1896 Sunday School Convention

Seems like today Sunday School doesn't mean as much as it did many years ago.

July 16, 1896

Crittenden County Sunday School Convention.

The Crittenden County Sunday School Convention convened at Piney Fork July 9, 1896, and was called to order by the county president, J. B. McNeely.

Song service lead by George M. Travis.

Bible reading by W. A. Jacobs.

Prayer by W. B. Crider.

Piney Fork sang Fall Into Line, followed by Piney Creek, Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, followed by Crayneville, Bells Mines and Greens Chapel Classes.

The Bible a Standard, by Rev. H. B. Fox. The speaker made many good points and opened the way for a good days work.

Music by Chapel Hill, Oak Grove and Dunn Springs classes.

Next in order was a text, House to House by Bro. J. C. Lewis. Perhaps as true of the early disciples when they went from house to house breaking bread.

Every man should have an interest for his neighborhood. He urged the importance of every school making house to house visitations and taking up the Sunday school work to those we come in contact with.

Music by Bells Mines.

The following committees were appointed:

On Nomination – H. P. Jacobs, J. C. Lewis, Rev. J. F. Price, John W. Skelton, A. L. Cruce.

On Resolutions – G. M. Travis, W. A. Woodall, J. P. Pierce, E. J. Travis, R. M. Franks.

On State Paper – Rev. James F. Price, Mrs. Thos. Cochran, Mrs. Sue Phillips.

Music by Hurricane and Piney Fork.

Mrs. A. H. Cardin read an excellent paper on The Sunday School as an evangelizing agency.

Music by Piney Creek and Chapel Hill.

Reports of district presidents were as follows:

1^st. H. S. Wheeler. No written report.

2^nd. M. F. Pogue. Written report sent to president stating that blanks were in the hands of superintendents and a request that they be sent to the county secretary.

4^th. G. M. Travis reports 4 evergreen schools, 12 schools in district. Bro. Travis had a splendid report from his district.

In report of Executive Committee by the Skelton he commended the county president and secretary for their untiring efforts.

Dycusburg, Baptist, Green Chapel, Sugar Grove, and Piney Creek made brief reports of their schools.

Music by Crayneville class.

Afternoon

Services opened with a song by Oak Grove, followed by Dunn Springs, Wilsons Chapel and infant class of CPSS of Marion.

Rev. W. H. Miley Sunday School organization, it's aims methods and results. Primary aim, salvation of the children every one in Sunday school studying God's special Word. Organize a Sunday school in every community, methods, systems of conventions, for the work's convention to precinct conventions international lessons, the home class department for those who can not attend Sunday Schools, the house to house visitation enlists the indifferent, this international work breaks down prejudice, it blesses our own souls, it makes a better men and better women, it measures happiness and saves the children.

Music by Piney Fork and Greens Chapel

Paper by Miss Lizzie Woodall. Efficient primary teach, was read by the president. It is an excellent composition on the modern primary methods.

Music by Wilson's Chapel

Report of committee on resolutions was read by R. M. Franks and after remarks by Rev. J. F. Price.

The report of committee on nomination was as follows.

County President – J. B. McNeely

County Secretary – Miss Nellie Walker

1^st District – R. B. Gass

2^nd District – Rev. H. B. Fox

3^rd District – R. M. Franks

4^th District – G. M. Travis, W. T. Oakley and Bro. Wilson

A few minutes talk by the President.

Benediction by Rev. Jas. F. Price and the convention adjourned.

J. B. McNeely, President

Memories of the March 1937 Flood

 

Here is an interesting first hand experience of remembering the flood in 1937, shared with us by our local Crittenden Countian, Helen Carter Springs.   Helen passed away several years ago, but her story is still remembered.  The Tom Carter family home was located on the Hebron Church Road, where Tommy and Evelyn Carter lived for many years and who still own the farm. The Ohio River was located directly behind their home.  Helen wrote these memories in April of 2011, when another historic flood and hit Crittenden County and surrounding counties as well.

 

Helen as a young girl and later in life when she shared these memories.

MEMORIES OF THE 1937 FLOOD, by Helen Carter Springs.

The new year of 1937 came in at a very rainy time in January. I had received a work-study scholarship to Murray State beginning the second semester. Before time for me to go to Murray State it began raining, and rained for days, so much so that the rivers and creeks all overflowed and the routes to Murray were closed. 

 

The radio stations were playing the newly released song, “Pennies from Heaven,” People were calling in to the stations to “please stop playing that song.”

