Livestock Field Day Set At Quarry

 This interesting article appeared in The Crittenden Press, June 8, 1972

Livestock Field Day Set At Quarry, By John Lucas

Acting area extension agent Rankin E. Powell urges all county farmer’s and interested persons to attend the Crittenden County Livestock Field Day which is slated for Wednesday June 14.

 

The field day is sponsored by the area extension office, Production Credit Association and the West Kentucky Land and Cattle Company.

 

A full day of activities are planned which will include viewing the underground feed lots located at the Alexander Stone Company, touring farms owned by Gaines P. Wilson of Louisville, seeing modern hay handling equipment, a free bar-b-que lunch, and afternoon speeches by the field day sponsors.

 

Activities are scheduled to begin at the Alexander Stone Company located approximately seven and one-half miles north of Marion on Highway 60. Powell said that those coming should arrive around 9 a.m. and that the tour of the underground pens would begin at 9:30 a.m. 

 

Using the approximately 40 acres of tunnels that the Alexander Stone Company has quarried for limestone was first envisioned by Edward O’Nan, Wesley Nick and Gaines P. Wilson as a way of treating calves which had pink-eye.

 

It was later expanded to a full scale operation. Presently there are only about 200 cattle and 450 hogs being housed in the quarried tunnels, but plan are being made so that they hope to eventually house up to 4,000 or 5,000 cattle and an undetermined number of hogs. In charge of the operation presently is Froman "Hoppy" Lovell.

 

Water is being piped into the caverns from reservoirs about ground. Not only does the operation use ground which can’t be used for anything else, the underground system maintains a constant temperature of near 60 degrees and produces no weather or fly problems. Lovell said that the animals seem to stay calm and quiet in the subdued atmosphere.

 

 

After touring these facilities, plans are made to tour the farm of R. R. "Shorty" Holland and the Gaines P. Wilson farm which joins it. 

 These are located approximately four miles north of Marion on highway 60.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the main drawing cards on these farms will be the exhibitions of modern hay handling equipment.

 

This equipment will be shown with an emphasis on field stored hay. This will include equipment capable of making t he regular and large round bales and equipment which will make the stack. All of this equipment is designed to produce a bale which will shed water to protect the hay from the weather.

 

If the weather permits, actual demonstrations are planned. Otherwise, examples of the stacks and round bales will be on display.

 

Powell said that many area farmers are turning to this type of hay storage because of the difficulty of getting labor to put the hay in a barn and because the cost of doing so was prohibitive. He added that when the hay is left in the field there is also no added cost of taking it from the barn to the field.

 

             ************

FYI: Another interesting fact about the quarry tunnels - From February 24, 1972.

Shelter Approved.  The tunnels at Alexander Stone Company, which has recently been surveyed and approved by the Army Corps of Engineer's as a fallout shelter for Crittenden County.  The tunnel complex would serve 15,6954 according to Murray Fox, Chief of the Civil Defence branch.  The survey was conducted at the request of Charlie Hodge, Crittenden County Civil Defense director. 

(In 1972, the general danger of a nuclear bomb was high as the world was in the midst of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union) 

 

The Old Folks Meet - 1897

 

Crittenden Press, July 22, 1897

The Old Folks Meet

The old folks meeting at Sugar Grove Saturday was one of the most unique and joyous events ever had in the county.

The young folks frequently have their gatherings, but it is not often that the line is drawn at sixty years, and all beyond that mark "especially invited." Such was the gathering in the beautiful grove at Sugar Grove church Saturday.

While others were there, and welcome, too, it was the old folks’ occasion, and never did the light heart of youth beat with as sincere pleasure as thrilled the souls of these our honored friends whose silvery locks tell us that they, have been with us "lo, these many years," as they shook hands with each other Saturday.

It was a favorable day for the occasion and everything possible was done to make it a day pleasant and profitable to the venerable sires and matrons who should gather to enjoy the day. A very large congregation assembled, many more than could be seated in the beautiful and commodious church house of Sugar Grove.

At 10:30 a prayer service was conducted by W. T. Oakley, and the prayers had the old time ring of the days past and gone – prayers full of fervency and of pleading for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

At 11:00 the congregation enjoyed a very able and comforting sermon preached to the old people by Rev. J. T. Barbee, pastor of the church.

At noon an excellent dinner was spread of sufficient variety and excellence to satisfy the appetite of all the most fastidious. The old people all ate together and were amply supplied with that greatest of luxuries, excellent hot coffee. The noontide hours were delightfully spent in social chat in which the old folks recounted many striking reminiscences of the past.

The afternoon hours were spent in an old fashioned prayer meeting, conducted by Uncle William Hill.

It was a very interesting meeting. Several of the gray haired veterans of the cross led in prayer, the old songs were sung, several earnest talks were made, and the services closed with an old fashioned hand shake and general rejoicing.

Doubtless there were more old people present than been together for a long time. Quite a number testified that they had been Christians forty eight or fifty years, and they were not tired of the way. The day will be crowned with sweet memories by those who were present.

The following is a list of the names, and the ages of the old people who attended the Sugar Grove Old Folks Day" Saturday, July 17, 1897.

E. H. Porter, 66 

Rev. W. B. Crowell, 77 

H. H. King, 70

W. D. Givens, 70 

W. M. Brown, 67 

W. H. Asher, 70

J. D. Boaz, 67 

J. A. Jacobs, 63 

A. D. Crider, 62

W. J. Brantley, 74 

Field Brantley, 72 

R. C. Lucas, 73

W. P. Lamb, 76 

W. B. Crider, 64 

Joe Newcom, 73

F. M. Stevenson, 65

 L. B. Hunt, 64 

H. C. Gilbert, 76

J. C. Brown, 70 

Elijan Hughes, 65 

R. L. Wilson, 61

I. N. Cain, 62 

Jas. Btler, 72 

W. J. Bruce, 73

H. B. Stembridge, 62 

P. H. Woodsides, 64

 B. A. Enoch, -

M. A. Lamb, - 

Sue Pickens, 68

 Huldah Lamb, 81

M. A. Newcom, 73 

M. A. Steward, 70 

Mrs. E. Hughes, 61

L. E. Redd, 71 

S. C. Nunn, 64

 M. V. Beard, 61

P. E. Williams, 67 

M. M. Campbell, 78 

N. E. Wheeler, 65

Mary Long, 71 

M. L. Jacobs, 61 

J. Bugg, 68

(P.S. I wish they had used their full names instead of just initials)

The Gold Rush - Reunion of "Fortyniners"

 On January 24, 1848, at Sutter's Mill in Coloma California, Jim Marshall saw a yellow object glistening in the mill race.  Picking it up he found it to be a small nugget of gold.  Thus began the California gold rush.  

