Blackford Veterans Memorial Bridge

 The Tradewater River railroad bridge at Blackford was a vital link for the Ohio Valley Railroad that ran from Henderson, to Princeton, Kentucky.  The bridge was the heartbeat of the small community of Blackford.

 

 The first bridge to be constructed was a Draw Bridge.  It was shortly after 1886 when the Draw Bridge was constructed.

At that time the Tradewater River was also a vital river route for small steam-boats traveling from the Ohio River at Sturgis, up the Tradewater to the little community of Fishtrap.

The hand cut stone piers of this original draw bridge are still in place today underneath the newly renovated railroad bridge.

 

In 1892 the "Ohio Valley Railroad" sold the railroad line to the "Illinois Central Railroad."

In 1914 a new 528 long bridge was build by the Illinois Central Railroad with help from the U. S. Government that included a pedestrian walk bridge.  The Illinois Central Railroad design was an upgrade in structure.  The IC wanted to run larger and heavier classes of locomotives to pull coal trains from Union and Webster counties to the Illinois Central Kentucky division's main line at Princeton, KY.  

The residents of Blackford in Webter County and the people of Crittenden County just on the west side of the river always wanted a bridge to carry wagons, and buggies across the Tradewater River.  Many of the people on the Crittenden County side carried on their business in Blackford because it was much closer than Marion.  Blackford was only a little over a mile from the excellent road of Hwy 60 in Crittenden County which lead to Marion.  Getting to Marion required the people of Blackford to travel 20 miles out of their way, which could take as many as three days.

 

The railroad rails were removed in 1999, the wooden bridge fell in to disrepair and was closed from use.  

Through the efforts of Mr. Brent Witherspoon and the support of many people a new walking and one lane automobile bridge is in in place.  It was built using the pier structures of the 1886 Ohio Valley Railroad bridge and the concrete piers and trestle timbers of the 1914 Illinois Central Railroad bridge.  (2005). Had some problems and closed again in 2009, but reinforced and reopened in 2014. 

Both these fine gentleman are gone now.   Their work and love for the area will be remembered.

Beer in Crittenden County in 1933

Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. Prohibitionists first attempted to end the trade in alcoholic beverages during the 19th century.

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution–which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors–ushered in a period in American history known as Prohibition. Prohibition was ratified by the states on January 16, 1919 and officially went into effect on January 17, 1920, with the passage of the Volstead Act.

Despite the new legislation, Prohibition was difficult to enforce. The increase of the illegal production and sale of liquor (known as “bootlegging”), the proliferation of speakeasies (illegal drinking spots) and the accompanying rise in gang violence and other crimes led to waning support for Prohibition by the end of the 1920s.

In early 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution that would repeal the 18th. The 21st Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, ending Prohibition.

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Sale of Beer Becomes Legal

WASHINGTON, March 13, 1933 (UP) - President Roosevelt in a surprise move sent a message today to Congress calling for immediate modification of the Volstead act to permit the manufacture and sale of beer. The message follows:

"I recommend to the Congress the passage of legislation for the immediate modification of the Volstead act, in order to legalize the manufacture and sale of beer and other beverages of such alcoholic content as is permissible under the Constitution; and to provide through the manufacture and sale, by substantial taxes, a proper and much needed revenue for the government.

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Beer In Kentucky

In the March 24, 1933 edition of the Crittenden Press. Beer will be sold in Kentucky its sale was passed by the House on the night of April 6, 1933. A federal tax of $5 per barrel of thirty-one gallons will be received by the government. Thirteen other states besides Kentucky may sell beer within fifteen days from the time the beer bill was signed.

Crittenden Press, April 7, 1933, One License to sell beer here. Only one license to retail beer has been issued in Marion and that to Orme Drug Company Incorporated. While some others are expected, the number will not be large, due to the city, state and federal taxes. Orme Drug Company expects to have beer for sale Friday. It will be trucked here from Louisville. Whether the supply will be equal to the demand is a matter of conjecture.

 

From the old book titled Taxes Received 1926-1937 in the basement of the Crittenden County Clerk's Office these names were recorded for selling retail beer. They were owners of local eating places in Marion and on the outskirts of town. From 1933 to 1936, when the vote was was again to go dry. Orme Drug Company, Sullenger & Love, Gladys Cantrell,The Snappy Tavern, Givens Cafe, J. W. Rankin, The Curve In Restaurant, Homer J. Hughes, W. H. Crider, City Cafe, Stanley Hunt, E. B. Hunt, Velda Stubblefield – restaurant, Ray Johnson and Carlon Howard. (don't have names of all the locations that applied for beer license or sold it)

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No More Beer

The sale of beer locally didn't set well with many citizens of the town and county, in July 1936 a petition had been filed for election on local option to go dry. Crittenden Press, July 17, 1936. The prohibition forces of the county have been busy during the past few days circulating a petition for the purpose of calling an election to decide whether intoxication liquors will legally be sold within its boundary.

