School News from 1934 and 1935

 

School News of 1934 and 1935

Remembering those school days of long ago in the little wooden frame school houses that dotted our county side, bring back many memories. The day usually started with singing, a Bible verse, and always the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. Then it was time for the daily studies to begin. But there were other activities that were included with the school year, such as closing day programs, picnics, plays and sports. Here are some activities that took place in 1934 and 1935.

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Dempsey School, Feb. 2, 1934

    Our school having begun on July 19, closed January 26, with good attendance during the entire term. A large percent of the pupils did excellent work very few failed to be promoted and there were six eight grade graduates: Garnet Ray, James Ray, Frieda Gahagen, Rob, Virgil and Elizabeth Truitt. All of the graduates expect to enter high school next term.

    The last day of school we had contests and songs by the pupils, and the P. T. A. served a bountiful basket dinner, which was consumed with much elation.

    In the afternoon, the eight grade entertained for a while. L. M. Duncan, chairman of the school trustees, gave a brief talk concerning school affairs.

    Mrs. L. W. Truitt, the teacher, discussed school work. The P. T. A. presented the teacher with a tablecloth which was highly appreciated. Candy and oranges were served by the P. T. A.

    After benediction by Mr. Duncan all went home with, at least, satisfied appetites.

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Brown School Closes, Feb. 9, 1934

    Wednesday, January 31, was a red-letter day in the history of Brown School. Beginning at 10:30 the primary grades introduced the day's program with songs and dramas.

    The speakers of the morning were: first County School Superintendent, J. L. F. Paris, who spoke at length on the advantages of higher education, and presented diplomas to the following graduates: Jewell Agnes Vaughn, Mary Belle Fritts and Willa Bell Horning.

    Second, Hollis C. Franklin, cashier of the Farmers Bank and Trust Company, Marion, delighted his audience with a beautiful reading and an impressive story. The last speaker was David H. Postelthweight, County Judge of Crittenden County, made an interesting talk on The Philosophy of Life. Then came the noon hour, and such a dinner!

    The afternoon was given over to a community play "The Little Clodhopper" a comedy-drama in three acts. Between the first and second acts Mrs. Vernon Fritts gave a reading. At the close of the second act Lee Butler and Clifton Robinson gave a stunt program.

    Miss Blondell Boucher taught the first five months of the school. Mrs. Fred Giblbert, substitute teacher, finished the term. The house was filled to overflowing with practically a hundred percent attendance of the immediate community and a goodly number from the adjoining districts.

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Tolu School News, Nov. 1, 1935

    Our school is progressing nicely. The English department is under the supervision of Mrs. Blondell Boucher.

    Great effort has been expended in order to give the students enjoyable exercise. A new tennis court, and croquet ground has been added to our playground. In the near future we hope to add other improvement for both the high school and the grades.

    Coach W. B. Fisher reports that he is well pleased with his athletic department. Only a few games of baseball were played but in each game Tolu was victorious. The basketball team has only played three games this season and have been victorious in each of these. Come out to every home game and boost for your home boys.

    Prof. W. B. Fisher and the Agriculture class visited the farm of Mr. Aubrey Griffith and engaged in some farm practice work in poultry last week. Mr. Fisher is glad for his boys to have the practice and wants any patrons to feel free to call on him at any time.

    All patrons are urged to be present at the next meeting of the P. T .A. The program committee composed of Mrs. Warren Guess, Miss Ella Mae Gass and Miss Muriel Easley have prepared a most delightful musical program.

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Mattoon School News, Nov. 15, 1935

    The basketball of the first team are as follows: Byron Nunn, center and captain, has had three years experience. this is his senior year and Mattoon will lose one of her best players.

    J. T. Nation, right forward, is just beginning his career in basketball. He is not only good in the game, but also in his studies. He was on the honor roll this month.

    Chester Newcom, left forward, is also in his first year of basketball. He received honorable mention on the honor roll.

    Roy Allen Johnson, right guard, is in his first year of basketball. He is outstanding in both his studies and basket ball. He was on the honorable mention list last month.

    Joe Truitt, left guard, is beginning his first year of basketball. Pete Travis is substitute for the first team.

