Blackford Veterans Memorial Bridge

 The Tradewater River railroad bridge at Blackford was a vital link for the Ohio Valley Railroad that ran from Henderson, to Princeton, Kentucky.  The bridge was the heartbeat of the small community of Blackford.

 

 The first bridge to be constructed was a Draw Bridge.  It was shortly after 1886 when the Draw Bridge was constructed.

At that time the Tradewater River was also a vital river route for small steam-boats traveling from the Ohio River at Sturgis, up the Tradewater to the little community of Fishtrap.

The hand cut stone piers of this original draw bridge are still in place today underneath the newly renovated railroad bridge.

 

In 1892 the "Ohio Valley Railroad" sold the railroad line to the "Illinois Central Railroad."

In 1914 a new 528 long bridge was build by the Illinois Central Railroad with help from the U. S. Government that included a pedestrian walk bridge.  The Illinois Central Railroad design was an upgrade in structure.  The IC wanted to run larger and heavier classes of locomotives to pull coal trains from Union and Webster counties to the Illinois Central Kentucky division's main line at Princeton, KY.  

The residents of Blackford in Webter County and the people of Crittenden County just on the west side of the river always wanted a bridge to carry wagons, and buggies across the Tradewater River.  Many of the people on the Crittenden County side carried on their business in Blackford because it was much closer than Marion.  Blackford was only a little over a mile from the excellent road of Hwy 60 in Crittenden County which lead to Marion.  Getting to Marion required the people of Blackford to travel 20 miles out of their way, which could take as many as three days.

 

The railroad rails were removed in 1999, the wooden bridge fell in to disrepair and was closed from use.  

Through the efforts of Mr. Brent Witherspoon and the support of many people a new walking and one lane automobile bridge is in in place.  It was built using the pier structures of the 1886 Ohio Valley Railroad bridge and the concrete piers and trestle timbers of the 1914 Illinois Central Railroad bridge.  (2005). Had some problems and closed again in 2009, but reinforced and reopened in 2014. 

Both these fine gentleman are gone now.   Their work and love for the area will be remembered.

Beer in Crittenden County in 1933

Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. Prohibitionists first attempted to end the trade in alcoholic beverages during the 19th century.

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution–which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors–ushered in a period in American history known as Prohibition. Prohibition was ratified by the states on January 16, 1919 and officially went into effect on January 17, 1920, with the passage of the Volstead Act.

Despite the new legislation, Prohibition was difficult to enforce. The increase of the illegal production and sale of liquor (known as “bootlegging”), the proliferation of speakeasies (illegal drinking spots) and the accompanying rise in gang violence and other crimes led to waning support for Prohibition by the end of the 1920s.

In early 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution that would repeal the 18th. The 21st Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, ending Prohibition.

***

Sale of Beer Becomes Legal

WASHINGTON, March 13, 1933 (UP) - President Roosevelt in a surprise move sent a message today to Congress calling for immediate modification of the Volstead act to permit the manufacture and sale of beer. The message follows:

"I recommend to the Congress the passage of legislation for the immediate modification of the Volstead act, in order to legalize the manufacture and sale of beer and other beverages of such alcoholic content as is permissible under the Constitution; and to provide through the manufacture and sale, by substantial taxes, a proper and much needed revenue for the government.

***

Beer In Kentucky

In the March 24, 1933 edition of the Crittenden Press. Beer will be sold in Kentucky its sale was passed by the House on the night of April 6, 1933. A federal tax of $5 per barrel of thirty-one gallons will be received by the government. Thirteen other states besides Kentucky may sell beer within fifteen days from the time the beer bill was signed.

Crittenden Press, April 7, 1933, One License to sell beer here. Only one license to retail beer has been issued in Marion and that to Orme Drug Company Incorporated. While some others are expected, the number will not be large, due to the city, state and federal taxes. Orme Drug Company expects to have beer for sale Friday. It will be trucked here from Louisville. Whether the supply will be equal to the demand is a matter of conjecture.

