Oak Grove School

Although we have no pictures of the school or students that attended school here, we have some old history of the school and how school days were in the days of yesteryear, written by Maebelle Clark Kemper back in 1986

Oak Grove School was located approximately two miles west of Marion near U. S. Highway 60. The building was a big green one room schoolhouse with a door on the right for the boys and the left door for girls. The school ground was shaded by a number of large oak trees – thus the name Oak Grove. The land for the school was probably donated by a Sullenger family.

 

There was a well near the coal house but most of the time the water was unfit to drink. It actually rusted the bucket it was put in and formed an oily substance on top of the water. Most of the time we carried water from the home of Crawford Clark, Coleman Lanham or Walter Fowler. Some children had a drinking cup, others made a cup from a sheet of tablet paper and others used the community dipper. The fact that germs were on it didn't enter enter their heads, in fact most of us would not have known what a germ was.

 

Bathroom facilities consisted of two outhouses. The only equipment furnished was a Sears and Roebuck catalog if we were lucky. The boys seem to delight in throwing rocks at the girls outhouse, even if we threatened to tell the teacher.

 

There were no slides, swings, games, etc. to keep us amused. We played our own version of baseball, if anyone had a ball, using a stick or a board for a bat. We ran relays, played hide-and-seek and built leaf houses in the fall when the trees shed their leaves. A creek bordered the school yard and after a rain it was interesting to see how many time we could hop from one rock to another without falling into the creek.

 

Teachers were expected to teach eight grades if there were pupils for each grade. The hours were from 8 am. Until 3:30 or 4 p.m. With an hour for lunch and yard duty. The teachers built the fires and swept t he schoolhouse floor unless a willing student would do it for 10 or 15 cents a day.

 

The teacher rang a bell at 8 a.m. To call students to class. They lined up, hopefully without pushing and shoving, marched up the steps through the hall, where coats, overshoes and lunch boxes were lrft, and into the classroom. A big potbellied stove was in the center of the room. Two lines of desks were arranged on each side, smaller desks at the front and larger ones in the back that were reserved for the older boys and girls. Nearly everyone had a seat-mate and boys sat on the right side and girls on the left. 

 

Books, tablets and pencils were bought by the parents. Sometimes they had to sell a few chickens to supply them. Crayons were a luxury and were kept carefully and loaned only to very best friends. Most of the time we didn't have a pencil sharpener and probably would have trimmed all our pencil away just for the fun of using the crank. One of the boys usually had a knife and was always glad to sharpen the little girl's pencil, especially if she was cute. 

 

Students went to the front of the room toe “recite” lessons. They sat on a long wooden “recitation” bench with the teacher sitting in the front. One didn't look forward to this if too much time had been spent visiting with our seat-mate.

 

Lunch time was welcome, partly because there was an hour to play and partly because we were hungry. Most of us had been up since 5 a.m. Lunches were brought in lunch boxes or lard buckets, depending of the state of finances at home. Food was an odd assortment, cold fried chicken, biscuits and sausage or fried eggs, sometimes peanut butter and crackers and occasionally the treat of an apple or piece of pie or cake. It was a real disaster if ants got in out lunch box. In the summer we ate outside under a tree and in winter we ate inside. Some of the children brought a cup of sorghum molasses for desert which created an interesting diversion if some got spilled on the desk or seat. Lard buckets kept closed from early morning until noon created their own special aroma when opened.

 

School Bus? We never heard of one. We walked – through dust, rain, snow and mud. If mud was too deep in the road we went through the field. We didn't play sick very often; at our house that meant a dose of castor oil, no matter what the complaint.

In the fall of 1939 the school building burned and the men of the community constructed the present building, which is smaller in size than the older one. After the school closed addition were made to it and it was made into a dwelling occupied by James and Erma Fowler (1986).

Some of the teachers at Oak Grove were A. E. Clark in 1891, Rose Clark, Annie Clark, Bob Allen, Robert Corley, Kenneth Powell, Pearl Wa ddell, Leota Sullenger, Katie Sullenger, Maude Conger Elder, Rebecca Moore Pickens, Clessie Agee Chick, Anna Smith Collins, Regina Postlethweight, Arrie Joyce, Grace LaRue and in 1941 Katherine Swansey.

Oak Grove closed in 1958. Students bused to Marion.

Marion Named 1969 All-Kentucky City

Crittenden Press, Feb. 5, 1970.

Many months of hard work and achievement for Marion culminated Friday with presentation of awards recognizing the city's accomplishments.  Marion and nine of nearly four-score Kentucky communities were designated All-Kentucky Cities for 1969 by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  Presenting the awards was President LeRoy Miles of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, assisted by Colonel Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.

Sponsored locally by the Woman's Club of Marion, the award marked the first time Marion has been selected for the honor. 

Mrs. George Winn served as chairman of the annual Woman's Club project with James D. Hunt acting as coordinator for the various civic organizations.  Mrs. James Johnson also wrote portions of the report along with helping compile the visual aids.

After an organizational meeting in late summer, the committee began gathering information, newspaper clippings and pictures to supplement the report.

In November, the first presentation was made on a district level at Kentucky Dam Village.  It was necessary for each city to have four of six possible categories judged excellent to qualify for the state competition.

Marion's report included over sixty individual projects which was described orally with the help of visual aids. 

After advancing to the state level, over fifty color slides were prepared showing the improvements and completed projects in Marion and Crittenden County.  

Attending the awards luncheon from Marion were Mrs. George E. Winn, Mrs. C. L. Frazer, Mrs. William Tobin, Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. James D. Hunt and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mick.

Marion Installed As Member In State Chamber's Hall of Fame - 1972

Crittenden Press, May 13, 1972

 Now, IN HALL OF FAME.  this delegation was on hand in Louisville Wednesday, April 5, when Marion was officially named to the All-Kentucky City Hall of Fame by the Kentucky chamber of Commerce.  To be admitted to the Hall of Fame, a city must win the title of All-Kentucky City three years out of five.  Marion has won the title for three consecutive years.

Marion was one of eight communities to be installed in the Kentucky Chamber's All-Kentucky City Hall of Fame during presentations at the Executive Inn in Louisville on April 5.

The communities were cited for progress in development during a five-consecutive-year period when each community was recognized as All-Kentucky three times by the state-wide Opportunity for Progress program of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  

Each community was presented a plaque in recognition of the accomplishments.  Marion - 1969, 1970, and 1971.

