This location contains a piece of the town's history. Inside is
a museum, which is open for tours during the town's annual
celebration one day each May or by appointment.
According to a history book compiled by the Ballard-Carlisle
Historical-Geneaological Society, this community was founded in
1901 by Robert Urey Kevil of Princeton, Ky., who knew the Illinois
Central Railroad was planning its "mud route" to connect Paducah,
Ky. and Cairo, Ill. The first train ran over the railroad Aug. 16,
1903, and the depot here quickly became the biggest shipping point
for strawberries between the two bigger cities. A local woman
remembers schoolchildren were paid 30 cents a day to load the
berries onto the trains. The town also was the home of two tobacco
factories in the 1920s, and was a major shipping point for that
crop. Other products shipped to northern markets included tomatoes,
grain, other fruit and livestock.
Two passenger trains made daily round trips until approximately
1953. The rail line was removed in April 1983.
This area was a cinder railroad bed before townfolk decided to
get together and envisioned a place for relaxation and recreation.
Bake sales, yard sales, gospel singings, band concerts, pie suppers
and home-made ice cream suppers helped raise the necessary funds.
All but a $1,500 donation from the Purchase Area Development
District was raised locally. The park was dedicated June 4,
1989.
Although this cache is designed to be a quick find, this would
be a nice place for adults to linger and visit over a picnic lunch
while the kids play on the playground equipment. A grill, tables
and ample shade are available.