Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Southern Crittenden County News: July 17, 2008

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

Joe Bennett, Dan Ogle, Dan Henderson and Orville Henderson enjoyed an all-day visit on Friday to Cahokia Mounds, near Collinsville, IL. The mounds are the site of an ancient Native American city (650-1400 A.D.). The 2,200 acre site includes numerous man-made earthen mounds.

Vacation Bible School was enjoyed by all who attended at Seven Springs. A cookout with games was held on Saturday night. Commencement was on Sunday. Approximately 75 were in attendance for the worship service there on Sunday.

Local farmers are enjoying abundant crops of green beans, fresh corn and homegrown tomatoes. The farming spirit is alive and well in this part of the county.

More than 100 people were in attendance at the Smith-Owen family reunion in Frances on July 5.

Thoughts and prayers go out to George Strilko of New Lenox, IL (husband of the former Carolyn Myers of Southern Crittenden County) who is in the hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Josh, Star and Jacob Mahs and Jenny Patton enjoyed a visit to Chesterton, IN over the weekend.

Steve and Norma Peek were in Dycusburg visiting on Sunday.

Recipes are coming in quickly for the Dycusburg cookbook. Please submit yours by e-mailing dycusburg@yahoo.com.

A collaborative effort between some Southern Crittenden residents and the local county shelter has resulted in the removal of several cats, including kittens at Dycusburg. This is a kind reminder that stray animals often suffer due to lack of vaccinations and proper care. We encourage all readers to spay and neuter their animals. If, for any reason, you can no longer care for your pet, a shelter is available behind the county road department in Marion.

The Dycusburg Community Group (DCG) is looking for more active members. If you are interested in joining, please contact DCG President Michelle Henderson at 988-2758 or dycusburg@yahoo.com. The next meeting date will be announced in next week's issue.

The most recent cleanup efforts in this part of the county have focused on Dycus Road.

Please share your news by e-mailing michrehend@yahoo.com or matthewtpatton@yahoo.com. You can also call 988-2758.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Cookbook Recipes Still Needed

Recipes for the Dycusburg Community Cookbook have started rolling in! Don't miss your chance to be included!

Do you have some great recipes to share? The Dycusburg Community Group will be printing a cookbook to benefit the future projects of the group.

The proceeds from the book will benefit future Dycusburg Day events, special holiday celebrations or other special community projects.

The group is accepting recipes via e-mail at dycusburg@yahoo.com. Deadline for recipes is Aug. 1, and printing will occur this fall.

If you'd prefer to mail your recipes, please e-mail matthewtpatton@yahoo.com for an address.

Although we welcome all recipes, we are looking for recipes from with a solid family or heartwarming story behind them, such as a recipe handed down through generations or a classic dish made with a twist. Include the story or history behind the recipe if you can!

The fine print: Due to copyright law, we cannot publish recipes that were previously printed in copyrighted material such as cookbooks, magazines or newspapers (without express written permission, if applicable).

Dycusburg Dedicates Veteran's Memorial

By Bobbie Foust, (Lyon Co., Ky.) Herald Ledger, July 10, 2008 (reprinted with permission)

An estimated 500 people turned out for the dedication of the Veteran's Memorial at the Fourth of July celebration, Red White and Boom!, said Michelle Henderson, president of the Dycusburg Community Group.

“That’s the biggest crowd we’ve had down here for anything,” Henderson said in a telephone interview Sunday. “Two church parking lots were full and cars were parked along the streets.“Our little town felt like a family,” Henderson said, noting that though Dycusburg is the smallest town in Kentucky, it has a heart as big as the world.

Chase Matthews, a 23-year-old Dycusburg National Guardsman who lost both legs when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Iraq, parked his car close to the memorial site and watched the ceremony from there, Henderson said.She said about 35 area veterans attended and remained throughout the ceremony despite a thundershower.

The Rev. Lonnie Knight, pastor of Seven Springs Baptist Church, dedicated the memorial. Knight has a special connection to veterans because his brother-in-law, Johnny Lindsey, a Dycusburg native, died in the Vietnam Conflict. Knight expressed gratitude for American troops and veterans, especially the wounded and those who died in action. He also recognized the families who support soldiers gone for extended periods and he mentioned the toll it takes on those families.Visitors came not only from Crittenden and surrounding counties, but also from Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Owensboro, Lexington and Louisville.Henderson said she and her husband, Dan, have built a cabin in the woods and hosted a camp out. Also there were 25 to 30 campers at the campground.

Matthew T. Patton, also a Dycusburg native, writer and editor of a medical magazine in Philadelphia, opened the ceremony with a history of the property where the monument was placed. The site is next to the Dycusburg Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

At one time the city hall and the jail stood on the site and later it was farmland. In a 2000 overview of Dycusburg history, Patton wrote that Dycusburg “is now nothing much more than a handful of buildings at a sharp curve where (Ky.) 70 ends and (Ky.) 295 starts — but the distant sound of a whistle from a boat in the (Cumberland) river is enough to spark memories in the minds of the few remaining residents of a once booming and bustling town.”

