Marion High School Agriculture Laboratory - 1920

School year 1920.  Marion High School is one of the few High Schools in the state that offers a full four year course in agriculture. 

The walls of our laboratory are covered with beautifully framed pictures of farm animals and agriculture charts.  Our collection of all kinds of seeds, samples of fertilizers, feeds, cereals, by-products and other illustrative material has been increased to afford valuable supplements to class instruction.

We have a complete stock of chemicals and chemical apparatus for all standard experiments in chemistry of the farm and home.

We are especially proud of our collection of fossils and soil farming minerals, which we believe to be the most complete of any High School in the state.  This collection is indispensable for the study of geology and soil formation.

We also have a high powered compound microscope and one dozen hand lenses that help make laboratory work worth while.

Last but not least is our library of a hundred standard volumes, supplemented by one thousand catalogued bulletins affording splendid reference work for the students.

We have made a standing offer to the farmers of this county to test free of charge all the soils, milk and seeds they would bring to us.  A visit to our laboratory would prove very interesting to you and highly pleasing to us.

A Visit To County Schools in 1879

For some very early history of our county schools, lets visit around with County School Commissioner Rev. James F. Price.  He shares his reports The Crittenden Press in 1879.

• October 30, I visited Chapel Hill School, A. C. Cruce teacher. I found a very good school and one in which the students are making rapid advancement. The average attendance is about 30, the teacher is alive to his work and instructs his pupils thoroughly in the fundamental principles, he has some obstacles with which to contend, one is that he is hampered up in a schoolhouse which is not sufficient to supply the wants of the district. This is a good district, and we don't believe the citizens will allow another school taught in such a house. The discipline of the school is very good, whispering is prohibited except by permission, the children of this district is somewhat advanced in education, the teacher has classes in Physiology, Higher Arithmetic, Higher Algebra, Latin Reader and Geometry.

• October 21^st, I visited Cookseyville School, G. W. Hall teacher, I found a very good school though not very large in the number of pupils, the school has only averaged about twenty, this is Mr. Hall's first school, but he evidently shows ability as a teacher; he keeps very good order and teaches very thoroughly; this district is not for advanced in education, but the teacher, works faithfully among the little fellows endeavoring to advance them; he gives them many drills besides the lessons they recite from the textbook; the school house is not so good as desired, but it does better than some. I spoke that night to a few of the citizens, after Mr. Hall and Mr. Rushing each gave a talk.

• October 22, visited White Hall school, Emma C. Hayward teacher, I found a small school, only averaging about fifteen; this is a large district and it has a very good school house, but the patrons are very much wanting in the interest among the patrons is manifested by a want of energy among the pupils; the government of the school is tolerably good, there is no whispering except by permission; the instruction is not so thorough as desired in some of the branches. I talked that night to most of the pupils and about four of the patrons of the school.

• October 23^rd, I visited the school in the Owen district, P. B. Walker teacher; I found a very small but interesting school; the average number in attendance is only about ten; the teacher is instructing them as thoroughly as his qualifications will admit; he keeps very good order in the school, and the students seem to take an interest in their studies; they have a very bad house, entirely uncomfortable and insufficient in every respect for the comfort and advancement of the school.

• October 24^th, I visited Sisco school, Willie Adams teacher; I found the school small on account of protracted meetings, but the pupils who were present seemed to be taking an interest in their studies; Willie seems to be giving general satisfaction in the district; the average attendance is about eighteen; there is not very much whispering in the school; this district has a very good school house, built for both a school and church house; the patrons of this district as in many others do not send regularly.

• October 25^th, I visited Union School, Miss Irene Cole teacher, I found one of the best schools I yet had the pleasure to visit; the school has averaged forty pupils; the order and system of the school is very good; but very little whispering or disturbance of any kind is found in the school; the teacher is alive to her duty; she is one of those live, energetic teachers that would infuse spirit and vitality into any school; she has the firmness and indomitable will to govern a school without difficulty; superadded to these qualifications for governing is a spirit of kindness which restrains the students without violence. The instruction is through and practical, the pupils are advancing very rapidly in their studies,and are understanding it as they go. Map drawing is taught in a very systematic manner. About fifty dollars will be raised to assist in paying the teacher. The schoolhouse is not so good as desired but we hope the community will erect a good house before long.

This is a good community, one that is taking an interest in education and it is to be hoped that they will raise the standard of education still higher.