    A play is to be given by the Juniors for the purpose of raising funds to entertain the Seniors at the close of school. This has been customary for the last three years. The class of 1934 went to Mammoth Cave. The class of 1935 went to Nashville, Chattanooga, and Lookout Mountain.

    "A Black Heifer", is the title of the play to be given November 23. The cast of characters is as follows: Eph Cincebox – Ewell Howerton; Charleton DuRuyter – Roy Allen Johnson; George Cincebox – Virgil Newcom; Willie Smith – Virgil Woodall; Weary Wraggles – E. O, Roberts; Detective Holscombe – E. O Roberts; Sugar Brown – Chester Truitt; Rube Miller – Wilbur Brantley; Fiddler – Chester Truitt; Mrs. Arabella Simpkins – Catherine Mayes; Betsy Brown – Ruth Johnson; Scraps – Naoma Johnson.

    Earlene Little, of Mattoon 4-H Club, won first prize in the calf show. Her brother, J. C. won third prize and he has gone to Louisville to the state show with the calves.

Gold Star Mother's and Family Day

 This past Sunday, Sept. 27th, was Gold Star Mother's and Family Day.  The name was changed from just Gold Star Mother's Day to and Family Day in 2011.

Gold Star Mothers Inc.

The American Gold Star Mothers Inc. was formed in the United States shortly after World War I to provide support for mothers who lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the United States Armed Forces. 

Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives were represented by a gold star. On the last Sunday in September, Gold Star Mother's Day is observed in the U.S. in their honor.[

The Gold Star Mothers was founded by Grace Darling Seibold of Washington, D.C.

Our Gold Star Mother's

Most of our Gold Star Mother's stories have been lost through the years or more likely, never were told. If we are fortunate we might come across some memories as we look through the archives of The Crittenden Press. Here are two interesting articles about two of our Gold Star Mothers and how they handled their grief and channeled it into something for the betterment of their communities.

Dec. 1936 – Death Claims County's Gold Star Mother. Mrs. W. H. Ordway, 75, died at her home in the Crayne community. Mrs. Ordway had been for many years a resident of the Crayne community and was well and favorably known throughout Crittenden County.

She bore the distinction of being the first gold Star Mother in the county during the world war; her son, Ellis B. Ordway, was the first Crittenden Countian to be killed on foreign battlefields shortly after he was detailed over seas. He died in France, July 26, 1918 of wounds received in action.. Some years later, on March 28, 1924 the local post of the American Legion was named in his honor. His body was returned to the United States in March 1921, and was buried with military honors at the Crayne Cemetery.

Mrs. Ordway was popular in her community and was always lending her efforts to the betterment of the community and giving freely of time and effort in all matters that would benefit or serve to enhance civic betterment and improvement, by doing so she was honoring the memory of her son who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Mrs. Julia Long and her husband, William Ordway, are also buried in the Crayne cemetery.

***

From an article written in 1980 from The Crittenden Press.

Christmas was a bleak holiday for the George and Hattie Winn family in 1944. Their youngest son, Harold, was killed in France that year in World War II, July 13, 1944. The family had no reason to celebrate. “I was grief-sticken; I felt as if my whole world had tumbled in, I was on the verge of insanity,” Mrs. Hattie Winn, said, Harold was my baby.

Mrs. Winn went into seclusion for a year after Harold's death, comforted only by a gardenia grown from a cutting he gave her when she visited him at Camp Wheeler in Georgia.

On their way to dinner at the Officers' Club one night Lt. Winn picked three gardenia sprigs for her to wear. Mrs. Winn wrapped them in a napkin and brought them back to Kentucky to plant. From only a sprig it flourished and grew. She cherished the plant and the memories it held for her and her son.

Harold was soon assigned over seas. He wrote her from the trenches of France, “Mother, I don't want to be selfish, but I wish I could be home again between clean sheets.” A short time later he was killed.

During the sad days when news was received of her son's death the gardenias were neglected and the cherished gardenias died. This grieved Mrs. Winn and she thought of that bush back in Georgia from whence the blooms came. She wrote her son's commanding officer, and was first afraid to mail it afraid he would consider her just a silly sentimental woman. Finally, she did mail the letter asking for another cutting. But realizing the importance of the plant, the commanding officer of Camp Wheeler sent her the entire plant instead, with his “Kindest personal regards.”

