McLEAN COUNTY HISTORY & GENEOLOGY NEWS
By Euleen Rickard
In the column written by President Jim Hansford, he listed the fifty-three history subjects on which the museum is seeking information. Old previously written accounts, current writings, newspaper articles, pictures, anything related to the history of McLean County.
Last week we asked for articles on the floods of the Green River. Already on file are many pictures and a few written accounts. Some time ago Mary Edna Shourds had written “My Memories of the 1937 Flood.” In that account she recalled, “There were back waters almost every winter but we lived on the highest ridge in Rumsey and were safe. Then came the big one when we had to leave home and walk to the Calhoun School where we stayed until the water receded.” Janey Johnston in her account wrote “I was teaching at Ridge School east of Island and boarding with the Archie Neal family. The school was about a mile from the river and was soon closed. Mother was sick and I needed to go home to Sacramento. All roads out of Island were closed. Mr Henderson Kirtley came to my rescue, taking me by car to the creek where we got in a skiff and he rowed across the creek to the Norvel Wood store. From there Norvel took me by car on to Sacramento.” Alvin Rickard remembered rowing into the courthouse in Calhoun and Mary Ann Stevenson told of living on the second floor of our “Smith House Museum” that was her home at the time. If you have memories of that time, please tell us about them.
Two of our members are preparing town histories. Island is almost completed and Calhoun and Rumsey are being compiled. If you have old histories, or newspaper clippings, or write-ups of any of the towns or communities, share them with the museum.
We thank Kathy Olson and the Owensboro Area Museum for the donation of display cases, They are very nice and will give approximately fifty lineal feet for display of artifacts. Thanks to Don Wilson , and Alvin Rickard who moved them to Smith House. Also Mildred Iglehart donated was a pitcher that was bought at the Ankerman Store, a pair of gloves from Brennan’s and a spoon used at the Wilhite Restaurant.
Helen Anderson, Mildred Iglehart, Dorothy Pinkston and Euleen Rickard worked last Tuesday afternoon cataloging and filing. There is a backlog of things to be filed and cataloged. If you can help, call Helen Anderson for the next work date.
If you have old pictures, clippings, write-ups or artifacts that you would like to donate, you may leave them with Helen at the Chamber Office or mail them to McLean County History & Genealogy Museum, P.O. Box 34, Calhoun, KY 42327