Ohio County, Kentucky History: August 2021

Saturday, August 28, 2021

FISCAL COURT – 1924

FISCAL COURT – 1924

Photograph of the Ohio County, Kentucky Fiscal Court of 1924 with members: Walter McConnell, Mack Martin, ? Murray, John Walters, ? Taylor, Guy Ranney (seated last man in second row). Others unknown.

Source: WKU Library

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Below is a photograph of Anna Murl/Myrl Fisher, who was a World War II nurse and after the war she attended the University of Chicago and later taught at Bunker Hill in Equality, Ohio County, Kentucky. Anna was born 7 January 1911 in Kentucky (probably born in Ohio County). She was the daughter of William Lee & Lodema Fulkerson Fisher. Her family is shown living in McHenry for the 1920 census.

Anna attended Western Kentucky State Teachers College (now WKU) and is shown in a 1932 yearbook photo with her classmates. Anna married ___ Brown and in 1967 was living in Radcliff, Kentucky. Anna died 3 Jan 1989 in Hardin County, Kentucky.

Below is a registration card Anna filled out for postgraduate work at the University of Chicago.

WWII Cadet Nursing Card Files, 1942-1948

Source: WKU Library

Saturday, August 21, 2021

1862 - ARRIVAL AT CROMWELL

"ARRIVAL AT CROMWELL, OHIO CO., KENTUCKY” “OUR SPECIAL AND HIS CONTRABAND, UNDER ESCORT, CHANGING THEIR BASE OF OPERATIONS." From Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. Dated 14 Feb 1862

Leslie was traveling with the Union Army in February 1862 when they came through the Cromwell area.

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, later renamed Leslie's Weekly, was an American illustrated literary and news magazine founded in 1855 and published until 1922. It was one of several magazines started by publisher and illustrator Frank Leslie.

Source: WKY Library

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

1895 Ohio County Fair

I found this nice image of a ticket for the 1895 Ohio County Fair and thought it was too good to pass up.

Source: WKU Library

Here are two articles from the Hartford Herald about the 1895 Fair:

I notice that the 2021 Ohio County Fair is just around the corner, Sept 16-25. Here's some info about the events for this year:

Motorcycle Rodeo-Thursday

Mud Bog-Friday/Saturday

Pony Pull- Friday

Tractor pull/ Saturday

All Pageants will start at 7:00 pm

Little Miss & Mister -Thursday (closed) 9.16

Pre-Teen- Open/ Friday 9.17

Miss Teen Open / Saturday 9.18

Miss Ohio County Open/Saturday 9.25 @Beaver Dam amphitheater.

Saturday, August 14, 2021

1903 Train wreck

1903 Train wreck

Photograph of a train wreck in McHenry, Ohio County, KY; 16 May 1903, McHenry, KY: Illinois Central Railroad, Memphis and Louisville passenger train; John F. Mattis, Engineer, and John Kerr, Fireman, both of Louisville, were killed. Ten passengers injured. Those injured included: G. T. Stocker, baggagemaster, Louisville; W. Crokner, passenger of New Orleans, W. S. Wilson, passenger of the Fruit Dispatch Co; Mrs. C. M. Lapeley, passenger of NYC; Mrs. B. F. Keller, passenger of Brownwell WV, Arthur Foye, passenger of Louisville; J. P. Franklin, Pullman conductor; B. B. Summers, passenger of Louisville; David Vaughn, passenger of McHenry. One of the trucks of the engine broke while running fast and fell to the ground which wrecked the engine, the mail car, a baggage car and 2nd class coach. (Paducah KY Sun, 16 May 1903).

Source: WKU Library

Source: Hartford Herald, May 20, 1903

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Star Theatre - 1930

Star Theatre - 1930

Photograph of the Star Theatre in Hartford, KY (Ohio County) from 1930 with "Universal Talking" pictures.

Identified persons in front of the theatre are: Sandy Hendshaw, Harold Daniels, Arch Howard, Altheron, Phil Pack, Guy Ranney, Charles Ranney, Charles Reeves, Joe Tate, Ray Dunn and Marion Dunn.

"The Divorcee" is advertised in the window along with "In the Headlines" starring Marion Nixon and Grant Withers and "Moan and Groan," a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film.