Every color, nationality and class was represented in the Forty-Niners - young men of rich families shopkeepers, farmers, workman, including a large number of criminals of the worst type.

 Many who started for California in the gold rush died on the way, and all suffered extreme hardships.   

Word of this great find also reached Crittenden County and several from this area went to find their fortune.  There is very little to be found about who traveled from Crittenden County to California, we have a few names. Some of the men that traveled to the west were: Tom Robinson, George Boaz, George Adams, William Barnes, Jim Barnes and William H. Franklin.  We do not know if all the men that returned to Crittenden and Livingston counties struck it rich in the gold fields or not, but they were considered to be men of influence in the business world at their deaths.  I wish they had shared their adventures when they returned to Crittenden. 

To add some more history and information on this subject, from the Crittenden-Record Press – May 26, 1905 was the following article.

A Gathering of Veterans of the Plains

Wednesday was a bright pleasant day and with the beginning of the day there was clustered around the entrance to the New Marion Hotel a small bunch of men with snow white hair and frosty beard. There were ten in all and it represented almost all of those who survived of the many who crossed the western plains from 1849 to 1852 to seek a fortune in the California gold fields, and who at this time reside within fifty miles of Marion. They have a little organization, which they call "The Forty-Niners", and they had gathered here to hold their annual reunion. 

 

After spending the forenoon in making inquiries, one of the other, of some friend of the plains, and calling up incidents that happened on the plains, they then followed their chairman and historian John Montgomery of Providence in the dining room of the New Marion Hotel where with a few invited guests they partook of a bountiful repast.

 

After the noon hour they met in session to reorganize and Montgomery was re-elected chairman. Time was then devoted to the calling up of events of the plains, and Rev. James F. Price of this city, one of the guests, was called upon to read Montgomery's history of the trip across the plains. The various parties that crossed the great plains and the great mountains from the Mississippi Valley to California from 1849 to 1852, made the trip in about six months. The parties making this journey consisted of from ten to twenty-five in each party. 

 

The names of pioneers attending this meeting, together with their age and place of residence, is as follows:

John Montgomery, 72, Providence 

Judge J. F. Ingram, 70, Princeton

Robert B. Nunn, 73, Owensboro

 D. L. Bryan, 72, Marion

James R. Stalion, 79, Carrsville

 James A. Trimble, 70, Carrsville

George M. Cash, 78, Kuttawa 

 Thomas Robinson, 75, Lola

B. J. Spratt, 81, Princeton 

Marcus Dunkerson, Lisman

After the meeting, the "Forty-Niners" thanked the citizens of Marion for their interest and the many courtesies shown them, and hoped to meet them in Marion again soon.

AMERICAN LEGION, Ellis B. Ordway Post 111

 

The American Legion Formed

Crittenden Press, November 7, 1919

It is well known by our readers that early this year a movement was set on foot by some of our soldiers returned from overseas service to organize into some kind of an association, to preserve the military traditions, and lessons learned from the great war.

 

This movement has met with approval of the majority of our soldiers, sailors and marines, and in many states chapters have already been formed, with local county organizations.

 

Here in Crittenden County this movement was started at the dinner given our boys by the Good Road Association early in June, and it is a matter of much regret that no further action was taken by the officers elected at that dinner, which would have resulted in a permanent organization.

 

The Press believes in Crittenden County, and stands ready to aid, in every way, to the limit of its power, in the up-building of this county. We believe that a county organization of our boys would be a mighty good thing – good for the boys and good for the county.

***

November 1921 – American Legion Post Organized

Several ex-service men met at the Marion Barber Shop Monday evening to organize an American Legion Post for the men of this county who served in the late war.

 

A large representation was present and much enthusiasm was manifested. preparations were placed on foot to get a permanent chapter.

 

The name selected for the local post is the Ellis B. Ordway Post No. 111, being named in honor of the first of Crittenden young man who lost his life on foreign fields. He died of wounds received in action, on July 26, 1918 in France. His body was returned to the United States in March 1921, and buried with military honors at Crayne Cemetery. 

 

Twenty-one ex-service men have already signed up as members of this Post and others have signified their intention of doing so. Temporary officers were elected to act till the charter is granted. Rooms have been selected and arrangements are now under way to furnish them for the use of the members. These rooms will be open at all times and money for this purpose is now being raised. (The first American Legion location was in the upstairs rooms over Wheeler’s Antiques on East Carlisle Street.)

 

There will be another meeting of ex-service men at the Marion Barber Shop Monday evening at 7:00 o’clock and all ex-service men who served between April 1917 and November 11, 1918 are urged to be present at this meeting.

 

The Post will open their permanent quarters and club rooms the first of the month.

***

The charter for Ellis B. Ordway Post 111, Marion, Kentucky, was granted on March 28, 1924.

***

Total membership of this post on March 1, 1991 was: Two World War I members; Forty-one World War II members; and Ten Vietnam members. Total: 57

***

Due to lack of membership and interest in the organization by local veterans the Ellis B. Ordway Post 111 was disbanded in April of 2016.

Singing School at Hood's School house and Shady Grove

Hoods Singing School - 1911 

Singing Schools in Crittenden County

In the 1900s, singing schools were a significant part of American communities. These were essentially short, intensive courses in music instruction, usually lasting for a few weeks led by itinerant "singing masters." 

 

Singing school was a brief course of musical instruction devoted to the teaching of note-reading and sight-singing, with a focus on sacred music. The primary purpose was to improve congregational singing. Printed manuals, or tunebooks, containing instructions, scales, etudes and sacred choral music were used as teaching materials.

 

Singing masters taught basic musical literacy and the mechanics of singing. This often involved the use of shape notes, a simplified system of musical notation where different shapes represented different pitches, making it easier for those with limited musical training to read music. (This sounds difficult to me, but I never was able to carry a tune, even with music. I can’t imagine trying to sing a song by just looking at the shaped notes.)

