Past Efforts To Save Marion High School

 The old Marion High School building was torn down in the spring of 2024.  It was sad to see it go.  It's only a memory now, as a graveled lot is in it's location.

I  happen to run across these old articles in the archives of the Crittenden Press and found it interesting to read  how some caring folks did try to save it several times and make it useful again, but it just never happened, on account of the cost.

The first I found was in Sept. 24, 1998.  Murray  State University wanted to make a satellite campus for the Murray State University.  I'm not sure what happened with this project, but it never came to  pass.

Here are two other articles I found interesting.

Crittenden Press, June 18, 1992

Plans Made To convert School Into Elderly Housing

Marion’s old Junior High School would be converted into 12 to 14 one-bedroom apartments under a plan being developed by Crittenden County Elderly Housing Corp.

Lois Hicks, president of the not-for-profit public corporation, announced last week the group is applying for a $562,000 low-interest loan from the Farmers Home Administration to buy and renovate the for,mer school, located across the street from the Marion Post Office.

the building, last used as a school in 1981, is now owned by Marion businessman Tommy Wright, Wright has used the building over the past few years as a retail store, for a storage and for light industry

.

The proposal would convert each of the 700 sq. ft. classrooms into a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, bath and living room.

The gymnasium would likely be used as a community meeting room.

The three-floor building would be made entirely handicapped accessible, and all apartments would be designed to accommodate people with wheelchairs and walkers.

The Elderly Housing Corp. was organized about a year ago, Hick said, on the suggestion of County Judge Executive John May, who noted a need for alternative housing for the county’s elderly.

Other corporation directors are Peggy Howton, vice president, Jean Greeman, secretary treasurer, Charles Aldridge, Elmer Ibert, Guy and Nellie Lowery, Mickey Myers, Janice Newcom, Edith Russell, Sheryl Watson and Ina Mae Little.

Many Litchfield of PADD said a survey was conducted and confirmed a need for at least 12 additional rental units.

Four other sites were surveyed for either renovation into elderly housing or for new construction. Those were the old hospital building, vacant lots near Fohs Hall and the courthouse, and the Fohs Hall annex, which has since been bought to house the Element Mineral Museum.

The old Junior High building was picked because it was near the downtown, near stores, churches, the post office and other government agencies, and was structurally sound.

It’s a tremendous building, it was said of the structure which was built in 19 38-39 by the WPA. It’s reinforced concrete would cost a ‘zillion’ dollars to try and build it today.

The group should learn, Litchfield said, whether the loan will be funded by late September or early October.

The local project has to compete for about $1.2 million available statewide for FmHA for non-profit elderly housing.

But, at present, Lietchfield said she was aware of only one other application for money.

If the loan is approved, interim financing would be arranged, probably through a local bank, until the construction project could be completed and the loan taken over by FmHA.

Construction could begin with 60 days of loan approval, and could be expected to be completed in six or seven months.

The exterior of the building would not be changed substantially,. Windows would be replaced with new, energy efficient ones, parking would be developed along with landscaping.

(This project failed as the grant never came through)

Crittenden Press, October 18, 2001

Plan would revive old school as new location for city hall.

One of Marion’s oldest and prized landmarks may again have a chance at new life if local officials follow through on a plan to save the historic building.

On Monday night, Marion’s city council gave Mayor Mick Alexander the authority to enter into an option agreement with Tommy Wright for the City of Marion to purchase the old Marion High School on South College Street. If feasible, the city could soon call the deteriorating building home, converting the former school into Marion City Hall.

The council is also eyeing a building owned by Frances Grady behind the school that was formerly used as a bandroom and special education building. Both option agreements would give the city one year to make a decision on the properties at an agreed price.

Alexander would not disclose the discussed purchase price for either property, saying that information could jeopardize the deal with Wright and Grady.

Bart Frazer, legal counsel to the city of Marion, said the parking lot located on the school’s grounds would not be a part of the potential purpose. That paved lot is currently owned and used by the Marion United Methodist Church.

Last year, attempts by local officials to purchase the school and its surrounding property for use as a joint city-county justice center were hampered by real estate acquisition discussions involving the parking lot.