Attending the luncheon and representing Marion were: Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. William Tobin, Mr. and Mrs. George E. Winn, Mrs. Neil Guess, Mrs. Weams Croft, Miss Nelda Phelps, Mrs. C. L. Frazer,  chairman of the Community Improvement Committee of the Marion Woman's Club, Mr. John Ramsey, Mr. Gordon Guess, and Mr. James D. Hunt.

The Perils of the New Automobiles

 

The late Maxine Be bout Croft of Tolu shared this wonderful vintage picture from her husband's family photos.  The picture was made about 1915-1916.  Seated in the sporty new touring vehicle are Nellie Croft, with daughter Roberta standing in front of her, and behind the wheel is a very young Ollie Phin Croft.  It certainly goes right along with our story.

 

 Although being exciting and getting one to their destination faster, owning one of the new rubber tire automobiles in the 1920's could definitely prove to be a challenge. Many perils awaited most of the owners, and also proved a danger for the traditional travel of the horse and buggy.

From the archives of The Crittenden Press we can read many of these adventures of our fellow citizens of yesteryear. Looks like the reporter for the paper was kept pretty busy keeping up with all the automobile news.

***

Oct. 19, 1911 - Narrow escape. Sunday afternoon the horse driven by R. A. Rodgers, to this runabout became frightened at a passing automobile and was soon unmanageable. After rearing and plunging he fell and broke the shafts and otherwise damaged the vehicle which was a new and handsome one. Mr. Rodgers was accompanied by his wife and son. None of the occupants were hurt, as they escaped by jumping out, and were only badly frightened by their experience.

***

Nov. 12, 1920 - Three automobiles have been destroyed by fire in this county, all within the past week.

A Ford belonging to Fred Crayne was burned Saturday night. Mr. Crayne was driving the car when the machine caught fire from a short circuit.

C. M. Dillard, of Marion, lost a Inland truck by fire Saturday while on is way to Rosiclare, Ill. The fire originated as above while he was driving near Sheridan. The flames fro m the burning machine ignited the dry leaves and the woods caught fire resulting in the burning of a fence.

A Ford car belonging to Frank Butler caught from back fire in the carburetor while being driven near Frances Sunday and was destroyed. All these machines were insured.

***

Loses Foot In Automobile Accident. Thursday morning of last week an automobile accident occurred on South Main Street, in which Hally Wilcox, colored of this city was seriously but not fatally injured.

Wilcox was riding on the fender of T. C. Bennett's car, driven by Walter Fritts who was driving close behind the car of Carl Henderson. As they neared the top of the hill on South Main, the cars met Fonnie Belmear in his “Lizzie.” The dust was so dense that the second car and Mr. Belmear's crashed in which the Negro was injured. He was taken to the hospital at Paducah where his foot was amputated.

***

Aug. 5, 1921 - Car Runs Away

Thursday morning about 9:30 Elzie Moore who works at Cochran's Garage cranked a Chevrolet car that belonged to Cochran and Co., after he had filled it was gas and oil. The car was in gear and before Mr. Moore could get in the car started backward down the street. It ran into a buggy belonging to Mr. George Conditt and threw him out.

The horse became frightened and ran away, doing considerable damage to the buggy. The car backed into Mrs. Mary Cameron's front porch and stopped. No one was injured.

***

Sept. 1, 1922 - Injured In Auto Accident

Wednesday morning while Mr. J. Hicklin was motoring near the Cave-in-Rock landing he met with a rather painful though not serious accident. The roads in that section are nothing to brag about and while he was going along the car ran against a stump.

When the car wheel hit the stump Mr. Hicklin struck the windshield of his car bruising and cutting his face in a number of places. He drove home and had the wounds dressed and it is reported is doing well. The car was uninjured.

***

July 28, 1923 - Automobiles Collide

A Star automobile, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Willie George of Salem, and Mr. and Mrs. Press Guess, while being driven on Bellville Street opposite the residence of Mrs. Clara Carnahan Sunday afternoon, collided with a Ford car driven by Sig Hopson, slightly injuring Mrs. George and badly damaging both machines.

A buggy being to the right of the approaching car, Hopson in trying to pass, collided with the other car as it met the buggy.

***

Buggy's Beware - On last Sunday as H. B. Hamby was driving in a buggy in the vicinity of Haffaw Mines near Mexico, he was run into by an automobile and the buggy wrecked. Mr. Hamby escaped with slight injuries, as also did the horse.

The driver of the machine was not reported.

***

May 23, 1924 - Auto Overruns Cow.

Sat. afternoon as Squire Charles LaRue was driving a cow along the Salem Rd. near J. E. Sullengers place, the animal was overrun by an automobile driven by George Dowell of Tolu, dislocating the lower joint of the cow's leg. The collision is reported to have been purely accidental or unavoidable, the cow delaying or refusing to give the necessary right of way until it was too late for the driver to stop his machine. Dr. Slayden was called to set the injured limb.

***

Three persons were painfuly injured Sunday when an auto driven by Mrs. Earl Stephens was over-turned near the R. H. Enoch place on the Morganfield Road. The car was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Stephens, Misses Ada Barnes, Jewell Dean Glore, Nellie Belt, Gladys Barnes and Messrs. J. D. Glore and Arnold Travis. The following persons were injured in the accident: Jewell Dean Glore - gash behind ear and bruises, Ada Barnes, gash on right cheek, Gladys Barnes - cut across nose. Dr. Cook dressed the wounds.

***

June 20, 1924 - Two Injured

Lonnie James and Cecil Sigler, young men of near Marion, were seriously injured Sunday afternoon on the Marion and Princeton road when their automobile was struck and run over by another car.

Sigler who was driving and his companion were going south and overtook another car driven by a Mr. Gilland. Sigler in passing Gilland's car swerved too quickly in front of it and was struck and turned over.

James suffered two broken ribs, a cut on the chin, besides several minor cuts and bruises. Siglers ankle was dislocated, his left arm and small bones in his hand were broken.

***

While Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Caps, who reside near Mexico, were returning home from Princeton one day last week the automobile in which they were traveling went over a culvert, turned turtle and threw the occupants out resulting in a broken rib for Mrs. Capps. Dr. Cook dressed the wounds of the injured woman and she is reported to be improving.

***

July 1924 - More Accidents

Mr. A. C. Babb, while driving on N. College St. was painfully, but not seriously hurt in an automobile accident. The rear axle of the machine struck some high stepping stones and Mr. Babb was thrown forward on the windshield, resulting in the loss of one tooth and being considerably bruised and shaken up. His car was also considerably damaged.

***

Last Sunday as P. P. Paris, of near town was driving on the Marion and Princeton road near Crider, his car, a new Chevrolet, was struck by another car and badly damaged. Mr. Paris while going South and while passing some buggies was met by a Ford car, which is stated, was going at a high rate of speed, which collided with his car. Mr. Paris was slightly injured by bits of broken glass. None of the occupants of the other care was reported injured. Both cars were damaged.