 

Generally these schools lasted two weeks. The opening night would see the school divided into two groups. The beginner's group would be instructed in note reading, singing the scale and then singing by note. The advanced group would be composed of those who could do the above. They would be instructed in harmony and in "singing by parts", tenor, bass, alto and soprano in their individual classifications. The results accomplished were amazing. 

 

Singing masters went out to train people how to sing and to encourage young people to further their education. What these persons learned by the end of the school remained with them and enriched them for the rest of their lives. They knew the rudiments of singing. They taught others. The elementary training continued to bear fruit and help church singing wherever they went. They could get a few people together, select those with a little talent and soon had them singing as a choir.

 

Singing schools were more than just music lessons. They were important social gatherings that brought communities together, providing opportunities for interaction and even courtship.

 

From the archives of The Crittenden Press we can re-visit some of these musical affairs from the past.

***

August 9, 1917 A Big Time At Shady Grove

The singing school convention at Shady Grove, Sun. July 29, under the management of Guthrie Travis was a grand success.

Although the weather was uncomfortably warm there was a large crowd gathered early in the day. there were six choirs present, Shady Grove, Blackburn, Cave Springs, Enon, Crewswell and Beckner’s Chapel.

Dennie Hubbard leader of the Shady Grove Choir, in his welcome address, made us feel like we had come to the right place. And James Canada, from Walnut Grove in a few well chosen words, made responses to Mr. Hubbard’s hearty welcome.

Then we had singing by the different choirs, and at the noon hour after we had refreshed ourselves by eating dinner, we spent the remainder of our intermission in having a good time speaking with our friends.

In the afternoon we had more singing by the different choirs interspersed with some special singing and then general discussion of the singing convention. After this all the choirs joined in singing that grand old song, "Sweet By and By," then we were dismissed and all went home with gratitude to Mr. Travis and the good people of Shady Grove for the nice time we had enjoyed.

***

Guthrie Travis

Guthrie Wynn Travis, the leader of these Singing School Conventions was the 3^rd child of W. C. M. and Georgiana Travis. He was born at Bells Mines in the year 1871. In his later years he and his family lived at Blackford and Providence, KY.

He taught how to read music and also trained many choirs in Crittenden and adjoining counties. He also wrote music for several songs, some of which found their way into books used in Sunday schools and church work. Guthrie Wynn Travis died Nov. 22, 1963 at the age of 92. He is buried at the Blackford Cemetery in Webster Co. KY.

A Visit to Dycusburg in 1880

 

 The Press advertising man, makes a visit to Dycusburg in 1880, he shares his visit with the paper.

Dycusburg, the most business town in our county.  They have four immense warehouses, dealing largely in grain, bacon, etc., but chiefly in tobacco, which they stem and prize for the Liverpool market.

The employee twenty-five hands, pay8ing them on an average of two dollars per day.  One firm paying out $300 per week to hired help in the town among the hills.

The firm of Gallatly, Martin & Co., is perhaps the largest store in Crittenden County, they deal in all kinds of produce and in general merchandise.  

J. H. Clifton does a general merchandise business and keeps a good hotel, so does T. T. Martin.

The Yancy Bros. sells groceries and liquors.

Frank Bennett runs a grocery and liquor store.

Mr. Cole Bennett runs the post office and sells liquors.

Edgie Gregory runs the drug business.

Edgar Bozeman teaches the young idea.

Bob Clifton does the smithing.

The hotel is kept by Mr. Martin, it is a well-kept house, where your wants are anticipated and well supplied. 

W. F. Hogard Remember's Marion

This interesting article was from The Crittenden Press, May 27, 1921, and titled "Marion".  It doesn't say the year that Mr. Hogard was speaking of in his article, but it had to be in the very early days. 

I have known Marion all of my life. My father J. P. Hogard came here on horse back to the old horse mill when Marion was not a town, not even a village, only the old mill and one residence. the first time that I can remember coming to Marion was on an ox cart with four bags of corn across the front bolster.

Some of the men I learned to know were David Stinson, Judge Wager, Cub Bigham, William Carnahan, and Mr. Douglas who kept the tavern on the corner where Douglas Carnahan now sells goods, Robert Fulton Haynes, J. W. Blue Sr., Nathan R. Black, J. N. Woods who sold goods on the corner where the Farmers Bank is located, Charlie Higginbottham, who ran a saloon where the Marion Bank is, W. N. Rochester, Hick and R. N. Walker and other whose names I can not recall. Most all these men were highly respected.

I never did like the business of the Higginbothams and never had much admiration for Judge Wager.

For the first time that I came to church here was in the old brick out by the old grave yard, so called then. The house was well filled and I sat by Judge Wager. While H. M. Ford was preaching Judge Wager turned and spat on me. A thing I have not forgotten to this day. Then I was sure that town people looked down on country people.

Some way country people get to believe that people in town think themselves about them. But this is a mistaken idea. They may be a few now and then who really think so but they are few only and these few are rather to be pitied than blamed. For the salvation of this county, socially, religiously and politically depends largely on the great common people, most of whom live in the country.

Marion is the county seat of Crittenden County, the only town of any size in the county. It is here that all litigation's etc., have to be settled, the great common center.  The town people can not get along without the country people, nor can the country people get along so well without the town people. It must be mutual, we must live to benefit each other.

I have lived in several counties in the state and none of these counties have a better citizenship than Crittenden. Take the families like the Hunt, Paris, Wheeler, Travis, Crider, Dowell, Rankin, Baker, Hughes, Adams, Walker, Hill, Minner Hodges, Asher, Sullenger, Pickens, Deboe, Lamb, Wilson, Crayne, Guess, Gass, Cook, Daughtrey, Conger, Dean, Gahagen, Postlethweight, Franklin, Wilborn, Carter, Conger, Harpending, Ordway Pogues, and space will not allow me to call the names of families whose names stand for good citizenship.

Then we have in Marion a citizenship equal to the best. The Marion bar is made up of good citizenship, the Moores, Henderson, Bennett, Rochester, Blue, Nunn, Deboe.

Marion merchants are all good citizens as well as good business men. In fact in all walks of life no town will excel Marion for citizenship.

