Marion's New Buthcer Shop, June 2018

Meat Markets

What is so interesting about this new business is that Marion hasn't had a butcher shop or meat market since 1926, a store that just sold fresh meat.

Here is a little history of early meat markets in Marion.

1881 -   T. C. Williams was the town Butcher 

 

1900  -Two butchers listed as having a store in Marion were J. W. Givens and Thomas White

1924 –  J. R. Sowders had a meat market on Carlisle St. (on the corner next to the alley)

1926 Meat Markets –  A. W. Jones, at his location on Carlisle Street is conducting an up-to-date meat market. Mr. Jones only recently came to Marion from Eddyville, where he was editor of the Lyon County Herald. One section of his place of business is occupied with a lunch stand, specializing in lunches for school children. 

Morris & Son Grocery on Main St. (where City Drug Store was) had a meat market in their grocery store.

Happy 100th Birthday To Marion Post Office, June 2018

 Marion Post Office (on the right) from 1905 until 1918 when the new one was built and finished. 

In 1912 an article in The Crittenden Press tells the public that the present Marion Post Office on East Carlisle Street that the once capable building had become too small and was cramped for space with the immense volume of business that passes through it each day.   

Recently a petition was presented to Congressman Ollie M. James asking him to present a bill in Congress before he steps up higher, asking the government to build a federal building here. Mr. James will do so and assured his petitioner that he would leave no stone unturned to accomplish the wishes of his home city.

Although it took several years, a notice in 1917 was sent from Senator Ollie M. James to Mr. S. M. Jenkins, that bids for the construction of Marion’s new federal building would be opened on March 15, 1917. 

Thank to Crittenden County's own Senator Ollie M. James, Marion was to have her new Post Office building at last. The location was chosen, when was not too far from the old building, on the corner of Carlisle and College Street across from the Marion Graded School.

 In July of 1917 construction was well underway with the foundation in place. The building was completed in June of 1918 and was ready to open for business. 

Recently Postmaster, Rhonda Hunt gave me a tour of the post office.  In the basement were blueprints from when the building was being constructed in 1917-1918.  They were still in good condition.  She plans to have them organized and placed on a table.

Postmaster Hunt is only the second woman to ever  hold this Marion Postmaster position.  The first was Barbara Centers Gard from Sept. 1980-April 1983.  Through the years there have been several women Officer-In-Charge, but not Postmaster.

A Visit To Old Colon School

 Picture made in the 1970's by Braxton McDonald, as he gathered pictures of as many of the old school houses that were still standing, and also information to preserve the early school days of Crittenden County.  What a wonderful thing for him to do.

The school of Colon was located off the Crittenden Springs Road on the left, just before you get to the intersection of S. R. 135 that goes to Tolu.

In Nov. 1887 a deed from Job Truit and his wife Annie, for ten dollars was made to Trustees of school district of Colon, #18.  Trustees were W. S. Lucas, S. G. Lee, and B. M. George, for one acre of land for a school house.  After the school is no longer in use it goes back to Truitt. (Deed Book W, page 41, Crittenden County Clerk's office.

The school district took in a large area with some children walking across fields for three or four miles.

As with many of the little one room schools scattered across the county, there was a well located close to the school house.   the well usually went dry in the late summer and fall, and the older boys would take turns walking to Colon Spring a half-mile away to get a bucket of water.  Usually by the time they arrived back to school the water was hot and after each child took a drink from the dipper, the bucket would be empty.  

Some of the names of children who attended Colon were, Bateman, Bebout, Belt, Brazell, Croft, Easley, Dalton, Fritts, Kirk, Lucas, Maynard, Phillips, Winders, Weldon, Stallion, Wofford, Lynch, McDaniel, Moore, McKinney and Workman.

The school closed in 1948 and students were sent to Tolu.  The old building has long since been torn down in the 70's, there is nothing left to show the Colon school was ever there but the foundation of the old well that would run dry in the summer months.

Arminta "Mina" Wheeler, Crittenden's First Woman Superintendent

Arminta "Mina" Wheeler, one of Crittenden County's Finest

Miss Wheeler, superintendent of Crittenden County Schools from 1894 to 1901, is pictured when she retired.  The county was sad to see her leave the position, for she was a very popular superintendent and served her county well.

 Crittenden Press of October 1893 tells her story.

Crittenden is one of the few counties in the state that has broken away from the old idea that the offices were created for the men and men only. 

At the last November election Miss Mina Wheeler defeated George W. Perry for School Superintendent by one vote, after one of the most remarkable campaigns in the history of the county.

Miss Wheeler is a native of the county. 

 She educated herself and at the time of her election was one of the best teachers in the county. Her friends who had knowledge to this, solicited her to become a candidate, and she at last consented, and created more real genuine enthusiasm among the people than any other person who ever asked for office in the county. 