Motorcycle Races of Yesteryear

 From Crittenden Press archives comes this little interesting tidbit about Motorcycle Races being held here.

 

August 1948 - The people of Marion and surrounding territory will have the opportunity to attend one of the best motorcycle races meets in this section of the country next Sunday, August 8th, (1948).

Entries from a large number of the best competition riders insure a thrilling performance for top honors in the nine big events to be held at Crayne Field.  

The riders will be circling the track at top speed and all the machines will be without brakes.

Rotary Dialing Replaces Bell Operators

Some fun information from The Crittenden Press recalls the big change in phone usage in 1958.

Feb. 7, 1958 -Marion's Dial Numbers to Have Famous 'Yorktown' (YO) as Prefix

Telephone numbers in the Marion exchange will contain a prefix name from proud pages in American history when it converts to dial operation, W. L. McGowan, local Southern Bell manager, said this week.

The name will be Yorktown, abbreviated for dialing to YO. The conversion to dial is expected to take place in midsummer, when the building now under construction is finished and new equipment has been installed.

 

After dial conversion all telephone numbers in the local exchange will begin with the name Yorktown and the number 5, followed by four more numbers. This plan is in keeping with the nationwide system which eventually will enable telephone users to dial their own long distance calls.

 

Marion subscribers will not be able to dial other cities yet, , but introducing the numbering system at dial conversion will eliminate having to change all the number again later on.

 

In dialing the YO prefix, the letter O, in the same dial opening as the number 6, and not the number zero, must be used. Otherwise calls will be either misdirected or incomplete. 

 

September 7, 1958 – Telephone Company Plans Switch to Dial Operation

Southern Bell Telephone has set Sept. 7, 1958, as the date when the Marion exchange will cut over from manual to dial operation. The change will take place at 1:01 a.m. After that telephone users will hear a humming dial tone instead of a female voice saying "Number please" when they pick up their receivers.

 

All users will have to dial seven figures and numbers to place a local call. Although not strictly necessary for an exchange this size, the system will make possible Marion's eventual inclusion in Bell's plans for nationwide long distance dialing.

 

The name of the Marion exchange will be "Yorktown." Dialers will select the letters "YO" and the five numbers of their party when placing a call.

Pilot Knob Cemetery

 Pilot's Knob Cemetery is a peaceful, normal rural family cemetery, but somewhere over the years an untrue and terrible grave myth somehow got started about a little witch girl being buried there and would haunt the cemetery at night. 

 

The tale went like wild fire and is even on the internet featuring this false information. It has caused many curiosity seekers, and out of town ghost hunters, which over the years have vandalized the cemetery grounds and been disrespectful to the dead buried there. 

 

Several times this harmful and erroneous information has tried to be removed from the internet but with no results, it's like the old saying, Once the words are out of your mouth there is no taking them back, so it is with this tale of the little witch girl.

 

The real story is that they were just a normal farm family that lived on the Fords Ferry Road. The little girl was Evelyn Ford, who did die a sad death at a young age, she was born May 9, 1911 and died May 31, 1916.  The cause of death, according to her death certificate, was a ruptured appendix. 

 

 Her father was James Andy Ford, who was a farmer, he died Sept. 17, 1927 and her mother was Mary Rebecca (Davis) Ford who died in the Crittenden County Hospital on March 13, 1955. The family is buried side by side at the cemetery.

Little Evelyn is buried in the grave with the fence around it and her parents, James "Andy" and Mary Rebecca are buried right next to her.  Her mother Mary Rebecca dying in 1955 and in our local hospital, I think proves that there was no witch burning going on then.

 This is Mary Rebecca Ford standing by Mary Evelyn's Grave.

If anyone wants to tell you this story I hope you will set them straight and let them know there is no truth to this terrible tale.  It is upsetting to family members that live here.
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On another note, no relationship has been found to connect this Ford family (descendants of Burton Ford) with the James Ford family that founded the town and ferry of Ford's Ferry.

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The Old Mineral Display Case by the Court House

 

 This piece of past Crittenden County History was located on the side of the old clerk's office that was located next to the Court House.  It was torn down in 1961 with the old court house to make room for the new Court House that was built in 1961.  Here is the history of the once fascinating item.

The Crittenden Press, Nov. 4, 1954

 Offering a new interest to local folks as well as visitors, a new mineral display case has recently been erected on the outside wall of the County Clerk's office on the Courthouse Square.