The Gardenia Bush was four feet tall and necessitated the buying of a small greenhouse. Even with such careful sending the plant lived only two years. With a greenhouse on hand, friends suggested the purchase of pot flowers. When Mother's Day rolled around, people asked to buy her flowers and with this, Mrs. Winn became a florist. She said that the new flower business has given me a new lease on life. I always loved flowers, Mrs. Winn said, and the beauty of them and the pleasure they gave to other people, helped me with my grief, and I found didn't feel sorry for myself anymore.

Mrs. Hattie Winn died in 1984 and is buried at Mapleview cemetery.

***

I think all our Gold Star Mother's from World War I and World War II are gone now, we will never know their own stories of grief of the loss of the son or daughter, but it's nice to think and remember them on their special day, Gold Star Mother's Day, the last Sunday in the month of September.

Spanning Our Past III

 

Spanning Our Past III

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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May 1 8, 1951 – Cherokee Indian Tribe Visit Marion

On May 11th, a party of nine, including four ancestors, of the original Cherokee Indian Tribe, stopped in Marion on a tour retracing the "Trail of Tears" made by 17,000 of their ancestors 113 years ago at which time 4,000 of their tribe lost their lives.

Chief McKinley Ross, descendant of Captain John Ross, an Indian leader, presented Mayor L. D. Chipps with a peace pipe in a ceremony from the Courthouse lawn with this message.  "As Chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, I  bring you greetings from my people.  113 years ago 17,000 of my ancestors passed through Marion on a march to Exile.  Today three other tribal leaders and myself are retracing that Trail of Tears.

We left our Carolina Mountain homes two days ago on the Trail of Tears journey that carry us through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and to its end in Oklahoma.  We are retracing this historic trail in the hope the people of America may learn of a forgotten page in history.

Other Cherokee descendants besides Chief Ross in the party and wearing authentic native costumes, were Leroy Wahnetah, Joe Washington and Rev. Arsesn Thompson, the first Cherokee Educationalist.

The tour is sponsored by the Cherokee Historical Association.

Attending the Welcome luncheon at the Marion Cafe besides the Cherokee party were: Mayor and Mrs. L. D. Chipps, John Quertermous, Ben Clement, Daisy Franklin, Pauline Guess, Grace Paris, Mrs. T. C. Gilland, R. P. Davidson, N. S. Hollingsworth and Neil Guess.  

The traveling guests were presented with souvenirs of Fluorspar by Ben Clement and other favors from the down town stores.

***

July 20, 1961 - McDonald's Park

Cruce McDonald and wife, Gustava, and daughter, Sandra, were hosts to a Crittenden County officers' Picnic July 7, at their park located on the north side of Little Piney Creek in a beautiful level spot hemmed in by a steep hill and the winding creek. The land is fairly level, populated with stately old trees and carpeted with green grass pleasingly kept. This park is located on the McDonald Farm and is known all around as the McDonald Park.

There were over 85 people that attended the picnic. Those who were present sincerely hope that the event will be repeated again where friends and neighbors may gather together and discuss the problems of the day and ways and means of making the community better.

There are numerous facilities for picnickers pleasure including an outdoor cooker, lights, a small shelter house and some seats. The park is located just off the Old Flynns Ferry Road

***

Sandra McDonald Belt, shares with us that her father, Cruce, created the park, and the facilities. With large rocks located in the area and a large metal screen, he built the large outdoor cooking pit, also built the small shelter and provided picnic tables for the visitors. He also provided the electricity so the park would be useable at night. He also kept the grounds in top shape by mowing and cleaning.

The beautiful little park was well known and people from miles around came to use the park for family reunions, church gatherings, and just simple picnics with the family. At the time the Riding Clubs of both Marion and Fredonia were a big thing and they would have trail rides to the park. Most would ride their horse to the park and they would even stay all night, preparing their night and morning meals on the open fire pit. Their horses were well cared for also with the fresh water from the creek that ran close to the park.

***

September 17, 1964 - Marion's “Tookie” Holloman and his '57 Chevy

Labor Day weekend was a big day for drag race fans from throughout the nation as they gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the National Hot Rod Associations Championship Drag Races. Marion's “Tookie” Holloman took his share of the top honors as he won the C Class Modified Production and was runner-up in the Street Classes Eliminator races. The '57 Chevy has a souped-up '63 Chevrolet engine with more than 400 hp.

