Hood School, Shady Grove, KY And It's Namesake

         The old Hood School house, not too long before the building was torn down.

Not a lot of history was ever written and shared about the Hood School.  The old school was located about two  miles east of Shady Grove on the old Shady Grove-Providence road and it was a school in the 1800's.  It was on a parcel of ground taken from land owned by Chasteen Hood and the school was named for him. 

In addition to being a schoolhouse, which held all eight grades, the building was also used for neighborhood church services. 

The school closed in the 1940's and consolidated with Shady Grove.  In 1941 Clyta Horning was the teacher.

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Chasteen Hood was an early pioneer of Crittenden County.  He settled in the Shady Grove area. 

Chasteen Hood is buried in the Hood Cemetery, located on the Hood Cemetery Road about 3 miles from Shady Grove off of Providence Rd. His tombstone reads, Born July 4, 1801, Died Dec. 6, 1896. 

This picture of him appeared in The Crittenden Press in 1896.

Summer Excursions on the Ohio

An old post card showing the steamers, Joe Fowler and John S. Hopkins.  

The Crittenden Press announcement of June 6, 1907.

Operating the steamers, Joe Fowler and John S. Hopkins, the summer excursion season will open on the Ohio river, between Evansville and Paducah on June 1st and continue to September 1st.

You should take advantage of the extra low rates now in effect and enjoy the most pleasant trip offered on inland waters.  Boats duly furnished and have all appointments.  Orchestra on board.

The fare, with berth and meals, from Fords Ferry to Paducah and return in $2.50 for the round trip; and from Fords Ferry to Evansville is $3.00 for the round trip.

Make up your parties and if any further information is desired, apply or write to W. B. Wilborn, Agent, Fords Ferry, KY. 

Wonder if there were any of the River Gamblers on these trips.

One species of the old-fashioned Kentucky gamber was the card-playing gentleman who rode the early packets on the Mississippi, the Ohio, the Tennessee and the Cumberland Rivers.

These riverboat gamesters had their own professional slang.  Known as "Blacklegs," they were on the lookout for victims, called "gulls" or coneys" at every landing. 

In river gaming, the approach of the victim was seldom direct: There were "cappers" or coney catchers" which led the innocent to the fleecing.

One of the most colorful of this crew of greenhorn fleecers was Elijah Skaggs, "the preaching faro player," born in Western Kentucky.  A gambler from the age of 20, the Rev. Skaggs took up many a fat collection with the cards.

E. Jeffrey Travis, a Progressive Teacher - 1927

An interesting old article from the Crittenden Press dated, August 29, 1927.   Especially interesting to me as E. Jeffrey Travis was my grandfather.  He died when I was only 8 years so I didn't get to know him, and all his stories and history was lost to me.  It's always nice when I find something about him in the old Presses.

 

E. Jeffrey Travis, principal of the Bell Mine's school, in a letter enclosing some news items written by his school students, said, "I am trying to interest my pupils in reading papers and especially the Press.  I am using the Press in my school as a part of my language lessons."

 The gathering and writing of news as done by Mr. Travis' students is one of the most practical means of teaching English, and even a beginning of journalism, that has been attempted in any school, no matter what size, in this county.

Mr. Travis is also teaching an important lesson in good citizenship in encouraging the reading of newspapers and especially the local one.  A real interest will be created when the pupils see their work has been read and appreciated.

The Crittenden Press is glad of the opportunity of cooperating with Mr. Travis or with any other teacher in this sort of work. 

Marion United Methodist Church Postcard

  Another beautiful old post card pictures the Marion United Methodist Church.  Probably printed in the early 1920's.

According to the church history the church was organized about 1869 at the Court House.  After being organized the Methodists held services at the Presbyterian church on Sunday afternoons and had preaching once a month.  This old Presbyterian church was located on West Gum Street by the old cemetery that is located there.

The Methodists built their first church on West Bellville Street which was then called Salem Road.  This was a wooden building and poorly constructed and eventually had to be braced with log chains just below the roof.  A storm in 1890 destroyed the building.  A brick church was then built on the same lot and is the one the Christian congregation used for many years. (The Christian church history is told in another posting on this site)

In 1911 the cornerstone was laid for the present Methodist church and the first worship service in the new church was held April 28, 1912.  

                                     This is what the church looks like today.

1922 Common Sense Business Review

 In 1922, The Crittenden Press was trying to help promote local businesses and tell what they had to offer. The headline read, Common Sense Business Review Editorial, by Roland Kemper. From the archives of The Crittenden Press, Dec. 22, 1922.

These editorials have been compiled with the express purpose of showing the people of this section of the state what some of their home industries have to offer. The elimination of much foreign competition will have to be brought about if Crittenden County is to prosper and be a power in Western Kentucky.

The editorials contain facts and the people who feel that they are not too old to still be enlightened on things will find in reading these articles a new angle to work upon.

W. O. TUCKER FURNITURE CO.

A furniture store, when one stops to deliberate, furnishes the essentials that go to make a home out of a house. The making of a home, I must admit, necessitates favorable relation between man and wife. But a perfect home only comes with husband and wife being agreeable and also enough furniture in the house to make it comfortable and beautiful.