 

While I was at home with my parents, Tom and Ruth Carter near Fords Ferry, waiting to be able to go to Murray, I watched the river get higher and higher. Our house was on a hill, but all of the barns were not. It rained so much the water got up to the barn loft floor. Dad loaded bales of hay from the loft onto his boat and then rowed it to the hills. He also carried bags of corn from the cribs that way.

 

He put some bags of corn in the screened porch on our house but the cows, who were on the hills, sensed it was there and searched for it. One cow even came in the kitchen after the bags of corn that Dad had dragged in to get out of their reach. It was a scary sound to be awakened to the sounds of a cow's hoofs in the kitchen.

 

My brother Jimmy and I would stand at the waters edge, about half way up the hill, and try to hit the rats and mice who were flooded out of their homes. They were swimming toward us and we would strike at them with rocks and boards. We never killed one. Our house became their refuge. All night we could hear them running between the walls and upper floor. We never got used to it.

 

The radio kept saying how fast the water was rising, but Dad under estimated its speed and we went to church thinking it would alright. When we returned the cows were standing on high peaks in the bottom fields all surrounded with water. Dad got on his horse to try to herd them off and to shore. His horse was swimming and his foot became tangled in the unseen covered fence and stumbled, Dad fell off in the icy waters. He tried to grab the horses tail but couldn't. He kicked off his heavy water filled boots and swam toward shore. His strength gave out on him and he let go thinking this is it, but as luck was on his side his feet landed on the soft warm mud underneath. That warmth gave him strength to continue to way to higher ground. 

 

Our Mom was at the waters edge urging him on and when he got to where she could reach him she practically dragged him to the house where she put his feet in a tub of water and wrapped him in blankets.

 

We would watch buildings float past our house. We saw a pretty yellow house with white trim go by. Jim and Jake Darnell would go out in the boat and try to catch them with ropes but the current was too swift. They were only able to catch a small shed and drag it to shore.

 

The Crooked Creek came up across one end the road and we could not get out that road., (this section of the road lead to the Dam 50 road), Grandpa Cook's ponds were full and across the other road toward Hebron and Hwy. 91 N, thus Hebron Church Road was closed. The only way anyone could get out was by a canoe. They stationed the boat on one side of the water, so we could row across and tie the boat until time to come back. Then this process was repeated in reverse. Neighbors would sometimes plan on times to come and go.

 

It finally stopped raining and the flood waters subsided enough for Greyhound Buses to roll again. I was on one going to Murray to begin my college career. As we passed though Paducah I could see the houses were all muddy from the high water of the muddy Ohio – even up to the second floors.

 

Now the 1937 flood, seems so long ago, but it lingers only as a memory.

Old Sayings I Remember Growing Up and Weather Lore

 

When some of us older generation get together, it's not long until we start to reminiscing  and comparing things that we remember from our childhood days, school memories, games we played, even old sayings that we remember that were used by our parents and grandparents.  And many are stilled used today.  I know I use some of them most every day.

Northern people tease us about the words “you all”, and insist that we use it in the singular way, applying to just the one person to whom you are talking. They refuse to believe we use it in a plural form, meaning “you and all your family come.” Can anyone find a more hospitable word? I do not think we should ever forget to use it.

It is fun to think of all the phrases and beliefs that we grew up with, and no doubt, to people not from here, are strange sounding and make no sense at all. But they are a part of our heritage. Some examples include:

• A coon's age - meaning a long time

• Limp as a rag - weak feeling
  

• Plum tuckered out - tired
  

• Bone warry - tired
  

• Down in the dumps - discouraged or depressed

• Rant and raving - discussing something emotionally or angry

• Smell a mouse - suspicious about something or someone

• Its just a whoop and a holler - a short distance to some place

• Don't give a hoot - not interested.

• Very poorly - not feeling well

• Fast - meaning an immoral or flirtatious person

• If it'd been a snake it would have bit you - it was right in front of you

• Rode hard and put up wet - someone or something that looks pretty rough

• Slower than molasses - meaning someone that never gets in a hurry

• Waited on hand and food - taking care of sick or lazy people

• It's just a whoop and a holler - short distance to someplace

• You let the cat out of the bag - told the secret
  

Weather Lore and Superstitions. Since the beginning of time man has found various ways to predict the weather.  From this have come superstitions, old wives tales, and cultural stories passed from one family member to the next in each generation.  It is a way of controlling the environment by knowing what to expect from the coming season.  It is impossible according to scientists, - and reliable according to those who know how to read the signs they have learned.  

There are a lot of predictions for rain. 

• Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

• Owls will hoot more at night if rain is on the way. 