She made a number of public addresses of an educational nature and the people, learning that she was thoroughly competent and was deeply interested in the schools of her native county, rallied to her support. 

At first there were those who would not vote for a woman, but when they met Miss Wheeler or heard her addresses their prejudice vanished, and when the election came on and the vote was counted, and she had a majority of two, her opponent contested the election. 

After hearing the contest the board gave her a certificate of election, and declared that she was elected by one majority. She will enter upon the duties of the office next Monday, and Crittenden would not exchange her Superintendent for any other state. 

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Miss Wheeler served her 4 year term 1894-1898 and was elected again for another 4 year term, 1898-1901. She won over John B. Paris by 21 votes. She was a very popular Superintendent and served her county well. She retired at the end of her term in January 1901. 

 Miss Armina Jane Wheeler was the daughter of Isaac and Nancy Elvira Crider Wheeler. She was born April 6, 1861. 

After she retired in January of 1901, she went to Indian Territory in Oklahoma where she once again took up her previous occupation as a teacher. 

Here she met her future husband, Charles Gustafuson, who for several years had lived there and been in the employ of one of the leading coal companies of the West. They returned to Kentucky and were married at Cadiz, KY, on Sept. 2, 1905. 

After visiting family and friends in Marion they returned to their home in Oklahoma.

An announcement in The Crittenden Press, October 7, 1905, tells the tragic news – the remains of Mrs. Mina Wheeler Gustafson, who died at Coal Gate, Indian Territory, Oklahoma, last Saturday, arrived in the city Tuesday morning and were taken to the home of her sorrowing relatives.

Her death came as a complete shock to every one, a letter having come to her sister from her after the telegram announcing the news of her death. 

She was a woman of superior character and possessed many womanly traits. She was honored and loved by all who knew her. She was interred in the Wheeler family cemetery. (this cemetery is located on Just-A-Mere-Road).

A Few Of The Crittenden County Heroes from the 83rd Division of the US Army, WWII

Remembering some of our Crittenden County Fallen Heroes from World War II.

 They gave their young lives for the freedom we have today.  May they never be forgotten.

The 83rd division began its training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana in 1942 where it was the first division to open this camp. In July and August 1943 it participated in Second Army maneuvers in Tennessee and in spite of being the “youngest” division taking part in the maneuvers proved itself a tough, aggressive outfit. In September 1943 the division moved to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky and trained there for the remainder of the year and for the first two months in 1944.

The 83rd departed the United States for foreign duty on April 6, 1944. They arrived in England on April 16, 1944. After intensive training in England and in the northern part of Wales, the Division landed at Omaha Beach, June 18, 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carenta on June 27^th. 

 

Feb. 8, 1945 – Information has been received that Pfc. Forrest Eugene Brantley, 32, of Repton was killed in action on Jan. 13th. He was serving with the 83rd Division in Belguim. Sgt. Brantley had been wounded on July 11th, in the invasion of Normandy and had been back on duty only three weeks when killed. 

 He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eula Brantley. His wife, the former Miss Ruth Hubbard of Shady Grove, lives in Washington, D. C. His body was returned to US under the WWII dead program from Belguim. Sgt. Brantley is buried is the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

 July 16, 1948 – Memorial services were held at Seven Springs Baptist Church for Pfc. Degarth Hall, July 8th. Degarth was the son of Mrs. Jennie Hall of Dycusburg, Ky.

 He was captured in France July 4, 1944 and died in prison camp July 6, 1944. He was brought to his home July 7, 1948, and was buried in Dycusburg Cemetery beside his father, Mr. Ed Hall. The memorial address was given by an Army Chaplin from Camp Campbell, Ky. Pfc. Hall was in Co F 83rd Inf.

  PFC Guy Edward Hodge, son Guy and Stella Thomas Hodge was born July 16, 1922 and was killed in action in France on July 4, 1944. 

 He was a member of the 331 Infantry 83rd Division. Pfc.

 Hodge is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Department du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

 August 18, 1944 – Pfc. Victor Hershel Orr, was killed in action in France July 10, according to War Department telegram last Saturday to his father, Albert Orr. Pfc. Orr was a member of the 83rd Division, he arrived in England three months ago. After entering service Oct. 24, 1942, he received training at camps in Indiana and Tennessee before assignment to Camp Breckenridge. 

 He graduated from Marion High School in 1942.

 He was the son of Albert and Myrtle Edwards Orr. PFC Orr was buried in Normandy France, in the St. Laurent Cemetery.

Remembering Some Of Our Older Businesses

In August of 1983 two new businesses were opening up in what was known as Darben Plaza, created by Darrell Jent.  

Crittenden Press, August 4, 1983.  Two new busineses are expected to open soon in the former Tresslar Home and Family Center building in Marion's Darben Plaza.

