Marion's Second Signal Light

 From the archives of The Crittenden Press, June 11, 1937

A new traffic light was ordered installed at the intersection of Main and Depot streets by the city council at the regular monthly meeting.  

This will be the second signal light installed in downtown district, the first being at Main and Bellville.

With installation of the second the two will be synchronized allowing a speed of twenty miles per hour.

It is possible that a third light will be ordered in the near future and be installed at Carlisle and Main Street.  (This one never happened)

This is the location of that second Signal Light.  The big white two-story home of Fanny Gray is on the right , torn down in 1969 and the two-story house of the left was the Gugenheim house, which was torn down when Beavers built their station on the corner. 

We find out that in June 5, 1954, this signal light was removed, as it caused too much congestion of moving traffic the short distance to the signal light of Main and Bellville Streets.

It was replaced with the stop sign in the picture above.

Also a blinking yellow caution light was placed on US 60 East at the Curve-In to warn motorists to slow down for curve.

Did Any Of Your Ancestors Go West?

Sept. 14, 1893 – The New Land, the rich and fertile "Cherokee Strip" to be opened on September16. Every head of a family male or female can get 160 acres.

Guthrie, Okla. Just eight days from today in accordance with the proclamation of President Cleveland, the largest body of purely agriculture land on the American continent that remains unsettled and uncultivated will be thrown open to settlement under the homestead laws, and between noon and nightfall on the eventful day a hundred thousand people will find home upon the land.

This body of land is known as the Cherokee Strip or outlet, and is fifty-seven-miles wide and 185 in length, containing about six million acres.

After several years of dickering, the Indians finally sold their right in the Government for $8,000,000, and Congress brought joy to the hearts of waiting thousands last spring by passing a bill providing for the opening of the land for settlement.

This portion of the strip which it is proposed to open extends from the Arkansas river on the east to No mans' land on the west, and contains the most fertile land in the Indian Territory. Kansas touches it on the north and the Oklahoma country on the south.

The soil is a rich sandy loam, very fertile and productive, both on the low lands and uplands, the quality being much better throughout than that in Oklahoma. The ground is covered with a rich carpet of grass, while the principal streams are lined with timber. The salt fork of the Arkansas, the Canadian and the Cimarron, all flowing in southeasterly direction, are the principal streams, and all have numerous tributaries, which make a network of running water enveloping the entire country.

Sept. 21, 1893. - Bound for Cherokee Strip

At Paducah on the Gus Fowler leaving for Cairo where they will go by rail to the Cherokee Strip, which will be thrown open Saturday. The Carrsville group had their complete outfits for camping, including dogs, guns, and other equipment considered necessary to out door life. The party composed of Capt. J. C. Barnett, T. B. Barnett, Crocket Bess, Carroll Bess and wife, Tom Bruce and A. C. Likens.

Sept 28, 1893 – Cherokee Strip

Mr. Lawrence Winlock Cruce who was on hands at the opening of the Cherokee Strip says the land is the most over-rated of any country in the west. A few hundred areas along the water courses he says, is fine, but the larger per cent in "poor stuff."

Oct. 5, 1893 - Cherokee Strip (2)

Capt. James C. Barnett, from Tolu, has returned from the Cherokee Strip, where he and his son, Thomas, entered 160 acres a piece, as level as floor and as fertile as the valley of the Nile. They made the run on the train of cars that entered the Strip. It only run at the rate of 15 miles per hour, without stops and when they reached land that suited them they leaped off and squatted on the ground they wanted. Tom remained out there and Captain Barnett will return in a few days.

Oct. 22, 1903 – Off For The West

Tuesday was indeed a sad day in Marion. Some of her best people left for new homes in the west. Some in search of health and some in quest of fortune.

Among those who left were P. H. Woods and wife, Miss Lavine Woods, and Masters Mortlie and Menard Woods; Mes Sherman Franklin and two step-children, all of whom go to Milburn, Indian Territory.

