Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The Artic Winter of 1917-18


This is part of my article I had in The Crittenden Press, Jan. 23, 2020. 

From the archives of The Press we can learn of years past and some of the harsh weather the people and animals in our area suffered. This spell of harsh winter weather was in the winter of December 1917 and into February 1918. The cold started in December of 1917. 


One of the press reporters writes about the weather, he states that the recent blizzard was certainly an unusually severe spell of weather and it caused a considerable amount of suffering among the stock and poultry of Crittenden County.

It came in a rather sudden and unexpected manner and without a doubt it was the worst snow we have had for a number of years. It is extremely doubtful whether anyone can remember a worse blizzard, which has ever before occurred during the early part of December. 

A number of people were unprepared to met the terrible rigors of the recent weather conditions and more than one person was put out considerable inconvenience in order to procure supplies of food and fuel, which they were exceedingly difficult to obtain during the worst part of the blizzard.

The cold and blizzard-like conditions held on into February. The Ohio River was freezing and causing many problems. 

 The headline in the Feb. 14, 1918 Press reads "The Greatest Ice Gorge Even Known On The Ohio River. Barnett Estate And Charles Donakey Heavy Losers."
The river at Rosiclare rose 25 feet Friday night as a result of a great gorge, which formed there in the afternoon. The people at Rosiclare and Fairview were greatly alarmed and fled to the high places, and every one was quickly hoisted from the mines. The gorge broke however without overflowing the Illinois towns and mines, but not until it had created great havoc on the Kentucky side.

Barnett's lower farm occupied by Charles Donakey suffered the loss of 65 or more head of cattle and many acres of corn and much valuable timber. The water was twenty-five feet deep Saturday morning, where the cattle were feeding the evening before.

The ice cakes that washed out into the fields were acres in extent and as big as houses. Giant trees were cut off as by a mowing machine. 

 On account of the wet weather conditions during harvesting time, the corn had not been gathered, and in order to save it, the cattle and hogs had been turned into it. No one ever thought or heard of such a gorge or so unexpectedly a flood.

The Owensboro, Ky. wharf boat that was tied up at Rosiclare broke loose and floated over into Barnett's cornfield and is still lodged there.

The papers tell of the frozen Ohio River during this time and say that the “ice gorge” of 1918 was the most spectacular river disaster that had ever happened. 

Steamboats were imprisoned in the ice at their moorings. When it started thawing the boats were torn from their docks and caught in the clutches of the swift grinding ice and carried down the river. The ice splintered the boats hull beneath the water. The river was full of ice gorges from Dec. 11, 1917 until Feb. 23, 1918. Navigation on the river was suspended during this time. 

Two of the steamers that people from the Crittenden County were familiar seeing along their docks were the Cotton Blossom and the Jewel. Both steamers were torn from their home moorings when the ice started moving and were carried downstream striking the reef and sinking.

After this destructive time, the steamboat became more of a memory than a mode of transportation.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Fluor Spar Industry in 1926


Ever wonder what uses Fluor Spar had in it's day?  And how it was formed?  In this article Ben Clement shares some of his knowledge about the Crittenden County mineral.  Once our county's largest job opportunities it was fazed out in the 1950's as cheaper imported spar was shipped into the country.

Crittenden Press, Oct. 22, 1926
The Fluor Spar Industry by. B. E. Clement

Long before the day of John J. Crittenden's first visit to the vicinity of Marion, this county had a tragic experience with earthquakes. They were so violent that the inhabitants of this area, if there had been any, would have considered Japan a refuge even in her saddest days.

At this time, which was ages and eons ago, great cracks were formed which went into the earth for depths of hundreds and thousands of feet,. In some instances one side of the earth would go down as much as a quarter of a mile.

Marion, herself, once enjoyed an elevated position. Our city is in the center of a small elongated area with (at this time known by geologists as the age of diastrophism) went down about 600 feet.

It is indeed probable, according to Weller, that beneath Crittenden County, Kentucky and Hardin county, Illinois, there is a great body of igneous material. These molten substances came from immense distance and depths in the earth and, in its journey to the surface of the earth, it created pressure. The results are faults and dikes. It is believed that fluorine came up, in this great movement, from unknown depths.

First, upon coming in contact with water, formed hydrofluoric acid and then this acid, moving in fault channels, found its resting place in the form of Calcium Fluoride, or Fluorspar, which to the chemist is a salt.

This is an epitome, most interesting, of the story of fluorspar which science has given us.

We do not think of this geological history as we go about our daily work, using our pocket knife, our automobile, or any one of a hundred products of fluorspar. The practical aspects, and the problems of pay day, require our time in other avenues of endeavor.