 

From the old book titled Taxes Received 1926-1937 in the basement of the Crittenden County Clerk's Office these names were recorded for selling retail beer. They were owners of local eating places in Marion and on the outskirts of town. From 1933 to 1936, when the vote was was again to go dry. Orme Drug Company, Sullenger & Love, Gladys Cantrell,The Snappy Tavern, Givens Cafe, J. W. Rankin, The Curve In Restaurant, Homer J. Hughes, W. H. Crider, City Cafe, Stanley Hunt, E. B. Hunt, Velda Stubblefield – restaurant, Ray Johnson and Carlon Howard. (don't have names of all the locations that applied for beer license or sold it)

***

No More Beer

The sale of beer locally didn't set well with many citizens of the town and county, in July 1936 a petition had been filed for election on local option to go dry. Crittenden Press, July 17, 1936. The prohibition forces of the county have been busy during the past few days circulating a petition for the purpose of calling an election to decide whether intoxication liquors will legally be sold within its boundary.

The petition, containing the names and post office addresses of 1,967 legal voters of Crittenden County is now on file in the County Judge's office. The date of the election has been set for Sat. Sept. 19, 1936, and will be held in all voting precincts in the county, and is held for the purpose of giving the voters the opportunity of deciding whether the sale of intoxicating liquors shall be prohibited.

***

They Didn't Give Up

This election of Sept 19, 1936 was for local option by a vote of 1,705 as compared to 398 in favor of wines, liquor and beer. The totals surprised the most ardent drys as several leaders had previously expressed themselves as confident of victory, but not to the extent to which the final returns showed.

But this election was declared void by the Court of Appeals due to not being sufficiently advertised in advance. So in November the local Option Petition was being re-circulated among the voters to have another election for the vote.

***

Crittenden Votes Dry

In February 1937 – Crittenden county voters favored local option by a vote of 1,295 to 297 in Saturday's balloting with the counting and final tabulation being completed early that night.

The driest precinct in the county, according to returns is that of Crayne where the cause of prohibition was victorious by approximately 15-1. 73 voters favored local option as compared to 5 who did not.

Of the 22 precincts in the county Blooming Rose was the only one that returned a majority opposed to the dry cause, the vote there being 17-10 and according to statics that is the first time in the history of the county when this has happened. The heaviest vote was in Marion No. 1 and in Fishtrap, No. 20, both precincts supporting the drys by votes of 117-32 and 13-3 respectively.

***

Whiskey Traffic Only Got Worse

During the years of 1937-1939 after the county had voted dry, the sale of illegal alcohol beverages only got worse. In July 1939 a recommendation was written by the Grand Jury and given to Judge E. Jeffery Travis. It read “We the Grand Jury presiding at the last term of Court, 1939, by a careful investigation find the violation of the whiskey traffic is exceedingly deplorable in Crittenden county, particularly in and about Marion, Mexico, Dycusburg and Sheridan, and that those engaged in selling and buying are so completely organized that it is very difficult to find sufficient evidence to indict.

***

What Needs To Be Done

Judge Travis states that doubtless the members of the grand jury felt that they were rendering the county's service and helping the county officers to rid the county of the boot-legging menace by adopting this resolution. I shall take this opportunity to suggest that if each member of the grand jury, or any other law abiding, peace-loving citizen of the county would constitute himself into a committee of one and do any reasonable amount of investigating of suspicious characters in his individual neighborhood, there would be no need for an “undercover man” or detective.

Since January 3^rd, 1948, the records show there have been twenty convictions for selling and possessing illegal whiskey with a total of 630 days in jail and fines amounting to $600.00. The situation is deplorable but only recommendations, orders, criticisms or anything short of sworn testimony does not “hit the spot.” There must be sworn testimony before a judge can issue a warrant of arrest.

So if you want illicit stills, boot-leggers, drunks, crap-shooters, or other semi-outlaws in your community just keep still and swear to nothing. If you want to be rid of such undesirable citizens go before a magistrate, notary public or any judge with a right to administer an oath, and make such statements under oaths and I am sure a warrant of arrest will be issued and the culprit be tried according to law. Are you willing to help? Signed E. Jeffrey Travis, County Judge

***

For one reason or the other, I don't think there were many that were willing to swear out a warrant for these bootleggers, not many would want to be known as an informer. Who really knows if it was for the money or for the thrill of doing something illegal and not getting caught, but boot-legging went on in the county for many more years. They were located all over the county.