Clock Tower Measured Days and Years For Marion

 I have made a couple of posts in the past about the old Clock and Bell Tower on the old Marion Jr. High building located on College Street, I seemed to have a fascination for the old structure and it haunts me every time I see it.  I feel I must carry on its history as long as it hangs on, literally hangs on to the top of the building. 

I can't help but look at it every time I am on College Street and think about the history of this once proud clock and bell tower.  There is no sign now of the old clock, because its Roman numerals and arms of  the clock have been lost to time, only the aging wooden tower once home to the 1895 clock is left, and with its present condition, it will soon disappear from sight.

 

It's history began with the new Grade and High School building that was built in 1895.  As the building was almost completed and the tower that was to be the final step in it's completion, some enterprising spirits conceived the idea of putting in a clock, and in a few days a big $600 clock and bell  was installed in the tower, it will tell and toll of the time, and as it measures off the days and years of the people of Marion.

 

 

The clock and bell tolled out the time and called the children to school each day in this building for 43 years and by then the school had become to small to hold all the students so in 1938 a new school was decided to be built.  The new brick structure would be part of the work of the New Deal, the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The new school was completed in 1938-1940 and the first graduating class was in 1941.  The clock and bell from the 1895 building was saved and placed in the new structure.

The clock ticked and the bell tolled until about 1966 and it became beyond repair and some of the parts on the outside were lost and it wasn't able to rewind the time piece so it sat idle for the rest of it's life.

In August of 1981 this school was closed and students transferred to the new Crittenden County Elementary School on Autumn Lane.

Today,  November 2023, only the old wooden structure that held the clock and bells has just about lost it's battle to time and looks like it will soon be gone.

New Deal Programs helped Crittenden County - WPA

 Works Progress Administration, known as the WPA was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings, streets, bridges, roads and numerous other projects.  

Marion and Crittenden County greatly benefited from this agency and the many projects done here through the years of 1935-1943.

Some of the streets to be improved with cement bound macadam or cut black asphalt, which would include curbing and drainage, included: East and West Depot, East and West Elm; North and South College, East and West Carlisle, North and South Walker. 

      Shady Grove and Frances Gymnasium's constructed by the WPA

 Other projects submitted and approved were to construct recreational center at Shady Grove, Ky, (new gymnasium) $2,027.00, Training work centers for women at Marion, $7,782.20, to construct playground at Frances Consolidated School, Frances, Ky., $2,269.00, (Frances also got a new gymnasium) Construct playground at Mattoon Consolidated School grounds, $1,5469.00. 

Dec. 13, 1935. The rock crusher began operation at the Alexander-Hopsons quarry, Shady Grove, crushing rock for the use of W.P.A. in the paving and curbing of the various streets in the city previously designated for these improvements. The first of the rock so delivered will be placed for use around the court Square in order that this paving and curbing may be completed at once and after this to the other streets so named.

 

In March of 1936 the Press tells us that the work of preparing the streets around the Court Square for paving is rapidly progressing since the moderation of the weather. The remainder of the sewage has been completed and preparations are now under way for the laying of the curbs.

 

Another important road project that was completed in October of 1938 was the Dycusburg-Kuttawa road. The bridge connecting Lyon and Crittenden counties was opened last week. With the completion a direct route to Lyon County is now open to citizens of the Dycusburg area.

 

 

 We know they helped with the building of several bridges in the county.   In 2013 the Fiscal Court authorized the replacement of the bridge on the Bells Mines Road.  Prior to the demolition of this bridge it was noticed that this foundation stone indicated the WPA had constructed the original structure in 1939.  The stone was removed and preserved for historical purposes.  This historical stone was presented to the Crittenden County Historical Museum in Oct. 2023 to be kept and preserved.

 

Perhaps one of the last large projects completed by the WPA was the demolition of the old Marion Grade and High School building and replacing it with a beautiful new building in 1938.  

This is why it is such a shame and disgrace for us to have let this beautiful and historical building sit and slowly fall into ruin, a ruin so bad that they say it is beyond any kind of repair now, due to the expense. 

Early Pioneers and Early Roadways

 

This is an interesting article that was written many years ago in 1931 by Rev. James F. Price. It's a look into some of our very early history of the land and the settlement of our county.

***

The early pioneers of our Western Kentucky that later would become Crittenden County were a most neighborly and visit-prone people right from the beginning. This can be attributed to many factors, not the least of which was the dark, gloomy, largely unbroken forest which blanketed our virgin landscape and cast uncontrollable fears of Wilderness Fever caused by too much loneliness and isolation. Added to this was the nagging fear of Indian trouble .

 

The pioneer of original Livingston County was that hardy breed of perpetual western movers we term the Scotch-Irish. Even though they were relatively poor, in most instances, they retained the overbearing family and neighbor ties as the system was developed in the deep South. There were a few of the planter-aristocrats who attempted to set up plantation type farms, these were usually in the river bottoms, but these people soon realized that this land was just not suitable for such uses, and soon adapted themselves down to the smaller cropping method of provision farming.

***

Traveling To Western Kentucky

The Pioneers migrated to what became Crittenden County by both the overland routes across the Cumberland Mountains and across Kentucky or through the Cumberland River Valley through Tennessee by wagon, foot and pack-horse, and by the river flatboat route down the Cumberland, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. 

 

By far, the former overland routes were mostly always taken by the home seeking, very few of whom lived near rivers in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee, and fewer yet had any river boats nor navigation skills, and since few had money to buy or build boats and rent crews or pay passage, the river pirate and hostile Indian danger on the rivers decided the way this county was settled, which was traveling on land.

 

The overland travelers in the virgin Kentucky and Tennessee forests always traveled in groups as a means of protection against the ever-present larger savaging-wild animals, such as wolves and panthers, who would follow the pioneer's herds of cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry in packs awaiting the opportunity to attack a straggling animal or even a child. 

 

They also traveled together for protection from possible attacks of hostile Indians or robbery and murder by land pirates, although there was less actual danger of Indian attacks in Kentucky, since they using the state only as a hunting ground, and had become adjusted to sharing the game with the white settlers.

 

When the groups of overland traveling pioneers arrived in west Kentucky they considered the wooded rolling hill-land of what was to become Caldwell and Eastern and Southern Crittenden County as prime land, for the pioneers were convinced that land that would not grow trees would grow nothing, and most of them were quite familiar with hill-farming in their original homes in the south, thus the first sections of original Livingston County to become settled were its Eastern and Southeastern half. 