The Colorado centingent was composed of three generations of the Loving and Franks family. Mrs. F. W. Loving. Mrs. John T. Franks, Miss Annie Williams and J. T. Jr. They go to Denver where Mr. Franks awaits their coming.

The Press regrets to see so many good people leave, but hopes they will all be happy and prosperous in their new homes.

Jan. 19, 1906 – Moving West

Lawrence W. Cruce and family left Monday for Ardmore, Indian Territory, where they will make their home. Mr. Cruce’s brothers are doing a prosperous business out there and while we regret to lose him, we can recommend him to the citizens of Ardsmore and wish for the best of success.

April 4, 1907 – Gone West to Reside.

R. H. Butler left Monday for Okmulgee, Okla. Territory to reside. He recently made a trip West and has since had the fever. We regret to give up such citizens as Mr. Butler and his family and hope for them success and happiness in their new home.

Mr. Butler’s sale, at his late home, near Dean’s school house, last Tuesday, was well attended and his personal property sold well. 

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Some of these people stayed and made the West their new home, others came back to their homes in Crittenden County. 

McDonald's Park

 McDonald's Park, one of Crittenden County's almost forgotten places. 

McDonald's Park (This little article was found in The Crittenden  Press, July 20, 1961)

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

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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 usable 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 fun 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. 

 

 Here are some folk enjoying the park.  Must have been a Sunday School picnic by the way they are dressed.

Press Honors Our Senior Citizens in the year 1928.

 In the year 1928, The Crittenden Press did several issues of honoring the county's citizens that were eighty years old or older.  This is one of the articles.  It was honoring Mrs. Fannie Travis that lived on Brown Mines Road in Frances, Ky.  Dated August 31, 1928.

August 31, 1928

Mrs. Fannie Travis was born February 13, 1844, in the home of her father, William Redd, which was then located on the Dycusburg and Salem road.

Her mother, Elizabeth Waddell Redd, was born in Virginia and came to Kentucky when about seven years old, her parents having located in Trigg County. Mrs. Travis paternal grandfather, also named Wm. Redd, came of a long line of distinguished ancestors famous in both English and American history, located in Trigg County about 1800.

He built a large brick home which still stands near Cadiz. His son, Wm. Redd, Mrs. Travis’ father, came to Crittenden about 1840 as manager for the Cobb Foundry Company, of Cobb’s Furnace which was located about one and one-half miles below Dycusburg near the Cumberland River. This was at that time a thriving center of industry and commerce. The town, dwellings, stores and offices are now gone but at that time the furnaces alone employed more than fifty white men and over 200 negroes. Mrs. Travis remembers very vividly this hustling, bustling town now vanished for the map.

She was married in 1866 to Lt. William L. Travis, who was born in Livingston County, son of Blake Travis, and who organized Co. K of the 17^th Kentucky Cavalry at Dycusburg, following the robbery by Confederate forces of his store at Canton, Kentucky (also on the Cumberland River.)

Mrs. Travis had ten children. The following named eight are still living: Mrs. Tom Wring; Mrs. Etta Stubblefield; Mrs. Pollie Patton, Mrs. Birdie Peek, Mrs. Nellie McKinney, Mrs. Maye Perkins, Mrs. Miriam Simpkins, all of Crittenden and Mr. Phil S. Travis of Salem. Her only brother, Wm. Redd III, also resides in Marion.

Mrs. Travis did not witness any action during the Civil War but was near the fight at Salem. He stories of the earlier days of Crittenden County are very interesting and historically valuable.

In spite of her eighty years she is very active and more alert mentally and physically than many people half her age. Her friends say that they have never seen her angry nor heard her say an unkind work of any one.

(Note) Mary Frances “Fannie” Travis died March 7, 1936, and her husband William L. Travis died Dec. 30, 1905. They are buried in the Owen Cemetery, near Frances, Ky.

Marion Band of 1910

Years ago band concerts, held in the courthouse yard, were very popular.