The Moore business Forms press operator has won seven races with the car and plans to enter in more competitions in weeks to come. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ray Holloman, North Main Street, Marion.

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September 9, 1965 – Holloman's Chevy Fails At Indy Race Monday

Allen “Tookie” Holloman and Danny McKinney's '57 Chevy “Just didn't get going good” in Monday's national Stockcar Elimination Races at Indianapolis.

The car owned by he two Marion Men, had been undefeated all season going into Monday's Labor Day classic at the Speedway.

Tookie said “another tenth of a second and I believe I could have won, I just couldn't get the car's usual performance Labor Day, he added too, that a change in the car's gear ratio made before the day's competition may have been responsible for a slower performance.

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July 11, 1963- Hardin's Knob Fire Tower Near Completion

Crittenden County's third fire tower is nearing completion on Hardin's Knob north of Salem. The steel structure is 37 feet high at the floor of the tower platform.

During fire seasons the tower will serve as a lookout point over thousands of acres of Crittenden and Livingston County woodlands. Atop the knob is on of the highest points in either county.

To gain access to point where the structure was erected at three-fourth mile road was cut into the side of the hill. County Fire guard, Luther Lynch, said that he spent about 100 hours dozing the road. The road is very steep and winding. Sites along the trail would, however, make ideal picnic spots. The view from the tower covers several counties.

The dozer and trucks used to haul the rock used in surfacing the road are Army and Air Force surplus the state got at Fort Campbell. The land lies on property owned by J. L. Gregory and leased to the state.

Fire guards from other counties helped Lynch with the road and tower construction. The tower was approved last year following a local meeting sponsored by D. H. Postlethweight. Local enthusiasm displayed at the meeting was a great help in securing the tower said Postlethweight. Postlethweight, a local attorney and landowner, has done much to promote forest conservation and tree farms in Crittenden County.

Lynch said that a man got mighty lonely working all day long on the old D-7 dozer in area where he saw almost no one all day long. To pass the time as he worked Lynch composed a poem about the dozer and its job cutting the road up an almost impassable trail. Just for fun about half way up the newly blazed trail Lynch wrote in large letters on one of the hillside rocks “Do Not Feed The Bears.” The sign was Lynch's way of giving visitors to the hillside a chuckle.

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Poppa's Store and The Pilot House

 

Country Convenience Store Poppa’s - 1995

In June 1995 Lucky Easley was building a convenience store on Highway 91 North about 3 miles from the Ohio River and the ferry.

The Hebron native, said the communities near the river have needed something down here, but until now there have not been enough people to support one. But with the ferry traffic, he got the idea to built the store.

The exterior of the 2,000 square feet store will be modeled after the old-fashioned stores pictured on Coca Cola memorabilia.

The front of the store will be built with Cyprus wood, and we’ll have an old gas pump out front for looks,. It will be a novelty item, a conversation piece.

Store hours will be comparable to the ferry’s hours, which are currently 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Aside from gasoline, Easley said the store will be equipped with a hot/cold deli as well as the usual convenience store products.

The store’s success will be based on the number of travelers who commute to and from work on Ky. 91. It will pull people from Illinois and we hope it will draw from people in the surrounding communities.

Easley hopes Illinois higher prices for gasoline and cigarettes will keep northerners stopping to fill up at the store. Current prices on cigarettes in Cave-in-Rock are about $1.55 for generics and $2 for brand names, approximately 50 cents higher than in Marion. Regular unleaded gasoline sells for $1.15 a gallon at one Cave-in-Rock station, compared to $1.03 stations in Marion.

It was wonderful to have this store/eating place. Besides being a great place for the Illinois folks to stop and get gas and other items before returning home across the river, it became a favorite gathering place for many of the families that lived in the Hebron area and many came in from Tolu. It was also nice for the people that lived in the area to be able to buy gas without having to drive to Marion.

The deli case was filled with all kind of deli meats to make fresh sandwiches. Many of the local farmers would come in and have lunch and visit awhile before returning to the fields.