 

The original permanent settlement of what was to become Crittenden County was determined to a great extent by the only roadway that naturally led through the desired homestead country in a south to north direction.

***

Roadway known as the: Saline Trace, Chickasaw Trail and Flynn's Ferry Road

Geologically a natural break, formed by parts of Camp Creek and Piney Creek in very early times formed a basis for a North-South track or trail through the eastern part of the County from the plains or grasslands of middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky to the salt-licks along the Saline River in Southern Illinois.

 

The first use of this pathway was made by the great herds of buffalo and other grazing animals that had inhabited the grasslands from time immemorial as the route to travel to secure the supply of salt, which was necessary for their health. 

 

The "Saline Trace" was built by the buffalo, which has been called the trail maker or engineer, because of his habit of finding the route of least resistance between salt licks and cane breaks. His trail, some 4 or 5 feet wide, was hard packed by many hoofs. Indians adopted and followed his traces, or paths. 

 

Before Crittenden County was settled, the Chickasaw tribe of Tennessee sent hunting parties into the area. One of these early camps was located in the vicinity of Piney Fork church, near whee the present highway crosses the creek west of the church. 

 

The Kaskaskia Tribe representing the powerful Illinois nation, often camped on lower Camp Creek near the site of Weston. Thus these large groups of Indians often came into conflict over possession of hunting rights in the land that was to become Eastern Crittenden County.

 

Early Crittenden County tradition tells us that in about 1790, warriors of these tribes met near the Piney Fork campsite, and in a running battle from there to the river, more than 200 Indians were killed. The Chickasaws won the battle and immediately made provisions for the spoils to be transferred to their camp. They cleared a road along the trail for the use of their wagons, by 1790, the Chickasaw had adopted the full use of the white man's freight wagon. 

 

When early settlers located, at what would later become Weston, the road was known at the Chickasaw Trail, but soon in 1803 it would become know as Flynn's Ferry Road for George Flynn who opened a ferry and established a better road to Big Spring in Princeton.

***

Armstrong and Centerville

The land that is now Crittenden County is a rolling plateau cut by three main north-south running valleys which are clearly divided by high ridges between them in its southeastern quarter which were the first sections to be settled by the pioneers after the Centerville neighborhood had been taken up.

 

The Armstrong's were among the first settlers of (what was to become) Crittenden County. James took up 200 acres on Livingston Creek, the site of Centerville, where he had already built a residence a few years earlier. Logan Armstrong and Samuel Armstrong took up 200 acres on the same creek. The three tracts were all surveyed in 1799. (There is a Kentucky Historical Marker to mark the site of Centerville on the Crittenden-Caldwell line on Highway 641.)

 

The Piney Fork Valley was next preferred by the homesteaders. It begins as a narrow valley in the south, near where the original Piney Creek Baptist Church was located and is separated from the Tradewater River Valley by the Haw, Blackburn and Piney Bluffs ridge on the east, but soon broadens to the Twin Knobs-Wilson Hill ridge on the west. (Who would have ever dreamed that the once historically known Twin Knobs would be no more, and a modern highway would now be where they once stood. These knobs were landmarks known for miles around by pilots in the air and from travelers on the highways.)

 

This valley was very fertile to the basic pioneer crops and was well drained by both forks of Piney Creek and watered by numerous ever flowing springs. The land was also blanketed by a fine virgin growth of hardwood timber. These factors made it the ideal location for successful pioneer settlement and it became the "cradle" of Crittenden County.

***

As each generation dies out, much of our past history is lost. It's nice to have these written facts to still read and recall the very early days of our county and it's pioneer people.

Amish Came To Crittenden County in 1997

 Article from The Crittenden Press, July 28, 1977

Amish buy 1,900 acres in county.  Horses and buggies may become  common site on county roads again when an Amish community gets settled into the Mattoon community this fall.

A group of Old Order Amish from Dover, Del., recently purchased about 1,900 acres of land near Mt. Zion church and a spokesman said half a dozen families may be moved in by the first of the year.

The community will include people who now live in Delaware, Canada and Pennsylvania.

More families may come after it is seen how well these first are able to adapt to this area, the spokesman said.

Members of the Amish sect, have stubbornly refused to adopt most of the "conveniences" of modern living.  They continue to till the land with draft animals and use horses and buggies as a primary means of transportation.

They will be engaged mainly in family farming with possibly produce for sale.

"As long as we can make an honest living and be neighbors, then we're happy," the spokesman said.

The group had been investigating land in this area for more than a year and a half before deciding to buy the tract from Charles Wesley.

The spokesman explained other Amish in the Gutherie area and in southern Indiana had help them in spotting suitable land.  He said that by getting that large an acreage, it would provide room for several families now as well as for future growth.

Last week, about 25 prospective residents were on the farm digging basements for houses, which they will return later to finish construction.

He noted the county's fiscal court had agreed to erect hitching posts of Jockey Lot for them and that some grocery merchants had indicated they would put up hitch rails.

They hope to re-open an old county road which connect the Mt. Zion road with the Fords Ferry Road and use that less traveled highway for their trips in to town.

Agreeing that their ways and appearances --men are bearded and women wear long dresses and caps -- naturally attract attention to them, the spokesmen noted he hopes the community is not expect too much from them.

We are only human, he said.  "We're not a perfect people."

Some Amish scenes on Mt. Zion Cemetery Road.

Marion Happenings in 1953

 An interesting article appeared in the October 30, 1953 addition of The Crittenden Press, telling of the improvements to our town. Reports such as this are a good way to learn of some of our past history. Major Lewis Chipps gave this informative report.

***

Oct. 30, 1953

On account of the facts that our tax rate was at the highest limit and couldn't be raised, and the further fact that all expenses of our City Government, both as to salaries and material needed were getting higher and higher it has been most difficult to manage the City Government and keep it within its income and at the same time to expand our services to the citizens of our community.

 

Over and above meeting the general expenses of our City Government the officers and employees of Marion have managed to secure for the City and our people over a period of the past few years the following needed improvements, viz: In the Fire Department we now have an almost new fire truck and equipment which cost approximately $7,000.00; and we have retained the old fire truck and improved and reworked it until it is now in excellent condition and in case of a large fire, which we hope will not occur, the Fire Department has two fire trucks to use.

 

Recently the City purchased an up to date aluminum ladder that is long enough to reach the highest building in Marion, and if needed can be used to rescue people from the third floors of some of our tallest buildings, and also to enable the firemen to reach the roofs of the tallest buildings quickly and safely to extinguish roof fires and maybe save buildings that otherwise might be burned. 