Marion can be made one of the most beautiful town in Western Kentucky. Let our motto be United we stand, divided we fall. Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and push.

W. F. Hogard

Crittenden Press Marion's Oldest Business now at 146 yrs.

 The article first appeared in The Crittenden Press on October 11, 2001, it was for Marion's Sesquicentennial Guide.  At the time the Press was 122 years old.

A chronological history

The City of Marion's oldest business wasn't around when the city was created in 1851, but if it were, you can bet the city's incorporation would have been on the front page of The Crittenden Press.

Its establishment in 1879 makes The Crittenden Press the oldest, continuously operated Marion business.  A close second is Henry and Henry Monuments, which began two years later. 

The Crittenden Press was founded by R. C. Walker. In those first days, it's hard to imagine the long, painstaking process required to produce even a few lines of type, not to mention several pages eight columns wide.

History of the business has been passed down to each of the eight owners, including the descendants of Evers Mick, whose family continues to publish the weekly newspaper and The Early Bird Shopper's Guide.

According to history, the newspaper was distributed to as few as 200 subscribers in 1879.  Growth was rapid, as subscriptions reached 500 the first few years and 1,800 by 1894.

Like the county's growth in the last 50 years, The Crittenden Press' growth has been steady.  Circulation today in 4,300.

Walter Walker succeeded his father, R. C. Walker, as publisher of The Crittenden Pr ess.  He was followed by S. M. Jenkins and W. F. Hogard and his son Wilson Hogard.

 The Hogards sold the newspaper to J. Brown, who owned it until 1955 when it was purchased by Charles Pepper.

Current ownership by the Mick family started in 1960, when Evers Mick branched out of his role as a radio announcer in Madisonville to embark on a career in print media.

Evers Mick, was editor and publisher for nearly 10 years, with assistance from his wife, Lucille, and high school-age son - a 1969 graduate of Murray State University - took the reins.

While Lucille Mick was not involved in the day-to-day operation of The Crittenden Press between 1969 and her death in 1989, she maintained close ties to the family business helping out in the newspaper office from time to time. 

 Through the 1970's and 1980s, a third generation of Micks, Allison, was introduced to the newspaper.  As a teenager, she took photographs, worked in the darkroom and delivered newspapers.

Paul Mick published the newspaper until his tragic murder in 1990.  At that time, John Lucas, a long-time Press editor, took over daily operations.  Mick's wife, Nancy, remained as the company president and eventually took over as publisher in 1993.

Also in 1993, Ms. Mick hired Chris Evans to become just the second editor in more than 20 years at the newspaper. Evans had worked at The Press in the late 1980s as a reporter before joining the Paducah Sun staff.  He returned to Crittenden County and married Paul and Nancy Mick's oldest daughter, Allison.   

A strong commitment to community news and professional reporting is testament to The Crittenden Press' longevity. 

Early Pictures of The Crittenden Press office when it was in the basement on East Carlisle St.

 

Church Gatherings of Long Ago

 Those wonderful old days when church gatherings were so special and a much looked forward to event.  

This wonderful old picture is worth a thousand words.  It was shared by Orville Truitt.  The time period was from 1908-1912 and possibly a homecoming at the old Mt. Zion Church.  His grandfather, Marvin Truitt, is the middle man in front with a guitar.

All the folks are dressed in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes, men, women and children gathered around the wooden tables laden with food and listening to the music.  

Here are a couple of those events taken from the archives of The Crittenden Press. 

July 1913 - Children's Day at Mt. Zion

Sunday morning at an early hour wagons, buggies, horseback and footbackers began to arrive till several hundred people had gathered, then came the auto with R. Kemp as driver with some of Marion's best citizens as passengers. 

 

At 9:30 the house was called to order by the pastor Rev. J. A. Wheeler. He introduced Rev. W. Pl Gordon of Marion, and with eloquence he addressed the people for about fifteen minutes.

 

A song by the choir. Bro Wheeler called for prayer by Bro. Th. H. Cochran The program was then turned over to the children. The session represented the highest morals of literal and spiritual life.

 

At 12:15 in the beautiful grove such as surrounds a county church, dinner was spread. Some wondered how this multitude could be fed, it was like the five loaves and fishes, there were plenty of as fine dinner as the writer ever saw, and everybody seemed to enjoy it.

 

The day was closed by Sister Duvall who by this time was so filled with the holy ghost that she gave us an old fashioned holy ghost talk. To say the least of it we had an all around good time that will dwell with the memory through time and eternity.

***

Sept. 11, 1913 - County Singing Convention

The county singing convention met at Repton Church Saturday. A large crowd was present, and the exercises were opened by singing by Repton choir followed by devotional exercises by Rev. B. F. Hyde, who also delivered the welcome address.

 

Cave Springs choir then took charge of the singing. This choir did good singing and showed they had good training. They were followed by Rosebud choir who also delivered some excellent music led by Desmond Crowell. 

 

After a song by the entire congregation, the choir from the Second Baptist Church, of Marion, with George Gass as leader were next, and many comments were made upon the spirit with which they sang. This was followed by a recitation “The Gift of God to Fallen Man” by Miss Lockie Powell, and Mrs. E. M. Duvall made an interesting talk on the “Blessings of Music.” 

 

More music followed by Messrs. Travis, Crowell, O'Neal and Crowell, and a solo by Guthrie Travis.

A Look Back at 1985, 40 years ago in 2025

 

A Look Back at 1985

The year 1985, that sure doesn't sound like all that long ago, but in reality it is now 40 years ago. Hard to believe that the years have gone by so quickly. Let's take a look back at some of the things that were happening in that year through the pages of The Crittenden Press.\

January

* Weather dominates the front pages during the first of the new year. Temperatures in the county plunged to 20 degrees below-zero or colder as an arctic cold front moved through western Kentucky dumping an additional two to five inches of snow on the area. Strong winds produced a wind chill of 50 to 60 below zero. Heavy rains from last fall and now cold and snow have kept farmers from finishing the work of harvesting their crops.

* Councilman Bernard Wood became mayor following the resignation from that post of Bobby R. Fox, who had served as plant accountant at Marion's Moore business Forms, who plans to move to that company’s administrative unit at Dento, Teas.