Fluorspar is put on the market in three forms: Gravel, lump and ground fluorspar. The gravel spar market uses the greatest tonnage, being used chiefly for making steel. All open hearth makers use it. An extensive use is found in foundries and smelting works. Each ton of steel requires in fluxing about eight pounds of spar.

Ground spar, made from high gravel, or lump, is in demand by manufactures of enamelware, plumbing fixtures, bath tubs, aluminum products, artificial marble or vitrolite, glass products, and hundred of other articles of daily use.

Fluorspar is the great fluxing agent, and the only agent known, that is able to make each ingredient assume its proper place and stability, thereby making the product both economical and desirable, two essential features.

It is used in the manufacture of Hydroburic acid, Fluorides, wood preservatives, and in gold, silver, copper, and lead smelters; and hundred of uses we forget about. 

Fluorspar, itself, is harmless, but Fluorine, an element of Fluorspar is the most active known thing to the chemist. It is a poison far superior to anything the Germans ever used. In the “Fields of Peace,” it may be mobilized for the use of man.

The Fluorspar business is Crittenden's great industry. The pay rolls will average several thousand dollars per day.  (This was in 1926)

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

The Disasterous Cyclone of March 27, 1890


This once historic storm made havoc of Southern Illinois, and many location in  Western Kentucky on that Thursday of March 27, 1890. 

There are scatchered pieces of information in different newspapers about the destruction and death that was left in the path of this storm.  Some called it a aerial monster.

From Southern Illinois it came across the Ohio River at Carsville, it took up Deer Creek, and passed on through Kentucky, felling timber and demoishing homes, barns, anything in it's path.  

Dutch Sullenger living near Tolu, was killed and his house blown to fragments.  John Robinson's daughter was killed also, and many injured in this area.  

Much destruction and people injured in the town of Marion.  The storm continued on its path through the countryside and touched down on the Mt. Zion Church and completely destroyed it.

Not only did it destroy the church and the neighborhood, it picked up Dr. Moreland's wife, Susan and their daughter, Gladys, whom she had clutched tightly in her arm,s and carried them to a neighboring community called Tradewater about seven miles from Mt. Zion.  When they were found, Susan was still holding her little girl.

They are buried together in the old part of the cemetery.

Engraved on the stone are the words "Killed In Cyclone" right after the death date of Susan.

This announcement appeared in the Crittenden Press soon after the storm.

A CRY FOR HELP! To the People of Crittenden County:
At a meeting of the citizens of Crittenden County, at Marion, on March 29th, the following resolutions were adopted.
  • Whereas a destructive tornado swept across the county on the 27th, killing a number of our fellow citizens, wounding and disabling others, destroying the homes of  many, leaving men, women and children, without food or raiments and in a suffering, needy condition, therefore
  • Resolved that those of the county who escaped this great calamity, be appealed to go for relief for the distressed and suffering in this their great time of need, by making immediate contributions of money, food, clothing, bedding or other articles of household necessity and comforts.
  • Resolved that the people be requested to hold public meeting in their respective neighborhoods for the purpose of facilitating this great work of charity, as the cry for help is urgent and relief most be speedily given.
  • Resolved that J. A. Moore and Geo. C. Gray be and they were chosen to appointed a committee to receive at Marion, the donation of those who may live a distance from the field of want, and to forward the same to the suffers.
The people of every neighborhood are earnestly requested to give this important matter  their immediate attention, the immediate wants of our friends and neighbors are pressing.  Let us heed their cry for help with open hearts.
J. A. Moore Chairman,
T. J. Nunn Secretary

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

1928 School Items


Things were very different for our schools many years ago.  They all didn't start at the same time and the county schools only had three and a half months for a school term.

Crittenden Press, Aug. 1928.
The rural schools of Crittenden County started Monday morning of this week.



County high schools, Shady Grove and Frances, will start later.  Both schools are to be accredited high schools this year.  
 Frances Grade and High School

 Sugar Grove and Crider schools have been consolidated and there will be three and a half months of each at each place.  

Mrs. Vera Stembridge is the teacher for these two districts.

Most of the teachers have started a campaign for better attendance.  The county school board plans to give an attendance diploma to all those who have a perfect attendance record for the year.

Other teacher elected were
  • Miss Leah Lindsey at Boaz;
  • Miss Iris Lofton, at Hebron;
  • Miss Isobel Walker at White Hall;
  • Mrs. Fred Gilbert at Forrest Grove;
  • Miss Georgia Nation at Baker;
  • Miss Rebecca Moore at Owen;
  • Miss Naoma Norris at Siloam