 

Also a firetruck for first aid was purchased and equipment by the City with some equipment being donated by some of our public-spirited citizens, which will enable the firemen to give first aid to all who many need such services and too the Department is well equipped with sufficient footage of new and up to date firehouse.

 

The Department is not only well equipped and all the equipment is paid for in full, but we do have one of the best group of firemen that can be found in any small town, and we do think that a good word should be said in behalf of the young men who really get out in the thick of the fire and do the good work of saving our property and the lives of our people whose homes may burn.

 

The Light Department is constantly improving the lighting of our streets and alleys, the light committee with the help and cooperation of Orlan Love, the local manager of K. U, there was installed a new set of street lights around the court Square, and now once the business men have made the much appreciated improvements along the fronts of the stores on Main Street, and after the County Officials together with the good ladies of the Woman's Club have made such remarkable improvements on our Court House, we'd say that Marion looks nicer than at any time since we can remember.

 

The General Department of our City Government, which includes our Police Department, has been maintained at the same high level as in the past years and we think has been improved, for the past several years the City Government has been able to purchase and maintain a police car which is necessary to control traffic and protect the lives of those who use the streets both as drivers of motor vehicles and pedestrians, and especially school children. 

 

And one of the best additions that has been jointly sponsored by the City and School in the School Boy Patrol, and when ever you see a school boy patrol be sure and slow down and obey his signals for you may be sure that is is a boy, maybe a little man, who is out in the heat of the sun or the cold of the winter storm to give protection to the smaller child who is trying to cross the street, and hoping to safely reach home.

 

Our water system has not been neglected, but over the past several years much money has been expended in expanding our system and extending our services to more and more of our people. We have now approximately 875 customers in our water system which has almost double during the past years. 

 

Also the department has purchased a pickup truck for the use of the system; has kept painted and in up to date repair our water tank; has purchased several items of needed equipment and in 1950 made arrangement to use the waters from the lake in the Lake View addition whenever needed, and in 1952 dug three much needed wells out at the water plant to supplement our supply, and too, in the same year expended several hundred dollars in laying a line and making ready the Lucille Mines to enable the City to use water from these mines whenever needed, and all these additions and improvements have been paid for in full. 

 

In addition to the water system a new system has been added to our undertaking, namely the natural gas system, which is now a part of the combined water and Gas System of Marion. We now have approximately 450 users of natural gas and in the course of a few years we hope to double the number of users.

The Crittenden County Court House has had a face lifting which has lifted the spirits of citizens of the entire county, thanks to the help of the Marion Woman's Club.

The historic landmark of Western Kentucky, located in the downtown square of Marion, was badly in need of repair work and a coat of paint. Everyone agreed that something should be done about the Court House, but funds were not available and the work was delayed from year to year.

This year the Marion Woman's Club, under the leadership of its president, Mrs. Thomas Tucker, was determined to stop talking and start acting, and went to work. Members spearheaded a drive to get the citizens interested in getting something done about the painting.

 

The county officials started the needed repairs on the Court House recently but lacked funds for the painting so the Woman's Club started raising funds. The painting project was estimated to cost $300.00 but when it was finished it cost $439.00. 

 

Now that the project is completed the entire down town of Marion has a progressive look and merchants have joined the parade of progress by adding new store fronts and painting their buildings.

 

Marion city officials at this time included: Mayor, Lewis Chipps, City Attorney, W. J. Postleweight, City Judge, Hugh Norris, City Clerk, Mrs. Gertrude Brown, City Treasurer, Mrs. E. E. Mackey, Fire Chief, Lonnie Buckalew, and Chief of Police, N. S. Hollingsworth.

Accidential Train Deaths

 Several accidents involved with the trains of long ago occurred in our county in earlier times. From the archives of The Crittenden Press, the victim's obituaries are interesting and sad to read. They tell of the circumstances of the accidents.

***

Crittenden Press, Feb. 9, 1911 -

Minus Bradford Rushing. Resolutions of our beloved brother, a strict member of our noble order, the F. E. & C. U. of A., was struck by one of the Illinois Centrals heavy engines which crushed his skull killing him instantly.

On Dec. 25, 1910 the accident occurred. Bro. Rushing was born in Crittenden and was a good law abiding citizen, he was well liked by all that knew him. He was born January 8, 1868 and was married to Miss Alice Campbell on May 9, 1894. To the happy couple there was five children born, of this number one is dead and four are living. They lived close to the community of Mexico.

(Family information tells us that Mr. Rushing had left his home to walk to Mexico on Christmas Eve, after awhile when he didn't return home two of his children went looking for him. They found him near the railroad track where he had been hit by a train. He is buried in the Campbell Cemetery near Mexico.)

***

Crittenden Press, Nov. 1922 –

Denver Travis Killed By Train Nov. 9^th. At Inquest Over Body Coroner’s Jury Find Verdict of Accidental Death.

Denver Travis, about 23 years old, was run over and instantly killed by an I. C. North bound freight train a short distance north of the Marion Depot Thursday afternoon of last week. So far as is known, no one saw the occurrence.

The body was found on the rail road track soon after the train passed, the train leaving the Marion station at 12:43 o'clock. The trainmen stated they knew nothing of the occurrence and it is thought by some that the deceased met his death by trying to board the train as it passed.

An inquest was held over the body by Judge E. J. Travis and County Attorney Edward D. Stone. The jury returning a verdict of accidental death by being run over by a railroad train.

Burial was in the James Wheeler cemetery on Just A Mere Road.

***

Crittenden Press, January 1924 –

Wyley Montgomery, 65 years old, a farmer residing near Mexico, this county, was run over and instantly killed by a south-bound passenger train about 11:20 o'clock Sunday morning Jan. 13^th, between Mexico and Fredonia.

Mr. Montgomery, it is reported, was walking down the railroad tracks near Livingston Tank when the passenger train which leaves here at 11:00 rounding a curve, came up behind him and when the alarm whistle blew, instead of stepping off, started to run down the track and was struck by the engine.

Mr. Montgomery leaves a widow and four children: Ishmere Montgomery of Arkansas; Mrs. Mona Loftis, Mrs. John Tabor and James Montgomery, all of this county.

Funeral services were held at Caldwell Spring Baptist Church Tuesday, Rev. U. G. Hughes officiating. Interment at Stevenson/Stephenson cemetery on Marion Road. (He has no stone, in an unmarked grave)

***

Crittenden Press June 12, 1930 –

Guy Griffith was instantly killed Sunday, June 8^th, when struck by a north bound Illinois Central freight train, at the Bellville Street crossing. The accident occurred about six-thirty in the evening.