* The first baby of the new year was born at Crittenden County hospital on Jan. 3^rd, 1985. Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Wheeler were the proud parents of Troy Woodson Wheeler.

* Gas dips below $1.00 at area stations. For the first time in about seven years, gasoline prices in Marion have dipped below a dollar a gallon. I was surprised to see it get back under a dollar, said Randall Chandler, operator of Randall's Repair on South Main Street. Chandler lowered his price to 99.9 cents a gallon for full-service regular last week.

* Crittenden County students have already missed 16 days of classes this month due to bad weather and slick roads and will probably be in school until mid June.

February

* Continuing cold temperatures have created floating and slushy ice in the Ohio River.

* The week of Feb. 14^th, brought six to eight more inches of show accompaniment by 30 mile per hour winds which whipped up to four to six feet high in some sections, closed some roads, shut down schools and interrupted businesses and postal services.

* Two long-term projects finally see some good results. The Crittenden-Livingston Water District finally secured funding to begin construction and the first public event was held in the newly -renovated Fohs Hall.

* For the first time in three years, the United States Postal Service is raising its rates. It will now cost .22 cents to mail a letter.

March

* Three New businesses open in Marion. 1. Sport It, offered uniforms and equipment for ball teams. It was owned and operated by Kathy and Jeff Allen and Edna Thurmond, and was located on East Bellville Street in the site formerly occupied by Granny's Kitchen. 2. Nick's Restaurant owned and operated by Nick Hatfield was located in the former Cruce's Coachman on the Princeton Road and 3. Hook's Drugstore opened in Marion's Darben Plaza. Donald Perry was the store's pharmacist and the pharmacy was to be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art pharmacy computer.

* Marion's Beaver's Brothers Texaco will be flying a new company flag within six months, according to co-owner Jerry Beavers. Texaco notified Beavers, that it is planning on closing most of its stations in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois because of heavy competition. We've been with “Texaco for 25 years, and it's be a pretty big change for us, said Beavers. They will still sell Texaco brand motor oil and grease, but will find a new gasoline and diesel fuel supplier.

April -

* Wind gusts estimated at up to 50 miles per hour downed power lines in the county, interrupting electrical service to about 100 households serviced by Henderson-Union RECC.

May

* State closes Marietta's Cafe, owned by Marieta Stallins of Marion, has been closed by the Kentucky Division of Unemployment Insurance for alleged non-payment of more than $2,000.00in taxes.

* Chrysler Corp. dealership is slated to open here April 1^st. It will occupy the former J. R. Chevrolet-Buick-Chrysler location on on the Sturgis Road. Larry Buckman, is general manager for the dealership.

June

* Business continues as usual this week for Marion's Potter and Brumfield plant even though it was “sold” Friday when a Minneapolis, Minn. based company achieved a buy out of its parent, AMF. The sale of the AMF stock was agreed to after Minstar sweetened its original offer. AMF spokesmen also had no projections on what might happen to any of its various divisions.

* The long awaited boat ramp construction project at old Lock and Dam 50 may be completed within three weeks, according to a representative of Louisville's Kamex Construction Co.

July

* Two drown swimming in Ohio River. Two Tolu residents – Shannon Wade Todd, 20, and his 12 year old nephew, Larry Kenneth Todd, drowned Monday evening while swimming in the Ohio River at the old Elizabetown ferry landing.

* Our community was saddened this by the passing of Dellar E. Woodall. By the measure of most, Mr. Woodall, 99, had observed the happenings of Crittenden County for a long time. Maybe his greatest days were when he was a custodian for the Marion school system. More than one graduating class adopted him as one of its own. Many of the leaders of the community testify of the the time, Mr. Woodall, although not a member of the faculty, taught them a lesson more important than history or geometry. His texts covered subject such as integrability, honesty and hard work.

* Marion's Police Chief William Ollie Brown, is Kentucky's longest serving police chief. When Brown was named, chief in 1957, there were only three full-time officers in Marion. Brown said the city had no radio communications system, there was no dispatcher. When an officer had to leave his post to check out a complaint or crime, there was no way to get in touch with the police until he returned to the telephone.

August

* Deputy Sheriff, Perry Glore unloaded marijuana at the Marion landfill where it was burned. The truckload of pot, cut by officers on Weston Road north of Marion was valued at $40,000.

October

* Work began Marion's new Shell convenience store to be located at the corner of Main and Bellville Streets, also included will be new quarters for Goodwin-Lynn Insurance and Myers Auto Parts.

November

* Democrat John May wins election, over incumbent Judge H. M. “Roni” Asbridge to win a four-year term as Crittenden County's chief elected official. Deputy Sheriff Perry Glore, a Republican, beat his Democratic opponent Ronald “Red” Howton and Republican County Clerk Danny won his post for another four years over his Democratic challenger Troy Jennings.

* The Crittenden County High School Rocket football squad amassed a 13-1 record for the season to claim the state Class A Football championship downing Paintsville in play at Louisville's Cardinal Stadium.

December

* Potter and Brumfield officials confirmed this week the company, including the Marion plant, is to be bought by Siemens A. G. a West German electronic company which already has a umber of U. S. subsidiaries.

* Boyce Moodie announced he had purchased the former Frontier Spar Co. and was preparing to reopen that mine located near Salem.

***

A look back in our past always brings back memories, sometimes good and other times not so good.

Liquor Laws Defied

 

Liquor Laws Defied – January 7, 1921

According to the Gov. Edwin P. Morrow, in an address to the Association of Circuit Judges and Commonwealth Attorneys, moon-shining and bootlegging are rampant in Kentucky, and the violations of the liquor laws are such as to challenge all of the forces of law and order.

 

"Illicit manufacture and sale of liquor has grown to an appalling extent" he said. There is today a challenge being thrown out to the forces of law and order in Kentucky, he told them, "So far as the sale and manufacture of it is concerned there has never been anything like it before." I ask the Circuit Judges of Kentucky to meet this challenge, I will help in as much as I can. I will go to the utmost of my power fighting this evil and in sustaining you. No man convicted of participating in the whiskey traffic will find any clemency at my hands."

 

Which shall be supreme in this state, the Law or the Blind Tiger?