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Some years later the store was sold to J. T. May and it was re-named The Pilot House. His son David ran the store with help from some of the family. Some days you would find Jerilyn May, his Aunt behind the meat counter and his Dad, J. T., behind the grill frying up fried potatoes for the breakfast crowd.

There would be fried fish sometimes for Friday or Saturday night dinner with local families eating and visiting with neighbors and friends. These were special times, once again where neighbors got together and enjoyed time together.

I don’t remember when the store was closed, or who purchased it next, but it was a lose for the community and was missed not only by the locals but the Illinois people also.

The once beautiful store building sets empty today, I hear in really bad shape on the inside from water damage and just the usual deterioration for sitting empty for so many years.

Early Showboats

The old locomotives belching black smoke as they rumbled on the iron tracks, and the magical paddle wheelers with their calliopes that plied the rivers are two of my very favorites.

Early Show Boats On The Ohio

No one around today that would remember the days of the river show boats, the Golden Rod, the Cotton Blossom, those magnificent boats that piled the Ohio River from Pittsburgh and on down the Mississippi to New Orleans making a round trip each summer along about the turn of the century.

These large floating theaters were double deckers with the lower deck fitted out in the fashion of a theater. The upper deck housed the personnel and since they were not self propelled they required a tow boat which pushed them along the way from town to town. They were veritable floating places. The theater section would seat at least as many as two hundred people.

The personnel consisted of a full size brass band, a dozen or more chorus girls, acrobats, actors, animals trainer, etc. The brass band also doubled as an orchestra.

The show boat stopped at all the river towns along the way and provided entertainment such as might be seen in Louisville, Kentucky or the St. Louis vaudeville theaters.

The tow boat was equipped with a steam calliope whose melodious music could be heard for miles and heralded the coming of the boat long before the landing at each town. This gave the inhabitants an opportunity to rush down to the river bank and welcome the landing, the arrival being of great interest to the towns people. The calliope could also be heard over the country side and alerted the people that the show boat was in town.

It must be borne in mind that in those days there were no movie theaters, radios or televisions and automobiles had not arrived on the scene. People who traveled used the house and buggy, or walked and they didn’t stray far from home. So any unusual event attracted them.

The main attraction lasted for two or more hours and the audience was delighted. At the intermission the vendors sold peanuts, pop corn and strawberry pop.

As the years passed movie theaters, automobiles, radio and television provided people with various means of entertainment and the glory of the river show boats faded until they were only a shadow of what they had once been and finally they were no more. it is doubtful that it will ever return but it will be remembered by those who once upon a time appreciated it so much.

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In Nov. 1936 The Show Boat "Golden Rod", visited Dycusburg on the Cumberland River.  The Golden Rod, billed as the world's greatest Showboat played to a large audience at Dycusburg.  a complete Vaudeville program together with many other features were offered to the public.

History Behind County Map Names

 

Stories Behind County Map Names

Let’s take a drive around the county and see how some of our roads and places received there names. I find them interesting and important as they are part of our past history and actually help preserve it for the future. Most names are derived from local history, and early pioneer families.

Easley's Curve – Named for Al Easley that died from an automobile crash on the curve. Crittenden Press, Jan.26, 1934. Al Easley, fifty-five years of age and father of seventeen children, fifteen of them living, died at Welborn-Walker Hospital in Evansville Tuesday morning at 9:30 from injuries received in an automobile wreck the previous evening about 5: 30.

Mr. Easley was one of the most widely known farmers of Crittenden County and at the time of his death, owned and operated a large river-bottom farm just east of Cave-in-Rock landing.

He was returning home from Marion Monday afternoon in a Model A Ford roadster, and it is supposed he was traveling at a rate of speed that prevented him from making the curve going up Terry Hill on the Ollie James Highway, one quarter mile north of Forest Grove school house. He was found beneath the wrecked car by Clarence Terry a few minutes later, with one wheel through the steering wheel and the top bow across his neck. Mr. Terry summoned help to remove the unconscious man from the wrecked machine. He died from a crushed chest and concussion of the brain.

***

Cochran Curve and Hill

The hill and curve on Ky. 91 two miles south of Marion, which Crittenden Countians have for years referred to as Cochran Hill, or Cochran Curve, has been registered under that name by the federal government. (Dec. 1983)

The U. S. Board on Geographic Names conferred the name to the hill earlier this year in honor of Herbert Lyle Cochran, a Crittenden County farmer and carpenter, who lived there from 1911 until his death in 1976.