Griffith, going to his home east of Marion, drove his car directly in front of the approaching freight in an apparent effort to beat the train to the crossing. The victim's head was crushed on one side; and the automobile entirely demolished.

In the course of the inquest testimony was introduced by G. W. Durke, engineer on the train which struck Griffith's car; by J. D. Burgess, fireman; J. W. Griffith, conductor, and T. B. McConnell, brakeman. All these men stated that the train, a through freight, was running at the speed of about twenty-five miles an hour; that the bell was ringing at the crossing, that the whistle on the train was blown; and that the pilot on the engine struck the rear side of the automobile.

Robert Murphy, of Marion, testified that Mr. Griffith stopped his car when very near the track, started it again, and when he reached the track turned toward the Marion Milling Company building.

A number of other witnesses were heard, all of whom gave the similar evidence.

The coroner jury, returned the verdict: “We, the jury, find that Guy Griffith came to his death by being struck by a freight train on the Illinois Central Railroad at the Bellville Street crossing, and that same was an unavoidable accident.”

Surviving Mr. Griffith, are eight children, his wife having died in 1922. The children are: Lois, Preston, Thomas, Matilda, Nelle, Elizabeth, George and James. A sister, Mrs. J. T. Hatcher, of Plicher, Oklahoma, and a brother, Walter Griffith, of Marion, Illinois.

The body was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Foster. Funeral services were held Wednesday with burial in the Love cemetery.

Siloam School, Church, Residence

 An interesting article that appeared in The Crittenden Press, June 3, 1982.

Siloam Methodists Disband

The Siloam United Methodist Church building, located on Ky. 297 west of Marion, will be auctioned Saturday, June 12, by Crittenden County Reality Co. Church members gathered for their final services there Sunday, May 23, 1982.

Church trustee Bob Wilson said the decision to close the church and merge with the Tolu United Methodist Church was a traumatic one for the dwindling congregation. The church has served the community for more than 140 years.

 

The Siloam Methodist Church was established in the early 1800's and the first deed for the property was dated Feb. 26, 1834. The fist building was probably a log structure located about a mile lower on Deer Creek than the present one, which is the third one to house the congregation.

 

Besides the 1834 deed, Wilson said church papers include a Bible dedicated to the church Aug. 7, 1856, and records started in the 1850's.

 

According to those records, at one time more than 200 people attended services there. “It was nearly the only church in the area, with churches being “widely scattered then,”. During the early 1900s attendance dropped off as people transferred their memberships to Marion and other closer churches.

 

The present building, was the former Siloam School, was purchased in the 1950s. It replaced a huge weather boarded structure located a mile down the creek from the present site.

 

Memories of Siloam's past are good. As late as 1939, Wilson said he could remember the old building being filled with people coming from around the area.

 

They would come and park their wagons and buggies outside the building. If it rained, they'd bring in their buggy seats and lap rugs. There were many times people got caught by the rains and had to stay overnight in the church because they couldn't cross the creek.

 

Other things Wilson remembered about the old church were the wood stoves and kerosene lamps. There were two huge wood stoves on either side of the room. The preacher preached with an overcoat on many a time. It wasn't unusual for the kerosene lamps to burn down, and the preacher continued his sermon in the dark.

 

Wilson added that during his childhood, worship services were held only once a month although Sunday School was held every week. The church was part of a circuit then, Preaching was held there once a month with the preacher going to either Hebron, Hurricane or Tolu Methodist churches on the other Sundays.

 

Others memories remembered by Wilson included that at one time the church was visited by large crowds for prayer meetings. When you walked or rode your buggy up to the service, you could hear the people singing and praying. I've heard it told that during one dry season, the people gather to pray for rain. Old Uncle Jimmy Wooten rode up to the church with an umbrella in his hand. When asked what he had it for he said he aimed to use it. He got to before he left too.

 

Wilson said that although selling the church building may be sad for the nine active members left, it would be better than seeing it continually vandalized. He added that the church's records would be sent to the Methodist Conference archives in Louisville.

***

The historic building that once was a community school, then a church, and today it is a residence.

 

Picture above, made in the 1920s is when the building was the school house.

 

 This picture was made in 2007, a nice cared for home.

Lost History and Houses at the old Dam 50 site

 Our Dam 50 (now known as Riverside Park) was destroyed in Nov. 1980 because it wasn't needed anymore due to the new high lift dam at Smithland.  

A part of the closing of the dam also meant that the Corps of Engineers would be getting rid of the beautiful brick homes of the lock and dam employees.  

These 2-story brick homes were really pretty. Here is a picture of one of them . 

The homes would have to be torn down and removed, no one wanted to do this. 

They tried to sell them through sealed bids, but only one was even bid on and it sold for $307.00, so that left the others for the COE to tear down and remove.

In just a short time after the employees had moved from their homes vandals arrived and destroyed much of the homes insides.   Windows were broken, even the stair rails were destroyed.  This as early as Dec. 1981.

 

 

The tear downs continued until all brick and wooden structures were either torn down or the wooden ones, to the left of the picture, were removed to a different location.

The rest of the story.  In the early 1970s when the Smithland Dam project, which replaced the old wicket dam here, was being planned, the county had expressed an interest in obtaining the reservation and developing it into a park and campground.

The houses, in that early plan, would have been remodeled into vacation cottages.

Those plans fell through when Congress cut the Corps of Engineers' budget allocation for recreational projects and then county officials determined the county could not afford the long-term cost of maintenance of the property.

Old Fiddler's Contest of Yesteryear

 

MUSIC BROUGHT GOOD TIMES TO COMMUNITIES

Fiddling contest of long ago were a popular event everyone looked forward too.  It didn't matter who won, if you were lucky enough to attend one, everyone was the winner for the good times and memories to be had.

***

Feb. 5, 1926

Repton Fiddler Wins Prize In Evansville

The first prize in the final contest of the old-time fiddlers contest held in Evansville was carried off by a Crittenden County man, Isaac W. Jenkins, of Repton. The contest was held under the auspices of the Evansville Courier and a large crowd was in attendance to hear the playing of the 15 old time fiddlers, who each played some old air like "Turkey in the Straw."

Mr. Jenkins is a merchant at Repton and is 65 years old. For years he has been for the old time music he knows how to make his "fiddle" produce. The prize he won was a cash on of $20.

***

April 2, 1926

Jenkins Crittenden County Representative

Crittenden County will have a representative in the inter-state old fiddlers contest to be held in Jefferson City, Missouri, April 2. Isaac W. Jenkins, merchant at Repton has been appointed by Governor Fields to represent, with "Blind Joe" Mangrum of Paducah, the state of Kentucky in a "fiddling" contest with Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. The governors of the respective states have appointed two old fiddlers to take part in the contest.

