Thursday, February 28, 2013

Machen Wilson


I bought this old photo at the Sturgis Antique Mall at Sturgis, Ky.  It was in a box with some other old pictures.  It had the name Machen Wilson written on the back of the photo.  Which was really a treat, for most didn't have any identification on them at all.

Since the photographer was J. L. Stewart, of Marion, I purchased the photo hoping to identify the young man.

He is the son of George P. Wilson and Margaret A.(Crabtree) Wilson.  They are buried in the old Wilson Family cemetery somewhere off of the Bells Mines Road.  He was 7 years old on the 1880 Crittenden Census.

In 1895, I happen to come across this ad in the Crittenden Press.  NEW RESTAURANT.  New Confectionery and restaurant 2 doors south of Marion Hotel.  I have a clean, complete stock of all kinds, fruits of al kinds, etc.  My prices will be as low as possible for the best grade of goods.  A first class restaurant in connection with other business.  Lunches, hot or cold and meals furnished at all hours.  Everything neat and clean.  Come and see me.  All kinds of non-intoxicating summer drinks.  signed:  Machen Wilson.

The picture was probably made about this time period when he had opened his new restaurant.  He would have been  around 22 years old.  I don't know what happened to his business, whether he left it or it may have gotten burned in one of Marion's fires.

 By 1917, Machen and 2 of his brothers, Charles and Rufus were out West in Nunn, Colorado, according to their father's obituary. 

It is nice to be lucky sometimes and be able to add some history to an old picture, it sure makes them come alive in your mind.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Community Grocery Stores


Ah, those beloved old community grocery stores.  What a wonderful thing they were to the communities.  A special place in the community, not just to purchase needed household items, but to meet friends, chat a while, find out was was next in the community and how everyone was doing.  Maybe set a spell by the old stove, if it was a cold day outside.

One of these was the Hascal Love Grocery Store, located at Midway, KY on Hwy. 60 West, halfway between Marion and Salem. 

Hascal Love's Grocery store opened in the early 1940's.  He, his wife, Elizabeth, daughters Linda and Joyce, lived on one side of the store building for years while he ran the grocery.  

In the picture left to right: C. W. Love, Reg Guess, Jap LaRue, Alfred Benton, Melvin Ramage, Hascal Love and daughter Joyce.


Another well-known store known for its' warm welcome to neighbors and the young people of the area was the Lee Loftis Store. 

 Mr. Loftis had a shed built on the side of their store, and it had chairs and a table where the people could sit and eat their lunches they had bought in the store.  It was also the place that the community children could gather to catch the school bus in bad weather.

Pictured are left to right: Carol Damron, Oynaul Wheeler, Joe Yates, Isabelle Koon, Robbie McClure, Donald McClure, and standing in front Lee and Ruby Loftis.

As time goes by there are fewer and fewer that remember the simpler days of the community grocery store where you were always welcomed, the day where anyone could stop and buy a freshly made sandwich, ice cold drink, and sit on a bench and eat your lunch and watch the world go by, course, much more slowy, for the world wasn't in such a hurry then.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Baseball In Marion


Marion was always a big baseball fan.  Seems they had teams even in the early 1900's.  It was a favorite sport of the community.

This is one of those picture postcards with one of the teams featured of 1908.  It says one of the best in Western Kentucky.  (I wish they had used their whole names)
1st Row left to right:  Taylor, Grimes, Rochester, Brown
2nd row: Moore, Perryman, Guess, Lamb
Back row: Gossage, Mitchell, Manager, Baird, Justice, Conley

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Crooked Creek Baptist Church




Crooked Creek Baptist Church is another of Crittenden County's old historic churches.  Located about 2 miles north of Marion on the old Ford's Ferry Road. Organized in 1835 by a group of believers to organize a New Testament church.

I have already done a history post on the Crooked Creek Church on July 2, 2011.  If you would care to re-read it.

Today's post is to document that his old historic church has closed it's doors.  Due to lack of members and interest, the church was unable to keep holding services.  Only a few faithful remaining members were attending, so after January 6th, 2013, Crooked Creek Church is now only history.

UPDATE:  June 13,2013.
Crooked Creek Church will remain open thanks to the Ohio River Baptist Association.  The Association voted to keep the church open just as the doors were about to be closed for good due to shrinking membership.   15 members of Repton Baptist Church left that church and ask to join Crooked Creek Church.  Both churches are members of the Ohio River Baptist Association.  A spokesman for the church said the Crooked Creek's membership was hesitant at fist, but later changed their mind and voted to allow in the members from Repton so the newcomers would not have to dissolve the church and start over.

Crooked Creek Church is once again going strong.  On the fourth Sunday of the month they have a gospel singing where people can come and give testimonies and sing.  They have had two, both with good success.