Business In A Tent

The business men of Marion didn't sit around idle and wait for a new store to be built after the devastating fire of March 28, 1905 that destroyed all of the east side of Main Street.

 Just a short time after the fire, they had gathered what they had saved from the fire and sit up in tents around the court house square, or in other businesses places that had been saved from the fire.

Here is an ad telling about Woods & Orme, and R. F. Haynes, and how they were doing business.  It's from the Crittenden Press of April 1905.  

Thankful that the Press was spared from the fire, or we wouldn't have these wonderful history items from the past.

Avery Reed Family

A well-known name associated with the mining industry during this time was Avery H. Reed. He was a mining engineer and consultant in the zinc and fluorspar business. His name is mentioned in many of the articles about fluorspar mining in the early 1900's as he opened, and had an interest, in many of the mines here in Crittenden County.

Avery H. Reed and his family lived in Marion in 1902 until 1907, moved away for a few years, and returned to stay in 1911. They lived and raised their family in the beautiful old home that sits 428 South Main.

A while I received a letter from Mr. Ronnie Doyle, a guide at the Mammoth Cave National Park. I wanted to share the letter, I think you will find it interesting also.

Mr. Doyle wrote, I have been intrigued by the name of Avery Reed, Marion, Ky., which is smoked on the ceiling of Mammoth Cave in the Frozen Niagra section, in Sandy Avenue of the New Entrance tour.

The signature is fairly large in size, and excellent penmanship. Whomever this person was they took pride in their penmanship and the appearance of their signature. It also took some time to write this name on the ceiling.

Each time I take a group through this section of the cave I cannot help but wonder who this individual was.

This section of Mammoth Cave was not discovered and opened to the public tour until 1923. This area of the cave was owned by George Morris, who was also a mining engineer, and shown to the public from 1923 to 1931.

In 1931 Mr. Morris sold his section to the State of Kentucky. After this time the public was not allowed to put their names in the cave.

I sent Mr. Doyle information that I was able to find on Mr. Reed, his family, and his profession here in Crittenden County.

 In reply, Mr. Doyle told me the information is now on file in the Mammoth Cave Library, and he shared with us a photo of the smoked signature that is in the cave.

Interesting to know a part of our local people and history is shared with people from all over the United States.


This is a picture of the name in the cave.

Marion Natives and Their Mark in History

Some Marion and Crittenden County folks that have left their mark in history by being so respected and admired that they have items of significance named for them.  Here are a few:

The Pogue Library at Murray State University.

The Pogue Library was completed in 1931. It was named in honor of Dr. Forrest C. Pogue, a 1931 Murray State University alumnus. Dr. Pogue was a nationally know historian and biographer of General George C. Marshall. Dr. Pogue was a pioneer in oral history techniques, interviewing not only combat troops buy also many world leaders. He also wrote several books on World War II military generals and United State history. In 1998, he donated his books, personal papers and memorabilia to the library.

Although born in Eddyville, Ky, the son of Forrest Carlisle Pogue, Sr. and Fanny Carter Pogue, he grew up the community of Frances. Here he went to elementary school and secondary school, except when he transferred to Dycusburg for his senior year because his grandfather was principal there.

Dr. Pogue died Oct. 6, 1996 and is buried in the family plot at the Frances Cemetery, Frances, Ky.

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The Lowry Center at Murray State University

Clifton Sigsbee Lowry, son of David Allen and Martha Clift Lowery, was born in Caldwell County but the family moved to Crittenden County when Clifton was six years old. He grew up in Crittenden County. Clifton started his education at Bowling Green in their new Education Department, earned his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Kentucky and a master's degree from Harvard University.

He began his teaching career at Murray in the Social Sciences Department on Sept. 10, 1925, when the institution was named Murray Normal School. He was on the faculty during all stages of the school's history, as a normal school, teachers' college, college and university.

The Lowery Library Annex at the university was named in his honor in 1967 and the Dr. C. S. Lowry Distinguished Lecture in the Humanities was created after his retirement.

Dr. Lowry's parents are buried at Mapleview Cemetery. He died in 1992 and is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Caldwell Co.