Court House Business - January 1895.

 A Look Back at 19^th Century County Officials

The Kentucky Constitution of 1850 provided for a county court, made up of a county judge and two associates, to conduct the business of the county and it also established a court of claims in each county, comprised of the county judge and justices of the peace.

Several years later, in 1890, our present day governing body was formed by the court of claims being abolished and the county governing body was then titled the fiscal court with the justices of the peace serving as magistrates with a county judge presiding over the court.

Fortunate once again for the archives of The Crittenden Press, and the industrious Press reporter, we can meet these early leading men of Crittenden County and even learn a little about their lives in helping forming our county. The reporter that wrote these early articles definitely had a way with words for his articles were always informative and amusing.

***

The New Deal – Court House Matters

January 10, 1895. Monday was a busy day about the courthouse. It was the day for the new officers to take charge of the ship of the county and start her out for another year.

The first officer to take a fresh start was the present popular and efficient Sheriff John T. Franks. He appeared in the county clerk's office early in the day and filed a new bond, with Albert J. Pickens, Joel W. Guess, Harry A. Haynes and Wm. J. Deboe as sureties. (picture of Franks on left)

Justices of the peace came in from their respective bailiwicks at different hours, and one by one presented themselves and their bonds at the county clerk's office and were duly inducted into office by the affable man at the helm.

 

First came the tall hickory for Livingston Creek, John W. Mabry, and with Messrs, J. E. and J. B. Stephenson and Eld. Wm. R. Gibbs as sureties. He was made a justice and given the power to solemnize the rites of matrimony. His regular count will be held on the second Thursday of March, June, September and December and the residents of the Dycusburg district may expect an eanest, faithful discharge of duty.

***

Next came W. E. Conditt, who physically might be called the Zaccheus of the Fords Ferry district. He is a squire, safe, sound, energetic man and those who commit in fractions upon the law, when taken before him, will get justice just as speedily, amply and firmly as if Squire Conditt was as tall as the Dycusburg hickory.

He has the right to solemnize the rite of matrimony, and will attend to business of this kind as soon as he can commit to memory an appropriate ceremony. His regular house of court will be held the fourth Tuesday of the months herein before mentioned. His bondsman is Zacy Terry.

***

Next came Pleasant C. Moore of Hurricane. His bondsmen are B. Marble, J. W. McConnell, G. D. Wathen, T. J. Hamilton and A. J. Bebout. He will wear the honors gracefully but eschews any intention of typing connubial knots. He is a clever man and will do his duty. His courts will be held the third Fridays.

***

Next came the red elm from Claylick, Thomas A. Harpending. He is an old hand at the business and in thoroughly conversant with county affairs and statutory law. Henry Brouster, who is reading law under the tutorship of the squire, is the bondsman. Harpending is the nestor of the entire board. He is a good man and will continue to do good service. He ties connubial knots to order.

***

After this the heavy weight from Butler Creek, Job Postletwaite, with Peter Shewmaker, and Billy Crow backing him, came in, and put on the toga of office. Job will keep Critenden Number 1 in order and do the right thing.  He is a plain, honest, sensible man, and nothing can swerve him from duty. He will hold court on the first Friday of the before named months.

***

George F. Williams will do the magisterial honors for Piney. His bondsmen are Robert H. Kemp, J. A. Kemp, and Phillip H. Deboe. He has been a squire and a good one too, for the past two years.  He is the most cheerful member of the board and can laugh at a fellow while he fines him for any depredation. He has too much other business to fool away time in typing people together for life.

***

The first to be sworn in was John N. Culley and he is the handsomest of the lot. He lives nears the sparkling water of the classic Tradewater, in the Bells Mines community, and has drawn from nature's store house that which makes vigorous manhood.

His bondsmen are E. M. Lindle, Finis L. Black and Thomas J. Black. The office is no new thing to him and justice need fear no harm while in his keeping. His court days are the fourth Wednesdays of the magisterial months. His office is open at all hours for hearts and hands that want to be united in matrimony.