Frazer said the plan to purchase the school is not intended to exclude the county from joining the city in any future ventures on the property. He said the primary reasons for seeking purchase of the property at this time are to save the building from further deterioration and to give the city a potential prime location for new offices.

"One consideration is to put in a drive-thru window," Alexander said, "That is really needed: for payment of utility bills and similar transactions."

Alexander said he would not know to w hat extent the city could utilize property until an architectural study could be completed.

If feasible, he said, it is possible that the administrative offices and the police and fire departments could all be moved. In that case, the current city hall building could be razed to make way for another structure or parking.

He added, however, that a more likely scenario would be to keep the fire department at its present location, allowing room for expansion when other offices move out of the building.

The mayor said the city has enough money in reserve to get the building "stabilized," repairing the roof and other structural problems that have arisen in nearly 20 years without regular maintenance. Several exterior problems are obvious, broken windows, crumbing woodwork and unattached gutters – but extensive water damage exists inside on either end of the building covered by a flat roof.

Alexander said any use of the property by the city would maintain the historical integrity and outward appearance of the structure.

Though Frazer said the city would welcome the county’s involvement with the development of the property, inviting the jail to the site is not a part of the plan. Under the previous city-county justice center plan, the jail, city police, sheriff’s department and administrative offices of the courts would have been located on the property.

Frazer said relocating the administrative offices of the courts – or circuit clerk’s office – to the old high school would still seem a viable option.

This most recent effort to save the historic school marks the third time in four years the property had been considered for the development by local officials. Prior to last year’s justice center plan, a 1998 study looked at converting the structure to a center for higher education.

***

This project was finally closed in the year 2003, the city had spent about $50,000 studying the building renovation and an estimated cost for the project came close to $9 million dollars. Council members decided it was a lost cause to try and renovate the old building.

Hanging of Thorton Wallingford - 1852

The following is from the files of the Crittenden Press November 5th and 12th, 1920. It tells the story of the first man legally hanged in Crittenden County.

THE HANGING OF THORN WALLINGFORDBy: R. C. Haynes

The first legal hanging in Crittenden County was that of William Thorton Wallingford. The execution took place on Friday, September 17, 1852.

Wallingford lived on a farm near Pickering Hill on the Fords Ferry Road, some seven or eight miles from Marion, the place that was afterwards owned by John Robinson. He was married and at this time had a wife and one child, a baby scarcely a year old. The house was a log building with two rooms in front and with other rooms back on each side. Wallingford and his family occupied only one end of the building, the rooms in the other end being vacant. Wallingford also had a blacksmith shop near his residence, and did work for the public.

Thorn Wallingford, though descended from a good and respected family, was generally looked upon by his neighbors with disfavor, though no crime had heretofore been charged against him. Added to his other shortcomings as a citizen and a husband, he was unfortunately addicted to the immoderate use of strong drink, which it seemed, more than anything else, led to the brutal crime for which he suffered the extreme penalty of the law. He seems to have been so constituted that when under the influence of liquor he was entirely deprived of reason, judgment and all the better feelings of humanity.

One morning, leaving his wife and child at home, Wallingford went to Weston, remaining all day, during which time he frequented the tavern bar. Such visits to the saloon were of common occurrence from him and the people of that town thought nothing of it. Long after nightfall, he left Weston and started for home.

It happened that some movers, consisting of a man and his wife and a number of children, on their way to Missouri, late that evening stopped and asked for shelter during the night. Mrs. Wallingford gave them permission to pass the night in the unoccupied section of the building. This they accepted gladly.

Wallingford, arriving home about midnight, insanely drunk and possessed with the demons of darkness, found his wife and baby in bed and perhaps asleep, murdered them in a most brutal way. Finding out in some way that the movers occupied the other end of the building, dragged his wife from bed and tramped her to death on the floor. He then took the baby, threw it in the fire heating the house. The movers, hearing the cries, rushed into the room, but too late to save the life of the wife or child.