The contest is being staged by radio station WOS at Jefferson City. The sixteen fiddlers from the eight states will gather at the broadcasting station in Missouri's capital city and there they will play the old time "tunes" as if before an immense audience consisting of people in all parts of the united States.

The judges in the contest are to be those who listen in on WOS Friday night. Each person who tunes in with that station may vote, the voting being done by telegraph and long distance telephone. Each telegram of long distance call will be counted as one vote for the contestant that the message favors.

People in this section are boosting for Mr. Jenkins, who is an accomplished "fiddler," and has played at different times for various occasions over the county. Only recently he won a prize in Evansville as being the best of the "fiddlers" and "foot patters." Mr. Jenkins says he is not a violin player, but a fiddler who likes to play the old time tunes.

Mr. Jenkins would like to have all his friends who own radios tune in on WOS and wire a vote for him on this Friday night. The telegraph offices are to remain open until a late hour to receive messages. (note: I don't know how Mr. Jenkins did in this contest. Mr. Jenkins died March 22, 1941 and is buried in the Repton Cemetery)

***

Feb. 8, 1928

Jonas Rushing Best Fiddler

An old fashioned fiddlers contest will be given under the auspices of the Frances P.T.A. at the Frances school house, Tuesday, February 5^th. Prizes offered for the first, second and third best fiddlers, and for oldest and youngest fiddlers. There will also be a harmonica contest with prizes including those offered for the youngest and oldest harmonica players.

Participants are Jonas Rushing, Franklin Mines; Elbert Brown, Crayne; Isaac W. Jenkins, Repton, George Perkins, Frances; Elzie Frazer, Frances; Oman Matthews, Frances and others.

The winners of this old fashioned fiddlers contests were: Jonas Rushing, of Franklin Mines, who was awarded first prize and Isaac W. Jenkins of Repton, second prize. The judges were B. F. Walker, Jr., Allie Whitt and A. Hodge. Evidently no one participated in the harmonica contest.

Mexico School house was also a place for an old fiddlers contest. Winners here were 1^st prize was won by Jonas Rushing, 2^nd prize by Elbert Brown, 3^rd prize by Jim Woodall, and the best guitar player was J. Lowry.

***

Nov. 1930 – Old Fiddlers Contest

The largest crowd ever assembled in the Shady Grove High School auditorium was present last Friday night at the Old Fiddlers Contest.

Elmo Morris was selected as the best all-around fiddler and Miss Mary Tudor as the best woman fiddler. First prize for string bands went to Traylor's band of Caldwell County and Stewart's string band of this county.

***

Nov. 20, 1936

Brewer Best Fiddler

The fiddlers' contest held at Mattoon last Friday evening was well attended and enjoyed by a large audience. Buck Brewer was declared to be the best fiddler, with F. W. Hughes a close second. Many and varied were the different types of contests beginning with sacred selections and finishing with the selection of the best of the fiddlers.

Prize winners of the various events and also entries were:

• Best Fiddler playing some sacred selection – First, Lemand White; second, Buck Brewer; and third, Chester Yarbough. Entries were Edd Hunt, Lemand White, Wilburn Hall, Buck Brewer, F. S. Hughes, Chester Yarbrough, J. W. Jenkins and Joe Rushing.

• Guitar selection with yodeling First, Virginia Wilson; second, Elmer Newcom, Entries: Virginia Wilson, Elmer Newcom, Frances Davis, Crawford Cowens, Wilbur Hall, Claude Cruce and Kenneth Davis.

• Best family family band – First, Hall band, second, Newcom brothers.

• Hawaiian guitar – First, Claude Cruce; second, Mrs. Hall.

• Breakdown – First, F. W. Hughes; second Buck Brewer; and third, Edd Hunt. Entries: Buck Brewer, Edd Hunt, Joe Rushing, Lemand White, F. W. Hughes, Wilburn Hall, J. W. Jenkins and Chester Yarbrough.

• French Harp – First Raymond Cain; second, Elden Harding; third, Elmer Newcow. Entries other than the prize winners: Lemand White and Crawford Cowen.

• Best string band – First, Ragtown; second, Hughes; third, Hunts.

• Vocal duet – First, Raymond Cain; second , Ms. Hill and son. Entries besides winners; Newcom brothers , Wilson sisters, Cruce and Cruce. , White and Newcom, and Vaughan and Vaughan.

• Best fiddler Playing own selection – First Buck Brewer; second Chester Yarbough, third , Isaac W. Jenkins. Other entries were: Edd Hunt, Joe Rushing, Wilburn Hall, Lemand White.

• Best fiddler of the evening – First Buck Brewer, second, F. W. Hughes.

***

Good times of long ago. May the memories live on.

Blackford Veterans Memorial Bridge

 The Tradewater River railroad bridge at Blackford was a vital link for the Ohio Valley Railroad that ran from Henderson, to Princeton, Kentucky.  The bridge was the heartbeat of the small community of Blackford.

 

 The first bridge to be constructed was a Draw Bridge.  It was shortly after 1886 when the Draw Bridge was constructed.

At that time the Tradewater River was also a vital river route for small steam-boats traveling from the Ohio River at Sturgis, up the Tradewater to the little community of Fishtrap.

The hand cut stone piers of this original draw bridge are still in place today underneath the newly renovated railroad bridge.

 

In 1892 the "Ohio Valley Railroad" sold the railroad line to the "Illinois Central Railroad."

In 1914 a new 528 long bridge was build by the Illinois Central Railroad with help from the U. S. Government that included a pedestrian walk bridge.  The Illinois Central Railroad design was an upgrade in structure.  The IC wanted to run larger and heavier classes of locomotives to pull coal trains from Union and Webster counties to the Illinois Central Kentucky division's main line at Princeton, KY.  

The residents of Blackford in Webter County and the people of Crittenden County just on the west side of the river always wanted a bridge to carry wagons, and buggies across the Tradewater River.  Many of the people on the Crittenden County side carried on their business in Blackford because it was much closer than Marion.  Blackford was only a little over a mile from the excellent road of Hwy 60 in Crittenden County which lead to Marion.  Getting to Marion required the people of Blackford to travel 20 miles out of their way, which could take as many as three days.

 

The railroad rails were removed in 1999, the wooden bridge fell in to disrepair and was closed from use.  

