Recent History Making Nature Event

 Pine Knob Bluff on Blackburn Church Road looses a piece of it's rock.

Once again a section of the Pine Knob Bluff has fallen off and crashed into the Blackburn Church Road causing thousands of dollars damage to the roadway. 

 In January of 1994 another boulder fell not to far from where this most recent one did.  It is believed that this one is larger that the one in 1994. 

 This is the boulder that has fallen off and landed in the middle of the road. 

 Even though you can't see it, the rock is sunken several feet deep into the roadway. 

Some of the beautiful Crittenden County scenery that is to be

seen in the area.  

This balancing rock may be a threat in the future as it could possibly push the rock it is laying against off of the ledge.

The icicles hanging from the rocking bluffs made a beautiful sight as

 the sparkled in the sunlight like

diamonds.

A delightful day of sightseeing for the New Year's Eve, December 31, 2013.

Cave Spring Church and Community

The Cave Springs settlement in Crittenden County is about nine miles northeast from Marion.  Many years ago it was the home of about 45 families.  The farm homes were scattered about the hill sides and valleys.  It was a wooded areas that has many hills, bluffs, streams and a lot of natural beauty.  Today there are still several homes located around but not as many as it used to be.   

 One of the natural wonders of the area is the Blowing Spring.  There is a strong current of cold air blowing out of the cave.  You can see the bushes waving 100 yards below the spring.  The air seems warm in the winter and cool on a hot summer day, but the temperature of the air is always the same.

Cave Spring Baptist Church is located in the Pigeon Roost Valley just below the spring.  This spring is sometimes call Blowing Spring and sometimes Cave Spring.  When the church was established in 1870 they chose to name the church Cave Spring for the natural wonder of the area, and it was located close to where the little wooden frame church house was built.

This wonderful old picture of the Cave Spring or Blowing Spring was made in 1890 with two couples that had family ties to the area.  Left to right : John Smith and Rev. James F. Price,  ladies on the right are Nancy Elizabeth Smith, wife of John,  and Elvah Stewart Price wife of Rev. Price.  John Smith owned a farm near the area.

I have been to this Blowing Spring once, and it is was very beautiful, but not an easy walk to get to.  When I look at this picture I wonder how the two ladies in their Sunday best made it up the hill to the spring in such fine condition.

Dean and Shewmaker Monuments

Crittenden Press, Jan. 25, 1929.  Recently a handsome granite monument has been erected at the grave of the late Alfred Dean.  At the time of his death, Mr. Dean was living at his farm home, in the Forest Grove section, and he was buried in the family cemetery on his farm.  Having spent his entire life in that immediate

vicinity.  The marker was erected by Henry and Henry.

Mr. Dean known for many years known as one of Crittenden County's most progressive farmers.  He had attended County Court day on Monday and after the Court meetings he went to McConnel's Barber Shop and became suddenly ill with a heart attack.

He had reached his 88th birthday on February 8th, and was born on the Glendean farm and had lived there all of his life.  He father was the late Alexander Dean, member of a leading West Kentucky family.  Mr. Dean was a bachelor.

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Nov. 1911.  Henry and Henry have just turned out from their marble works a fine monument to be placed on the lot of P. E. Shewmaker and wife in the Mt. Zion Cemetery.  This is a very artistic piece of work and one of the heaviest in the county.

Peter Ewing Shewmaker was by trade a carpenter and also a farmer.  Peter was born in 1831 and died in 1917. He traveled a lot of years in his youth but returned to Crittenden County in 1871.

Soon after returning he purchased, what is still known today, as the Shewmaker Farm, located five miles from Marion on the Fords Ferry Road.

 Along with farming, he ran a successful general store which was located on the farm near the site of the home place today. 

He was married to Sarah J. Duvall.

Old Man Winter Came Early

Old man Winter for December 2013 came early this year, with a winter storm on December 6th.  Sleet started during the night on Thursday night and continued on into Friday and then turned into snow on Friday afternoon.  We had about 2 inches of sleet on the ground and then 4-6 inches of snow, and winter doesn't officially start until  Dec. 21st.

The old Victorian Robert F. Haynes home on N. College Street made a pretty picture with the Evergreens and the snow.  Makes one think of Christmas's many years ago.  The home was build in 1895, although in need of some repairs it is still an impressive and stately sight.  One hopes it will be restored to it's former beauty.  Definitely one of the oldest standing homes in Marion.

The Crittenden County Historical Society's cabin sits across the street from the Haynes Home and it looked right at home on the cold and snowy day.   It has been recently re-chinked by Carlos Travis, a local man that loves old homes and log cabins.  All we need is a fire in the fireplace and smoke coming from the rock chimney to really take us back to pioneer days. 

Crittenden County Men Remembered at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941

Today is Pearl Harbor day, 72 years ago today when the Japanese attacked the U. S. Navel Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  

  Crittenden County had one native son to lose his life that fateful day, that terrible day in history when the peaceful harbor at Hawaii was attached.  His name was Thomas Collins, son of Thomas and Janie Collins.  

Thomas W. Collins was born August 8, 1921, and enlisted at Louisville in the Navy, on Nov. 8, 1939, as Apprentice Seaman.  He was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for seamanship instruction, and later transferred to the USS Downs.  He was stationed at the U. S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbon in the Hawaiia Islands, and was listed as Fireman 3rd Class, while attached to the Downs a destroyer ship.

He was killed on December 7, 1941, in the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian base.

 His body arrived in the states in October 1947, a Military funeral was held at the home of his brother, Eugene Collins and his remains were buried in the Rock Springs Cemetery in Wheatcroft, Ky next to his father.

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Wilbur K. Hunt, another Crittenden Countains, was awarded the Silver Star for Conspicuous Gallantry in Action on December 7, 1941.

The Silver Star is presented to Wilbur K. Hunt, Technical Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Force, for heroism in action while serving with the 22d Material Squadron during the attack on Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces (aircraft) on 7 December 1941. 

 Technical Sergeant Hunt performed exceptional service and displayed outstanding bravery in assisting the Squadron Commander of the 22d Material Squadron in dispersing the squadron under fire and bombardment of positions of vantage to deliver return fire and to secure adequate cover and safety, thus contributing in reducing the number of battle casualties.  

The heroism displayed by Technical Sergeant Hunt on this occasion reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.