In 1910 these were the local men that made the music.  Front row left to right:

Douglas Clement, Jim Hicklin, Ollie Tucker, Bandmaster Mr. Lawson, Ashley Kemp, Jim Travis, Harry Hammond, William Rochester and Medley Cannon.

Back row: Walter Guess, W. E. Potter, Carey Henry, Mr. Lawson's son, Noble Hill, Jeffrey Travis, Dugan Ramage, Ira Sutherland and Lee Easley. 
 

The old gazebo was a favorite gathering place to hear the local band play on week-ends.

North Main Street 1919 Fire, (post #2)

 An old article found in The Owensboro Messenger, Owensboro, Kentucky, Wed. July 23, 1919, gives more information on the fire of July 22, 1919 that destroyed a section of Marion Business section.  Since The Crittenden Press office was destroyed in this fire, it's good to have information saved in another newspaper for details that we wouldn't know.

Marion, KY July 22, 1919.  More than half of the business section of this own was completely destroyed by fire of unknown origin, which broke out at an early hour this morning.  the loss is estimated at about $250,000.  Most of the buildings were well insured.

When discovered at 3 o'clock the fire was raging in the Crittenden Press building, owned by S. M. Jenkins, of this city.  It soon spread to the Marion Bank building, which was also destroyed and then consumed the R. F. Dorr furniture store, the Haynes Drug Store, Moore's grocery store, Asher's grocery, D. O. Carnahan's dry goods store, Marion dry goods store, Chandler & Chandler's grocery store, Mayes & Mayes dry goods store,  and all other buildings in the block -except the Masonic Temple.

In all, eight two-story brick structures were absolutely gutted. 

 It is believed that the fire many had originated in the Crawford Rankin Dry cleaning establishment.

The town has no water works system and the fire was fought solely by bucket brigades, in which practically all of the men of the city worked strenuously.

The flames spread very rapidly, although there was no strong wind, and this latter fact was responsible for the saving of the business buildings that were not burned.

No lives were lost and no injuries suffered.

Although the Crittenden Press building was owned by Mr. Jenkins, the paper was recently sold to J. S. Hogard.  The newspaper plant was wholly destroyed.

The County Farm and Old Time Coal Mining in January 1897

 These two interesting articles appearing in The Crittenden Press, January 7, 1897 107 years ago.

The County Farm.

Ever since the gold standard was fastened upon this country I have had a feverish desire to visit the county poor farm, as being the prospective future residence of myself and many other deluded silverites.  

Early Christmas morning Lynn Phillips and I started out for a general hunt, taking the road "over the hill to the Poor House."  

The poor farm is rightly names, for as it now stands it is about the poorest specimen of a farm I ever saw, consisting principally of a 15 or 20 acre field of gullies without any fence around it, adjoining the garden on the north, and a small fenced field of beautiful yellow clay opposite the house.  (This county poor farm was located at the end of W. E. Newcom Rd, off of Hwy 365)

 I learn that the farm of some 200 acres was originally purchased by the county for $2,200; that some $500 or $600 worth of timber has been realized from it and that 150 acres were sold to Eli Nunn for $500.  The land purchased by Mr. Nunn lays well, and is the only part of the farm worth shucks.

My informant tells me that Mr. Nunn offered two mules for the remainder of the farm, including the buildings.

The dwelling is beautifully located, and appears to be in a fair state of preservation. 

OLD TIME COAL MINING.

Among other old time veterans of that section I met Mr. J. W. Phillips, who is still hale and hearty in the 79th year of his age, and who has been a subscriber to the Press ever since the paper started.

Mr. Phillips at one time owned a large body of land in Bells Mines.  He told me that sixty years (1836) ago he hauled coal from what is now known as the Sneed tract to the old Lamb blacksmith shop and to old Salem.

The coal cost 12 1/2 cents a bushel at the mine and he was paid the same for hauling it.

Mining in those days was evidently in its infancy.  The dirt was first dug from the top of the coal with a pick, and the coal then cut out with an old ax and measured up in a bushel basket.

It is needless to say the miners of "stone coal holler" never went on a strike.