(Blind tiger is a place where liquor is sold illegally. This term was popular during the Prohibition Era (1920-33) when alcohol was illegal in the U.S.)

It was also rampant here in our own Marion and Crittenden County. I found many, many items and articles in the old Crittenden Presses telling about the struggle to stop the manufacturing and selling of the bootleg liquor. I’ll share just a few in this post and maybe more in a later post. I find them interesting to read about this era of our past history.

*******************

Crittenden Press, Oct. 2, 1925 – Case Of Booze In Monument Shop?

A supply of alleged liquor, supposedly being stocked for disposal on circus day, was accidentally discovered last Friday night about ten o’clock by Policemen Joe Barnes and Hugh Norris. The officers were doing some sleuthing in the vacant lot behind the marble shop of Henry and Henry and saw Press Hill leave the back door of the shop, it is alleged.

 

A casual glance revealed to them a dark object in the door and officer Norris turned on his flashlight and saw a man whom he recognized as Kenna Powell just inside the open door by a box that was partly open and the opening displayed some bottles in neat rows, and asked him what he was doing there at that time of the night.

 

Just at this time it is alleged that Howard Henry walked in and was asked by the officer what was in the box. He is said to have denied any knowledge of the contents. While they were thus engaged in the questioning and replies Kenna Powell made his escape.

 

The three men were later taken in custody on warrants charging them with illegal possession of liquor, it is said. Hill and Powell were released on $500 bonds each and Henry on his own recognizance. The trio is to appear for trial Saturday.

 

There is said to have been thirty-two half pints of liquor in the case, which was placed in the custody of County Judge E. Jeffrey Travis.

Oct. 9, 1925 – Jury Orphans The Case of Booze

Last Saturday occurred the trials of the three men charged with the possession of the case of alleged liquor found by Policeman Norris and Barnes on Friday night of the previous week.

 

Howard Henry was the first on to face the jury and conducted his own defense. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

 

Press Hill next presented his case to the courts. County Judge E. Jeffrey Travis presiding. He bound the defendant over to the Nov. grand jury.

 

Kenna Powell was tried before a jury, also conducting his own defense, and the jury was unable to agree, after which the commonwealth dismissed the case.

**************

April 5, 1929 – Sheriff Bing in "Shiner’s" Plant

County officers who searched the farm of Geo. H. Brooks Tuesday night confiscated and brought to Marion a portion of a still, some "moonshine" liquor and mash which was found concealed in the woods on the Brooks farm.

 

The raid was made at about midnight by Sheriff P. R. Taylor, Deputy B. F. Walker and Special Deputy C. F. Conger. In addition to the still over two gallons of liquor, about 400 gallons of mash, a quantity of meal and about 500 pounds of sugar were found.

 

No arrests were made as the still was deserted. It is believed that the owner of the farm did not know that the still was in operation on his place.

 

The Brooks farm is located on the Mexico and Caldwell Springs road about two and a half miles from Mexico.

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April 22, 1927 – Officers Take 3 Stills and Mash

Sheriff and Deputies Make Raids on Three Stills and Capture One Man

 

During the past week several stills have been raided in Crittenden County and quantities of mash found in every case.

 

W. H. Hardesty, justice of the peace in the Tolu magisterial district, together with B. F. Walker, Fred Hill and George Holloman raided the farm of Buckner Croft near Tolu last Friday, April 15, and found a still that had been in recent operation. The still was of forty gallon capacity and with it was found 350 gallons of mash.

 

No arrests have been made in the case but it is suspected that the moonshiner lives on the other side of the river.

 

Last Saturday night Sheriff P. R. Taylor with deputy B. F. Walker raided the J. H. King farm near Cookseyville and discovered one gallon whiskey and one hundred gallons of mash. The discovery was made in the woods on the back of the farm and the mash and whiskey was covered with a quantity of cedar brush. No arrest were made.

 

Sheriff Taylor with Deputy Walker and Chief of Police Hugh Norris located a still in Charlie Bob Sanders’ smokehouse on the Tradewater river Monday night. The still was of thirty-five gallon capacity and with it was found one hundred gallons of mash and five gallons of whiskey.. Sanders was placed under arrest and is now in jail at Marion awaiting trial.

Blacks Add to History of Marion

 

This interesting article is from the "Special Historical Supplement" of the Crittenden Press, December 7, 1972

As has been previously noted, a large number of free black people were citizens of Marion.  This was largely due to the fact that most of the County's early landowners did not condone slavery as it was practiced in the deep south, but as sort of an indenture servitude or apprenticeship. 

 After the death of their personal masters many of the former slaves were freed by provisions of their wills as is witnessed by the fact many of the local black people have the same family names as many of the early Crittenden County settlers.

Joined by many others from  Virginia and Tennessee after the end of the Civil War, the black people moved into Marion and settled in the undeveloped section of the town nearest the places of employment of the trades in which they had become quite expert during slavery.  These trades were the handling of tobacco, mineral mill work, garden farming and all types of domestic service.

About 1890, Herrod Travis organized the men who had experience in air-cured brickmaking into a company which produced most of the "soft" brick used in Marion construction before 1911.

 Travis' ownership of a large part of what is now the north-western corner of Marion plus the nearness of Walker & Wilson Company's tobacco factory caused the formation of the North Marion black neighborhood.

The alleyway where the Kiln was located later widened into a street and was named Travis Street in his honor.

(Somehow someone thought to make a picture of the Travis kiln, or it may be his home, I'm not sure which, before it was torn down, this means a lot in helping preserve our past history.)

Herrod Travis is buried in the Old Black Cemetery, located at the very end of N. Weldon St. in the wooded area. His tombstone reads King Herod Travis.

River Brought First People to Crittenden

Rivers and Paddle Wheeler From Yesteryear

The following recollection was told to Bob M. Wheeler by his father, Floyd Clark Wheeler as they went on boating trips on the Ohio when Mr. Wheeler was game warden for the county.

 

Before Navigational Dams 50 and 51 and the dikes on the Ohio were constructed, the current of the Ohio bounced off Battery Rock on the Illinois bank, then swung southwest to the Kentucky bank where the Tradewater added to its onward rush.

 

The residue from the two rivers formed a large earth and rock bar on the Illinois side opposite what was to become Weston. This bar extended down river in sandbars with the end being at the present Dam 50 site.

