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Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
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100 Years Ago: Didn't need Peedy Phipps telling us There was Rain! Adair County's annual calamitous downpours did a real number on the county in 1903, putting the Campbellsville pike bridge a mere 18 inches above water and keeping folks away from the mouth of Disappointment. Bridges were cheaper then, though, in those days, when the Champion Bridge Company bid its deluxe model over Green River at Neatsville for $3,700, a teeny fraction of what it takes for Jobe Darnell to put one across Sulphur Creek today. And in Gradyville, one of Strong Hill's houses and a blacksmith shop were washed away. This authoritative report is based on the authoritative compilations of Jim from the authoritative Adair County News of May 3,1903, and on the ultimate authority on things past in Adair County, the writings of historian Mike Watson in An Adair County, Kentucky History. And that's just a sampling of what's in this account. -CM By "Jim" Although the May 3, 1911 edition of the News was by self-confession quite short on news (several pages were dedicated to the Sheriff's report), a fair number of articles of interest graced the front page. The major news concerned the heavy rains that began on Saturday night and lasted through most of Sunday. The article stated in part that Russell's creek was higher than it had been for several years, the water reaching within eighteen inches of the bridge on the Campbellsville pike, and the mouth of Disappointment could not be approached on account of back water... At Gradyville the situation was alarming, many families removing from lower lands to higher points. At this point the water lacked only a few inches of being as high as it got four years ago when twenty persons were drowned...A house belonging to Strong Hill and also a blacksmith shop were washed away...A number of farmers living on the waters of Pettisfork lost miles of fencing. Another news piece somewhat jubilantly announced that "The building of the new Baptist church in Columbia is now assured." (News owner C.S. Harris was a member of the church.) The building committee had a few days earlier been handed subscriptions totaling eight thousand dollars, "the amount agreed upon to be used in the building." The structure was to be "brick and modern in design," and the committee planned to consult with contractors within a few weeks in hopes of awarding a contract. Things didn't go quite as quickly as planned. Not until May, 1913 -- two years later -- did construction start on the new building, located on the same lot as the old. The cornerstone was laid in November, 1913; and the first use of the new church building recorded in the News came when Rev. Chesterfield Turner was ordained a year later, on November 29, 1914. The building was formally dedicated on Sunday, August 22, 1915, and the next edition of the paper noted that "The people of Columbia and especially the Baptists, are proud of their church building, a magnificent edifice, and they are more than gratified, knowing that all obligations have been met." Meanwhile, the Champion Bridge Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, the same outfit which had in recent years put up several other bridges in Adair County, had been awarded the contract to erect a bridge across the Green River at Neatsville. Champion had bid in on two different "weights" (how much load the bridge could handle), the lighter weight at $3,100 and the heavier at $3,700. County Attorney Gordon Montgomery, Judge N.H. Moss, and the bridge committee were expected to choose the latter. This unsigned and somewhat mysterious announcement also appeared on the front page in what might be construed as an effort to steal a march on our friend Mike Watson's An Adair County, Kentucky History of fourscore and ten years later: A move is on foot to write up the history of Adair county, from its formation. Any person who is in possession of papers or books, touching the early settlement of the county will confer a favor by bringing same to [the News] office. A note from Mrs. J.O. Russell reminded readers that the Cemetery Association meeting would be held on Saturday, May 6, 1911 at the Hancock Hotel. Members were requested to pay their dues (50 cents per year) and Mrs. Russell farther stated "We are anxious to complete the cleaning, mowing and raking, before decoration day." On a recent road trip, the Lindsey Wilson baseball swept three games, defeating the Buchanan Institute boys of Campbellsville 5-2; the Middlesburg nine by the same margin, 6-3, and the "Deaf and Dumb Institute" (one of the gentler sobriquets of the era applied to the Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville) by a score of 7-1. The Columbia Graded School team, which at the time included the high school department, fared not so well. The news of the inglorious journey to Glenville must be read in its entirety for full appreciation: The Graded School nine of this place went to Glenville last Saturday, expecting to have an easy time wiping up the club at this place, but they made a miscalculation. Glenville boys were in fine trim and the when the game closed the score stood 9 to 1 in favor of Glenville. The feature of the game was Edwin Cravens' pitching. When the boys returned home a News man met Lee Flowers, who played left field. He was asked what was the matter with the school team. "Well I will just tell you. The Glenville club had a man would could pitch South, paw North, paw East and West, that is what was the matter." And in closing, this thunderously stern directive, tucked away at the very bottom of the left-hand column of page one: The washing of cuspidors at the public well is strictly prohibited by the Board of Health. Carry them to the branch. Compiled by "Jim" This story was posted on 2011-05-01 05:32:55
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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:
Tribute to Mr. Rollin Thomas Stone of Cane Valley, KY Cane Valley, KY, 1898: a beautiful little city Vonnie Kolbenschlag finds more on Columbia PO's in Early Columbia Columbia Post Office was in Mouser Real Estate office. For a fact Jim, 103.5 years ago: Some of the news that was fit to print Taco Day at Angel's was major event when cafe was open Remembers wonderful 12 cent Jiffy Burgers downtown Margaret Acree recalls quiet heroism of mother, Emma McGaha Short history of WGRB, by Mark Hale Great Wooded South Lexicon gets splendid contributions View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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