Quickly notifying the neighbors, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Wallingford, and by daylight, Sheriff M. B. Haynes and one or two deputies went out searching for him. They went to the scene of the tragedy, but Wallingford was nowhere about the place. Following what they took to be his footprints, they came to a woods, and after searching for some time, found Wallingford on a pile of rails asleep. They arrested him and told him that he was charged with the murder of his wife and child. He appeared unconcerned and told the officials he knew nothing about the crime.

The sheriff took the prisoner to Marion and turned him over to the custody of Jailer John H. Bruff. The jail was a log structure, two stories high. The walls of the building were of three thicknesses. The inner and outer walls were built of large logs lying horizontally, while between these two walls was another wall made of logs equally as large, standing upright. There was no chimney or flue and no means of heating the building.

There was no local newspaper in Marion at that time, yet the news of the crime spread, much excitement prevailed, and for a time mob violence was feared.

Owing to the absence of the movers as witnesses, the case was continued for a number of terms of court. Finally, however, the case came up for trail at the fall term of the Crittenden Circuit Court, Sept., 1852, Judge R. K. Williams on the bench; Oscar Turner, Commonwealth Attorney, and Sumner Marble, County Attorney. Mr. Turner being ill, the court appointed Wiley P. Fowler to represent the commonwealth. The defense was represented by Nathan R. Black and Chester C. Cole, both members of the Marion bar. Other county officials than those we have named were R. G. Steward, circuit clerk; Berry S. Young, county clerk; David B. Carter, county judge; William Hogard, assessor, and A. J. Brasher, coroner.

When Judge Williams had called the court to order the case of the Commonwealth vs. William T. Wallingford was read from the docket. The accused was brought in by Jailer Bruff and the charge of willful murder pleads not guilty. After much consultation with witnesses the attorneys on both sides announced ready for trial. The most noted trial that had ever come up in Crittenden County Court was now on, and the courtroom was packed with people from all over the county. Two days of the court were taken up in impaneling a jury, since, owing to the nature of the crime and the publicity given it, so many of those summoned by the sheriff to act as jurors had previously ''formed or expressed an opinion in the case." At last, however, the panel was made up all of whom, collectively and individually, the attorneys of both sides "liked." The gentlemen who served as jurors were as follows: John L. Adams, foreman; P. A. Johnson, William Banks, Andy Woodall, James Harvey Travis, William P. Stallions, William H. Minner, James B. Foggs, William Fritts, Thomas S. Alvis, Richard Williams and A. B. Perkins.

After the jury had been sworn and had taken their seats the witnesses in the case were called and responded to their names as follows: B. S. Pickering, Rose Williams, George M. McDowell, Jesse McMillian, Charles Lisenby, G. H. Williams, James Pickering, Lena Pickering, Thomas L. Dean and Alex Dean.

It was a hotly contested legal battle, the best of talent and ability being engaged on both sides. Just what nature of testimony given, the records do not show; but after the evidence on both sides had been given and the attorneys had "rested," the court gave his instructions to the jury.

Four speeches were made to the jury, two on each side, Nathan R. Black and Chester C. Cole for the defense and Wiley P. Fowler and Sumner Marble for the Commonwealth. Sheriff Duke Haynes took the jury to their room to deliberate and the crowd in the courtroom waited anxiously and impatiently to hear the result. The accused man was apparently the most unconcerned man in the courtroom.

"Gentlemen have you reached a verdict?" inquired the court. "We have," answered the foreman. "And do each of you gentleman concur in the verdict rendered?" inquired the court. "We do." answered each of the remaining eleven jurors.

Amid almost breathless silence Circuit Clerk Stewart read: "We the jury find the accused William T. Wallingford guilty as charged and fix his punishment at hanging by the neck until he is dead." The condemned man sat in stolid indifference.

Turning to the prisoner at the bar the court asked, "Have you any statement to make or reasons to offer why the sentence of death should not be passed upon you?"

Rising to his feet, Wallingford said, "I am innocent, or, if I killed my wife and child I was too drunk to know anything about it." Judge Williams fixed the 17th day of September as the day of execution.