***

The New Jailer, Mr. Ayers Hard, took charge of an empty jail. The two men who guarantee that he will do all things according to law are John J. Bennett and John W. Mabry. His first work was putting the court room in shape for the board of tax supervisors.

He was as gay as a lark all day long and went in early at night. Very soon he is going to post a notice at the courthouse gate, warning the cows and hogs (the four-footed ones) to keep off the grass.

***

Newt J. Perrigan became coroner, and his bondsmen are S. F. Snider, George W. Corn, A. F. Franklin and J. H. Curnel.  Newt is little, but he is clever, and will perform all the functions of his office as promptly as could be desired.

***

W. C. M. “Monroe” Travis, the new county attorney, is the only county officer who is not required to give bond; he was sworn in Monday. He will move to town, from the Bells Mines community, in the course of a few weeks. Physically he is not a titan, but mentally he sizes up above average.

While he will earn bread by prosecuting the evil doer in the weekdays, he will on Sunday urge the wicked to forsake his ways and give the courts less work to do as he is also a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. (County Attorney Travis only got to fill his position for a few months, he passed away on August 30^th of that same year, 1895. He was my great grandfather.)

***

John F. Flanary, the new assessor, has long since been photographed upon the minds of the people of Crittenden County. His bondsmen are Wm. J. LaRue and Wm. H. Mayes.

He is not the largest man in the county nor the smallest, but he is a capital fellow and is going to make a good officer.

***

 

County Clerk Dave Woods arranged to do business at the old stand for three years more. His bondsmen are Henry K. Woods and Robert W. Wilson. Dave has grown old in the service, and by the time he retires he will probably have worn his right arm away writing and will be entitled to a pension from the fiscal court.

***

County Judge James A. Moore was re-consecrated with Circuit Clerk Haynes officiating as high priest. His bondsmen are Joel W. Guess, Garland Carter, B. W. Belt and Wm. Bennett Yandell.

He seems to be a part and pinrell of the courthouse and along with Dave Woods had as well be installed permanently. He is a good official, pleasant and patient.

Spanning Our Past - Tidbits of Interest

 As I read the old Crittenden Presses, I find many little tidbits of interesting and fun information.  Here are a few of these items.

August 8, 1941 – Centennial Window Exhibits

Crittenden County will be 100 years old next year and appropriate window exhibits have been planned during the present county fair. Braxton McDonald has secured display windows of merchants for placing of relics, antiques and articles commemorating the centennial. This is done in order to revive interest of early days and history of the county.

Dry Goods – All articles of dry goods, including side button shoes, stiff hats (cadys), celluloid collars, womens old fashioned hats, dresses, coats, mens cravats, brogan shoes, hair rats, hair braids, hobble shirts, bustle dresses, ear muffs, bed spreads, table covers. These are to be displayed in windows of Williams & Taylor.

Furniture – Trundle beds, flax wheels, walking canes, clocks, picture frames, whatnots, book racks, mirrors. These articles are to be displayed in windows of Tucker & Franklin.

Hardware – Guns, pistols, coins, candle molds, cotton gins, wooden sausage mills, bed warmers, pewter ware, grease lamps, coffee mills, saddle bags and side saddles at Cochrans Hardware Co.

Miscellaneous – Old watches, shot pouches, bullet molds, old books and newspapers, cataloges, school books, slates, pictures, stuffed birds and animals, Indian relics, sea shells, old necklaces, spectacles, hat pins and buttons, goose quill pens, clay pipes, kitchen ware, will be on display at City Drug Co.

Fluorspar Exhibit - Marion Kiwanis is to sponsor a large fluorspar exhibit at Farmers Bank & Trust Co.

(As a child growing up in the late 40's and early 50's, these large wonderful store front windows all along Main Street were always a fascinating sight for a young child, especially during the holidays seasons. I wish everyone could have had a chance to see Marion as is was in those days and enjoyed the displays that were shown in these windows.)

***

August 1947 – Crane Field and Harness Races at County Fair

Ross Crane built the big horse barn and race track located one and one-half miles north of Marion, on highway 60, and it was one of the best in western Kentucky. (where the empty live-stock barn is today). The barn was large enough to have 2 rows of stalls built, about 10 feet from the wall, so that when the weather was bad outside they could still give the stabled horses exercise on the inside.

