How The Ohio River Got It's Name

      A view of the beautiful Ohio from the hills of Bells Mines.

Away up in the Alleghenies, a tiny streamlet starts rolling, and tumbling, and foaming over rocks, leaping over toy cascades, gathering the water from a thousand ravines and gulches till it becomes a roaring mountain torrent; and still sweeping on, now skirting a rich meadow of bottom land, and now passing beneath the shadow of towering bluffs and beetling crags, it becomes a beautiful and romantic little river, and meets another stream that rises within the hearing of the awful thunders of Niagara, and after receiving many a sportive branch and rippling rill and foaming creek and watering many a farm and garden in Western New York, and Pennsylvania it, too, reaches the magnitude of a river. These are the Monongahela and Allegheny. Like two merry, rocking, romping children they unite their destinies and form the beautiful Ohio. 

How did this river get its name, and what does the name signify? What do we understand by the word Ohio?" Here is the legend:

An Indian chief of the Miami tribe then occupying the shores of Lake Michigan, with a small band of his tribe, wandered southward on a hunting excursion. A few miles from the Ohio they startled a deer from his cover and despite all their wiley maneuvering the wary animal eluded the hunters, frequently in sight but always escaping the winged shafts sent after him. 

The deer led the hunting party southward till late in the afternoon, when they suddenly emerged from the dense forest into an open spot on a high piece of ground overlooking the river. About the middle of the stream was the deer, bravely swimming for the Kentucky shore, and safely beyond the reach of it's pursuers arrows, but all thought of the deer was lost in contemplation of the exquisite beauties of the scene before them.

For five miles above and ten below the majestic stream was in full view. Kentucky, then an unbroken wilderness, presented a landscape of undulating hills and fertile valleys, all clothes in the rich, green foliage of May, that looked like a land of enchantment. 

The Indian Chief, in appreciate of the beauty of nature and in his wonder, and admiration, uttered the ejaculation, "O High O."  And the chief had unconsciously given to the noble river a name that was destined to go with it through untold centuries.

At a later day the French came to this territory and explored the river from Pittsburgh to Cairo, and reveled in its beauties. They called it "La Belle Rivire" – Beautiful River.

 Looking from the bluffs of Cave-In-Rock, Illinois to the Kentucky side.  The mighty Ohio River is a beautiful sight.

If you have never seen the view of the Ohio from high atop the hills of Bells Mines, or from the top of the bluff on the Cave-In-Rock, Illinois side, you have missed a beautiful sight. Truly one of Crittenden County's treasures.  But the river can have a destructive side too, when the heavy rains cause it to flood into the low lying areas of her shores.  But today we look at the beauty.

The Church That Was Never Finished

I wrote this article in April of 2008.  Has some good history about Tolu.

The Church That Was Never Finished

This is an interesting article concerning another church that was planning to be built at Tolu in 1921 but never got any further than a corner stone built and a marker engraved. The article appeared in the July 8^th, 1921 edition of The Crittenden Press.

The Cornerstone of the Tolu Methodist Church was laid Monday, July 4^th in the presence of the largest crowds that ever assembled in Tolu.

The ceremony was under the auspices of Hurricane Lodge 571 F & A M with Dr. Arthur Mather acting as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.

The program for the day was started by a concert by the Marion and Tolu orchestras, followed by the Marion Methodist Male Quarter. The concert was followed by a number of speeches by some of the most prominent men of the country. T. C. Bennett acted as Chairman. Addresses were made by Dr. A. Mather, Rev. J. W. Turner, Hon. C. S. Nunn, W. D. Cannan and Hon. J. W. Blue Jr. Miss Mary Elizabeth Bennett, daughter of T. C. Bennett recited the Declaration of Independence.

Immediate after the speeches came one of the most enjoyable features of the day, the barbecue dinner. There was an abundance of meat, which was cooked in true barbecue style. Hogs, cattle and sheep were prepared for the feast and then there were salads, pickles, breads, pie and lemonade. It was estimated that over 2000 people were fed. The feast was spread on the spacious lawn of Mrs. J. W. Guess adjoining the lot on which the new church is now being built.

Immediately after the barbecue the members of Hurricane Masonic Lodge No. 571 with members from adjoining Lodges met in their hall about the Farmers & Merchants Bank with the following officials in charge. Dr. Arthur Mather, Grand Master, W. D. Cannan, Deputy Grand Master, T. T. Guess, Grand Senior Warden, A. J. Bebout, Grand Junior Warden, C. S. Nunn, Grand Secretary, J. W. Blue, Grand Treasurer, E. R. Williams, Grand Senior Deacon, E. J. Travis, Grand Junior Deacon, R. W. Wilborn, Grand Marshal, C. E. Mayes, Grand Steward, Lem Bozeman, Grand Steward, M. V. Arnold, Grand Architect, C. W. Love, Grand Tyler.