Friday, Sept. 17th, 1852 was a notable day in Crittenden County. Unlike the executions of today, it was public and the occasion drew people from all over this and adjoining counties. A larger crowd was in Marion on that day, it is said, than there ever was before or ever has been since. Everybody went, men, women and children. Slaveholders gave their colored people a holiday and they made the occasion a day of jubilee.

When the hour of execution drew near, an oxcart in which a coffin was placed was driven to the jail by a man named Vickers, and Wallingford was placed upon the coffin. Vickers then started the ox team and the procession moved on down the Fords Ferry Road, proceeded by a company of two hundred militia under the command of Major Franklin and followed by an immense crowd of people.

Down the road a half-mile or more in a field to the left of the road, now owned by Mrs. J. P. Pierce, stood a tree with large branches outspreading. This tree was chosen as a scaffold. When the procession neared the scene Major Franklin with the Militia formed a circle around the scaffold to keep back the crowd, the team of oxen drawing the cart on which the condemned man sat was driven under the limb. In every direction from the scaffold was an immense crowd of people, expectantly waiting. Parents held up their little children in their arms that they might get a better view.

In those days there was no official hangman and it devolved upon the sheriff to tie the knot around the condemned man's neck. Sheriff Duke Haynes was a man so constituted that he shrank from taking the life, though legally, of a fellow human being, and he shrank from the imposed duty. Deputy Sheriff J. H. Walker would rather resign than to tie the knot. There was therefore nothing else to do; the sheriff must "face the music" and tie the fatal knot around the victim's neck.

While Wallingford sat upon his coffin apparently unmoved and unconcerned, the sheriff stood by with the rope, his hands trembling and his knees shaking. At this time a man pushed through the crowd, passed through the circle of militia and stepped up to the sheriff. The man was William Perkins. "Duke," said the man to the trembling official, "give me five dollars and I will tie the knot." Without any equivocation as to the price, the sheriff accepted the terms and gave the rope to Perkins.

A short religious service was held. Rev. Joel Grace, pastor of the Crooked Creek Baptist Church, read a portion of scripture and began a discourse. He was an able preacher, but the surroundings and the solemnity of the occasion were too much for the minister. He shook, as if with an ague. Finding he could not proceed, he called on Rev. Aaron Moore, pastor of the Marion Methodist Church, to conclude the service. Bro. Moore responded by singing "There is a Land of Pure Delight", and offered a prayer for the soul of the condemned man.

The crowds were immense. Every tree available was filled with boys, black and white. A limb of an apple tree standing near broke under the weight on it, throwing a number of boys to the ground.

The sheriff told Perkins that the hour of execution had arrived. The newly made deputy tied the knot in the rope and put the noose around Wallingford's neck. The sheriff turned his back to the scaffold, refusing to witness the death scene. Vickers started the oxen, the cart rolled from under the limb, and Wallingford dangled in the air, the fall breaking his neck. In a few minutes two physicians, Dr. John S. Gilliam and the other probably, Dr. J. C. Elder, pronounced him dead. Thorn Wallingford had paid the penalty for his crime, the friends of the murdered wife and child had been avenged and the "majesty of the law" had been upheld.

***********************

Note: The property owned by James Perry Pierce (1841-1916) began near where U. S. 60 East and Fords Ferry Road intersect. The large brick house on the lot formed by Fords Ferry Road and Pierce Street was built for J. P. Pierce by F. B Heath in 1880. Farther down Fords Ferry Road across from the Church of God is where the hanging took place.

Marion In 1941

 An interesting little item from The Crittenden Press August 22, 1941

One of the most pleasant "home" towns in Kentucky.

Approximately 2,400 inhabitants.

Splendid new school buildings and 12 churches.

Two bus lines.

Illinois Central Railroad.

Postal Telegraph.

Southern Bell Telephone.

Kentucky Utilities Light and Power.

A Million Dollar Bank.

Live Kiwanis Club and American Legion Auxiliary.

Modern water plant with 100 per cent pur water.

Concrete streets and adequate sewer system.

One of the best weekly newspapers in Kentucky.

A great spar mining center.

Up-to-date stores and shops - A good place to trade.

A friendly and cultured people welcomes you to Marion.  Here you will find good churches, homes and schools.  