For the big three day fair for Sept. 17, 18, 19, 1947 a horse show will be featured each of the three nights, and trotting races will be held during the fair under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Trotting Association. Harness races will be a new feature in Crittenden County, since there have never been such in this county and will be worth seeing as 75 to 100 horses of first quality are expected to participate in the races. Six harness races are scheduled each day with races beginning at 1:30 in the afternoon.

The music for the fair will be provided by Mrs. Peebles from Paducah on her Hammond organ.

***

July 16, 1948 – Community Cannery Has Auspicious Opening

The Marion cannery opened the season Tuesday, July 13^th, with 20 families preserving food. Green beans, squash and beets were the principal commodities on the opening day.

A shipment of cans was received recently and a supply of the different sizes and lining are on hand now for canning any commodities that any one may have.

The local cannery has persistently held to the same precessing fee of two cents per can of number two or number three cans and two cents per quart for larger sizes as when glass half gallons are used. New tin cans are available at five and six cents each for numbers two and three.

The facilities for derimming and reflanging the used cans are still maintained for those desiring to use their tin cans twice or even three times when in good condition. This is an economy worth considering for a very little extra trouble for any who desire to take advantage of it. It has been practiced very successfully in this cannery for several years. The cost of processing in the used cans in three cents each which includes the cost of a new lid, the use of the machine in reconditioning the can, and the processing fee.

The days of operation are Tuesday and Fridays and with the increased cost of fuel and facilities, everyone is urged to bring the commodities in the morning so that as many cans may be processed at the same time as possible. The cannery program is maintained in the interest of better nutrition and general welfare of the patrons of our community.

***

Nov. 4, 1954 – New Mineral Case.

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. Ben E. Clement and Mayor Sylvan Clark.  (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.)

***

Nov. 4, 1954 -West Kentucky Pony Sales.

West Kentucky Pony Sales barn just north of the Marion city limits hummed with activity yesterday as final preparations were underway for the first day of the spring sale. J. W. Lingang, owner estimated some 200 ponies were already on hand early Wednesday afternoon. Lingang's sale is the first to be held in Marion. It is housed in a spacious, attractive barn near the city limits.

The building, formerly a racetrack barn, has undergone a complete face-lifting and more buildings, including a snack bar, lounges and the sale ring, have been added to it. The sale area itself contains 300 theatre-type seats from which buyers can view ponies as they are led in.

An open house for residents of the Marion area was held at the barn Sunday and several hundred people took advantage of the occasion to view the facilities.

They saw miniature stalls, identical in every way with an ordinary horse's stall except they were scaled down to a Shetland's size. Several ponies were already on hand, and visitors unfamiliar with the breed examined them to see just what size they were and how they differed from other equines. (The Lingang Pony Sales was located where the empty cattle barn is today on Hwy. 60 East.)

***

Aunt Jane's Legacy Lives On With Rural Road

 

 As you drive down Highway 91 towards the Ohio River, before you get to Hwy 135 road,you will see the road sign for Aunt Jane Tabernacle Road, have you ever wondered why it got that name?

To learn more about the Aunt Jane Tabernacle road, you will need to know about Nancy Jane Winders Underdown. Her husband was Robert Pleasant Lee Underdown.  Nancy Jane Underdown started the tabernacle meetings in 1905. 

Everyone called her Aunt Jane, and that's how the tabernacle came to be called Aunt Jane's tabernacle.

Aunt Jane left the denominational church in 1905 after hearing a message of holiness from a Church of God minister. It wasn't long after that when Aunt Jane began inviting circuit riding Church of God ministers to hold services in her home. The shed meetings that were popular later evolved out of that.

Every summer, Aunt Jane would arrange for traveling evangelists to come preach at her home on the Underdown farm. She would also house the evangelists for the meetings. She would get in her buggy and go to the surrounding farms for miles around to invite all the families to the meetings.

The Shed grew out of a need for the group to have a place to worship. 