Dycusburg, once a major commercial center on the Cumberland, boasted three grand hotels, a bank, general stores, tobacco warehouses and a distillery. It shipped tobacco and other goods from local factories, mines and distilleries to points throughout the South. However, a devastating fire in 1906 destroyed a major part of the city. The 39 remaining businesses prompted hope despite the loss, but the following year, another fire destroyed Dycusburg People’s Bank and the Yates Hotel. Then came the tobacco war in 1908 with the infamous beating of Henry Bennett by Night Riders and the torching of his tobacco warehouse and Bennett Brothers Distillery.

A spectacular, hourlong fireworks display followed the memorial dedication, which Henderson noted would not have been possible without the charitable donations from many people. Financial support for the group may still be made to the Dycusburg Community Group, P.O. Box 112, Dycusburg, KY 42037.

(Photo: Makanda Rolfe and Amanda Oliver, formerly of Eddyville, dance in the streets during the celebration. Photo by Jeannie Griffin)

Saturday, July 12, 2008

More Photos From "Red, White and Boom!" (July 4, 2008)

Click for larger versions.

Southern Crittenden County News: July 10, 2008

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

Our sympathies are extended to the family of Carter Travis who died last week.

Rebecca Wilhoit of Lawrenceburg, Ky., and her daughter visited Crittenden County on Friday in a large recreational vehicle. Their ancestors lived in Southern Crittenden County.

Connie and Harry Gould visited the Brasher farm during the Fourth of July weekend. Connie is visiting their daughter, Fran, soon in Alaska.

Seven Springs had 52 in attendance at Sunday school with many more arriving for the service. Vacation Bible School was held there this week. This Saturday, the church will host a cookout for the children. Dycusburg had several in attendance (by some estimates more than 500) for the dedication of the Veteran’s Memorial on July 4. Matthew T. Patton opened the ceremony with a history of the property where the monument was placed, then introduced Michelle Henderson, president of the Dycusburg Community Group (DCG). She welcomed all who came to support the DCG’s efforts and thanked veterans and acknowledged all active servicemen and women. She introduced Bro. Lonnie Knight who expressed gratitude for troops and veterans, especially the wounded and killed in action. He also mentioned families who support soldiers gone for extended periods and the toll it takes on families. The dedication ended with a prayer.

A large group of veterans gathered around the marker for photos while several in the crowd reminisced about old times. Visitors from Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Owensboro, Lexington, Louisville and surrounding counties enjoyed the time spent in Dycusburg for the festivities.Before and after the ceremony, delicious food was served by the Riverside Café and Evan Dew Productions.

A few enjoyed playing washers and the Piney Creek Church had games for children, free water and prizes. After dark, a spectacular fireworks display lasted more than an hour. A phenomenal band, Western Ky.-based “Gunner T,” played an amazing range of musical selections. In fact, they were so stellar, the band was secured for Dycusburg Day (Oct. 11). We will have vendors, music and a full day of activities. Watch this column for more details.

Without the generosity of all involved, including charitable donations, the “Red, White and Boom!” celebration would not have been such a huge success. If you’d like to contribute, your donation may be sent to DCG, P.O. Box 112, Dycusburg, Ky. 42037.

Southern Crittenden County News: July 3, 2008

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

Farmers are still busy getting hay gathered up. In the meantime, everyone's enjoying the exceptionally beautiful weather.

Several out-of-staters (including Texas, Louisiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania) have arrived in the area to camp and partake in the festivities at Dycusburg on the 4th.

Curtis Griffin is out of the hospital and feeling much better.

Seven Springs had 70 in attendance on Sunday. Vacation Bible School (VBS) runs July 7-9 from 6-8 p.m. The following Saturday, a cookout will be held with fun and games for the children.

Save your gas and support your local community by heading to Dycusburg on Friday. The Dycusburg Community Group will host its July 4 "Red, White and Boom!" celebration in a new and improved Dycusburg! The Dycusburg Area Veteran's Memorial Park and marker dedication (led by Rev. Lonnie Knight) will be at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks at 8:30. Western Kentucky-based "Gunner T" will perform after the ceremony and before and after the fireworks. An expanded selection of food will be offered at the Riverside Café that day, including a grill outside by Evan Dew Productions with steak sandwiches, ribs, turkey and hot dogs.

The first 20 children to get to Dycusburg's celebration will get a free small American flag to wave during the dedication. In the event of rain, watch this column for information about a rain date.

Happy birthday to Michelle Henderson (July 2).

This week's historical tidbit focuses on some merchants at Frances (1874-1947). Dr. Charles Owen, Drugstore and Grocery; Critt Allen, General Merchandise; M.F. Pogue, Drugstore and General Merchandise; W.W. Pogue; W.W. Pogue, Jr.; Pogue and Matthews; Matthews and Oliver; S.H. Matthews; M.F. Pogue & Son; Weldon Brothers; W.E. Asbridge & Milton Yandell; Brown Brothers; Brownie Oldham. Later day merchants: John Holloman, Mrs. W. E.Asbridge and B. O. Matthews.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Dycusburg Veteran's Memorial Marker Dedication (July 4, 2008)

Click on photos for larger version. More photos to come ...