Cedar Lane, Needle's Eye, Olive Branch

All these names describe some one of a kind features in Eastern Crittenden County.  Once called Great Wonders of Crittenden County few people know of these sites today.  Many years ago before the modern highways, the old dirt roads wondered through a whole different area than do the highways of today.  Sights were seen driving along these old roads that are now hidden from sight.  Such are these in this story.

These sights were some that could be seen from the old dirt road one would have to take from Tribune (about 5 miles east of Marion on S. R. 120),  to meander across the fields and woods to reach the road that would take you on in to Providence, Ky. in Webster County.  

Cedar Lane was a stretch of the road one would pass through.  It is told that the Cedar trees were planted by Thomas Smith.  He had a farm near by and his farm was known as Cedar Lane Farm.  He planted these Cedar trees along part of the road near his farm.   When he died he was buried in the Olive Branch Cemetery.  He doesn't have a tombstone, but the Cedar Lane, that he planted, stands as an evergreen monument to his memory.

 

Traveling on through Cedar Lane, and across Piney Creek by Deanwood and just short ways you will come to a curious and rare rock formation know to the local people as Needle's Eye, for going between the two rocks reminded travelers of trying to thread a needle through the small eye.  

What a beautiful area of Crittenden County these sights are located in.  In the springtime wildflowers grow among the rocks and beside the Piney Creek that flows just below the road.

The Olive Branch runs by where the Olive Branch Cemetery is and nearby was the Olive Branch School.  The branch is dry is this early spring photo, but when the rains come it fills up and flows merrily along it's path to empty into it's larger branch on the Cave Spring Road.

Crittenden County Genealogy Society Has New Book

The Crittenden County Genealogy Society has just received back from the publisher, Crittenden County Cemeteries, Volume VI.

 This Volume VI of the Cemetery Books is attempting to provide updated information on new burials in the county, it includes deaths of people out of state that were brought back and buried in the county, plus deaths of people in the county that were buried outside of the area.  The updates go until January of 2011.  The book has a full name index.

Also corrections and a couple of new cemeteries not listed in the previous Volumes I-V.

Burials not found before are listed from, death certificates, Crittenden County Court Records, obituary notices, family information, also Crittenden County residents that were in the Western State Hospital at Hopkinsville, Ky. and when died were buried there.

If you would like one of these books.  Please send check to:
 Crittenden County Genealogy Society, P. O. Box 61, Marion, KY 42064

 0r see Brenda Underdown or Fay Carol Crider here in Marion.

Price is: Hard Cover = $35.00 + $4.00 shipping & handling
             Soft Cover = $25.00 + $4.00 shipping & handling

Oak Hall School

The Oak Hall school house was located on the old Ford's Ferry Road about six miles from Marion.  

The school was made up of pupils from part of old Forest Grove district and part from Heath School.  Everyone walked to school, in summer or winter.  In the winter months the only heat was from a potbellied stove.  It was never very warm.  The water came from a cistern. 

                          1938
A group of happy students with their teacher.

Back row: Rena May Vanhooser, Naomi Rankin, Helen Carter, Teacher, Thelma Johnson, and Melva Shewmaker.

Standing in front of Helen Carter is Louise Vanhooser.

Two boys in front, Vervil Shewmaker and Gene Graves.

The school closed in the 1940's and the students were transported to other schools.

Historical Home III

This old home is located at 325 South Main Street.

It was build in 1921 for Felix Cox, a young man that owned a prosperous farm in the Sheridan community.  

He was also involved in the fluorspar and mining industry.  He purchased a lot on the up and coming popular location on South Main Street.  

When the home was built in 1911-1912. It was completed with all the newest conveniences such as hard wood floors, running water and steam heat. Mr. Cox and his family, wife Nannie and daughter Anna moved in the home in the fall of 1912.

The once beautiful 2-story home was last owned and lived in by Kim and Dannie McDowell in 2004.  Since then it has set empty and has been for sale.

I hate to see it set empty, for we all know what happens when a home is not loved and cared for.  This picture was made in the spring of 2009.

Historical Homes II

Marion still has several historical homes, some have had updates and the appearance is somewhat different.  

One of these homes is located on East Depot Street.  First built in August 1900, Dr. Robert L. Moore had this one story home built for his family.  It was written about in the Press as one of the handsomest in East Marion.  Yes, at first is one a one-story home.

In 1903, Dr. Moore added a 2nd story to his residence.  The interior decorations are to be beautiful and the hard woodwork finish rich and elegant.

Later the house went to Dr. Moore's daughter and her family, that of Floyd C. Moore and Roberta Moore Wheeler and their two sons, Floyd M. and Robert M. Wheeler.  It was the Wheeler home for many years.

It had several owners through the years and the last were J. D. and Merle Myers.  The Myers used it as a Bed and Breakfast from 1994 until Nov. 2009 when they had to close the Bed and Breakfast.

During their ownership they updated the exterior of the house to a burgundy color siding.

Resolutions of Respect for W. B. White

A visit to our Mapleview Cemetery, one finds all types of interesting tombstones.  I find the Woodman of the World style to always be interesting.  They have many different symbols of tombstone art or Iconography on them.  On the base of this stone are Ferns, Lilly, and Ivy.  The Fern symbol means sincerity, Ivy is an evergreen vine and never dies, it stands for Friendship, memory and fidelity, the Lily of the valley, return of happiness, purity and humility.  

This stone is for W. B. White. 

Rosewood Camp No. 22, Woodmen Of The World.

Whereas, It has pleased the Grand Consul Commander of the Universe to call from earthly labor to eternal refreshments above, our worthy Brother of Rosewood Camp, No. 22, W. B. White , who died on the 6th day of February 1908.  

His obituary reads:  Mr. W. B. White, after an illness of nearly a year, died Wednesday morning.  He had been ill for quite a while, having a cancer of the stomach, which was the cause of untold suffering.  Mr. White was fifty six years old.

 Crittenden County Marriage show William B. White Married Mrs. Florence B. Burnett, on March 15, 1989.  William and Florence have an infant daughter buried next to her father.  Little Willie White, born Dec. 23, 1898.  Died March 20, 1900.  Florence isn't there.