 The Shed was built about 1927, with hand-cut and hand-hewn posts, hand-sawed boards for pews, pulpit and platform with a tin roof. Two outhouses served as toilet facilities. This Shed represented hard work and sacrifice on the part of poor but dedicated people.   John Fox hand hewed many of the pillars and helped lead the singing. Lanterns hung on posts, and shaded coal oil lamps sat on post stands and the pulpit. The Shed didn't get electricity until the 1950's.

People came from miles around on foot, horseback, buggies and wagons. There was lots of singing, shouting and long services. The meetings were always held the last two weeks of July.

From the files of the Crittenden Press, June 24, 1938 comes an announcement about the annual revival.

Announcement has been made of the beginning of the annual revival on July 4 and running through July 17 at Mrs. Jane Underdown's Tabernacle in the Hebron neighborhood. Mrs. Underdown extends a very cordial invitation to all to attend these services.

Mrs. Jane Underdown has for many years been a familiar figure to Marion people. In spite of her advanced years and she is right at the four score year mark, she is active and rarely a week passes that she does not come to Marion. Others may believe that there are better towns than the county seat of Crittenden County, but not Mrs. Underdown.

Mrs. Underdown has two very chief interests in life: First, is the flower garden in the Underdown Cemetery at the old Underdown home. In this cemetery in which are planted a million pinks, lie the remains of her loved ones. It is one of the best-kept private cemeteries in this section of Crittenden County. Mrs. Underdown supervises or does with her own hands the work by which this last resting place of her loved one is always kept clean and beautiful.

Her other chief interest is this annual meeting which is held in the "shed" near her home. By her efforts this tabernacle was built and through her efforts from year to year, a revival is held here.

From The Crittenden Press -August 18, 1950 we learn of the death of Aunt Jane.

Funeral services for the beloved Nancy "Aunt Jane" Underdown were held at Aunt Jane's Shed, Saturday August 12^th. Interment was in Underdown Cemetery.

Born July 7, 1859, she had been a resident of Crittenden County until her death last Thursday evening at her home. She was known throughout the County as the sponsor of "Aunt Jane Underdown's Shed", a building on her property in which some of the most rousing revivals in this County have ever been held.

              ************

 The Aunt Jane Tab. Road, still carries on her legacy today.  Gone are her many flowers from the Underdown cemetery, and the wooden shed built so many years ago has sit empty and not used now for several years.  But thanks to her Great Grandson, Steve Underdown, the cemetery is still well maintained today.

Kentucky Utilities Comes To Marion

 From the archives of The Crittenden Press, the beginning of a brighter future for Marion and it's occupants is told. The new owners of the Electric Light Company has some new plans to make the company grow.

Feb. 12, 1926 – Marion Plant sold to K. U.

Announcement was made last Wednesday night of the sale of the Marion Electric Light system, which has been owned by S. M. Jenkins for over twenty years. The Kentucky Utilities Company is the purchaser, and their taking over of the plant here marks another step in the extension of their transmission lines and service over the western part of the state.

 

The Electric Light Company was first organized twenty five years ago, and for the first four years was a corporation of Marion citizens. At that time they had only about a dozen customers, the people seeming very unwilling to rely on electric lights. As an inducement to get them to install electricity in their homes, the company offered free wiring to all new customers.

 

In 1901 S. M. Jenkins purchased the interest of his brother in law, J. W. Wilson and since that time the business has been under the sole ownership of Mr. Jenkins, who has furnished the people of Marion with an excellent lighting service.

 

When the system was first organized there was a daily service of only ten hours. In 1922, a twenty-four hour service was added. With the addition of the twenty-four hour service Marion possessed an electric lighting system that was the equal of any small town system in the state. Marion for the past several years has had the reputation of being one of the best lighted small towns any where.

 

From a small beginning of a very few customers the system has grown until it serves daily over four hundred people. Since the addition of the twenty-four hour service three years ago, may people have added other electrical equipment to their homes and places of business. This was impossible when there was only night service. Nearly every home possesses at least an electric iron, many of them have several other pieces of electrical equipment as well. There are several businesses in town that have machinery run by electric power.

 

G. U. Dollar, who has charge of the light plant during the day has been with the company practically ever since it was established twenty-five years ago. John Travis, who has charge of the plant at night has also been an employee of the company for about the same length of time. Robert Jenkins has been electrician, wiring and trouble man since the World War, during which time he served as a radio operator.