Here would be a good place to spend the rest of your life.

*********************************

Two bus lines.  It seem at this time Marion had two bus lines that came through Marion.  Greyhound and Southern Limited.  The Southern Limited was also handled through Mrs. Lawson Faxon and its headquarters were at Faxon Drug Co, (which was Orme Drug Store, where the Marion Cafe' used to be  and Botanicals is today).  It only was here for a few years, and then Greyhound Bus lines was the only one and they moved to the location on W. Carlisle Street.  Mrs. Faxon was the Greyhound agent in Marion for 12 years. 

A Glance At The 1896 Town Records

 

A Glance in Our Past

The following article is from the archives of The Crittenden Press. It was written Dec. 10, 1896. It says “Just a glance at the town records of an early date, 40 years ago. A two cent advalorem tax, and a mud hole of note.”

This would have made the article written starting in the year 1856. Some very interesting and worthwhile business activities were being done all those many years ago. And we are fortunate that someone took the time to write the article so we can have a glimpse of the happenings from that time period.  Many of these early pioneer names are unfamiliar to us today. 

***

Some of Marion early pioneer business men and town officials and their duties.

It appears from the old records that the town of Marion had some of the same possessions forty years ago that it has now. It had a board of trustees about that time.

On March 19, 1855, the following officers steered the municipal affairs as trustees: John W. Blue, Henry L. Leigh, Wm. Rochester, Wm. C. Carnahan, John. N. Woods. All are now dead except Messrs. Blue and Woods. John W. Wilson, long ago dead, kept the town’s funds then, and John Fowler wore the star of authority as marshal;  (Most of these early founding fathers are buried in the Old Marion Cemetery on Moore St.

Warren Wager, who died in Florida several years ago, presided over the destinies of the police court, and Jeff Tyner was the assessor, while Robert L. Bigham was city clerk.

***

The town had bylaws then, and some of them are like those that irritate the Dr. McGraws of today. For instance, bylaw number one provided that any free person of color who shall be found loitering about said town unemployed in some visible laudable occupation, shall be fined ten dollars, and in default of payment shall be committed to the jail of Crittenden County, not exceeding one day for every two dollars of the fine.”

A bylaw that confronted the hotel keeper when he sold liquor in those good old days provided that he should first pay a license tax of fifteen dollars; however, if he sold in quantities of not less than a quart, it only cost ten dollars, and if he failed to pay he was promptly fined the princely sum of thirty dollars. A plain town drunk was fined one dollar and a half, and he who “cussed” was made to pay the fiddler to the tune of five shillings.

A bylaw like the latter, if enforced, would fill the town treasury now in 24 hours, and readily provide water works, electric lights and street rail ways within a year.

***

On Jan. 3, 1856, the board tackled the claim of J. W. Rutherford for services as assessor for the year 1855. It was agreed to allow him a reasonable compensation and he was allowed $2.50.

At the meeting on the 11^th day of Dec. 1856, the following order was made:

“It is ordered that Wm. H. Rochester, Captain of patrol, together with all the citizens of the town of Marion, be and they are hereby appointed a patrol for the town. Said patrol, or a sufficient number thereof, under the direction of said captain, shall patrol the town every hour during the night from this time until the said body of police shall be dissolved by this board under the direction of said captain, he or they shall have power to search any negro suspected of having weapons or ammunition, or either and may also search the quarters, boxes, etc., of any negroes for concealed weapons.

***

After this meeting the board appears to have held only six meetings until 1859, and after a long rest the dog tax question was discussed, and the tax on the curs that year was fixed as follows:

“For one dog nothing, for the second dog 25 cents, for the third dog 50 cents, and all about that $1 each.”

Within the past few months some of the citizens have preached the funeral of the present board of trustees for directing the owners of certain property to build their own sidewalks, the owners holding that the town should at least furnish the curbing, that this was the law and the custom, but the records of July 6, 1859, bear this order:

“It is ordered that each proprietor make a substantial brick or stone pavement in front of his property on each side of Main street.”

Then follows the name of the citizens who are to execute this order. So the records are against those who want the town to build the sidewalks.