• Cobwebs in the grass mean rain. 

• Pink clouds in the west at evening time means rain.  

• If Easter comes in late March, that is a sign there will be an early spring.

  We all know the moon has a certain control over the ocean tides.  But according to weather lore it also predicts weather patterns and how plants will grow.  Many people believe in planting according to the moon, they watch it for the next rainfall, harvest fields by it and predict major storms coming their way just by watching for shape, season, color and location. 

 

Native American belief is if the moon looks like it is tipped on its back, it is holding water that will not spill. If it is tipped forward the water will spill from it in the form of rain. 

 

Animals seem to have a built in weather system and can predict hard winters more easily than any human will ever be able to.  When their fur comes in thicker than normal during the fall it means there is going to be a hard, cold winter.  But this applies to animals that live in the outdoors all the time, not your well pampered house pets. Horses, goats and other barnyard animals that need extra protection from the season are provided for by nature with an extra layer of hair or fur.

 

Beavers are a great predictor of the winter season to come.  They build their homes to protect them from the cold and weight of snow.  If a beaver dam is built thick and heavy, blocking a larger portions of water mass than in years past, you can be sure the winter will be a hard one.   

 

Other predictors of a hard, cold winter are when nuts and berries hang on the branches after the last of the leaves have fallen.  When the oak tree still wears his leaves in October, it will be cold, hard winter. 

***

True enough, the only sure way to predict the weather is to wait for it to arrive and then look out the window.  Some of the superstitions and lore seem to be right on, while others serve as entertainment to the world.  But if you want to find out the truth keep your own weather journal to create a new generation of predictors and family stories.   I've kept a weather journals for more than 30 years, they are very interesting to look back on and compare the weather through the years.

March Woman's History Month #2

 Second lady for Women's History month is Mrs. Cleo Croft, Teacher

Mrs. Cleo Croft Retires in 1973

A face familiar to most of the students who have attending Crittenden County High School during the past 23 years is leaving the Crittenden County High School faculty this year. Mrs. Cleo Croft is retiring from school teaching after 37 years in the teaching profession.

 

She had taught is no many and so varied school she has difficulty remembering them all. For Mrs. Croft, school really began at Lola. After graduating from Lola High School and receiving her bachelor of science degree in English and geography at Murray State University, she returned to Lola to begin teachings.

 

She has taught in one-room schools and two-teacher schools as well as high schools. Among schools she has taught at are Lola Elementary, Sisco’s Chapel, Pleasant Grove, Shady Grove Elementary and Tolu Elementary and High School. Mrs. Croft was principal of the Tolu school during World War II. 

 

Concerning her tenure at Crittenden County High. "I started with the new building in 1950, she said. While at CCHS, she has taught both English and Geography.

 

Of course, a lot of things can happen in 37 years, especially in the teaching profession, and Mrs. Croft has her share of tall tales to tell.

 

She says that in the old days in the smaller schools, teachers did double duty as janitor. She remembers building fires in those old potbellied stoves on many cold mornings. 

 

And one of the incidents from her teaching career that still stands out in her mind concerns one of those stoves. While she was teaching at Tolu, the stove needed new pipes. A student agreed to replace the stove pipes over the weekend but failed to do so, and, when the class arrived the following Monday morning the room was quite cold. Although adept at building fires in the stoves, Mrs. Croft says she wasn’t able to replace the pipes. Finally some boys in the class did install the pipes for the stove.

 

Another of her memories concerns the time she was principal at Tolu. During that time she served as basketball coach. She says, I wasn’t really the coach. There was usually some boy form town who would guide the team. We didn’t win many games while I was supposedly the coach, but win or lose in her capacity as principal and coach, Mrs. Croft did travel with the team to all ballgames, both home and away.

 

Mrs. Croft is currently faculty sponsor for the Future Teachers of America club and the Rockette, school yearbook. She has been yearbook sponsor for the past eight years. She has also been sponsor for numerous class plays and fun raising campaigns. 

 

Students as well as teachers change in 37 years, and Mrs. Croft feels that a lack of respect for property and authority that some students have today has been the greatest change she has noticed in the years she has been teaching. She attributes this to a change in home life.

 

Since she’s not going to be coming to school anymore after this year, Mrs. Croft says, I’m going to do as I please and quite punching a clock. I’m going to quit sitting up late grading papers, and I’m going to sleep late. She adds that she would like to find the time to travel a little after retirement.

 

When asked what she felt Kentucky teachers today need most, she listed, adequate salaries, good buildings, adequate supplies, smaller classes and a better understanding between parents and teachers.

