City Market circa 1905-1906 | Market House Museum

Paducah's Civil War Mayor Sauner found himself an unhappy leader when Federals came to occupy the town on September 6, 1861. At first, matters were conducted in a very civil manner, between the two gentlemen most involved, namely himself and US General Grant. But later in the day, after a heated discussion with the hot tempered and irrascible US General Eleazar A. Paine, Sauner decided to make himself scarce. He hightailed it out of town and laid low for several weeks before returning. His wife stayed put, as she couldn't...(or wouldn't...) leave the family heirlooms behind. The Federals had paid daily visits to his home, irritating Sauner's firebrand wife, and threatening to place a fine upon her husband, if he didn't show up soon. "They said that they would confiscate my property. But my wife said she'd see everything burn, first!" Sauner later said. Payne was removed from his Paducah post due to atrocities reported by the populace to the Federal authorities. Sauner then returned to Paducah. "But I never paid that fine, and they didn't take my personal property. And don't you forget it, either!" Sauner gloated in the Paducah newspaper, after the conflict had been over for more than 15 years. The Market House Museum has many artifacts relating to Paducah's federal Occupation, 1861-1865.


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	Archive Photos City market showing the center of the building where the meat vendors were situated. This photo is circa 1905-106, notice the high ceilings and opening windows with the fans throughout. All this helped to keep the heat up from the floor and off the meat products. » Thumbnail	Paducah's Civil War Mayor Sauner found himself an unhappy leader when Federals came to occupy the town on September 6, 1861. At first, matters were conducted in a very civil manner, between the two gentlemen most involved, namely himself and US General Grant. But later in the day, after a heated discussion with the hot tempered and irrascible US General Eleazar A. Paine, Sauner decided to make himself scarce. He hightailed it out of town and laid low for several weeks before returning. His wife stayed put, as she couldn't...(or wouldn't...) leave the family heirlooms behind. The Federals had paid daily visits to his home, irritating Sauner's firebrand wife, and threatening to place a fine upon her husband, if he didn't show up soon. "They said that they would confiscate my property. But my wife said she'd see everything burn, first!" Sauner later said. Payne was removed from his Paducah post due to atrocities reported by the populace to the Federal authorities. Sauner then returned to Paducah. "But I never paid that fine, and they didn't take my personal property. And don't you forget it, either!" Sauner gloated in the Paducah newspaper, after the conflict had been over for more than 15 years. The Market House Museum has many artifacts relating to Paducah's federal Occupation, 1861-1865.