The Kentucky Utilities assumed management of the system as of Feb. 1, 1926. Mr. Jenkins will remain for some months at least in charge of the local plant. The Utilities Company will in a few months bring transmission lines, 18 miles in length from Princeton to Marion. They will probably supply electricity to Crider, Fredonia, Crayne and Mexico, the high tension line passing just to the north of these towns.

***

April 23, 1926 – First Electric Range

The first electric range to be installed in Marion was put into operation this week in the home of Mrs. W. P. Hogard, on North Main Street. The range is a Westinghouse Junior, with automatic heat control and Mrs. Hogard has reported that she is delighted with the results obtained with this modern kitchen device. It is not only beautifully designed range that will ornament any kitchen, but is a far step in reducing work for the lady of the house.

***

Nov. 5, 1926 – New Office

The Kentucky Utilities Company formally opened their new local office last Thursday. The office, located in the Woman's Club building, is attractively arranged and on their opening day was kept thronged with visitors both from Marion and out of town, who came to look over the display of labor saving devices.

 

A group of officials from Louisville, Greenville, Princeton, Clay and other places where the Kentucky Utilities Company has offices were present to greet the people of Marion, whom they serve with electric power and light.

 

Each visitor to the office was asked to register and was given a number for the drawing to be held later in the day. Winner of the electric iron was Mrs. C. M. Mahan, and J. W. Daughtrey held the number for a new table lamp.

 

The local office of the Kentucky Utilities is under the management of L. K. Van Arsdel, assisted by Mrs. Lillie Shrode.

 

In December 1926, the City Council approved a contract with the Kentucky Utilities Company permission to change the town's lighting system to all up to date series system. When the new system is installed all of the street lights in Marion will burn all night instead of the moon light schedule at present.

 

In 1928 Mr. Inos Stallins came to Marion from Princeton, as "trouble man" for the Kentucky Utilities Company, he was soon promoted to Manager. He served as manager until 1937 when he was transferred to the Sturgis office, and Trice Yates, who had been book keeper at the local office was appointed manager to succeed Mr. Stallions. 

 

Other local managers over the years included: Clarence Wright, Orville Love, Denzil Hunt, John Ramsey and Ronnie Marshall. KU closed it's Marion office in 2000 and relocate it to the Eddyville location.

***

Marion A Civid Minded Town

 Marion A Civic Minded Town For The Betterment of The Town

In years past we find that the citizens of Marion were civic minded and were always looking for new ways and means to make Marion and Crittenden County a better place to live, whether it be through new business opportunities or the organization of social and intercultural clubs and societies. From the archives of The Crittenden Press come interesting articles about some of Marion’s past civic organizations.

***

Nov. 25, 1904, Marion’s Opportunity – Our New Commerical Club

A few of the citizens of this city met Saturday night to organize a Commercial Club, the purpose of which should be to advance the welfare of this city and county by fostering enterprises and improvements. Marion’s own, Senator, William J. DeBoe was the speaker of the evening.

At the meeting Saturday night the president, two vice-presidents, the secretary and treasurer of the Club were chosen. At that meeting it was ordered that a committee, appointed for the purposes of arranging articles of incorporation and by-laws, should meet and be ready to report Tuesday night, which was another special meeting to further organize. The interest in the contemplated club grew rapidly and Tuesday night there was a splendid and enthusiastic gathering of some of the best businessmen of the city, ready to assist in the Club movement and its further organization. The motto for the new organization was to be “Marion is Symbol For All That is Good and True."

 

The city and county is now facing an opportunity which has come to but a very few among the multitudes of counties in the various States and territories comprising the United States, as we have with in our borders mineral deposits vast in nature and rich in possibilities – so it is claimed by all of the mining experts who have visited this district and those mineral deposits undoubtedly offer extraordinary inducement of profitable investment for the purpose of their development. 

 But few conditions are lacking to make this district an ideal one for mining operations on an extensive scale, but that these conditions hamper, if they do not all together block progress in the development of Crittenden County’s mineral resources, can not be denied by any one who is fully conversant with the facts. Our most urgent requirements are good roads, then railroads, for the development of the county, and waterworks, then fire protection, for the city. Other improvements and advantages will quickly follow.