Family Dollar, a Charlotte, N. C. based variety chain, will open a store here at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 11, and a Pizza Hut restaurant plans to be in operation by late September.

The 12,000 sq. ft. area formally used by Tresslar has been divided into a 9,000 saq ft. section for Family Dollar and a 3,000 sq. ft. area for Pizza Hut.

Over the past few weeks, carpenters have been preparing the Family Dollar portion of the building for its grand opening, and this week merchandise is being placed in the store.

Al Boyd, former Tresslar manager, has been named as manager of the store here, which will be Family Dollar's 23rd store in Kentucky.

The store will carry merchandise geared toward family and home needs, including clothing and shoes, health and beauty aids, housewares, school supplies, candy, toys, paint, a sewing department, and auto supplies.   It was a great store for a small town like Marion to have. 

What is so unique about these two stores is that they both, Pizza Hut and Family Dollar Store are still open and doing business.  

Through the years, other stores that were located in the plaza weren't so fortunate and had to close, there have been a department store, a video store, and others, one of my favorites, and during the seventies was really popular, was a great dinning place called "The Rustic Inn."   It was a great restaurant with really good food.

CVS Drug Store is the only other business still active in the area known as Darben Plaza.

The Lafayette Fluorspar Company

Crittenden County, KY., once known for being the largest fluorspar producing area in the nation.

Our fluorspar history is quickly being forgotten, as the generations of families that remember these times are also quickly fading away.

From the archives of the Crittenden Press we can go back to the mid 1920's and learn of some of the things that were happening at that time.  Exciting things were beginning to happen in the Mexico and Frances community with the coming of the LaFayette Fluorspar Company.

June 1923 -The Press in behalf on the people of Marion and the mining interests of Crittenden County, welcome the advent of the LaFayette Fluorspar Company into this county. The company has taken over a considerable part of the property of the Kentucky Fluorspar Company, one of the first mining companies organized here in recent years, and has begun to set the wheels of the mining industry revolving at an increased velocity. All this has taken place in the last few weeks and at the expenditure of large sums of money. 

Crittenden County has embedded beneath her soil the finest quantity of fluorspar and other minerals, it is hoped that the new company, possessing all the improved mining methods and an abundance of capital, will add greatly to the mining interests of Crittenden an adjoining counties. We welcome it's advent.

Field work was done in the area before the actual purchase was made. Early in 1921 preliminary investigations were started by engineers from the Oliver Iron Mining Company, in Duluth Minnesota.

Later in October of 1921 arrangements were made to explore the veins by means of diamond drilling. Drill rigs and crews were dispatched to the area from the Iron-mining district of Minnesota. 

As a result of the drilling, investigations and mine examinations of the active operating mines, a group of properties was purchased from the Kentucky Fluorspar Company. 

The actual transfer took place June 9^th, 1923 when Judge A. A. Northern, President of the Kentucky Fluorspar Company accepted a check from Pres. W. J. Olcott of the newly organized Lafayette Fluorspar Company.

In July 1923 additional property was acquired from M. F. Pogue, S. H. Matthews and others. In August 1923 another group of local properties was purchased from the Blue Grass Fluorspar Company which was owned by George P. Roberts, Sam Gugenheim and associates. Also the Big Four group, located near Sheridan was purchased from Avery H. Reed and associates.

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One of the few remaining landmarks of this era is Lafayette Heights. What a wonderful story this historical area holds of that long ago special time of the fluorspar boom in our county.

Lafayette Heights, located in the community of Frances, Kentucky, must have started to be constructed soon after the coming of the Lafayette Fluorspar Company. The company built modern houses surrounded by beautiful yards and gardens for five families of the office personnel. 

The company also maintained a community house where motion pictures were shown weekly and all other social activities were held there also. 

From an article in the Dec. 16, 1927 Crittenden Press it says the employees of the Lafayette Fluorspar Company at Mexico have just completed a new community building to be used for social activities of the company's employees.

The new community building being built in 1927.

On December 28, 1938 the Lafayette Fluorspar Company ceased to exist. This occurred through the transfer of the properties and the active management to the United States Coal and Coke Company, subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In January 1939, the Lafayette Fluorspar Co.'s name was changed and the large plant is now known as U. S. Coal & Coal Co.

Even after the U. S. Steel owned the mine and property they were responsible for the upkeep of the yards and landscaping of Lafayette Heights.

All the houses were connected by a system of sidewalks and the children could skate or ride their bicycles from one end of the property to the other. The area was well lit at night with lights along both the front and rear yards. 

Some of the families that lived here during this period of the history were: In the first house was Elmer and Banche Sorensen, he was chief clerk. In the second house lived Avery and Alma Reed. He was chief engineer. 

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