 

In summing up her career, she said, I guess one reason I’ve continued teaching all these 37 years is at the end of the year, I seldom remember the bad things that happen, but I try to remember the good things and hope I’ve been a good teacher to each of my students. (This article appeared in The Crittenden Press, May 24, 1973)

 

Cleo V. Foster Croft was born Sept. 27, 1912 in Lola, Livingston Co., Ky. She was the daughter of Russell and Nora Thompson Foster. She died May 27, 1995 and is buried in the Lola Pentecostal Cemetery in Lola.

March is National Women's History Month

 

March is National Women’s History Month. I always enjoy sharing some past articles and history about some of the fine ladies that contributed to the history and lives of Crittenden County. At the time they were just trying to do their best at their jobs and doing something worthwhile for the town and county, but in doing this, they helped shape the minds and futures of all generations.

***

Founder of the Crittenden County Public Library

Jessie Croft Ellis, the founder of the Crittenden County Library, was born near Salem on September 10, 1891. She was the middle daughter of George Croft and Margaret Ellen Cox Croft. She was raised by her mother following the death of her father when she was six.

 

 

Jessie, a graduate of Marion High School, was sent to finishing school at Sayre College in Lexingston, Kentucky. There she married Cecil B. Ellis, who was on the football team.

 

By 1924 both her mother and her husband had passed away, and Jessie was faced with the task of earning a living and raising her son alone.

 

The family farms were no longer profitable at that time, so Jessie took the big step of moving up North to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and enrolling in the University of Michigan to get a teacher’s license. Upon getting the license she got a job in the high school at Alma, Michigan, teaching American History. 

 

But Jessie found she didn’t like teaching. So she talked her way into a job in the library of the University of Michigan and began taking classes for a Master’s degree in Library Science. She had carefully chosen her new job to be in a university town, where her son Cecil, Jr. could go to college at home. 

 

Jessie Ellis stayed at the University Library in Ann Arbor for many years until her retirement, but she always knew that she was a daughter of Marion, Kentucky, and when she retired she instantly returned home.

 

She bought a house on the Bellville Road out of town, with money from the family fluorspar mines which had now become profitable, but she didn’t sit at home to knit.

 

Jessie Ellis had to do something for the people of Marion. What she knew best was library work, so she went to all the leading people of Marion and badgered them continually for money and space to start a library for the town. 

 

Finally the state appropriated $2,900 for the organization of a library in Marion, which was matched with $300 by the fiscal court. Many plans were made and April 6, 1953 was the date set for the opening of the new library. She worked very hard to select and catalog books to be ready for the opening. The first library was housed in a small office space on a first floor in the heart of downtown Marion. In less than a year, it had outgrown the building and it was necessary to find a new location.

 

In March 1954, the library, with approximately one thousand volumes, moved to a new location on North Main Street (located where Johnson’s Furniture warehouse is today). The library’s next move was to a building on W. Bellville St. across from the courthouse.

 

The library kept growing and needing more room, after the old jail was torn down, the present library was built on that location where it stands today. We can give thanks to this determined lady, Jessie Croft Ellis, from years ago, that Crittenden County was able to have its first library.

 

But Mrs. Ellis finally wore herself down, and the last fifteen years of her life were spent in hospitals and a nursing home near Salem. She died in June 3, 1975 and is buried in Mapleview Cemetery with her family.

 

 There is a plaque in the library that says "Honoring Mrs. Jessie Croft Ellis, Librarian and Founder.

***

Doing Our Part for World War II

 Marion and Crittenden County doing their part to help with the shortage of items during World War II.  Thankful we have the old Crittenden Presses on mirco-film to learn of these past historic events that took place in our town and county, or they would be lost forever.  I hope there are still a few of us that appreciate these old history items.

May 14, 1943

Salvage Drive For Fats And Hosiery Opens

Mrs. C. A. Hollowell, county director of fats and hosiery, is to open a campaign to collect the needed materials today. County community heads will be announced soon with the block plan of collection to be used in Marion.

Stores in Marion receiving fats and grease are Aubrey Grady and Co., C. W. Grady & Son, Krogers, Red Front, Easley, Small, W. T. King and Hillis Hunt. County stores to receive the same will be announced in a short time.

Mrs. Hollowell said that four cents a pound will be paid by the stores for the grease or fats which are to be used in manufacture of explosives by the nation. Either sweet or rancid fats are acceptable as are tallows. Place in tin cans and do not use glass containers.

