Crayne's Rock Quarry

Illinois Central Railroad Rock Quarry

The information for this history was shared with me by Greg Stallion. His family used to live on Loyd Road just South of Crayne.

Located on approximately 160-180 acres of woodland 1.5 miles East of Crayne midway between the Crayne Cemetery Road and Loyd Road. The current property owner is former Crayne resident Marcus Norman of Evansville, Indiana.

This quarry is believed to have been first established in Crayneville by the Illinois Central Railroad Company in order to supply stone needed to construct the railways being built through Crittenden County during the late 1870's. Large deposits of sandstone were extracted from this site and also used to build chimneys, stepping stones and foundations of various community homes. (There was a couple of these large stones that were at my Grandmother's home, Ethel Brantley's, at her home on the corner of Crayne Cemetery Road and Hwy. 641) and they were used as a walking bridge over the large ditch to walk from her yard to the highway.) I've also been told that some of these stones were also used in the community of Fredonia, Ky as stepping stones for sidewalks and patio's.

The site of which the rock quarry once stood is only visible by those who knew where it once was. Although heavy wooded growth now dominates the old working area, large cut rocks of various sizes are still present in the old quarry.

It appeared to be that the workers of the Illinois Central Railroad Rock Quarry first began cutting their stones out of the nearby bluff itself, starting approximately 35 feet in height and working down.

The quarry was only active for a period of a few short years (1-2), closing shortly after the full construction of the railway.

In the picture above made by Greg Stallion about 5 years ago, the stones were nicely stacked. I've been told just last year, that many of the large cut stones have been taken and not many are left now and the place is a mess.

Crayne School Reunion August 22, 2009

Crayne School Reunion

The Crayne School Reunion was held August 22, 2009. Although not as many attended this year as in 2006, the afternoon was sure enjoyed by those that came.

The oldest student there was Houston Kirk, he is 86 years old. The next oldest was James Robert Dorroh at 83 years old. Both are in good health and attend church and activities regularly.

Edwin White of Kingsport, TN, drove the farthest at 350 miles.

John Walker, who I hadn't seen for over 40 years, drove from St. Louis for the day.

The picture at the right, are three old friends, who attended school all 12 grades together. Grade school at Crayne and High School at Crittenden County High School. Left to Right. Harold Cannon, Clinton Bigham and Me. Thanks for the memories.

Hail Storm of August 11, 2009

Catching up on the Happenings in My Home Town.

Crayne was once again hit with a storm on August 11, 2009. This time it was a terrible wind and hail store. Many homes were damaged as much or more than by the January 3, 2000 tornado that devastated our little community.

The picture at the right is what was left of one of the windows in my family home. This is a storm window and the inside window, both busted by the large golf size pieces of hail. The shutters were also busted out, shown on the right of the window. The pieces that you see plastered on the upper part of the picture are leaves that was shred from the trees. Siding had holes in it the size of baseballs.

The last of the damaged homes are being repaired this month. New roofs and siding are being completed and people are about back to normal.

The Crayne knobs, which are usually a colorful site in the fall, were so damaged by the wind and hail that they have looked brown and shredded for the rest of the summer. There wasn't one colorful tree to be seen on them this fall.

Making of Future History

The Crayne School Reunion Committee met last night and formed the plans for the 2nd Crayne School Reunion. The first-ever Crayne School Reunion was held on Sept. 9, 2006 and was a big success. Several generations of Crayne school students met at the Crayne Presbyterian Church and exchanged memories, stories, laughter, hugs and friendship.We hope this one will bring back even more of the Crayne students and another enjoyable, memorable day.

• Here is the information.
  Crayne Reunion Scheduled for August 22, Crayne School reunion will be held August 22, at the Crayne Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, starting at 2:00 p.m.
• Anyone who attended school or taught at Crayne and their spouse or guest are invited to attend. Finger foods, desserts and drinks will be served.
• Old school pictures and other memorabilia are welcome for display. Dig through those old pictures and share them with old friends.
  
• Reservations may be made by mailing a check for $7 single, or $14 couple as soon as possible to Betty Hodges, 4770 US Hwy 641, Marion, KY 42064,
• or Linda Tabor, 5229 US Hwy 641, Marion, KY 42064.
  