       This was the corner stone that was talked about in the article.
The procession was then formed and the company marched to the site of the new church.

After the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone Dr. Mather read an inspiring and eloquent address. A copper receptacle containing the following articles was place beneath the stone, Bible, Discipline, Nashville Christian Advocate, Central Methodist Membership roll, names of Bishop Denny, Rev. T. L. Hulse, Rev. O. M. Capshaw, Dr. A. Mather, those of the building committee and a copy of the deed.

The new church will be one of the most magnificent for the size of the town in the state. It is to cost $22,000. and will be most modern and well built. 

Everyone present had the best time that could be possible. There was an abundance of eats, entertainment for everyone, good speeches, good music and a shady lawn to rest on.

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Mrs. Myra Guess Hamilton who lives on her ancestor's home place, the J. W. Guess place, told me that she wasn't sure why the church never was built, unless the money was never raised to finish the church.

 The old corner stone still stands in the empty lot adjoining Myra's yard, and the engraved corner marker has a home in Myra's flowerbed.

Marion's 1958 Pony League

 

Front row L-R: Truman Croft, Jim Guess, Lynn "Lefty" Birdwell and John O. Hodge; 

Middle row: Jimmy Alderdice, Eddie Joe Burkalew, Donald "Hurtsey" Easley, Buck Travis, W. A. Franklin and asst. manager Gerald Tabor.

Back row: Carson Davidson, manager, Frankie Browning, Allen Franklin, Jesse Bennett and Asst. manager, Lonnie Burkalew     (not shown that was in the group were Jerry  Abell, Jimmy Love and bat boy Steve Davidson.)

What a team. First Little League squad was probably Marion's best ever

It was 1950. The “Korean Conflict” was on everyone's mind. The post WW II prosperity was hitting full stride. A strange new sound called rock-and-roll was eminating from radios in teenager's hands all across the country.

In Marion, 1950 was the first year for Rotary Club Little League baseball. That first team was coached by Orville Pfunder and Carson Davidson. Mr. Pfunder one of the organizers of this group and surely never in the history of the community has any one man done more towards making a success of this project. 

Davidson believes, and with good reason that that first team was probably the most successful, on or off the diamond, that Crittenden County has ever fielded. Fourteen players, a bat boy and Davidson worked their way from little league in '53, '54, '55, and '56 to Pony League in '57 and '58, American Legion ball in '59 and the Marion High School team after that.

Six of the team went on through college, three on baseball scholarships. One was named to the Murray State Hall of Fame, and one had a tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals.  

Lynn "Lefty" Bridwell was named to the Murray State Hall of Fame for his southpaw pitching.

 Donald "Hertsey" Easley was the shortstop.  Easley graduated from Marion High School, and was given the opportunity to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals. 

 Jim Guess was the man behind the plate.  He won a baseball scholarship from U. K., but went to Kentucky Wesleyan in Owensboro.

Jimmy Alderdice played second base. Alderdice played baseball at David Lipscomb College in Nashville.

 

Davidson said, one of the thing that always stood out to me about these boys was that they were such an intelligent and hard working group. The most rewarding things is to know that baseball helped these boys going out into everyday life, some of them got scholarships for school, and seeing how these boys turned out in everyday life.

Mr. Davidson said he was assistant coach under Orville Pfunder when the team took to the field the first time as Little Leaguers. He took over during their last Little League season and guided them through Pony League and American Legion play.

The best season was 1954. The boys were in Pony League and went 20-1 on the season.

 

The boys biggest opposition came after they moved into Legion ball in 1955. They came face to face with the Paducah Chiefs.

The Chiefs weren't your standard American Legion team. Their roster boasted names like Hawk Taylor, who went on to play catcher for the Milwaukee Braves, and who was thrown out of a ball game here by umpire Jim Fred Mills. Phil Roof, who shuffled around the big leagues for a while, and Charlie Loyd, U. K. pitching ace, were also with the Paducah Chiefs.

The teams split regular season games and met in the finals of the sectional tournament after winning their respective regions. The Marion boys suffered one of their infrequent defeats, 4-3.

The boys moved into high school the next year, a few going to Crittenden County High and most to Marion High. Lefty Bridwell transferred to MHS from CCHS to play with his long-time teammates.

The MHS team took the runner-up position in the regional tournament, losing to Murray High School 1-0 on a balk. The call was one of the most controversial in the history of high school baseball in Kentucky.