To offset or minimize these handicaps to our progress, and then to produce a remedial effect, a Commercial Club has been organized by Marion’s progressive citizens; its officers and its precepts have been wisely and indiscriminately chosen; its purposes should now be set forth and so clearly defined to the people that all who desire to aid and participate in the progress of the community many readily see that it will be decidedly to their interest and mutual benefit to either identify themselves directly with the movement or to co-operate with the Club in their endeavor to accomplish the several important purposes for which they have organized.

Officers and directors chosen, as well as the committee and assignments are as follows:

Thomas H. Cochran, President; T. Atchison Frazer, First Vice-President; Robert I. Nunn, Second Vice-President; James F. Crittenden, Secretary; George M. Crider, Treasurer. Directors, C. E. Weldon, Foreman of Finance and Membership committee; H. H. Sayre, chairman Entertainment, Arrangement and Building committee; J. M. Freeman, chairman City Development committee; C. S. Nunn, chairman County Development committee, C. H. Whitehouse, chairman Press Publicity and Promotion committee; Charles Evans, chairman Public Policy committee.

It should be understood from the start that the Club has been organized as much for the benefit of Crittenden County as for Marion, and that it desires to secure among the membership as many as possible of the representative men located throughout the county. As soon as they can be interested sufficiently to work in harmony with the Club and endorse and strengthen its efforts, then one featured of its work – good roads will be easy of accomplishment. To secure good rock-ballasted roadbeds throughout the county would doubtless benefit a greater number of people both in the county and city, than any other one movement which the Club has endorsed and set about to accomplish.

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November 1905, The Musical Club -

The ladies of the town created a Music Club. The object of the club was to create a greater interest in music, to study the music and the lives of the old masters and the history of music. I think also to give the ladies a reason to meet, have delightful refreshments and just enjoy the fellowship of one's home.

They would meet once a month and have a program that would be centered on the music world. It even included music performances by some of the ladies. Mrs. S. M. Jenkins gave a piano solo, “The Palms”, while a vocal solo was given by Miss Kittie Gray. Their program was the life and music of Bach and a paper on the History of Music. Some of the women that were members of the club were, Mrs. Thomas Cochran, Mrs. S. M. Jenkins, Miss Kittie Moore, Miss Kittie Gray, Lilly Doss and Mrs. Fannie Walker to name a few.

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Another one of Marion’s Community Minded organizations was the Kiwanis Club. It received its charter in May of 1923.

May 4, 1923 – Marion Kiwanis Club

The Marion Kiwanis Club met on Friday evening of last week for their “Charter Party” and a splendid program had been arranged for the occasion. The meeting was also turned into ladies’ night. The district governor made the presentation at the banquet.

The Marion Orchestra furnished music for the occasion. The Kiwanis Club Quartet sang several selections and Misses Guess and Mrs. Newton Moore entertained with some musical numbers.

During the course of the dinner there was prize drawing for the ladies. Each Kiwanian gave some prize for the occasion. At the plates for souvenirs were memo books with the Kiwanis emblem for the ladies and match boxes with the emblem for the men.

Clem S. Nunn resided at the meeting and as soon as the banquet had been served, introduced Hon. Charles T. Gilbert of Nashville, District Governor of the Kiwanis International.

Mr. Gilbert gave a splendid address, explaining what Kiwanis was and its work and how the Club became organized and received its name, and at the conclusion of the address presented President L. E. Crider with the Charter.

This was followed by a speech by Mr. Crider accepting the Charter, and outlining the work that the local club will undertake and has undertaken to accomplish. Our motto is “We Build” and our principle endeavor is to build our community to its highest level.

The hall was decorated in the Kiwanis colors and Kiwanian hats and been passed around in the beginning of the party so everyone present could not help but have the Kiwanis spirit.

During the dinner Secretary Bourland read the several telegrams from the various clubs welcoming the local organization into their large family.

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These are just three of the local civic clubs, that had through the years, given unselfishly of their time and money to help make Marion and Crittenden County a better place to live.  All of the above were disbanded many years ago, but their efforts are noteworthy to remember today.