The Cullen Mine

 Always interesting to read about are the great mines that once were located in Crittenden and Livingston County.  These were located in the central and southern part of the county.  Would have been interesting to see some of these forgotten structures.  The Cullen Mine was located about six miles from Frances, on the Salem-View road and near the Claylick Creek.

From an article in the June 16, 1904 Crittenden Press.

What Is Doing At The Big Cullen Mines? 

 From seeing the huge machinery which has recently passed through Marion headed from the Cullen, we saw stocked up in every direction piles upon piles of heavy lumber, and learned that five or six wagons are adding to these piles daily, while before us loomed up a skeleton of a building solid in its structure, grand in its proportions.  Here are the dimension.  Length 120 feet; breadth 90 feet; height of separating section 125 feet; height of milling section 60 feet.

And just imagine this vast building being rapidly filled with the heaviest and most costly machinery known to the mining art, and then you have a faint conception of what the Cullen people are doing.  We were told by one who should know that the company intend spending $50,000 this season on betterment along.

We were shown through that portion of the plant open to spectators by the boss in charge, our old friend A. G. Butler, who explained to us a great deal about the machinery already placed at the works.

 

There will consist of two vertical boilers, each of 200 horse power, weighing 13 tons each, which have not yet been place in position; a combination engine, now in position, with two 7 foot fly wheels; a revolving dryer, 20 feet in length; 2 powerful crushers; 4 large rollers; 9 big separators; a large air compressor and a big building filled with other machinery yet to be placed. 

 

The house containing the entrance to the main shaft was locked and we failed to see either it or any of the ore which has been taken from it, as all the ore was under lock and key also. From an auxiliary shaft just outside the building we saw specimens of crystallized spar on a blue limestone formation.

 

Mr. Butler informed me that there is no doubt as to the extent and value of the vein, which is a mixture of lead, zinc and fluor spar.

 

Major Hearne is on the ground every day, superintending construction and working like a beaver himself; and when one remembers the vast sums of money the Major has and is pouring into this pet enterprise of his, we can but admire the pluck and faith that is in him, and wish him God speed, the Press tips its hat to you and the Cullen, Major.

***

I'm not sure when the Cullen closed but in 1923 in the book "Fluorspar Deposits of Kentucky" by Louis Wade Currier he states that the Cullen mines was abandoned. Considerable zinc is said to have been found here associated with the fluorspar.  Attempts were made to devise a mill for the separation and recovery of both zinc blend and fluorspar, through the use of fine screening and sizing, and pneumatic concentrations.  The mill was unsuccessful.

Marion and Crittenden County in 1977

While rummaging around in my collection of everything you can imagine about Crittenden County, I came across a wonderful and colorful large brochure that was created by the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce, in 1977. It was produced by the Regional Services Office of Murray State University. What a wonderful way to share and preserve the history of our county and town. It's a shame one of these couldn't have been printed every year, or at least every five years. I hope you enjoy recalling some of the information I have abstracted from the brochure.

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The County

Kentucky's ninety-first count, Crittenden, was formed from Livingston County in 1842.

Located in the Pennyrile Region of western Kentucky, Crittenden County is names in honor of John J. Crittenden, a former Kentucky governor, U. S. senator, and U. S. attorney general.

 

The county covers a land area of 365 square miles and has a population of approximately 9,0000. The tradewater River flows along the northeastern border, while the northwestern boundary is formed by the Ohio River.

 

Crittenden County's transportation link across the Ohio is completed by a ferry which connects Kentucky 91 and Illinois 1 at Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, a historical town which once harbored outlaws and river pirates. The cove hideout now is marked by a state park.

 

The twenty-four hour, year-round ferry across the Ohio is operated by the tugs Candy H and Becky D, both out of the Port of Louisville. The 3,000-foot trip across the Ohio takes seven minutes to complete.

 

Ohio River traffic is served by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dam 50 operation, which is located twelve miles from Marion, the county seat. Opened in 1927, the one-lock day handles eighteen to twenty tows daily. Three to four million tons of cargo pass through the locks each month.

 

In addition to the lock, the dam complex includes seven houses, a powerhouse, water system, and a park area with picnic tables. Dam 50 will be closed in 1980 with the completion of a two-lock operation downstream at Smithland. Under a present proposal, the Dam 50 complex will be transferred to Crittenden County for development as a recreational facility.

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Marion

The major community, within Crittenden County, Marion, has a population of approximately 3,000. The city was named an All-Kentucky City in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Marion, a city which reflects traditional southern hospitality, is one of the thirteen original members of the hall of fame of the Kentucky Chambers of Commerce.

 

The city government of Marion is composed of a mayor (four-year-term) and six councilmen (two-year-terms). City service departments include the Marion Police, the Marion Volunteer Fire Department, and the Marion Water and Sewer Department.

 

Utility companies which serve the city and parts of the county are the West Kentucky Gas Company and Kentucky Utilities Company. Crittenden County also is serve by the Henderson-Union Rural Electric Cooperative.

 

U. S. 60 and U. S. 641, Kentucky 91, and Kentucky 120 are the highways through Marion. Communication service operations within the county include South Central Bell Telephone, the U. S. Postal Service, the weekly Crittenden Press, and WMJL-AM.