From this fact then we turn to the man who offers to the public this necessary part of the home and place more prestige on his business.

Mr. Tucker who conducts a furniture store bearing his name is another businessman who realizes that only as long as he gives a real service to the public will his establishment function in a successful manner.

This is an important fact for the people of this section of the state to know, because a knowledge of what basis he is depending on for success, insures them of having at their disposal a furniture store that is fully stocked with goods of a high standard at reasonable priced.

An inspection of the store by the writer of this article disclosed many unexpected things. They are too numerous to mention but the outstanding general impression was that it is modern, offers a variety of products and that prices were indeed reasonable when the quality of good was considered.

Mr. Tucker has left nothing undone to secure many articles in his store that will make practical and appropriate gifts for the holiday buyers.

Mr. Tucker also conducts an undertaking establishment. During the time he has been identified with the professional life of the community he has kept in touch with all that is new in the way of equipment but he is thoroughly abreast of the times relative to the latest scientific ideas on embalming. Courteous and efficient to a marked degree, he has won the confidence and heart felt commendation of many clients who have found great satisfaction in being relieved of troublesome details in the time of sorrow.

MARION MILLING CO.

In making my business survey of the bigger industries of Crittenden County I find this concern occupying a prominent position in its line of products.

It is only when one realizes the fact that bread is the staff of life, that the quality of the contents of this food is given much consideration, but with this knowledge of the important part bread plays in the health of our people it seems to me that rare discrimination should be given when it comes to the purchasing of flour and other breadstuffs.

A flour for example that has a look of fluff will not make as light a bread as the careful housewife demands and on the other hand a flour that is lacking in the proper bleaching process is not white consequently a dark bread is the result from its use.

I find that the Marion Milling Co. has left not a stone unturned to produce in "SWAN" their famous brand of flour, both of the qualities that have been discussed in this paragraph. This is a triumph in the modern milling industry and the proprietors of this mill in the rendering of this service to the people of this community are deserving of any amount of praise.

The men who operate this concern know that the success of their business is based upon the service they give their patrons and it is with this view in mind that they are over striving to build this business on and again the interests in this business are well aware of the fact that a letting down in the quality of their products will enable other concerns in the field to soon have their business.

So it seem to the writer that the housewives who are not already using Swan would do extremely well to investigate the quality of this home product. If found good, which I believe will be the case, then use and boost it with a vengeance.

                                              F.O. BUTLER GARAGE

F. O. Butler is very large, but that's not the reason he runs a garage. The reason he does – so we are told, is because he gives service whether it's hot or it's cold. 2^nd the people like it and came from afar, to have him make repairs on their car. And when the car is repaired, the work is the very best. If you want your car made safe as a bank, Take it in and have it looked over by Big Frank.

Early Inventors of Marion

 Marion and Crittenden County has had several inventions during the past from our own local citizens that are interesting to read about.

The following is an interesting article written in August 1906 for The Crittenden Record Press.

Crittenden County has sailed down the sea of time for many years without fear and with much favor. And now it has been discovered that we have inventors in our midst.

• Mr. A. Dewey of the Marion Milling Company invented some kind of milling machinery and exchanged his ideas for several thousand dollars.

• Mr. John Morse invented a button case and they are in use today. Quite a number of inventions have been evolved from Marion thought domes.

•   Mr. J. LeRoy Shrode at present Superintendent of the Marion Electric Light & Ice Company has obtained a patent for an automatic oil cup which solves a world of problems for engineers. It promises to do away with hot boxes, bearings and the like. Upon examination you cannot tell the Shrode cup from the ordinary cup. They look alike and all work alike on stationary and movable engines. The “Shrode Automatic Oil Cup" is an appliance which automatically opens and feed oil faster the hotter the bearing gets. The beauty of this can readily be seen. The more oil the greater the tendency to cool the bearing and the cooler the bearing the less oil flows which of course is limited to a certain amount. The peculiar operation of this cup, especially the automatic mechanism, is still a secret for which Mr. Shrode is certainly justifiable. Mr. Shrode has already been offered $1,200 for his invention by one of the largest oil cup manufactures in the United States. He refused the offer and says whenever they place another nought to the right side of the two already there he will sell.  Mr. Shrode is practically a new-comer to Marion. It must be something in this peculiar Crittenden atmosphere that generates distinction among her sons and daughters and newcomers.

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The old Presses shared with its readers other creative and ingenious ideas and inventions through the years.

• In 1895 Mr. Fred Clement, of this county, is the inventor of a machine and wagon tongue supporter upon which the government has recently granted letters patent. A half interest in the patent has been sold to Mr. L. W. Cruce. Most farmers, and especially those using machinery, have felt the want of something to support or “hold up” the tongue of machines, such as wheat drills, reapers, wagons and such like.  The simple device patented by Mr. Clement meets the demand in every particular; it is inexpensive, and as handy as “a pocket in a shirt.” It will shortly be put before the public by Messrs. Clement and Cruce, and will doubtless meet with a hearty reception.

