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CYRUS/Adair County, 1900 Cyrus finds another jewel: There was plenty of excitement in Adair County of 1900 By Joseph M. Pierce First published in 1972 As in 1941 the cry was "Remember Pearl Harbor," so back in 1898 it was "Remember the Maine." This writer well remembers how our little band of patriots marched all around the playground at old Conover School. Back in the early 1900s there was plenty of excitement for all. And we didn't have any drive-in theaters, or hot-rod cars; not even cars. Really, we were never in such a hurry that we couldn't enjoy whatever we had. Walking was our usual way of travel, and if we could not walk to a certain place we didn't go. Writer was a big boy before seeing Columbia If necessity forced a long trip, we would go on a horse, or in a vehicle drawn by a horse. This writer was a big boy before he saw Columbia, just nine miles down the road. He remembers seeing many brick buildings, also noticed that our little county seat had the First National Bank and thought it strange that our little history made no mention of that important fact. Sometime in the early 1900's there was a state- wide "Homecoming week for Kentuckians." Every former son or daughter of Kentucky was urged to visit again their old home town; and thousands did. In the county paper there appeared a bit of poetry that read something like the following: Be sure to visit ColumbiaYep, we had an auto--one only, at first--that made daily trips to Campbellsville, carrying passengers to meet the trains. Just a few years later these horseless buggies became more or less a public nuisance and the city put up signs at the city limits on ever road coming into town "Speed limit 8 miles per hour." Writer remembers trip to Russell Springs Just when the signs were taken down the writer does not know, but he remembers well the first time he traveled on Kentucky 80 to Columbia via Russell Springs. Our V-8 shot past the old Freedom-White Oak Community and we rolled into the courthouse square, wondering when we had crossed the county line! But we had lots of fun and good times in the old horse and buggy days. The elections, one almost every year, provided a lot of excitement. The assassination of President McKinley and later our governor-elect Goebel, gave the gossipers a lot to talk about, and the politicians kept the pot boiling about all the time. Then there were the little one-room schools all over the county where children were taught the three R's and how to behave in public. The schoolhouse was the center of the community's social life. Here (also at the church) the boys and girls met and courted. Here the youngsters met in spelling matches and at box or pie suppers and public entertainments. Here the old song master taught singing schools, ten nights for $1.50. And here the politicians staged rallies. Plenty of Friday night entertainment in walking distance Nearly every Friday night you could, by walking a few miles, go to some sort of entertainment at some school house--Conover, Stapp Springs, Blairs, Oak Grove, Concord, Rainfall--just to name a few in our neck of the woods. Speaking of the woods reminds me that there were many new grounds in the early 1900s. Every once in a while you could go to a log rolling (I've no time to explain the technique of log-rolling. Will just say that it was not unlike the log rolling that goes on in our US Congress.) Then there was the county fair that was a yearly attraction at every town of any size. Another annual attraction that I never knew first-hand was the big animal shows that came around every summer to get all the surplus nickels and dimes. I do remember seeing the Mighty Haag Shows pass on the county road en route to the next town. There were three miles of gaily decorated wagons and clowns, and just the sight of it made a little fellow wonder what it would be like to see it all. Country church another place to go Another place where everyone went was the country church. The meeting house was the place where all went to hear the gospel preached, where the children went to Sabbath School and where they learned how to be saved and go to heaven. Here we learned about a heaven to gain and a hell to shun, how to be saved from sin and its awful consequences. In those days, everyone, even the hardened sinners, had a wholesome fear of dying in sin and going to torment. No one dared to curse where the preacher or ladies could hear. How wonderful it would be if now we had more of that God-fearing spirit! Protracted meeting at Freedom Baptis church In January, 1903, there was a revival, or protracted meeting, as we called it, at the old Freedom Baptist Church, and this writer gave his heart and life to God, the very best he knew how. There were 15 others professed religion in that meeting and all were baptized in Russell Creek, down below the Acree Ford (in those days the baptizing always followed the protracted meeting. Cold water didn't matter at all, not if you got a good case of old- time religion!) Many precious memories now flood my soul, but I must close, lest our editor toss all in the waste basket . May I close by urging all who remember "Little Joe Pierce" to write to him at the address given below; and he will be glad to answer every one. Joseph M. Pierce 912 E. Jordan Street Pensacola, Florida, 32501. (Transcribed from page nine of the Saturday, January 29, 1972 issue of the Green River Sprite At the time Mr. Pierce penned this sketch, he was a lad of 78 summers.) Submitted by CYRUS, Central Ohio Bureau Chief This story was posted on 2006-01-02 12:11:16
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. (AD) - Many Reunion organizing efforts are also advertised in our REUNIONS category in our CM Classifeds. These are posted at a very low cost. See RATES & TERMS More articles from topic Local History:
An Adair CO, KY war: The Burton-Harmon Feud Ambrose Burton's enormous family touched Adair CO, KY, long after his death CYRUS/Oil's well that ends well CYRUS: Christmas 1944 fire destroyed Corner Drug Store LETTER: Cyrus finds interesting parallels in 1949 newspaper CYRUS: Milltown, as seen by Keith Marcum 35 years ago Cyrus/Christmas in Columbia, 1948 First Female Traffic Ticketeer For Adair CYRUS discovers ''Ghost of Campbell Ridge'' Cyrus/Jamestown Street Conflagration, 1941 View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
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