The petition, containing the names and post office addresses of 1,967 legal voters of Crittenden County is now on file in the County Judge's office. The date of the election has been set for Sat. Sept. 19, 1936, and will be held in all voting precincts in the county, and is held for the purpose of giving the voters the opportunity of deciding whether the sale of intoxicating liquors shall be prohibited.

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They Didn't Give Up

This election of Sept 19, 1936 was for local option by a vote of 1,705 as compared to 398 in favor of wines, liquor and beer. The totals surprised the most ardent drys as several leaders had previously expressed themselves as confident of victory, but not to the extent to which the final returns showed.

But this election was declared void by the Court of Appeals due to not being sufficiently advertised in advance. So in November the local Option Petition was being re-circulated among the voters to have another election for the vote.

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Crittenden Votes Dry

In February 1937 – Crittenden county voters favored local option by a vote of 1,295 to 297 in Saturday's balloting with the counting and final tabulation being completed early that night.

The driest precinct in the county, according to returns is that of Crayne where the cause of prohibition was victorious by approximately 15-1. 73 voters favored local option as compared to 5 who did not.

Of the 22 precincts in the county Blooming Rose was the only one that returned a majority opposed to the dry cause, the vote there being 17-10 and according to statics that is the first time in the history of the county when this has happened. The heaviest vote was in Marion No. 1 and in Fishtrap, No. 20, both precincts supporting the drys by votes of 117-32 and 13-3 respectively.

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Whiskey Traffic Only Got Worse

During the years of 1937-1939 after the county had voted dry, the sale of illegal alcohol beverages only got worse. In July 1939 a recommendation was written by the Grand Jury and given to Judge E. Jeffery Travis. It read “We the Grand Jury presiding at the last term of Court, 1939, by a careful investigation find the violation of the whiskey traffic is exceedingly deplorable in Crittenden county, particularly in and about Marion, Mexico, Dycusburg and Sheridan, and that those engaged in selling and buying are so completely organized that it is very difficult to find sufficient evidence to indict.

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What Needs To Be Done

Judge Travis states that doubtless the members of the grand jury felt that they were rendering the county's service and helping the county officers to rid the county of the boot-legging menace by adopting this resolution. I shall take this opportunity to suggest that if each member of the grand jury, or any other law abiding, peace-loving citizen of the county would constitute himself into a committee of one and do any reasonable amount of investigating of suspicious characters in his individual neighborhood, there would be no need for an “undercover man” or detective.

Since January 3^rd, 1948, the records show there have been twenty convictions for selling and possessing illegal whiskey with a total of 630 days in jail and fines amounting to $600.00. The situation is deplorable but only recommendations, orders, criticisms or anything short of sworn testimony does not “hit the spot.” There must be sworn testimony before a judge can issue a warrant of arrest.

So if you want illicit stills, boot-leggers, drunks, crap-shooters, or other semi-outlaws in your community just keep still and swear to nothing. If you want to be rid of such undesirable citizens go before a magistrate, notary public or any judge with a right to administer an oath, and make such statements under oaths and I am sure a warrant of arrest will be issued and the culprit be tried according to law. Are you willing to help? Signed E. Jeffrey Travis, County Judge

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For one reason or the other, I don't think there were many that were willing to swear out a warrant for these bootleggers, not many would want to be known as an informer. Who really knows if it was for the money or for the thrill of doing something illegal and not getting caught, but boot-legging went on in the county for many more years. They were located all over the county.

Court House Business - January 1895.

 A Look Back at 19^th Century County Officials

The Kentucky Constitution of 1850 provided for a county court, made up of a county judge and two associates, to conduct the business of the county and it also established a court of claims in each county, comprised of the county judge and justices of the peace.

Several years later, in 1890, our present day governing body was formed by the court of claims being abolished and the county governing body was then titled the fiscal court with the justices of the peace serving as magistrates with a county judge presiding over the court.

Fortunate once again for the archives of The Crittenden Press, and the industrious Press reporter, we can meet these early leading men of Crittenden County and even learn a little about their lives in helping forming our county. The reporter that wrote these early articles definitely had a way with words for his articles were always informative and amusing.

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The New Deal – Court House Matters

January 10, 1895. Monday was a busy day about the courthouse. It was the day for the new officers to take charge of the ship of the county and start her out for another year.

The first officer to take a fresh start was the present popular and efficient Sheriff John T. Franks. He appeared in the county clerk's office early in the day and filed a new bond, with Albert J. Pickens, Joel W. Guess, Harry A. Haynes and Wm. J. Deboe as sureties. (picture of Franks on left)

Justices of the peace came in from their respective bailiwicks at different hours, and one by one presented themselves and their bonds at the county clerk's office and were duly inducted into office by the affable man at the helm.