 

The Marion Airport board is in the process of developing a 2,800-foot turf runway on a site located 1 12/ miles west of Marion with city, county and state funds. Future plans call for the construction of a 5,00-foot pvaed runway.

 

Lodging facilities for travelers to the county include: the Tudor Inn of Marion, the Gilmore Inn and Motel in downtown Marion, and the Tourtotel Motel, U. S. 60 Marion. In addition, Maple Sink, a small fishing resort within the county, has sites available for camping.

 

Restaurants within Marion are the Marion Cafe, the Coffee Shop, the Ranch House, the Marion Country Club, the 88 Dip, Damron's Pit Barbecue, Marion Pit Barbecue and Cruce's Coachman.

 

Points of Interest include: Crittenden County Museum, opened in 1967 by the Historical Society, James Terry's cut glass shop, featuring a beautiful cut glass collection in his shop on the court square, Wheeler's antiques, also located in Marion, Ben E. Clement's Fluorspar collection location in his home, just outside of Marion, and the Crittenden County Public Library.

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The Schools

The Crittenden County School District operates seven schools. Total school enrollment in 1977 equaled 1,721 students; five elementary school with a total enrollment of 833; the middle school, 301; and the high school, 587. Two of the elementary schools are located within Marion; Fohs Hall for grades one through three and Marion Elementary School for grades four through six. The other three schools in the county, for grades one through six, are Tolu, Frances and Mattoon.

 

Construction of the new Crittenden Count High School in Marion was completed in 1975. The old high school was converted to the middle school for grades seven and eight.

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Industry

Eleven manufacturing firms operate plants within Marion and Crittenden County. The companies ad their products are:

* Circle-O Farm Center, liquid fertilizer;

* Conyer Hardwood Lumber Company, lumber;

* Crittenden Press, newspaper, letterpress and offset printing;

* Frontier Spar, a subsidiary of Marathon Oil, miner and miller of fluorspar;

* Kentucky Stone Company, agricultural lime;

* Marion Machine Works, machine shop;

* Moore Business Forms, Incorporated, a major county firm, this Canadian-based company employs approximately 250 and produces specialized business forms.

* Ohio River Concrete Corporation, ready-mix-concrete;

* Potter and Brumfield, a division of American Machine Foundries of White Plains, New York, this major county firm employs approximately 600 workers and produces electromagnetic relays;

* Turner and Conyer Lumber Company, Incorporated, lumber, clay pipe spacers, pallets, and boxes;

* Kentucky Stump Company, home furniture made from tree trunks.

 

Rail shipping service to Marion is offered by Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, headquartered in Chicago.

 

A northbound and a southbound train pass through the county each day. The railroad maintains switching facilities, team track for eight cars, and siding space for fifteen cars.

 

Agricultural production plays an important role in the economy of Crittenden County. The major crops of the county are corn, soybeans and wheat. Livestock includes cattle and hogs.

 

The residents of Crittenden County entrust their financial matters to the Farmers Bank and Trust Company, the People Bank Bank and the Hopkins County First Federal Savings and Loan Association, all in Marion.

 

Business and civic organizations within the county include the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the Lions Club. Additional organizations include: Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Woodmen of the World, Oddfellows, Eagles, Federation of Women's Club, Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Little League baseball, Peewee League, Pony League, Little League football, Town and Country Riding Club, Gun Club and the Crittenden County Historical Society.

 

Recreation

Recreational facilities within Marion include two parks, two playgrounds, two tennis courts, two baseball diamonds, two football fields, and a horse riding ring.

 

Facilities of the Marion Country club are a nine-hole golf course, swimming pool and a clubhouse with dining room. The country club, which opened in 1961, is located on approximately eighty acres of land.

 

Present plans call for the development of 100 acres of land at the Ohio River Dam 50 site with the opening of a new dam downstream at Smithland in 1980. A new five-mile access road to the proposed county recreational facility already has been completed.

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This is an informative overview of our life in the county in 1977. A lot of changes, not all good, have taken place in the past 47 years.  It's hard to digest all the business that we have lost through the years. (Posted Dec. 2024)

Moore & Paris Lumber Co - 1904

 

January 1, 1904 - Moore & Paris Lumber Company building. 

 

It was owned by R. L. Moore and O. H. Paris, with James T. Hickman as district manager. 

 Robert L. Moore, the President was a well-known business man in the vicinity.

Obadiah H. Paris, the secretary-treasurer and manager, had 15 years experience in the business.

 Just a few months after this picture and advertisement was made, in May 1904, Mr. J. N. Boston purchased the Moore & Paris Lumber Co., and  incorporated the inventory into his Boston Lumber & Planing Mills, located on East Depot Street.   This would make him in control of the lumber market in Marion. 

The location of the Moore & Paris building later would be the home of the Ford dealership in Marion, then Tucker Furniture Store and Funeral Home, and today the home of Gilbert's Funeral Home.  

This building was one of the few in Marion that never was damaged in Marion's past fires.  The buildings next to it all the way to Main Street were damaged badly in the 1912 fire on that street.