***

August 5, 1859, the trustees met and ordered a hitch rack to be put up on the north side of the public square and lo, for these thirty years horses have been hitched there. At a meeting a week later the county surveyor was ordered to survey the town.

From 1859 to 1862 there is no record; it is probable that the trustees got the town in good shape and took a three years rest. From 1862 to 1867 the record in blank. In 1867 the town legislature met and found that one member had moved away, another had died, and Messer’s. A. S. Threlkeld and J. W. Blue were elected to fill the vacancies, and E. H. Perkins was appointed city marshal.

***

On April 16, 1868, a claim of $42 in favor or E. R. Pickering for work done on the streets in 1855 was allowed. No man who has claims against the town these days let whiskers grow on those claims like Mr. Pickering did.

In Nov. 1868 the board agreed to pay Dave Woods $85 for a street through the lower part of his garden. Our fine school building is now near that street.

***

In January 1869 James W. Bigham, now the famous Methodist preacher, was appointed town attorney. All the town attorneys have not made preachers, though the present one is secretary of a church conference and has plenty of time to reform and get into the ministry.

In May 1869 Wm. S. Carnahan was appointed town marshal Vice E. H. Perkins resigned, and in December he gave way to T. L. R. Dickerson. At the same meeting Wm. Hughes was allowed the price of his tavern license for filling a mud hole near Nathan R. Black's. This license carried with it the privilege of selling ardent spirits by the drink. If the taxes on the license was as high then as it was subsequently, that must have been a famous mud hole for that day and generation, though it doubtless would not compare in magnitude with some of its more modern progeny. Whatever may be said of the degeneracy of our own race, the mud holes have more than held their own; in fact, they have kept pace with the march of civilization, with an ease and suavity of manner that is astonishing.

The election of April 1870 resulted as follows: Police Judge, John G. Hoover, Marshal, T. L. R. Dickerson; Assessor, John E. Black; Town Clerk, Dave Woods; Trustees, John W. Blue, John H. Cameron, John N. Woods, Aaron S. Threlkeld, Berry S. Young.

***

On July 28, 1870, a preamble and resolution was adopted setting forth that the peace and good order of the town on Monday, August 1^st, the day of the election, depended on the sobriety of the citizens, and there fore the “saloon and hotel keepers and druggist” are requested to suspend the sale of liquor on that day. There is nothing to show how the matter terminated. It may be that white winged peace spread her snowy opinions over the town at that election and may be otherwise.

***

On November 30, 1870, the treasurer was ordered to collect from a man whom we will call “John Smith,” deceased, $15, his town tax for selling liquor for the year 1869. What the result was when the treasurer presented the bill to the dead man, we are unable to say; the records throw no light on the transaction, but we will venture the assertion that this was one occasion in Marion where a bill was presented and the man who owed it did no “Kicking.” And as the probabilities are so strong that the thing occurred just this way, it forms an epoch in our history, and we draw the curtain, and leave the next epoch to future historians.

The Tradition Of Sarah

 This interesting article was written many years ago by Mr. Albert L. Wheeler, son of Isaac and Elvira Wheeler. The John Wheeler family was some of the early pioneer settlers of Crittenden County. They settled in the area of the B. C. McNeely home place on Just-A-Mere Road and on the land where Rodney Paris now owns on Hwy. 506. In fact their two family cemeteries are located on these farms. The James Wheeler Cemetery on Just-A-Mere Road and the John Wheeler Cemetery on the Paris farm land.

We are fortunate to be able to have some of these stories that were handed down from generation to generation and now tells us about another time in the early days of our county, and in the lives of people that lived back then.

The Tradition of Sarah Mayes

When ten or eleven years old, in the year, 1880 or ’81, I was often required to ride an old mule and carry a turn of corn to the mill. Most often it was to the Marion Mill, owned by Dan Bigham and his partner and situated on the Princeton road at the then outskirts of town. (the mill sat where Conrad’s Grocery and parking lot are located today).