 

This bar forced the river into a narrow canal-like channel that hugged the Kentucky bank until the waters from Camp Creek merged with the Ohio. It then bounced off Cottonpatch Hill and slowly swung northwest to hug the Illinois bank past the Cave-In-Rock bluff. This formed a natural crossing place for larger grazing animals on there way to the Saline River Valley salt licks in southern Illinois.

 

Down from Cave In Rock was the formation of huge sand bars, which later became McKinley Island. The river then bounced off the Tower Rock out-jutting to slant southwest thru the narrow channel between the McKinley bars and the head bar of Hurricane Island. This passage was the one feared most by captains of mercantile flatboats. They would even hire local pilots at Cave In Rock to maneuver their boats through the rough passage.

 

At Hurricane Island, the Ohio struck the Kentucky bank a little above what is now called Hurricane Creek. The creek added more swift water to the river's flow. It was just below the mouth of Hurricane Creek that a Revolutionary War pensioner of Virginia, Robert Kirk, set up a flatboat dock on his land grant. The site was very near today's equipment transfer point from the Tolu Landing to Hurricane Island. It became knows as Kirksville and it was the only dock marked in what is now Crittenden County on the early Ohio River navigational charts.

 

Below Kirksville, the Ohio channel rushed down on the south side of Hurricane Island, (the opposite of today's flow which resulted by the constructional of navigational dams), and curved its way around the west tip of the island, before taking a northwestward turn to bounce off the Illinois side below Elizabethtown.

 

It would have been extremely difficult for the first pioneers of Crittenden County to land and dock these flatboats, which contained fragile household and farming equipment of the early years, without expert piloting. The supplying of the settlers who had pioneered what was to be Crittenden County was done overland, and soon became a profitable market to many advanced-type commercial flatboats. So enterprising pioneers like Robert Kirk and George Flynn at Weston took advantage of ownership of natural harbors to provide docks for this trade.

***

After reading and learning about some of the early history of the the Ohio River let's recall some of the wonderful and nostalgic, steamboats that plied these rough and rowdy waters of long ago.

 

Of the early steamboat captains and boat owners, few names rated higher than the names of Judge Wiley Fowler's sons. Famous boats bore their names: the Joe Fowler, the Gus Fowler, and the Dick Fowler. 

 

The Joe Fowler was named for Captain Joseph Fowler and was the most popular packet on the river. She made regular trips with passengers and freight from Louisville to Pittsburgh and she was always in demand for Madri Gras season for the trip to New Orleans. The Joe Fowler was the fastest stern-wheeler on western waters. The shanty boat dwellers dreaded to see her coming, because she threatened their tiny boat-home that dotted the rivers for many years. Not only did the Joe Fowler carry passengers and mail, but she carried freight. 

 

Despite the fact that the Joe Fowler was a hard working boat, both she and the Dick Fowler were luxuriously furnished for passengers and live bands provided music for dancing each evening.

 

Another excursion boat owned by the Fowlers was the Idlewilde. Her river excursions were a popular event. Instrumental bands of the time were on board to provide entertainment and music for dancing on the Ohio. She made regular stops at all the landings along this area. 

 

In the early 1900's, Mr. W. B. Wilborn, the Fowler's agent at Fords Ferry, advertised summer excursion on the steamers Joe Fowler and John S. Hopkins. He wrote that one should take advantage of the extra low rates and enjoy the most pleasant trip offered on inland waters. Boats duly furnished and have all appointments. Orchestra on board. The fare, with berth and meals, from Fords Ferry to Paducah and return is $2.50 for the round trip, and from Fords Ferry to Evansville is $3.00 for the round trip. 

 

It is fascinating to think about the steamers stopping at all the landings along the Ohio that we are familiar with, from Weston, and Fords Ferry to Clementsburg, Cave-In-Rock, Tolu, Rosiclare, Carrsville, and E'town landings. What a bustling and wonderful sight it must have been. 

 

Many other excursion boats also operated on the rivers and the showboats announced their arrival to all the local towns with booming calliopes and she cruised down the river, the music bouncing off the hills at Weston and Cave In Rock and echoing down the river. 

 

The Delta Queen when she was docked at Cave-In-Rock in 2008.

(note: I was fortunate enough a few times, before the historic Delta Queen was docked for good in Oct. 2008, to hear the calliope as she docked at Cave-in-Rock landing and as she took off and resumed her trip down the river. It is something I will never forget, and makes you long to hear it once again and to see the great paddle wheel churning the river as she moved away.)

***

Violent Storm Hits County, Tolu Hit Hardest

The Crittenden Press, June 10, 1993.

June 4, 1993 – Violent Storm Sweeps County.  Tolu Hit Hardest.

When the skies began to darken over Tolu Friday morning, June 4, some residents of that community, did not think it would be different from any other storm.

However, in less than an hour one small community was almost literally turned upside down.

A storm, packing up to 95 mph winds, hail, lightening and heavy rains, that moved across the entire Crittenden County area, stuck it’s heaviest blow in Tolu, according to Tolu Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tony Alexander.

Alexander said state officials he had talked with have no doubt that it was a tornado that ripped through the Tolu area leaving behind massive amounts of debris, downed trees and structure damage. Residents there were left without electricity, water and telephone services.

One home in the community belonging to Myra Hamilton, has been declared a total loss by insurance adjusters.

Judge John May declared a state of emergency Friday and Alexander and other set up a command post and shelter for all of the county’s storm victims at Tolu Elementary School.

The shelter was the source of food and restroom facilities for victims and workers and was used as temporary housing for some.

Alexander and others, who were working near the Tolu community when the storm hit, had to use chain saws to cut a path though the downed trees blocking the roads to get into the community to survey the damage and help storm victims.

Noble Wright, a Tolu resident, who was a home said after the storm quieted that there are three streets here, and it looked like every one of them was covered in 15 to 20 feet of trees.

In addition to Tolu, the nearby Hebron community was also hard-hit, according to Alexander. The storm swept through the area and downed numerous trees of all sizes.

200-Year-old Tree Fell Victim to Storm  

Gene Brazell, said he lost one of the most important symbols of stability in his life. His home was not damaged by the storm, neither he nor his family were injured, but he lost a piece of history that is irreplaceable – a 200-year-old Cherry Bark Oak Tree. The tree was located on Brazell’s farm which reaches to the bank of the Ohio River.