John Parr Cochran of Charlotte, N. C., executor of his father's estate, said this week he began attempts to get the area officially named as Cochran Hill shortly after his father died. “I just wanted to get Dad some recognition,” he said.

The process involved documenting that the locale had no other official name and getting its certification from the national agency with headquarters at Reston Va.

Some states, Cochran said, have agencies which name geographic locations, but Kentucky does not so the jurisdiction fell to the national board, a division of the U. S. Geological Survey.

Cochran said he obtained letters of recommendation from then County Judge R. C. Hamilton, his mother Margaret Cochran, and other residents in the area.

The Cochran family has owned land in the area since the late 1700's. A log house was built there in 1797, he said and that was remodeled in 1802. That one stood just off Ky. 91 until it was replaced by the house presently there in the 1950's.

***

Wilson Farm Road and Monument Ridge – Named for James W. Wilson an early pioneer family that came to Livingston (Crittenden) County in the early 1800's and settled on land on the Flynn's Ferry and Cave Spring Road.

James W. Wilson, owned the land and built the old two-story brick house that belonged to the late Eddie and Sherrie Hendrix. Mr. Wilson build the home from bricks that were made there, close to the house by his slaves, and the large stone steps and underpinning were made from sandstone rocks taken from the hill/ridge behind the house. That hill is now known as Monument Ridge on the topographical map of that area.

On that hill are the family grave monuments of James W. Wilson (1798-1865) and his wife, Rebecca (Bridges) Wilson, (1803-1856) and two of their children, John B. (1828-1846) and James J. Wilson (1832-1837). These monuments

 (I haven’t been there since 1997) were tall impressive monuments. I don’t know if the ice storm of 2009 damaged them or not. These monuments are where the name "Monument Ridge" originated from.

The Wilson Farm Road was also named for this Wilson family, as local history has told us over the years that Mr. Wilson was a religious man and wanted his farm workers to attend church, and they walked to Marion to attend the First Presbyterian Church on this road.

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Barnett's Chapel Rd – Named for P. C. Barnett The first Barnett School, a one room log building was built in the middle 1800's and was located in southwestern Crittenden County not too far from Tolu. It stood on the property of Phineas C. Barnett. Later Mr. Barnett gave the school trustees enough land to build a new school building. In 1913 a church was built on land deeded by Buckner Croft and it joined the Barnett School lot. The church was named Barnett Chapel due to the Barnett School being there and widely known in the nearby communities.

Mr. Barnett came to what is now Crittenden County in 1835 and settled near Tolu. At one time he owned about 2,000 acres land. He was interested in stock raising, and fine race horses, he operated a store on his farm, and engaged in burying and rehandling tobacco, and he served as a magistrate in the early days.

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Aunt Jane Tabernacle Road

As you drive down Highway 91 North towards the Ohio River, close to mile marker 6 and mile marker 9 you will see the road sign for Aunt Jane Tabernacle Road, have you ever wondered why it got that name?

Before the name was changed to Aunt Jane Tabernacle Road, it was the owner of two names. First, at the 6 mile marker, where you turn left off Hwy. 91 on Easley's Curve, it was named Beard's Mine Road, because of the spar mine that was located on the Beard property on this end of the road, farther down on 91, at the 9 mile marker, you could turn left again and it was called Ball Alvis Road, named for the Alvis family that owned the property on this end of the road.

When the 911 maps were printed for the county, the two road names were changed to one name, Aunt Jane Tabernacle Road, which in itself tells you there is some history located down this old country road.

To learn more about the Aunt Jane Tabernacle road, you will need to know about Jane Winders Underdown. Her husband was Robert Pleasant Lee Underdown. Aunt Jane started the tabernacle meetings in 1905. Everyone called her Aunt Jane, and that's how the tabernacle came to be called what it is.

Aunt Jane left the denominational church in 1905 after hearing a message of holiness from a Church of God minister. It wasn't long after that when Aunt Jane began inviting circuit riding Church of God ministers to hold services in her home. The camp meeting evolved out of that.