A strong running spring was near and within the enclosure, which supplied water for the boiler. Between the mill and spring the ground was covered with what appeared to be sawdust (later I understood it to be refuse tanbark. Previously a tan yard had been there). It was a good place for a boy to play while waiting for his corn to be ground, which might take a half day or all day, according to the amount of grist ahead of yours.

Negroes lived across the road to the east, who got water from the mill spring. When they came, I stood well back. Perhaps I was over timid, but no Negroes lived within the confines of the Copperas Spring School District, all but the confines of my then world.

Once a very old Negro woman came to get water. Her form was bent from disease or age until her body was horizontal, her neck bent acutely up to see ahead, her face deeply set with wrinkles. Several times she came, always caring a small tin bucket, perhaps too old and feeble to carry a big one. One day as she crossed the road with water, she started singing; her voice was strong, sweet and melodious. Such melody from an old women seemed incongruous.

When I returned home, I told Ma, (Elvira Crider Wheeler), about the old Negro and the spring. She said, “Why that is old Aunt Sarah Mayes, if she had known who you were, she would have taken on over you!”

Later my elder sister, Theresa Wheeler Woodside told the history, or rather tradition of Sarah. Sarah was born a slave of William Elder near Spartanburg, South Carolina, and given by him to his daughter Mary. In 1796 William Elder together with his brothers, James, John and one or two others joined a party of emigrants bound for Kentucky. Sarah’s father did not belong to the Elders, but to a neighbor staying in South Carolina. He followed the party for a half day, trotting by Sarah’s horse continually repeating in a doleful tone, “Goodbye Sarah, Goodbye Sarah.” At noon he stopped his journey and he returned home. In giving me the story above, Theresa imitated the Negro’s doleful tone as he bade his daughter Sarah his final farewell.

Theresa had been told this story from our Grandmother Mary Elder Wheeler, daughter of John Elder, above mentioned, and who was 10 or 11 years old when they left South Carolina.

The party headed for Kentucky traveled east to Cowpens, South Carolina, where 15 years before an army of eleven hundred British under the intrepid Tarleton had been vanquished and all but annihilated by a thousand Americans under General Morgan. They (the party of emigrants) there awaited a contingent of emigrants coming up from the South. Together they crossed the mountains, how many in the party I don not know, but there must have been a considerable cavalcade.

At Campbell’s Station, 15 miles west of Knoxville, they heard of Indian depredations to the west and stopped there. While the main caravan stayed there, seven of the men in the group, including David Hill, George Mayes and five of the Elder brothers immediately resumed the journey to Kentucky.

When they reached their destination, they cleared 10 acres of what was afterward known as the Mayes Pond, which was about 2 ½ miles south-east from where Marion now is. They grew a crop, harvested and stored it and then returned to Campbell’s Station to get the rest of their party.

In 1798, the party headed for Kentucky, built a boat and launched it on Holston River, loaded the household goods, women and children, with enough men to navigate the boat, and floated it down the river. The balance traveled by land to bring the stock and rest of the supplies. The boat being small and crowded; they would land at night and camp on shore. The tradition is that they ran the 30 miles down Mussel Shoals in 30 minutes. In rounding the Horse-Shoe-Bend the men turned the bow of the boat toward midstream and rowed with all their might to keep off the rocks on the outer curve. They floated to the mouth of the Tennessee, poled the boat up the Ohio and Cumberland to where Dycusburg now is and camped there until the men with the stock brought teams to carry them to their new homes.

Sarah and her owner’s cousin, John Elder’s daughter, Mary Elder, were closely associated in their early childhood during the pos-Revolutionary years in western South Carolina. They traveled together with the emigrants across the mountains to Campbell’s Station, and sojourned there for two years. And from there, together, Sarah and Mary, traversed the entire length of the Tennessee River as it meandered through primeval forest, infested with savage Indians and wild beasts. When they reached their new home in Kentucky they were neighbors that endured the rigors of pioneer life, and they contributed their quota to the development of the civilization and culture of Crittenden County.

Though one fair and free, the other in bondage and black, the friendship formed endured ‘til death.

******

Mr. Albert L. Wheeler, who wrote this article, was a grandson of Mary Elder Wheeler, who was the good friend of Sarah, the Negro slave.

