Machen Wilson

I bought this old photo at the Sturgis Antique Mall at Sturgis, Ky.  It was in a box with some other old pictures.  It had the name Machen Wilson written on the back of the photo.  Which was really a treat, for most didn't have any identification on them at all.

Since the photographer was J. L. Stewart, of Marion, I purchased the photo hoping to identify the young man.

He is the son of George P. Wilson and Margaret A.(Crabtree) Wilson.  They are buried in the old Wilson Family cemetery somewhere off of the Bells Mines Road.  He was 7 years old on the 1880 Crittenden Census.

In 1895, I happen to come across this ad in the Crittenden Press.  NEW RESTAURANT.  New Confectionery and restaurant 2 doors south of Marion Hotel.  I have a clean, complete stock of all kinds, fruits of al kinds, etc.  My prices will be as low as possible for the best grade of goods.  A first class restaurant in connection with other business.  Lunches, hot or cold and meals furnished at all hours.  Everything neat and clean.  Come and see me.  All kinds of non-intoxicating summer drinks.  signed:  Machen Wilson.

The picture was probably made about this time period when he had opened his new restaurant.  He would have been  around 22 years old.  I don't know what happened to his business, whether he left it or it may have gotten burned in one of Marion's fires.

 By 1917, Machen and 2 of his brothers, Charles and Rufus were out West in Nunn, Colorado, according to their father's obituary. 

It is nice to be lucky sometimes and be able to add some history to an old picture, it sure makes them come alive in your mind.

Community Grocery Stores

Ah, those beloved old community grocery stores.  What a wonderful thing they were to the communities.  A special place in the community, not just to purchase needed household items, but to meet friends, chat a while, find out was was next in the community and how everyone was doing.  Maybe set a spell by the old stove, if it was a cold day outside.

One of these was the Hascal Love Grocery Store, located at Midway, KY on Hwy. 60 West, halfway between Marion and Salem. 

Hascal Love's Grocery store opened in the early 1940's.  He, his wife, Elizabeth, daughters Linda and Joyce, lived on one side of the store building for years while he ran the grocery.  

In the picture left to right: C. W. Love, Reg Guess, Jap LaRue, Alfred Benton, Melvin Ramage, Hascal Love and daughter Joyce.

Another well-known store known for its' warm welcome to neighbors and the young people of the area was the Lee Loftis Store. 

 Mr. Loftis had a shed built on the side of their store, and it had chairs and a table where the people could sit and eat their lunches they had bought in the store.  It was also the place that the community children could gather to catch the school bus in bad weather.

Pictured are left to right: Carol Damron, Oynaul Wheeler, Joe Yates, Isabelle Koon, Robbie McClure, Donald McClure, and standing in front Lee and Ruby Loftis.

As time goes by there are fewer and fewer that remember the simpler days of the community grocery store where you were always welcomed, the day where anyone could stop and buy a freshly made sandwich, ice cold drink, and sit on a bench and eat your lunch and watch the world go by, course, much more slowy, for the world wasn't in such a hurry then.

Baseball In Marion

Marion was always a big baseball fan.  Seems they had teams even in the early 1900's.  It was a favorite sport of the community.

This is one of those picture postcards with one of the teams featured of 1908.  It says one of the best in Western Kentucky.  (I wish they had used their whole names)
1st Row left to right:  Taylor, Grimes, Rochester, Brown
2nd row: Moore, Perryman, Guess, Lamb
Back row: Gossage, Mitchell, Manager, Baird, Justice, Conley

Crooked Creek Baptist Church

Crooked Creek Baptist Church is another of Crittenden County's old historic churches.  Located about 2 miles north of Marion on the old Ford's Ferry Road. Organized in 1835 by a group of believers to organize a New Testament church.

I have already done a history post on the Crooked Creek Church on July 2, 2011.  If you would care to re-read it.

Today's post is to document that his old historic church has closed it's doors.  Due to lack of members and interest, the church was unable to keep holding services.  Only a few faithful remaining members were attending, so after January 6th, 2013, Crooked Creek Church is now only history.

UPDATE:  June 13,2013.
Crooked Creek Church will remain open thanks to the Ohio River Baptist Association.  The Association voted to keep the church open just as the doors were about to be closed for good due to shrinking membership.   15 members of Repton Baptist Church left that church and ask to join Crooked Creek Church.  Both churches are members of the Ohio River Baptist Association.  A spokesman for the church said the Crooked Creek's membership was hesitant at fist, but later changed their mind and voted to allow in the members from Repton so the newcomers would not have to dissolve the church and start over.