Every summer, Aunt Jane would arrange for traveling evangelists to come preach on her farm. She would house these evangelists for the meetings. She would get in her buggy and go to the surrounding farms for miles around to invite all the families to the meetings.

The Shed grew out of a need for the group to have a place to worship. The Shed was built about 1927, with hand-cut and hand-hewn posts, hand-sawed boards for pews, pulpit and platform with a tin roof. This shed represented hard work and sacrifice on the part of poor but dedicated people. John Fox hand hewed many of the pillars and helped lead the singing. Lanterns hung on posts, and shaded coal oil lamps sat on post stands and the pulpit. The shed didn't get electricity until the 1950's.

People came from miles around on foot, horseback, buggies and wagons. There was lots of singing, shouting and long services. The meetings were always held the last two weeks of July.

Aunt Jane Underdown passed away August 10, 1950, at 91 years of age. Funeral service was at Aunt Jane's shed. Interment was in the Underdown cemetery.

The History of the Crittenden Springs Hotel and Sulphur Spring

 

Crittenden Springs Hotel

The Crittenden Springs Hotel was build in 1887 by the Crittenden Sulphur Springs Company. From Deed Book U, age 326 in the Crittenden County Court House: Articles of Incorporation: The undersigned do hereby associate themselves together and become incorporated pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 56 of the General Statutes of Kentucky, under the corporate name of the Crittenden Sulphur Springs Company and do hereby adapt the following articles of Incorporation.

The names of the incorporators are Robert W. Wilson, John W. Blue, Sr., J. D. Leech, T. L. Leech Sr., B. F Crow, Robert E. Fowler, Alphus H. Cardin, Perry S. Maxwell, Wm. C. Carnahan, Samuel Garrett, J. H. Hillyard, A. E. Bigham, Wm. B. Terry, John G. Rochester, James P. Pierce, E. Palmer, W. M. Rawls, J. W. Blue, Jr., M. A. Cardin, Wm. Fowler, Philip H. Woodall, A. Wolff.

The name of the corporation shall be, and is The Crittenden Sulphur Springs Co., and the principal place of business shall be Marion, Crittenden County, Ky.

The business of said company shall be first, the purchase of the property known as the Crittenden Sulphur Springs and the improvement of the same, by the erection of hotels, dwelling houses, store houses, livery stables, and such other buildings and improvement as may be deemed necessary and expedient to fix up said springs and grounds, as a pleasure and health resort and to operate the same, and to construct wagon and carriage roads to and from the same, and to do any and all other things incident to similar places of resort.

The amount of the capital stock of the said cooperation shall be fifty thousand dollars to be divided into shares of fifty dollars each and the same shall be paid in such manner and as such times,, as the board of directors, shall require.

The said corporation shall commence on the 18th day of August 1887, and shall continue for the full term of 25 years unless sooner dissolved by a vote of the stockholders.

***

For 25 years the hotel flourished as a mineral spring health resort, during an era when people felt drinking and bathing in various types of spring water was beneficial to one health.

In 1893 The Crittenden Press published an article about the Crittenden Springs Hotel getting ready to open for the season.

Mr. Mr. J. S. Smith, until recently a well-known traveling man, has been engaged as manager for the season of 1893, and he is now on the grounds "putting the house in order." The magnificent 125 room, three-storied, gingerbread trimmed hotel is being burnished up inside and out, and the beautiful grounds are being touched up with the skill of a landscape artist.

Every convenience known to the modern hotel will add to the comfort and pleasure of those who are so fortunate to choose Crittenden for their outing this year.

There are electric bells in every room, tasty bath rooms for hot or cold, fresh or sulphur water baths; a fine billiard hall with three superb tables, a handsome 10-pin alley, lawn-tennis courts plus fishing, frog shooting, and a good livery stable for fine riding and driving pleasure.

An admirable dancing hall is being arranged, and a splendid band has been engaged for the entire season. The parlors are magnificently furnished, the bedrooms are marvels of beauty and comfort.

A wine room is one of the new features that been constructed. A system of waterworks is being put in, and huge windmills will force the water to every floor in the building.

The culinary department of the huge establishment will be in the hands of skilled artisans, and in every appointment no pains and no means will be spared to make it reach as near perfection as possible.

The acres upon acres of woodlands with their great shade trees, merry hills, mossy banks, charming walks and lovely mountain views make the place one of the loveliest in the whole country.