Mary Elder married James Wheeler and they are buried in the James Wheeler Cemetery on Just-A-Mere Road.

Sarah Mayes was listed as one hundred years old in the 1880 Crittenden County Census and she was living with her daughter and husband, Lewis and George Ann Wilson, in the area of what today in the old Piney Road.

Perhaps Sarah is buried in the colored area of the Old Marion Cemetery, either the one near Hwy. 60 or the Old Marion Black Cemetery located at the end of W. Central Ave. But if her grave is marked, it is only with a sandstone rock, for no written monument marks her grave, and no history about her early days here in Crittenden County are known.

Mr. Wheeler was the eighth in a family of ten children, seven of whom were school teachers. He taught school for a number of years in Crittenden County before going west. He attended the Marion Academy, and was a classmate of Ollie M. James. Mr. Wheeler died in Lufkin, Texas and is buried there.

The Flanary Home as it once was.

 

This beautiful old home was once one of Marion's valued treasurers, but not appreciated as it should have been in later years.  It's earlier history is featured in an earlier Blog.  But in this post I've centered on the inside on the home as best we can with only black and white old Press photos. 

Did you every wish you could have seen the inside of this home?  I wished it many times.  In March of 1976 the Crittenden County's Homemaker clubs were featuring a Heritage Home tour for a state project.  Houses were selected for their age and structural design.  The John Flanary home on West Bellville Street was featured on this tour.  The Crittenden Press made pictures of some of the rooms.  It must have been a fairy tale home.

The writing says:
The walnut etagere at left, a family heirloom, dominates the upstairs living room of the house.  The piece, which survived the floods of 1914 and 1937 in Union County, hold a collection of objects d'art.  It was originally owned by  George W. Orme of Uniontown, great grandfather of John Ormer Flanary.

This is one of the upstairs bedrooms furnished in cherry. 

The brick fireplace and china cabinets, in this downstairs dining room, were built by Charles Evans during the latter 1800's.  Evans was at that time headmaster of the Marion School.  The buffet, inset, was originally used around the turn of the century in the large dining room of the old Crittenden Springs Hotel. 

The upstairs dining room, has a collection of cherry and walnut furniture.  Antique Silver plateau graces the cherry banquet ends.   (Look at that beautiful chandelier, no mention of it.)

I would have loved to seen the staircase also, but it wasn't shown in any of the few pictures made for the article.  The home and all it's wonderful contents went on Auction in June of 1986.  Wonder where these beautiful pieces of furniture ended up and if it is still beautiful and used today??

Marion United Methodist Church Stained glass windows

 

This interesting history of some of the stained glass windows that are in the Methodist Church was shared by the late Helen Moore,  life long member and historian of this church.  

The church sanctuary gives the appearance of a small cathedral because of the arched ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows.  Three of the windows in the sanctuary have a Bible verse on them and a family name that donated them.  

Miss Moore didn't give any history of the one in the domed cathedral ceiling.

The large window on the South side of the church is Jesus with the children and was given in memory of John H. Hawkins.  His name is engraved in small letters at the bottom of the window.  It says "Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

The congregation gave this window in his memory as he had been one of the pioneers of the Methodists in Marion and had been very liberal to the building fund.  Mr. Hawkins had been a stage coach driver from Hopkinsville to Smithland and was well known and well liked.  He lived from 1813 to 1897.

The other large window was given in memory of William F. and Maria E. Wilson by their daughters, Mrs. Mary Blue, Mrs. Nellie Woods and Mrs. Anna Orme.

The window represents Jesus as our shepherd who cares for us.  The verse says I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Another of the windows has the emblem of the Holy Bible.  The verse on the window say "Our Mothers life was an open book."  This window was given by the Kevil family.

Joseph Bell "J.B." Kevil was one of the trustees at the time the present church was built, and was the manager of the Marion Roller Mill.  This flour mill was located on E. Bellville Street across the railroad tracts on the left.  He later sold this and it became the Marion Feed Mill.  There is also a street across from the feed mill named in his honor "Kevil Street."  

There are also several more beautiful windows inside the church.