 

First came the tall hickory for Livingston Creek, John W. Mabry, and with Messrs, J. E. and J. B. Stephenson and Eld. Wm. R. Gibbs as sureties. He was made a justice and given the power to solemnize the rites of matrimony. His regular count will be held on the second Thursday of March, June, September and December and the residents of the Dycusburg district may expect an eanest, faithful discharge of duty.

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Next came W. E. Conditt, who physically might be called the Zaccheus of the Fords Ferry district. He is a squire, safe, sound, energetic man and those who commit in fractions upon the law, when taken before him, will get justice just as speedily, amply and firmly as if Squire Conditt was as tall as the Dycusburg hickory.

He has the right to solemnize the rite of matrimony, and will attend to business of this kind as soon as he can commit to memory an appropriate ceremony. His regular house of court will be held the fourth Tuesday of the months herein before mentioned. His bondsman is Zacy Terry.

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Next came Pleasant C. Moore of Hurricane. His bondsmen are B. Marble, J. W. McConnell, G. D. Wathen, T. J. Hamilton and A. J. Bebout. He will wear the honors gracefully but eschews any intention of typing connubial knots. He is a clever man and will do his duty. His courts will be held the third Fridays.

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Next came the red elm from Claylick, Thomas A. Harpending. He is an old hand at the business and in thoroughly conversant with county affairs and statutory law. Henry Brouster, who is reading law under the tutorship of the squire, is the bondsman. Harpending is the nestor of the entire board. He is a good man and will continue to do good service. He ties connubial knots to order.

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After this the heavy weight from Butler Creek, Job Postletwaite, with Peter Shewmaker, and Billy Crow backing him, came in, and put on the toga of office. Job will keep Critenden Number 1 in order and do the right thing.  He is a plain, honest, sensible man, and nothing can swerve him from duty. He will hold court on the first Friday of the before named months.

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George F. Williams will do the magisterial honors for Piney. His bondsmen are Robert H. Kemp, J. A. Kemp, and Phillip H. Deboe. He has been a squire and a good one too, for the past two years.  He is the most cheerful member of the board and can laugh at a fellow while he fines him for any depredation. He has too much other business to fool away time in typing people together for life.

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The first to be sworn in was John N. Culley and he is the handsomest of the lot. He lives nears the sparkling water of the classic Tradewater, in the Bells Mines community, and has drawn from nature's store house that which makes vigorous manhood.

His bondsmen are E. M. Lindle, Finis L. Black and Thomas J. Black. The office is no new thing to him and justice need fear no harm while in his keeping. His court days are the fourth Wednesdays of the magisterial months. His office is open at all hours for hearts and hands that want to be united in matrimony.

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The New Jailer, Mr. Ayers Hard, took charge of an empty jail. The two men who guarantee that he will do all things according to law are John J. Bennett and John W. Mabry. His first work was putting the court room in shape for the board of tax supervisors.

He was as gay as a lark all day long and went in early at night. Very soon he is going to post a notice at the courthouse gate, warning the cows and hogs (the four-footed ones) to keep off the grass.

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Newt J. Perrigan became coroner, and his bondsmen are S. F. Snider, George W. Corn, A. F. Franklin and J. H. Curnel.  Newt is little, but he is clever, and will perform all the functions of his office as promptly as could be desired.

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W. C. M. “Monroe” Travis, the new county attorney, is the only county officer who is not required to give bond; he was sworn in Monday. He will move to town, from the Bells Mines community, in the course of a few weeks. Physically he is not a titan, but mentally he sizes up above average.

While he will earn bread by prosecuting the evil doer in the weekdays, he will on Sunday urge the wicked to forsake his ways and give the courts less work to do as he is also a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. (County Attorney Travis only got to fill his position for a few months, he passed away on August 30^th of that same year, 1895. He was my great grandfather.)

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John F. Flanary, the new assessor, has long since been photographed upon the minds of the people of Crittenden County. His bondsmen are Wm. J. LaRue and Wm. H. Mayes.

He is not the largest man in the county nor the smallest, but he is a capital fellow and is going to make a good officer.

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County Clerk Dave Woods arranged to do business at the old stand for three years more. His bondsmen are Henry K. Woods and Robert W. Wilson. Dave has grown old in the service, and by the time he retires he will probably have worn his right arm away writing and will be entitled to a pension from the fiscal court.

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County Judge James A. Moore was re-consecrated with Circuit Clerk Haynes officiating as high priest. His bondsmen are Joel W. Guess, Garland Carter, B. W. Belt and Wm. Bennett Yandell.

He seems to be a part and pinrell of the courthouse and along with Dave Woods had as well be installed permanently. He is a good official, pleasant and patient.