• In July of 1900, Mr. Thomas Barger of this county has secured a patent on a tobacco succorer. Its design is to remove the succor from a tobacco plant so completely that it never grows back. When a crop of succors have been once removed with his little, simple machine, the grower’s work of “succoring” is done for the season.  Mr. Barger secured the right a short time ago and has not yet put his patent on the market, but he has been exhibiting its work and tells us the farmers are well pleased with it, and feels confident that he will have a large sale for it next season.

• In March 1904, Mr. R. L. Yeakey, has invented a reproducer for a phonograph which, he claims, has a softer and a larger volume of sound than that of the Edison machine. When he gets his recorder perfected he will apply for a patent.

• March 1922. The energetic and business men of Marion know a good thing when they see it. John Glass, one of our townsmen, recently invented and patented a device for delivering and receiving mail from fast moving trains at stations where they make no stops.  Mr. Glass showed his invention to a number of business men of Marion who immediately took advantage of an opportunity to purchase same and have formed and incorporated a company for the purpose of marketing this device for the use of the railroad. The present system used by the railroads in unsatisfactory and expensive. This new invention will no doubt be adopted by every railroad in the country.  The company has employed A. Gustafson of Chicago to install the first trial station, which will be located near the Kentucky Fluor Spar Mill on the I.C.R.R. This project will be watched with great interest.

• April 1927. Former Marion Man Patents New Invention. Reginald Roy Hicklin, of San Antonio, Texas, has patented a new style propeller for use in aviation. Mr. Hicklin’s invention, among other things, eliminates much of the excessive vibration. The propeller also adjusts its pitch automatically to the speed of the propeller.

• September 1927. The United States Patent Office announced that William N. Perryman, of Marion, has obtained a patent on a novel mine ventilating apparatus. The application was filed and the case prosecuted by Clarence O’Brien, local patent attorney.  The invention provides an apparatus to suck bad air and gases out of the mine in an efficient manner. It is comparatively simple in construction and capable of being easily installed, according to the information furnished by the attorney.

Its interesting to find we have had many inventors in our past history.

Night Riders in Crittenden County

  This interesting article is from the Book titled Echoes of Yesteryear By Leslie McDonald, 1972.

Tobacco was the cash crop.  Dark-fired tobacco was grown especially for its value to bring in money when everything else failed.   Corn and wheat were bead for the table, hay was food for the livestock and sorghum was grown for a little sweetening.  Tobacco remained the commodity that brought a little girl a doll for Christmas, for other cash crops were practically non-existent.

By the 1890's and early 1900's tobacco was grown almost everywhere in the county.  There were large well-constructed barns on every farm to house and smoke dark tobacco.  A long aisle of hot coals was maintained on each side of the barn to "smoke" the tobacco until it cured to the color desired by the grower.

Many farmers grew large acreage of tobacco and in 1904 the price of tobacco dropped below the price it cost to product it.  This resulted in an organization called the Planter's Protective Association.  This tobacco surplus was put into what was known as "in pool".  Many planters refused to join the Association.  At first a harmless band was formed to force these planter to act but later it evolved into violence.

 
The Night Riders climbed into their saddles with two purposes:  The farmers must be forced to join them or not to raise tobacco.  As lawlessness increased, due to the fact that their identity was covered by a black mask and white sheets, they grew bolder.  They salted tobacco plant beds, tore up young plans and burned tobacco.  They began to burn tobacco warehouses, growers' barns and generally cause trouble.  Anyone who took sides against them soon met with their rage.

The Night Riders were soon out of control.  They used whips and clubs on individuals for real or imagined moral transgressions.  They shot into private homes for warnings.  Thorn switching was their favorite method of chastisement.  One man reported that bullets entered into the bedding of his sleeping sister.

Many threatening notes were the first indication of impending violence around Dycusburg.  Dycusburg was the location of the buying, selling and shipping of the farmers tobacco crops. 

The Bennett brothers owned the Distillery which the Night riders burned to the ground February 2, 1908.  They also burned the warehouse for tobacco owned by Henry H. Bennett.  They spared the warehouse of S. H. Cassidy. 

 They also decided to whip Henry Bennett and William Groves.  These men had continued to buy tobacco after their warning.  They were to be made into examples to warn others.  The Night Riders unmercifully whipped William Groves.  The beating crippled Mr. Groves permanently and he died a cripple, maimed and scarred some year later.   

For the chastisement of Henry Bennett, they chose to give one of the thorn-switch whippings.  One of his ears was almost torn off and he was left a complete invalid, though he lived two more years in agony.  On his tombstone in the Dycusburg Cemetery is this inscription "Killed by Night Riders".  This was March, 1908. 

Soon the entire countryside was so incensed by these brutal beatings that the word began to get around that the Night Riders would be ambushed on sight.  Some of the men would be riding in trucks while some continued on horseback.  This stopped the Night Riders for good.

A couple of the old tobacco barns that were in Crittenden County. 

 They are all about gone now.    Either fallen down, or being torn down for their lumber.