewater near Brown's Old Academy, at the request of sundry Brethren of the neighborhood, for the purpose of considering of the propriety of constituting a Church of Christ of the Order called United Baptist.

The following Elders being present: J. W. Mansfield, J. E. Grace and Clayborn Wilson. Presbytery was organized by appointing Elder J. W. Mansfield Moderator, and Elder J. E. Grace Clerk, when the following Covenant and Abstract of Principles was presented for consideration.

The first 11 members were: John W. Guess, W. A. Dollar, Abram DeBoe, Soloman Weaver, John M. Campbell, Conrad Crayne, Jacob Crayne, Ellen E. Dollar, Catherine Campbell, Mary (DeBoe) Crayne, Nancy (DeBoe) Crayne.

(This information was copied out of the first church book that the clerk keeps. It was first copied by Geneva Baker.)

The first church building served the community until June 1961 when a motion was made to tear down the old wooden church and rebuild. A new brick church building was erected in the same location. The picture above is the new church building that was built in 1961. The monument below the church picture was also made and dedicated that same year.

The Piney Creek Church was disbanded several years later, and the building has been used at different times through the years as a church for other groups seeking a home for their followers.

Located directly behind the church is a small cemetery that is the resting place of descendants of these first members of the Piney Creek Baptist Church. Names include: Rushing, Jennings, Woodall, Campbell, Hill and Boone.

Easter Services April 1921

Main Street Presbyterian Church

Written April 21, 1922 from the archives of The Crittenden Press.

Despite the breezy north wind of the night before, Easter morning dawned beautiful and bright and cloudless and the sun shone with a warmth that brought out the budding flowers, the bursting buds, the songs of the spring birds and many pretty Easter hats all harbingers of advancing spring. The attendance at the various churches in the city was good and everyone seemed imbued with the spirit of Easter.

At the Methodist Church special Easter services were held. The attendance at Sunday school was the largest of the year so far, the number present being 360. Attendance was good in all departments of the Sunday-school and a special Easter program was given by the Junior and Primary Departments of the school. The pastor, Rev. G. P. Dillon preached at both the morning and evening services.

At the Main Street Presbyterian Church there was no preaching at the morning service. The Sunday school was well attended. At the evening hour, instead of the regular preaching by the pastor, Rev. E. N. Hart, the time was taken up by giving the cantata, "Calvary," a delightful Easter musical service which occupied the entire evening. A large congregation was present and the rendering of the cantata was pronounced splendid.

At the First Baptist church no special Easter service was held. The Sunday school had the usual large attendance. Rev. J. C. Lilly preaching at the 11 o'clock service. There was no preaching at the evening hour. The B.Y.P.U. met at 6:30 p.m. A special program was given which was pronounced both interesting and instructive.

No report was given from the other churches of the city.

The Main Street Presbyterian Church in the picture above used to sit on the corner of Main Street and East Depot Street. It was a beautiful old building. It had to close due to lack of membership, as so many of our old churches have. The building was torn down in the summer of 1968 by Otha Smith. The lot was made into a used car lot. Today the area is the parking lot of the Marion Clinic Doctor's Offices.

The Musical Club

The Musical Club of Marion. Marion in the early 1900's was indeed a busy growing town. It had almost every kind of social club and activities that could be imagined. The ladies of the town were certainly a creative, active bunch of ladies. From the Crittenden Press dated March 25, 1909 they share their latest about the Musical Club. (I've noticed in these early articles they only use the woman's first name if she was single, after married it was always Mrs. and the husband's name.)

The Musical Club was delightfully entertained Saturday afternoon by Mrs. C. P. Noggle. The hostess had arranged an interesting programme on the celebrated American composer, William Mason. Much good, as well as pleasure, was derived from the various topics discussed concerning his great work and teachings.

A contest consisting of "musical synonyms" proved to be an interesting feature of the meeting.

Refreshments consisting of chicken salad, coffee, and sandwiches were enjoyed by all.

A few minutes were set aside for the transaction of business.

The following motto for the Club was adopted. "There is music in all things if men had ears."

Miss Ina Price was elected secretary and four new members were received into the Club. The new members were Mrs. Levi Cook, Mrs. R. F. Haynes, Mrs. Thomas Clifton and Miss Nellie Sunderland.

The following programme was rendered: Dance Rustigue, Mrs. W. V. Haynes and Miss Sallie Woods; Tocalallia, Mrs. Jenkins; Simple Avon Orchestra, Mesd, Jenkins, Travis and Tucker; Vocal duet, Angelus, Mesdames Walker and Orme; Milady's Bower, solo, Mrs. Walker.

J. Frank and Nannie Loyd Monument

This is the picture on J. Frank and Nannie E. Loyd's monument at Mapleview Cemetery.

Mr. Loyd, city Marshall of Marion in 1900 was the only man that had ever succeeded himself as city marshal of Marion. He was first elected and served four years and then was chosen by the city council for one year. In January of 1900 he was again elected by a unanimous vote on the first ballot for two years. his choice three times is the best of evidence that he is a faithful, efficient and satisfactory officer.

Mr. Loyd died June 26, 1922 and Nancy Ellen Bradley Loyd died March 25, 1921.

The local paper had a notice telling of the splendid new monument that had just been erected on the lot of J. F. Loyd in the new Mapleview cemetery. It is a double monument for both Mr. Loyd and his wife. This is one of the large monuments in this cemetery and is a beautiful one. It was made from the rough stone at the works of Henry and Henry Monument.

I think it's pretty remarkable that this picture on the monument is still in excellent condition in 2009, 86 years after it was placed there. As you can see he is wearing his marshall's uniform with his badge.

Marion High School 1940

Marion High School.

Plans for this building were being formed in April 1938. The new building would be on the corner of College and Carlisle Streets. The new building would be of brick and concrete construction throughout. It would have nine classrooms in addition to a library and assembly hall, superintendents office and a combination auditorium and gymnasium.

A lot of the labor was done by the WPA. It was a beautiful building and the community was very proud of it. The first class to graduate from the new Marion High School was in 1941.

When the county and city high schools were consolidated, this became the Middle School, housing 7th and 8th graders. Once again it served the community well. This building was in use until August 1981.

The building today is beyond repair, with windows broken out and doors and roofs crumbling with the wear of time. Several groups have tried to save it and turn into something that could be useful for the community, but the cost was more than anyone could afford. It's a shame that these once useful and beautiful building have to end this way.