Back in the 80's it was customary for the families to pick a suitor for their daughter. The suitor donned his best clothes with a high still collar and cut away coat and rode a mule to the girl's home. The father of the girl came out and put the mule in the barn and invited the young man to supper.

Very little was said during the meal and after supper the young girl would steal glances at the young man. When he mustered a little courage, he moved his chair over and whispered to her.

"Will you talk to me?" he said in low tones. she told him she would but he misunderstood her and the next day sadly rode away.

Several days later a cousin of the girl told him she had said "yes" when he thought she said "no." with hopes zooming high he went back to her home to ask for her hand. They were later married.

A few years later the younger group went on photography trips together and picnics on the Ivy Hill. Lover's Rock on Ivy hill was a favorite gathering place in the summer time.

Iron Wedges used>

The first road made to the top of Ivy Hill was to get rock for the foundation of he old jail and court house. The rock was hauled off the hill on a sled pulled by horses.

Since there was no dynamite at that time to loosen the rock, iron wedges were driven in the rock to split it. Jake samuels was said to be one of he best stone mason's of his time.

He was hired to come to Harlan to lay the rock. He was assisted by Joe Mobley. The large stones sat on iron spikes. The windows in the jail were about four inches square and covered with wire.

The circuit judge and commonwealth attorney for Harlan county lived in Barbourville. They came here as did circuit riders to hold court. Court convened about twice a year when civil and criminal cases were tried at the same time.

Mose Cawood Killed

Colonel Clark, commonwealth attorney, and L. boyd, circuit judge held court here for several years. While Colonel Clark, fought in the Civil War one of his men killed Mose Cawood of harlan County.

Clark was afraid to come to this country at first and done all he could possibly do to make friends with the people here. The old court house had four entrances with small platforms enclosed by banisters. The judge usually went out on the platform and called to the witnesses. One day Clark and his friend, Wix Howard, went out on the platform and Clark leaned too hard against the banisters and they fell. Howard finished kicking them down.

Some of hte pranksters who stayed around the court house wanted to hav a little fun at the expense of the stern old judge coming up the street and Enos Johnson went to the window and called three times for Judge Boyd, as he had done many times for witnesses. It was all for fun but the judge didn't see the comical side.

Fined Two Dollars

"Who called for the judge?" he asked in a deep, solemn voice.

"I did, sir," said Johnson, meekly.

"You're fined $2," announced the judge.

That was the last time they played a joke on the judge.

The courthouse yard, where the diet had been trampled slick was an ideal place for marble shooting. On a rainy day the blacksmith shop was used. The shop had a dirt floor.

Some of the champion marble "plunkers" were: Green Ward, F. G. Lewis, Hamp howard, Will Jones, Ewell Skidmore, Will Ward and J.B. Carter.

picture...SWINGING BRIDGE---The old swinging bridge crossing the river to Georgetown was a favorite spot for picture making on Sunday afternoons. Shown here left to right are: Maxine Forester, Edith Denham, Bertha howard, Lee Ward, and Mable Green with the high button shoes.

Sunday January 10, 1954

Volume 53 Number 7

Pages 1 & 8

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