  
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Vernon and Wilma Sutton Home

One of the old homes in Crayne was torn down recently. The home of Vernon, Wilma and Bernice Sutton. It was located just below the home of James Robert Dorroh. The railroad track used to be just to the right of the home on the hill. Bernice grew up with the sounds of the old locomotives going past each day.

Bernice told me that her mom and dad bought the house about 1941 and it was only a two room little house. Through the years, her dad built several more rooms and a bathroom to it and made it the house you see in the picture.

It had a little stream running beneath the trees and Uncle Vernon had built a small concrete bridge over it. I remember when me and Mom visited them when I was little, how I love going back and forth across that little bridge over the stream. Probably hoping I would fall in it.

Bernice had kept the home for many years after her parents passed away, but decided it was time to let go and so she sold it to some folks in Fredonia. They tore the house and out buildings down in May of 2009 and have now moved in a double wide mobile home in the lot.

Bernice and I are first cousins, our Mom's were half-sisters.

Crayne Day History con't.

Crayne Day 25th Anniversary, June 6th, 2009.

James Robert Dorroh and Houston Kirk, enjoy the morning sitting under the shade of the Maple tree. Both Crayne people from way back. Both are in their 80's. Both fine gentlemen.

Crayne Day was only a shadow of it's former days, with only a few yards sales sit up and that was all. James Robert had some entertainment of music and Rodney Paris was there with his wooden puppet Finis, who danced on a wooden board. Both were really good entertainment.

So many of the former residents that helped with that first Crayne Day so many years ago, have passed away. It's sad to see the little community without it former citizens. People who loved the community and made it a wonderful place to live. But thanks to James Robert for trying to keep the tradition of Crayne Day alive.

Crayne Day History

Tomorrow, June 6th, 2009, will be the 25th anniversary of the start of Crayne Day. It is only a shadow of the original Crayne Days that were held until the year 2000. After the tornado that hit Crayne on January 3rd, nothing was ever the same. It destroyed much of the community and also damaged people's homes, spirits and lives. Not they didn't whole heartily try to come back, rebuild and repair they homes and lives, it was just a hard time.

Now in 2009, James Robert Dorroh, one of the few original remaining Crayne citizens, tries to keep Crayne Day going, it is a hard task. Most all of the first families that helped those first few years are gone. The older residents passed away, and even one of the original creators, Peggy Malcom, has passed away. The homes that held these Crayne families may be empty or have new families in them, that really don't care about the neighborhood like those in the past.

In the first years of Crayne Day, it was just the most wonderful times, the yard sales and vendors would begin as you started down Crayne hill and continue all through the community until you left the other side of Crayne. Old Crayne residents would even plan their trips around this time so they could attend this event. Vendors from surrounding states had heard of the crowds and wanted to come and be a part of the day. Ruby Poindexter Franz became a special attraction each year with her home made fried apple pies. Everything imaginable was avaliable on Crayne Day.

In May of 2007, the Press ran an interview articles with Roseann Bebout, one of the original creators. It tells the history of Crayne Day.

Starting out as a small idea in 1984, it soon ballooned into something more that seemed to bring the life back into a once dying community.

Roseann Bebout, the postmaster at Crayne Post Office, was the one who formulated the plan and mentioned it to a good friend and neighbor of hers, Peggy Malcom. "I had heard James Robert Dorroh mention that Crayne was a dying community, and I wanted to fix it." Bebout said. "So I cam up with an idea that would bring all the neighbors together and just put life back into our community. Of course, when I mentioned the idea to Peggy Malcom, my good friend and neighbor, it was a hit and we started to work on it."

The plan was to just have a neighbor day with yard sales and cooking so life could be restored to the little town. With the plan in their heads, Malcom and Bebout went to setting it in motion. Malcom started moving the idea to other residents of Crayne by word of mouth and Bebout put a poster up at the post office.

It wasn't long before they began to get volunteers and neighbors who were offering their yards so that booths could be set up. Dorroh was one of the neighbors who volunteered to help.

What started out as just an idea for a day for neighbors to get together and have fun, soon grew into a large event and became a yearly celebration for Crayne, which was quickly dubbed Crayne Day.

With visitors coming to Crayne Day, local bands, volunteering to sing and more neighbors participating, Crayne Day had become a huge success.

Now these past times are just a wonderful memory that some of us that participated in the first Crayne Days are lucky to have.