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Walter E. Blackburn Science Building at Murray State University.

Walter E. Blackburn, a native of Marion, and the son of Walter A. and Cora Hurley Blackburn. His father, Walter A., was a very prominent figure in different government offices in Marion.

Dr. Blackburn became head of the Department of Physical Sciences at Murray in 1945 . He became chairman of the chemistry Department in 1958, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in 1968, and Dean of the College of Environmental Sciences in the reorganized university structure. He became well-known for his work in directing National Science Foundation Summer Science Institute on the campus and was awarded the coveted Distinguished Professor Award by the Murray State Alumni Association in 1967.

Blackburn died in September 1974 at Murray. His parents are buried in the Mapleview Cemetery.

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Franklin College – at Murray State University

Hollis C. Franklin, was one of West Kentucky's most beloved citizens. He was the son of Elijah T. and Mattie Love Franklin and he was born and raised in the Hebron community. Mr. Franklin attended Western Kentucky Normal School in Bowling Green (now known as Western State College). He taught in school in Crittenden County and at Marion High School before accepting his position at the bank in 1918. He was widely known for his work in the Methodist Church and in the Kentucky Bankers Association. He a former regent of Murray State College and served on the board from 1947-1956. Franklin College was constructed in 1964 and was named for Mr. Franklin. The residence hall merged with the Springer Hall in 1997 and now is knows as Springer-Franklin College.

Mr. Hollis Franklin died Dec. 2, 1958 and is buried in the Mapleview Cemetery.

Crystal Palace Drug Store

September 8, 1905 -Opening Of The Crystal Palace Drug Store

No occasion of greater festivity or more thorough enjoyment has been attended this season than the opening of the beautiful new drug store of H. K. Woods and J. H. Orme. It is one of the handsomest and best equipped drug stores in Kentucky.

 The Press calls the attention of the readers to the reestablishing of the old reliable drug firm of Woods and Orme, in their new elegant quarters, which has been erected on the spot where the firm was burned out in the great conflagration which burned two squares of he business section of this city, in March of this year.

The building is a massive two story pressed brick front, stone columns and plate glass show windows. It would do credit to a city of 10,000 inhabitants. It and the ware-room adjoining extend 115 ft. from Marin Street to alley.

The interior is elaborately finished and equipped. The ceiling is of ornamental steel and handsome design, the tints of which harmonize with the general interior of the store and from which myriads of electric lights line the entire length adding beauty and radiance to the scene.

The floor is finished in tiling of exquisite design and color, and as one enters the store the myriads of tinted electric globes reflect a dazzling beauty over the French plate mirrors, glass showcases, counters and the marble top, onyx column fountain. The pilasters on the fixtures are three inches deep and the ornaments alone at the top of these fixtures cost Messrs. Woods and Orme about $ 50.00. 

The furniture, prescription case and all of the interior equipments are from the great Meyers Bros. Drug Company of St. Louis. The showcases are of plate glass with bevel edge surmounted by an eight-inch marble base. 

The handsomest of mirrors adorn the walls from floor to ceiling. Perhaps the prettiest of these mirrors is the one which adorns the back of the prescription case. It is six feet square surrounded by ornamental glass trimmings which make quite a a pretty combination with the wire glass windows in the rear at the top o f the balcony. But by far the most beautiful addition to the store is the handsome $2,000 fountain on the right as you enter. It is of mahogany with marble and onyx fixtures and counters.

Messes. Woods and Orme are now ready to serve ice cream and all kinds of cold drinks, which will be served until cold weather.

Today, Thursday their opening day and they will present each lad visitor with a handsome souvenir consisting of an aluminum box of sachet powder with the firm's name engraved in gold.

Levi Cook, the jeweler, has also moved to his new quarters in Woods and Orme's drug sore. He has an exceptionally pretty line of jewelry and his stock certainly adds beauty to the already splendidly furnished quarter. His selection of fixtures harmonizes with the Woods and Orme fixtures and were also made by Meyers Bros. Drug Company

This building was later the Marion Cafe', most remember it being owned and operated by Cap and Edith Cline.  Today May 2016 the store is occupied  by The Botanical Flowers and Gift Shop.