I can’t describe the feeling I have about the loss of that tree, Brazell said. He said part of his sadness comes from the fact that the tree was on his farm when the nation began. Brazell found the tree while he was tending cattle when he was 18 years old. He said he continually visited the tree, and it was a place for him to go and relax.

The Kentucky Forestry Division determined the age of the tree to be around 200-year-old, and said it was by far the largest of its kind in Kentucky.

 

Reign of Outlaws

 This interesting article is from an old book titled "The Ohio River" printed in 1906 by G.P. Puttnam's Sons, New York.  The Reign of Outlaw and Rowdy.  I love these early printings, for I feel the earlier they were printed the more truthful they are, as the stories haven't been recopied and added to during the years of being reprinted.

 The Reign of River Outlaws and the Early Pioneers on Shore

The pioneers who entered the Ohio Valley after its conquest from the aborigines found it to be a beautiful gem very much in the rough. Savage conditions did not prevail, it is true, so far as scalping and burning at the stake were typical of them, but it was many ears before life and property were safe from outlaws, and more before rowdies and rowdyism ceased to menace liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

 

Drifting about from place to place setting up claims for land that rightfully belonged to others, now and then, if the exigency of the case demanded, committing brutal murder, and at all ties brawling in grog-shops and pilfering along the rivers, the outlaws of the "Ohio Country" gained a national reputation. But it will be readily admitted that in this matter there has been a vast deal of exaggeration; there was but one Micajah Harpe, and but one Harpe's head raised on a pole; yet to read some pages one would believe there was a Harpes head on every tree in the West, and an uncouth murdered behind every bush that grew along the wild Ohio's bank of flowers. 

 

Every new county must needs suffer, it seems, from the pens of travelers who portray exceptional incidents so vividly as to make the exception seem the commonplace. And it is also true that local historians have been guilty of exaggeration of events in their own localities; many small affairs have assumed great proportions under the gentle breath of legend.

 

The lower Ohio River was very sparsely settled until a comparatively late date and in pioneer days this portion of the river was for a time a noted resort for bands of pirates from whose hands the descending flat-boatman did well to steer clear. 

Cave-in-Rock, on the Illinois shore near the present hamlet of that name, was a notorious rendezvous for a number of years. This is a cavern measuring about two hundred feet long and eighty feet wide; at its mouth it is eighty feet wide and twenty-five feet high. The floor was very smooth throughout and the walls arose in grades like seats in a theater. 

 

Strange hieroglyphics dating far back into prehistoric days covered the gloomy walls. The mystery of the place was enhanced by another room-like apartment over the cavern; the passage-way to this second cavern was like a huge chimney some fourteen feet long. Since about the time of the war of 1812, if not before, this grotto has born the name Cave-in-Rock; about it towers a rocky eminence into which the grueling hands of the floods have torn this aperture.

 

Early in the century a man named Wilson brought his family to this river stronghold and made it his home. More than that, he threw the home open to the passing public and mounted his hospitable sing, "Wilson's Liquor Vault and House of Entertainments," where not the passerby reads "St. Jacob's Oil"' if the proprietor's liquids were not a balm it was not because there were not broken heads to mend. 

 

For the idea gained for its originator all the returns that his ingenuity deserved; flatboats were continually passing down the river to Mississippi ports and a grog-shop (an alcoholic liquor, esp. run diluted with water) at the water's edge was a feature that at that day and that place could not fail to attract both the curious and the thirsty. 

 

As evil never fails to carry in it the seeds of its own undoing, so here the House of Entertainment soon gathered a plotting band of guerillas headed by none other than Wilson, the proprietor, which began a murderous confidence game that take rank in the West with the worst of outrages. 

 

The gang made its headquarters on nearby Hurricane Island and the plan of operations was fiendishly simple; richly laden, were inveigled to the cave, where in short order a crew from the island took charge of the boar and floated it to New Orleans; here the cargo and boat were sold and upon returning to Cave -in-Rock the proceeds were divided. Many circumstances combined to make this conspiracy safe and the conspirators wholly free from suspicion. 

 

The danger of the river travel on the Ohio and Mississippi was great, and so many boats were wrecked that the owners of any one of the captured boats could easily account for their loss of the score of dangerous navigation.

 

Then too, there were the dangers of the return overland trip from New Orleans in case the boat did reach its destination in safely; this journey through Tennessee and Kentucky, as will be shown, was perilous in the the extreme for those carrying money. Thus the desperadoes at Hurricane Island were not suspected for some time and it was longer still before the scattered population of the region took the matter into ins hands.

 

Wilson's band numbered nearly fifty; many of these escaped before the storm broke; a few were taken prisoners. A large price was set on Wilson's head and to obtain it, one of is own murderous gang killed him. "Not long after," writes so good as authority as Collins, "In the upper room of his mysterious cavern were found about sixty skeletons, which confirmed the take of systematic confidence, betrayal, and murder.

 

The reign of outlaw-ism in the area was of prolonged duration, attracting wide attention and gaining for the area a reputation as unique as it was unsavory. The river was the highway of travel and consequently social conditions here came under the eye of hosts of travelers, whose accounts had, after, a wide circulation. Frequently these accounts were told with literal truthfulness and yet, as they stand, are misrepresentations. 

 

The outlaw-ism was a natural product of the era of disputes over land and of grubbing (clearing of the land). It was a hard time to live or let live; the good old days are written and spoken of lightly but they must not be made to cover the first two generations of pioneer life. 

 

The life was exhausting; the forests were to be feled, the great logs rolled together and burned, and families reared and provided for, and usually the land to be paid for – with markets many miles away. All this had to be done under the most difficult climatic conditions, the fevers attacking the men at their work in the wet forests, especially along the river, with regularity and often with fatal effect.

 

When this home-building and land-clearing was accomplished, if one had a picture, it would reveal not only the changes that had been wrought, but a host of prematurely broken down men and women, besides and undue proportion resting peacefully in a family grave yard nearby. 

 

If one could attempt truly to chronicle merely the hardship ad suffering of a day when dentist and rubber boots were unknown, the result would be too painful to be interesting reading.