This article is another collection of some of those interesting tidbits that I have saved. Not enough information for an individual article on each item, but definitely some informative and fun information from yesteryear. From the archives of The Crittenden Press comes these interesting stories.
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November 1930 – Hugh Mastodon Tooth
On display in the office of Tax Assessor, Robert Corley, is a Mastodon tooth, found by Bill Gibson some days ago.
The tooth was taken from a gravel bank in Crooked Creek on the farm of Allie Hughes. As the water reached an unusually low level in the creek this fall as a result of the prolonged drought, the tooth was exposed in the creek bed, allowing Mr. Corley to see the tooth and dig the relic from the gravel in which it was embedded.
The tooth, in an almost perfect state of preservation is a giant molar with six long roots, measuring eight inches in length. The tooth weighs six pounds.
Several other mastodon teeth have been found recently in various sections of the county; arousing quite a good deal of interest in the prehistoric story of Crittenden County. (Wonder what happened to these pieces of history?)
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January 25, 1935 – Red Front Will Open New Store
Largest of entire chain to be completed during this week. The Red Front Cash and Carry Store will open Saturday, February 2, with complete new equipment throughout.
The establishment is located in the Stone & Fowler Building, at the intersection of Main and Belleville Streets.
W. G. "Bill" Stout has been placed in charge and he will employ six assistants regularly with others to be added within the near future.
The store is the largest, most modern and best arranged of the entire group of their 45 stores.
Mr. Stout states that the refrigeration is the best obtainable and all other equipment is the highest type.
The store will be the leader at the of the group and the illumination and lighting is unsurpassed being the best west of Louisville.
The best quality of foods and meats at extremely low prices will be offered to customers.
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May 7, 1937 -Easley and Watson Claim Boxing Tournament Titles in Paducah Meet
Not much has been documented about Marion boys being involved in the art of boxing. Here is an interesting article from The Crittenden Press, May 7, 1937.
Clinton Easley and James Watson fought their way to Tri-State titles in the tournament sponsored by the Sun-Democrat, being held in Paducah.
Clinton Easley gained his title with one of the most powerful knock-out punches ever displayed in Paducah and had no trouble in winning over Willard Camp, Camden, Tenn., in the light-heavy weight division. The bout lasted only one round. Camp was floored twice before being counted out. Swinging a punch loaded with dynamite Easley was master of Camp at all times and clearly demonstrated that his near victory over last year's champion was not a flash-in-the-pan type.
James Watson, in the opening session, in the 113 pound class, scored a technical knockout over Henry Jordan, Paducah, in the third round, and Wednesday night downed Bill Walton, Benton, in a decisive fashion, leaving no room for doubt as to his superiority in the division. Walton was floored three times in the first round and would have scored a knockout if the fight had not been called at the end of the second.
Other in meet include:
* Douglas Travis, lost to Jack Gatlin, Benton, in the feather-weight division in one of the fiercest battles of the meet. A terrific jab to the heart gave the victory to Gatlin after Travis had fought one of the most surprising battles of the evening.
* Dick Moore drove power punches into the body of Clyde Swift, Camden, Tenn., in the 135 pound class but lost to one of the fastest and cleverest of entries.
* Mose Johnson refused to claim victory in the middleweight scrap with Tynes Benton, on a foul.
* Harold Winn lost his bout after putting up one of the best bouts on the opening card.
The local fighters have had no ring experience and very little training, conditioning themselves as best they could within the past few days. All of the Marion boys have plenty of spirit. Some of them hitch-hiked to Paducah in order to fight. Paducah sports writers highly praised the squad as the gamest and hardest punching of all entries.
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April 1941 – Air Mail Pickup and Delivery Service
Wm. C. Gage, operations manager Mercury Dev. Corp., was in the city Wednesday consulting with Postmaster McConnell and other authorities regarding establishment of air mail pickup and delivery service for the city. No planes will land and no passengers received or discharged. The schedule calls for mail and express only.
The proposed schedule calls for two south and west bound deliveries and pickups daily and a like number of north and east. The field picked for erection of the pickup device must be level and within a short distance of the city according to McConnell. Average speed of the plane when picking up the mail was set at 130 miles per hour.
McConnell points to the fact that many business and commercial firms will be benefited by establishment of the service and points further to the fact that express will also be handled.
Description of mail pick-up and delivery will be; Outbound Marion air mail will be picked up by the plane, as the mail plane approaches the station for pickup, a cable and hook are unreeled from the craft through a hatch. The mail will be placed in a rubber container that was suspended between a pair of 15-foot-high posts. The airplane outfitted with a hook, will fly over the posts, and hook the mail and reel it in. Mail will be delivered by dropping from the plane with special equipment.
(Interesting to read about, but I don’t know if this ever came to pass in Marion or not. I was unable to find any further information about the purposed Air-Mail service. )
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Fun and exciting items from yesteryear, bring back good memories from a different time in Marion and Crittenden county.
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