Davidson said, “I still think we had a better ball team than they did. Our pitcher (Bridwell) had a no -hitter until the balk call. I believe the umpire was honest in his thinking, but it just didn't work out for us. He said later that he never would have made the call if he'd have known what it would have started.”

As with any group of young people, the boys went their separate ways after high school. In later years, Davidson said, he felt that this first little league team gave a strong start to the Little League program in Marion, a program he feels has improved over the years and been good for our youngsters.

***

Declamatory Contests - An Important Part Of School Activities Of Long Ago

A much looked forward to event of the schools of long ago were the Declamatory contests. The dictionary states that Declamatory is a formal speech made in public and spoken with great emotion and force. The matches must have been full of tension and emotion as to see who the best and forceful speakers were.

From the archives of The Crittenden Press lets go back visit some of these exciting events. Memorizing daily assignments were very much a part of school then, it called for much focusing and concentration on what you were trying to learn.

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Feb. 23, 1923 – Oratorical and Declamatory Contest

The preliminary oratorical and declamatory contest was held at the Marion Graded School auditorium. Mr. Richard Hicklin, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hicklin, was the winner of the gold medal in the oratorical contest.

 Richard  Hicklin - Gold Medal Winner

 Miss Thelma Travis was the winner of the medal in the declamatory contest. The subject of Mr. Hicklin's oration was The Masked American. It was a great composition and was effectively delivered. 

 Thelma Travis - Gold Metal Winner for her story telling.

 Feb. 22, 1924 – Declamatory and Oratorical Contestants Draw Crowd

Weeks of preparation had put the contestants of all the grade schools on edge and eager for the opportunity to display their talents to a large audience which was just as eager to hear them. So many young ladies had wanted to enter the contest that an elimination contest had been held in private, the five winners of which appeared last Friday.

The two winners were, Miss Elizabeth Haynes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Haynes of Marion and Mr. Ryvers Sarlls, of near Bells Mines. Miss Lois Hicklin read "The old Nest" as the opening number, following an invocation. Miss Hicklin's portrayal of this literary gem was a very charming one. Mr. Avery Reed then appeared with "The Self Supporting Student" as his subject. "Peg O' My Heart", one of the sweetest stories in all English literature, was then read by Miss Virginia Terry.

"The Master Passion" was the subject Mr. Thomas Nelson had chosen. Misses Margaret and Blanche Guess sang a beautiful number at the close of this and were heartily encored. Miss Dorothy Haynes then appeared with "Flaming Ramparts" a reading requiring much dramatic ability to effectively render and Miss Haynes did wonderfully well. Mr. Ernest Hughes then spoke on "A Nation's Honor," Mr. Hughes has the possibilities of making an unusually good public speaker.

Miss Ada Nelle Frazer had chosen "Why the Chimes Ring," a reading which requires much natural ability and intensive training to render at all effectively. Mr. Ryvers Sarlls then appeared with the winning oration, "Character." It was well delivered and with further training Mr. Sarlls should make on the county best young speakers.

Miss Elizabeth Lee Haynes then appeared with a dramatic reading , entitled the "The Valiant," It was beautifully read and presented.

***

October 26, 1926 – Contest at Mt. Zion A Great Success

The declamatory contest for Division Four of the county schools was held at Mt. Zion last Friday evening. The contestants were; Gretna Woody of Seminary School; Vivian Sullivan of Prospect; Eugene Beard of Baker, Bertha Kirk of Heath, Gwendolyn Gahagan of Weston, John Fowler of Oak Hall, and Hughie Wilborn of Post Oak.

The gold medal was won by Hughie Wilborn and the silver medal by John Fowler. The Cave Spring quartette, composed of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Drennan, Ray Brantley and Dallas Little added much to the program. They will sing at the final contest on November 20.

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Nov. 19, 1926 - Contest at Frances

The declamatory contest in Educational Division Two was held last Friday at Frances. All of the contestants from the different schools had splendid readings and had been well trained.

The gold medal was won by Miss Ruth Hard, a pupil of Mrs. Bessie Oliver at Caldwell Spring. The second prize, a silver medal, was awarded to Miss Anna Belle Hunter, of the Mexico School. Miss Hunter is a pupil of Wilton Yandell.

***

 

This beautiful gold pin that was the prize for the person that won the Declamatory Contest.  

Much hard work and time went into the students practicing to be in this speaking contest.

But this pin was worth all the hard work and effort.

I wonder how many of these once prized pins are still out there somewhere, tucked away in the back of a drawer or in a dusty box or trunk in a family's attic or basement and them not knowing the history of the Declamatory Pin.