Attractive and unusual specimens of fluorspar and other minerals from this area will soon be placed in the exhibit case. 

 It's easy visibility from Main Street, plus display lights to show off the specimens at night, is expected to attract many out-of-town visitors and call attention to our resources in this area.  Mr. Ben E. Clement is pictured standing in front of the new display.

Citizens are invited to submit unusual or interesting specimens for the exhibit which may include fluorspar samples, "coal plant fossils" and other unusual specimens.  Contribution will be acknowledged on an identification card placed on each specimen displayed.

The new mineral display case has been made possible by the Crittenden County Development Association and by a committee formed for this purpose, consisting of Mr. B. E. Clement and Mayor Sylvan Clark.

Some Noted Early Marion Business Men of 1894

 In August of 1894, The Crittenden Press published a three-part illustrated edition of the paper.  In the papers were all kinds of information on people and businesses that were important to the city and county at the time.  I have found these articles to be a vital source of our past history of who and what was helping shape our county at the time.   Let's meet a few of these noted men in this week's post.  Will have more in later posts.

A. J. Bennett was born and reared on a farm in Livingston County. Several years ago he moved to Crittenden and is now one of our leading citizens.

He owns a fine farm in then Tolu famous corn belt of the county, and his industry as a farmer, his skill in the management of a farm, place him among the leading agriculturists of Southern Kentucky. He is a citizen full of enterprise and one who delights in the prosperity of the country. He has a splendid home, surrounded by the fruition of his labors.

Mr. Bennett takes great interest in political matters. He is a staunch Democrat, and last year his name was frequently mentioned in connection with the race for the legislature.

No man stands higher in the estimation of the people who know him than Judson Bennett, and such citizens make Crittenden a leading county in the proud galaxy of counties that constitutes the good old Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(A. Judson Bennett was born Feb. 14, 1847 and died Sept. 6, 1928. He is buried in the Mapleview cemetery.)

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Robert Newton Walker. The senior member of the firm of Walker & Olive, the leading furniture dealers in the county, was born in this county in 1833, near the Ohio River and lived on their farm there until 1868.

In 1868 he was elected sheriff, defeating Robert Coffield, the ex-postmaster of Marion. In 1872 he was re-elected and is regarded as one of the best sheriffs the county has had. For awhile he sold goods at Marion, and handled leaf tobacco several years, finally embarking in the furniture business with Mr. Jesse Olive.

Mr. Walker is regarded as one of the best citizens of the county. In all positions, either as a private citizen or an officer, he was and is popular with the people. The firm of which he is the senior partner, carries a large stock of furniture, of all descriptions, and handles building lumber of all kinds. They have a splendidly equipped undertaking department.

(Robert Newton Walker died Jan. 24, 1906 and is buried in the Mapleview cemetery. He was married to Sarah J. Clement, she died May 18, 1918 and is also buried at Mapleview.)

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J. Frank Loyd.  "He is the best Marshal Marion ever had", that is a remark one hears applied to our present city marshal, Mr. J.  Loyd, every day, and nobody disputes the truth of the assertion; if there be any man wedded to duty and its demands it is Frank Loyd.

It never gets too hot, nor turn too cold for him to look after the work he has sworn to perform, and in the discharge of official duty he knows neighbor friend nor foe, and Marion may well congratulate herself upon securing such a man to wear the uniform as her chief peace officer.

Mr. Loyd was born on a farm in this county August 23, 1864, and is a son of Mr. Wm. P. Loyd, one of our best farmers. In 1883 Frank concluded to try his fortune in the west; he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo., one year and having secured through the influence of a friend, a school in the Indian Nation, he set out to take charge of his new work, but en-route he was taken ill and had to return to Kentucky.

In 1891 and 1892 he served as deputy sheriff under sheriff Cruce, and distinguished himself as a pains-taking, watchful, faithful officer, making a reputation that easily won for him the marshal-ship of Marion. At present he is marshal, assessor, tax collector, and street commissioner, and under him the streets are improving, the taxes are being collected promptly and evil doers around Marion do not find smooth sailing. Marion is proud of her faithful officer.

 (Mr. Loyd died June 26, 1922. He was married to Nannie E. Bradley. They are buried at Mapleview Cemetery, with a large impressive stone, which is graced with their picture.