Crooked Creek Church is once again going strong.  On the fourth Sunday of the month they have a gospel singing where people can come and give testimonies and sing.  They have had two, both with good success.

Cotton Patch Hill and Crooked Creek

Crittenden County is full of beautiful county scenery.  There are hills, and streams, valleys and knobs.  Many have unusual and mysterious names.  As I looked at the old maps, I can't help but wonder where the names originated from.  There must have been a reason behind the names.  Some I have found the answer, some I have clues on and some I will never know.

One such of these with an odd name, and one can't help but wonder where the name came from, is Cotton Patch Hill.

 Cotton Patch Rd. runs off of S. R. 654 N not too far from Mattoon, to S.R. 387, what we always called the Dam 50 Road.   It runs all along the top of the hill.  A beautiful drive any time of year. 

The story written many years ago in 1908, by an old gentleman that was having his 93 birthday, is that in the early 1800's a wild fierce woman, named Mrs. Clayton settled on this hill.  She built a cabin, hunted wild animals, and cleared and fenced about an acre of ground which she planted cotton.  Mrs. Clatyon was always armed to the teeth with bowie knives and guns.  After living on the hill a few years she went away as suddenly as she came.  But she left behind her legacy as the hill was named "Cotton Patch Hill" for the little patch of cotton that she left behind.  

This picture of Cotton Patch Hill was made Jan. 31, 2013 from a high spot on the Fords Ferry Road.

The history runs deep in the old Crooked Creek on Fords Ferry Road.  Once the location of a covered bridge, today it is spanned by a modern concrete bridge.  In years past it was a favorite place for picnics and family gatherings as the large rocks were an inviting spot to have a seat and eat a picnic lunch.

Just from common thinking I would think it was named for it's crooked path through this part of the county.

Orchards of The Past

Have you received your Spring fruit, vegetable and flower catalog in the mail this year?  Many years ago they were a much looked forward to mail item, for garden seeds and fruit trees were purchased this way.  Green houses as we have today were not very easy to get to.  Thanks to the Amish community, we now have several green houses that we can visit come spring planting time.

Crittenden County farmers had many orchards and I'm sure they supplied the families with many jars of fruit during the long months that fruit wasn't in season.  There were also several orchards that grew apples for the market.  A well known apple orchard in Marion belonged to Dr. Frederick W. Nunn.  He even had a sorter which would automatically select the different sizes of apples.

 In 1926 Nunn Orchard was known for it's fine varieties of Starks Delicious, Red and Golden, the Winesaps, and Black Twig, (don't know what kind that was). 

There were family orchards located all over the county.  One large family orchard was located in the Tolu Area, and was known as Dan Stone's Apple Orchard.

This is a wonderful old picture of the Stone Orchard near Tolu, that was made in the early 1900's.  You can see some of the apples in the crate, and basket. 

Back row, L-r: Pete Watson, D. C. Watson, Bonnie Watson, Jack Mason, Alice Turner, Carrie Stone, Dan Stone (owner of the orchard),   Dan Watson, and Sally Watson.  (Sally has some apples in her hands)
Front row: Hub Watson and small boy is Bill "Bug Eye" Stone.

Chapel Hill School 1931

Some old history from one of the many one-room schools we used to have all over the county.   Such an important part of our county, these schools of long ago.  A vital part of the community, not only for learning, but for just bringing the community closer together as a family.  It's a lonesome feeling now thinking of these days of yesteryear.

 

 Chapel Hill School Group 1931-32

Front row, L to R:  Zula Walker, Donald Nunn, Roy Beshears, Tommy Collins, Kevil Nunn, Kenneth Conger, J. C. Nunn, Thomas Nunn.

Back row: Gladys Nunn, Belba Walker, Opal Walker, Hilda Long, Hatley Long, Ina Long, Wilber Beard, Elba Walker, Rudel Nunn, Teacher.

Feb. 2, 1931 - Chapel Hill School News:  The Chapel Hill School closed its seven months session this week with a short program.  Attendance awards were given to three students, Wilbur Beard, Gladys Nunn and Donald Nunn, who were present every day during the school year.

Students at Chapel Hill, with Rudell Nunn as teacher, have won a number of honors during  the past scholastic term.  At the county fair they received a $5.00 prize from the Board of Eduactino for having a hundred per cent attendance at the fair.  At a spelling contest held last week Marvin Collins, of the seventh grade, won the privilege of representing the county in the county spelling bee to be held in Marion.  Other winners by grades are as follows:  First-Tommy Collins; second-Donald Nunn, Third-Kenneth Conger, Fourth- Ina Long, Fifth-Thomas Nunn, Seventh- Marvin Collins.