Through the efforts of Mr. Brent Witherspoon and the support of many people a new walking and one lane automobile bridge is in in place.  It was built using the pier structures of the 1886 Ohio Valley Railroad bridge and the concrete piers and trestle timbers of the 1914 Illinois Central Railroad bridge.  (2005). Had some problems and closed again in 2009, but reinforced and reopened in 2014. 

Both these fine gentleman are gone now.   Their work and love for the area will be remembered.

Beer in Crittenden County in 1933

Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. Prohibitionists first attempted to end the trade in alcoholic beverages during the 19th century.

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution–which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors–ushered in a period in American history known as Prohibition. Prohibition was ratified by the states on January 16, 1919 and officially went into effect on January 17, 1920, with the passage of the Volstead Act.

Despite the new legislation, Prohibition was difficult to enforce. The increase of the illegal production and sale of liquor (known as “bootlegging”), the proliferation of speakeasies (illegal drinking spots) and the accompanying rise in gang violence and other crimes led to waning support for Prohibition by the end of the 1920s.

In early 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution that would repeal the 18th. The 21st Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, ending Prohibition.

***

Sale of Beer Becomes Legal

WASHINGTON, March 13, 1933 (UP) - President Roosevelt in a surprise move sent a message today to Congress calling for immediate modification of the Volstead act to permit the manufacture and sale of beer. The message follows:

"I recommend to the Congress the passage of legislation for the immediate modification of the Volstead act, in order to legalize the manufacture and sale of beer and other beverages of such alcoholic content as is permissible under the Constitution; and to provide through the manufacture and sale, by substantial taxes, a proper and much needed revenue for the government.

***

Beer In Kentucky

In the March 24, 1933 edition of the Crittenden Press. Beer will be sold in Kentucky its sale was passed by the House on the night of April 6, 1933. A federal tax of $5 per barrel of thirty-one gallons will be received by the government. Thirteen other states besides Kentucky may sell beer within fifteen days from the time the beer bill was signed.

Crittenden Press, April 7, 1933, One License to sell beer here. Only one license to retail beer has been issued in Marion and that to Orme Drug Company Incorporated. While some others are expected, the number will not be large, due to the city, state and federal taxes. Orme Drug Company expects to have beer for sale Friday. It will be trucked here from Louisville. Whether the supply will be equal to the demand is a matter of conjecture.

 

From the old book titled Taxes Received 1926-1937 in the basement of the Crittenden County Clerk's Office these names were recorded for selling retail beer. They were owners of local eating places in Marion and on the outskirts of town. From 1933 to 1936, when the vote was was again to go dry. Orme Drug Company, Sullenger & Love, Gladys Cantrell,The Snappy Tavern, Givens Cafe, J. W. Rankin, The Curve In Restaurant, Homer J. Hughes, W. H. Crider, City Cafe, Stanley Hunt, E. B. Hunt, Velda Stubblefield – restaurant, Ray Johnson and Carlon Howard. (don't have names of all the locations that applied for beer license or sold it)

***

No More Beer

The sale of beer locally didn't set well with many citizens of the town and county, in July 1936 a petition had been filed for election on local option to go dry. Crittenden Press, July 17, 1936. The prohibition forces of the county have been busy during the past few days circulating a petition for the purpose of calling an election to decide whether intoxication liquors will legally be sold within its boundary.

The petition, containing the names and post office addresses of 1,967 legal voters of Crittenden County is now on file in the County Judge's office. The date of the election has been set for Sat. Sept. 19, 1936, and will be held in all voting precincts in the county, and is held for the purpose of giving the voters the opportunity of deciding whether the sale of intoxicating liquors shall be prohibited.

***

They Didn't Give Up

This election of Sept 19, 1936 was for local option by a vote of 1,705 as compared to 398 in favor of wines, liquor and beer. The totals surprised the most ardent drys as several leaders had previously expressed themselves as confident of victory, but not to the extent to which the final returns showed.

But this election was declared void by the Court of Appeals due to not being sufficiently advertised in advance. So in November the local Option Petition was being re-circulated among the voters to have another election for the vote.

***

Crittenden Votes Dry

In February 1937 – Crittenden county voters favored local option by a vote of 1,295 to 297 in Saturday's balloting with the counting and final tabulation being completed early that night.

The driest precinct in the county, according to returns is that of Crayne where the cause of prohibition was victorious by approximately 15-1. 73 voters favored local option as compared to 5 who did not.

Of the 22 precincts in the county Blooming Rose was the only one that returned a majority opposed to the dry cause, the vote there being 17-10 and according to statics that is the first time in the history of the county when this has happened. The heaviest vote was in Marion No. 1 and in Fishtrap, No. 20, both precincts supporting the drys by votes of 117-32 and 13-3 respectively.

***

Whiskey Traffic Only Got Worse

During the years of 1937-1939 after the county had voted dry, the sale of illegal alcohol beverages only got worse. In July 1939 a recommendation was written by the Grand Jury and given to Judge E. Jeffery Travis. It read “We the Grand Jury presiding at the last term of Court, 1939, by a careful investigation find the violation of the whiskey traffic is exceedingly deplorable in Crittenden county, particularly in and about Marion, Mexico, Dycusburg and Sheridan, and that those engaged in selling and buying are so completely organized that it is very difficult to find sufficient evidence to indict.

***

What Needs To Be Done

Judge Travis states that doubtless the members of the grand jury felt that they were rendering the county's service and helping the county officers to rid the county of the boot-legging menace by adopting this resolution. I shall take this opportunity to suggest that if each member of the grand jury, or any other law abiding, peace-loving citizen of the county would constitute himself into a committee of one and do any reasonable amount of investigating of suspicious characters in his individual neighborhood, there would be no need for an “undercover man” or detective.

Since January 3^rd, 1948, the records show there have been twenty convictions for selling and possessing illegal whiskey with a total of 630 days in jail and fines amounting to $600.00. The situation is deplorable but only recommendations, orders, criticisms or anything short of sworn testimony does not “hit the spot.” There must be sworn testimony before a judge can issue a warrant of arrest.

So if you want illicit stills, boot-leggers, drunks, crap-shooters, or other semi-outlaws in your community just keep still and swear to nothing. If you want to be rid of such undesirable citizens go before a magistrate, notary public or any judge with a right to administer an oath, and make such statements under oaths and I am sure a warrant of arrest will be issued and the culprit be tried according to law. Are you willing to help? Signed E. Jeffrey Travis, County Judge

***

For one reason or the other, I don't think there were many that were willing to swear out a warrant for these bootleggers, not many would want to be known as an informer. Who really knows if it was for the money or for the thrill of doing something illegal and not getting caught, but boot-legging went on in the county for many more years. They were located all over the county.