Memories Of The Old Crittenden Hotel

 

In Sept 1976 Mr. Ted Boston shared some of his memories about the old Hotel.

At that time, the Crittenden Hotel was the place to stay in Marion.

In those days, there were six passenger trains a day through Marion, three north bound and three southbound.

  The hotel kept a horse drawn bush to meet the trains and carry visitors to the hotel. 

 

 Boston remembers that in 1912, the horse was replaced with an International auto-buggy, with solid rubber tires about three feet high.

 

The trains and the traveling salesmen they carried were the keys to hotel business. Then salesman had to stay overnight in those years before cars and passable roads. Lodging was $1.50 a night. Meals were .75 cents.

 

Mrs. Daniel Webb of Evansville, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hammack operated the hotel from about 1920-1922, recalled one such traveler who complained to her mother that he couldn't eat .75 cents worth of food. You're not suppose to eat .75 cents worth, Mrs. Hammack promptly replied and went on to explain there was suppose to be little profit made on the meal.

 

She remembered, too, that at that time all the rooms were heated with the fireplaces, which were still in the rooms. Nor was there any plumbing, all the rooms were equipped with a washstand and a bowl and pitcher.

 

 

For the convenience of the salesmen at the rear of the hotel, was a small display building for their wares. Salesmen would open their trunks here, and the town's merchants would come to buy what they wanted. Then, as it was in later year, part of the lower floor was devoted to shops.

 

J. C. Bourland had a job printing shop and sold office supplies, Judge Moore's law office was there, as were the Moore and Pickens Dress Shop, an insurance office and a barber shop.

 

But all that's gone now, gone like the long tables with white tablecloths, the good food and the crowd and the trains. 

 

In December 1991 the roof was blown off by a winter storm, and in March 1992 the back wall on one end collapsed from the weight of snow an drain. This was the final end of the Crittenden Hotel. The end result was the old building had to be completely torn down. The place where the Hotel once stood is a parking lot, located on East Carlisle Street, next to the Woman's Club building.

Men of The Hour in 1902 Political, Business and Educational

 A great part of the history of our county comes from the young men that took an active part of it's growth and progress many years ago. A special section of the Crittenden Press was printed in July 1902 telling about Western Kentucky Minerals and the many fluorspar mines that were located in Crittenden County. Also in this special edition it told that Crittenden County had other products besides its minerals that is extending its acquaintance and making favorable impressions abroad. Among the factors that are giving us prominence is the name and fame of some of our distinguished fellow citizens. A few mentioned  are:

Marion F. Pogue is a native of Crittenden County. He is one of our most successful and poplar teachers. Marion Forrest Pogue, son of William Washington and Catherine Oliver Pogue, was born near Frances in Crittenden County, on October 18, 1867. He was educated in the common schools of Crittenden County and in the Marion Academy, then headed by Dr. James F. Price.

He is also engaged in merchandising and has a prosperous business at Frances. He has also taken an active interest in politics.

Last year he was elected to the Legislature, serving the two counties of Crittenden and Livingston with distinction and honor. In politics he is an ardent Democrat, and his party and country will have more work for him. (Marion F. Pogue died in 1952 and is buried in the Frances Cemetery.)

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A. C. Moore, the son of Judge J. A. Moore, he inherits his father's love of the profession to which he has devoted his life and talents.

A native of Crittenden County, thirty-eight years of age, of prepossessing and distinguished appearance, he makes sad havoc with the preconceived ideas of the twelve good men and true in the jury box, provided, their thought of the verdict to be rendered are contrary to his side of the case.

Educated largely in our own high school, supplemented by the Madisonville normal, he placed himself under the direct touch of Judge L. H. James, the eminent lawyer, and was admitted to the bar in 1888.

In all of our prominent cases Mr. Moore is usually observed on one side or the other. He has been honored politically several times, County Attorney, Supervisor of the United Sate Census, with the direct control of over a hundred bright men whose loyalty and good work indicated his directing genius, he now devotes his entire time to hi large and lucrative professional practice.

He, in common with most of our enterprising men, is interested in mining, being a shareholder and the vice president of the Crittenden County Zinc, Lead & Spar Company. (Alfred Clay Moore died Dec. 11, 1946 and is buried at Mapleview Cemetery.)

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Mr. Lawrence Cruce during the past two years, has been uniformly successful in his mining ventures. His field of operations has largely been in Southern Illinois, although he has several interests in this county. Probably the net results in a money way from the sales of Mining property and leases will net him for the past few months nearly $30,000.

Mr. Cruce graduated from the Vanderbilt University at Nashville in 1882. His five years of successful business life as a druggist, in Ft. Worth Texas, fitted him for the broader sphere which he is not filling.

In the prime of life, 42 years of age, kind and generous to a fault, he is one of our typical Kentuckians and one who has a bright future in store. (A few years later after this article, Mr. Cruce moved his family to Oklahoma and he died there in August 1925. His brother, Lee Cruce, later became Governor of Oklahoma.)

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William H. Clark is one of our younger attorneys. He is twenty-six years of age and a son of Dr. John Riley Clark and Nancy Johnson Clark, of Marion.

From his graduating class at the Marion High school he passed through the regular courses at the Old Centre College, in Danville, Ky. And was admitted to the bar in 1899. He is a leader in our social circles, very quick at repartee, a good lawyer and a gentlemen. (William H. Clark moved to Hoxie Kansas, and was a noted layer. He died there Feb. 1965.)

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John A. Moore, son of James A. and Martha Moore, is devoted to his professional practice of the law, being city attorney for the past five years. Mr. Moore's experience has been for so young a man – 30 years – varied and extensive.

Graduating from the Marion High School in 1890, he was admitted to the bar in 1894, and has since that time been a close student of both men and the law.

He is a Crittenden County production in every respect, born, educated and married, and has all the strong loyalty to his town, county and state that we find in most Kentuckians.

Mr. Moore's connection with mining dates back only a twelve month, but in that brief period he has left his mark upon the rocks of his native county.

Senator Ollie James at Home

 

 This interesting little article appeared in The Crittenden Press Jan. 6, 1916.  

U. S. Senator James at Home.  Senator O. M. James came home to see his mother January 2nd and stayed over until the 3rd.

It was rather an apt coincidence that the tobacco market in Crittenden county should be opened while he was here, as it is chiefly due to his efforts in getting the embargo raised upon the shipment of tobacco to the warring nations, without which, no tobacco could be shipped without danger of seizure, and as a result there would have been no market for tobacco this year.

By his efforts the farmers are enabled to dispose of one of their most important crops.  

Senator James is using his best efforts to get Marion's new post-office built or at least get started on this year.

Senator James cared deeply for his hometown of Marion and Crittenden County.  Through his efforts he did get Marion's new post-office built.  It is the one that is used today on E. Carlisle Street.

The Crittenden County Historical Society has tried for several years to have the post-office named for him.  He did so much for Marion and never has been honored with anything bearing his name as a remembrance of him.