Mrs. Hollowell said that housewives had been asked to discontinue making of soap at home in order that the fats and greases required may be used for extraction of glycerine content. Fats taken from cooking of cabbage or greens is an excellent source of salvage. Strain before taking to stores and save an average of one teaspoonful daily.

Mrs. Hollowell said that the state director had indicated that unless more fats were saved present allotments of lard, shortening and other greases may be reduced for retail purchases.

Hosiery

Silk and nylon hosiery are also included in the campaign with boxes for collection purposes being established at Taylor & Co., Kentucky Theater and H. V. Stone in Marion, and McDaniels & Co. Salem. The cast-off hose are to be used for purposes of making waterproof powder bags.

 

May 14, 1943

Soldiers Smokes Campaign By YBM Club Here

Each cigarette package to bear name of sponsoring organization and city – Milk Bottle Campaign in Stores to collect funds.

Young Business Men’s club is to open a drive today to secure funds for purchasing of cigarettes for men in foreign service of armed forces. J. H. Jones, director, said yesterday that representative of Camel cigarettes had met with the organization and plans were perfected for having the "smokes" mailed promptly to all foreign fronts. The contract with Camels calls for reduction in rate for the purchase.

Milk bottles properly designated will be placed in each store in Marion for purpose of collecting funds by popular contribution in addition to that of the sponsoring club.

Orville Grady said that containers for coins would appear tomorrow in Marion and later in other portions of the county if necessary.

No amount has been set as goal but all moneys so collected will used for purpose of buying the cigarettes. Jones said that each package would bear tag of Marion, KY., in order that the recipient may know, as to whom the donor might be.

 

SOME HISTORY THROUGH ADS

They tell us a lot.

CRITTENDEN ACADEMY - 1849

The Crittenden Academy, is a part of Crittenden's lost history.  One lone flyer found back in March 1922 told of the Academy and what it offered to the would be students. 

Crittenden Academy.

At Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky.

Mr. James W. Primmer, Principal of the Male Department.

Miss Harriet M. Cary, Principal of the Female Department

The first Session of this Institution commences on Monday the 5^th day of November, 1849, and will continue 20 weeks. The Teachers are recently from New York, and have in their possession the most satisfactory evidences of their experience and accomplishments, as teachers, and of their perfect success in their profession, which they will gladly exhibit to any person who may favor them with their patronage.

 

The school will be conducted in the most prompt and efficient manner, and no diligence will be omitted, necessary to make the Crittenden Academy fully equal to any Eastern Academic School.

 

Particular attention will be paid to the morals, manners and habits of the pupils.

THE TERMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• For Common English Branches, including Reading, Writing, Antithetic, Grammar, History, Geography, Philosophy, &c. $6.00 per session

• For Higher English Branches, including Botany, Rhetoric, Chemistry, Algebra, Geometry, Astronomy, &c. $8.00 per session

• For Latin, French, German, Greek, &c., extra $5.00 per session

• For lessons on the Piano Forte, $15.00 per session

• For use of the Piano and Music Books, $5.00 per session

• For lessons on the Melodian, with use of instrument, $15.00 per session

• For Drawing, Painting, Embroidery, &c. $3.00 per session

This School is arranged in two departments, Male and Female, each Teaching taking charge of their respective department; the academy building being constructed with a view to such an arrangement.

 

The location of this academy is in the most healthy portion of the Green River country, and from its close proximity to the Ohio and Cumberland rivers, (ten miles) possesses all the advantages of a river town, and at the same time is free from all the objections – such as epidemics, diseases, and a continuous changing population, &c., necessarily common to all river towns.

 

The Teachers of this school, from their intimate acquaintance with the system of instruction pursued in the New Your State Normal School, are peculiarly fitted to give instruction to those who may design themselves for teaching; and they would give assurance that particular attention will be given those who may desire instruction in this science.

 

Food board, in excellent private families, can be obtained for, from one dollar twenty-five, to one dollar fifty cents per week, including washing, lights, &c.

 

The second session of this Institution will commence on the second Monday in April next.

 

All communications respecting this Academy, addressed to James W. Primmer, Marion, Crittenden County, Ky., will receive prompt attention.

Marion, Oct. 30, 1849

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

Although the flyer gave a sketchy location, it never was known where it was located.  In March 1922 after the flyer was found, the Crittenden Press put an article in the paper asking for any information about the school and it's location.    No one ever came forward with any information.  Even in 1922 it had been 73 years since the academy's flyer had been published.  We have no way of knowing if it ever became a reality or just someone hopeful plans for a wonderful school.

But it is another part of our forgotten passages of time. 

Here is copy of that flyer.