While the $60,000 or $70,000 spent has added to the beauty of the place, nature has added the greatest bounty and it is mysteriously hidden in the wealth of health-giving waters. The sulphur water has no superior, the hundreds who have tested it are witnesses to this fact. Then there are a half dozen of as fine chalybeate springs as there is in the country. There is indeed a mine of health and wealth in these waters, which nature has so kindly brewed for man.

Visitors will also want to spend time at the pavilion that was built over the health giving sulphur spring. The spring bubbles up from under a pavilion, which is called "The Gum."

 (note: I always wondered why the sulphur spring and the pavilion was named “The Gum”, from an article found in the June 7, 1888 Crittenden Press, maybe the answer. “The Crittenden Quarry Co. has been hauling some fine rock to the Springs for the purpose of curbing the spring. The old “gum” has been taken out and one of stone put in. It is said that at least one-fourth of the water has heretofore escaped on account of the crevice in the rock at the bottom not being large enough to admit the passage of the water upward.” Another little item said the sulphurreted hydrogen still bubbles up through the truck of the old Gum tree.)

One can walk from the hotel to the pavilion on board walks that descent down the hill from the hotel, and were built for easy walking. There are nice benches in the pavilion you can sit on and relax and drink of the health giving water and exchange resort news.

The boiling sulfur spring was known and appreciated by settlers as far back as the beginning of the present century. For dysentery and complications arising from indigestion, it has no superior and the most obstinate cases have frequently yielded to the alleviating influences of the water after a week's use. For diseases of the urinary organs, chronic diseases of the skin, rheumatism in all its stages, this water is a standard specific. It is a speedy cure for nervous complications arising from overwork or anxiety. For many of the female diseases it affords a permanent remedy. It is also highly valued as a remedy for chronic erysipelas, blood poisoning and kindred afflictions.

The use of these waters, drinking and bathing, is a recuperative remedy for hundreds or more of the afflictions the human race is heir to. Its analysis, as well as its actual operation on the human system, is indispensable evidence that it ranks with the best mineral waters in the county.

The road from the railroad depot to the springs is being put in better condition than ever before, the distance has been shortened, and the rough places in the road eliminated. The drive this season will have none of the inconveniences usually found. A unformed porter will meet every train to take charge of and check baggage and look after the comfort of guests. Marion's livery stables have available horses and carriages for hire, and as the daily trains arrive a line of carriages will be on hand to transport guests to the resorts.

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Another piece of interesting information showed up in The Crittenden-Record Press, June 12, 1913. Mr. S. M. Jenkins, editor and publisher, had this to say. Our Crittenden Springs hotel of a hundred rooms or more, with every possible facility for caring for two hundred and fifty guests, as least was evidently constructed a few years to soon. With our present motor cars, well graded roads and the heavily foliaged trees along the drive, that old hollow blue gum would now be surrounded by eager devotees of the sulphur water habit, the spacious dancing floors of the big building would be alive with the youth and beauty of the city and countryside, and the air vibrant with the “salute all.”. Crittenden Springs Hotel, would be besieged for accommodations for all points of the compass. Why not restore, revamp, rejuvenate this once delightful summer resort. It's never to late to mend.

But alas, the once beautiful structure sitting atop the hill was already in it's last days of glory.

The Crittenden Sulphur Spring resort flourished until 1910 when people began to doubt the medicinal purposes of the sulphur water and the final demise came when nearby mining operation caused the water to disappear from the springs.

By 1912 the Sulphur Springs Company had started selling some of the land. In Deed Book 24, page 529, Jesse Ryan, on the 21st day of July 1909 bought 12 acres, and in March 1912, R. E. Moore bought 57 acres of the Sulphur Springs Company's land. In 1919, the hotel was sold to Ms. Evelyn Shelby Roberts and was torn down to provide lumber for a house built on the same location.

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In 1946 it was sold to Forrest Shewmaker and his family lived in the house built from the old hotel. It said the living room of the home was the former ballroom.

(Mary Shewmaker Tabor, and her sister, Martha Shewmaker Ingram, sold the Crittenden Springs farmland and home in 2019.. The family from Florida that purchased it finished tearing down the old house and built a new house in it’s place.