Livery Stables

Livery Stables were once a very important necessity of a growing town.  Drummers and other traveling men would rent the stable vehicles for as long as a week at a time, with a driver from the stable.  They would make their rounds selling goods in town and in the other small communities of the county.  

    The Wallingford Livery Stable.  It was located on East Bellville Street behind the Masonic Building.  The spot where it was is now a parking lot.

Business men used this mode of transportation to get them to the various fluorspar mining areas so they could check out new business opportunities and perhaps check on what they already owned.

Hacks were also available to meet the trains coming into Marion at the depot and transport the passengers to their destinations in Marion and the surrounding area.

These hacks were the main transportation to the great Crittenden Spring Hotel in the early 1900's.  The large mineral water resort was located about 10 miles from Marion.  They would pick up their passengers at the depot and make the journey to the hotel.

These buildings made of wood and full of hay were always in danger of fire.  This one was no exception and also burnt in 1905.

Mapleview War Memorial

                                                       Dedicated was Sunday, May 23, 1948

The Veteran's War Memorial at Mapleview was first thought of in April of 1947.  A group of next-of-kin of Crittenden County boys who lost lives in World War II had a meeting with a plan to erect a Memorial for them.  

They decided that a white marble cross should be erected for each of the forty-seven Crittenden County boys who gave their lives, and a large memorial should also be erected, with suitable inscription thereon, and a flagpole.  The individual crosses are to be eight inches square and thirty inches in height.  On each cross will be placed the name, rank, date of birth and date and place of death

The large central marble memorial reads: "These are the boys who did their best against the odds they met, and whose supreme sacrifice we never shall forget.  We have built this memorial to honor those who fell, they heard the call to duty and served their country well."

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Today the white crosses number 55. 

Marion's Crittenden Motor's Ends In A Fire

Crittenden Motor Co. was founded in 1929 by the late Nace Williams.  In 1956 the business moved to it's new location on South Main Street and later was owned by Glenn Walker and John H. Williams.

Walker became the sole owner in 1975 and operated the business until Bill Richardson became part owner in 1975.

The Ford dealership experienced steady growth in car and implement sales until the late 70s when the auto industry's growth reached its peak.

A few years later the Crittenden Motor's moved to a new location on South Main St.  where Conrad's grocery store parking lot is located today.

The Crittenden Motor Co. was destroyed by fire the night of August 28, 1980.  This ended the business which had served the area since 1929.  The cause was reported as a spontaneous combustion.

We wanted to rebuild and get back in business,  Mr. Walker explained, "but circumstances just made it impossible." 

We tried to keep operating, but with the limited operational facilities, the slow economy and the slumping auto industry, we just found it impossible to continue.

Sketches Of Our Leading Citizens

Back in 1954 the Crittenden Press ran a series of sketches drawn by local artist Arthur Byford.  They were very informative and interesting to read.

AUBREY GRADY, owner, Aubrey Grady & Co.

 Mr. Grady was born in 1905 in Crittenden County.  After the death of his father, his family moved to Webster County.  He attended 12 years of school in Webster County.  

In 1924 he returned to Crittenden County and was employed by his brother, C. W. Grady, in the grocery business for the next 18 years. After this he organized Aubrey Grady & Co. and has been operating this store since that time.

Mr. Grady served on the City Council, and was president of the Kiwanis club.  He was a member of the First Cumberland Presbyterian church.

In 1926 he married the former Fannie Herron of Webter County.  They hae one child, Mary Louise Grady.

(Mr. Grade died May 4, 1982 and is buried in the Mapleview Cemetery.  So is his wife, Fannie Herron Grady, who died May 17, 1969.)

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THOMAS N. TUCKER, owner-operator of Tucker Furniture Store and Tucker Funeral Home.

Thomas N. Tucker, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Tucker, is owner and operator of the Tucker

  FurnitureStone and Funeral Home.

He served three years in the Navy during World War II, being attached to the Hospital Ship USS Sanctuary in the Pacific.

Afer graduating from Marion High school, Mr. Tucker attended and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Embalming, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Tucker married the former Ethel Stout, also of Marion.

(Mr. Tucker died August 24, 2001 and is buried at the Mapleview Cemetery.  Mrs. Ethel Tucker (now 97 years old) is still living.