Law enforcement in Marion in the 1920’s, during the heyday of the bootleggers and their gangs, was a chancy job. Our city traffic policeman during those times was John H. Smothers. He and his wife, the former Edna Tippy, lived with their three children, Ralph, Paul and Zella, at 702 South Madison Street. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: November 2013
This photo was submitted to the Marion Living Magazine by Geneva Stahlhut and was dated 1939. Since the photo was taken in front of the F.W. Woolworth store on the square and includes the store manager of the time, Virgil A. Jones, I can presume that all of these ladies are Woolworth employees posing for a group photo during the Williamson County Centennial celebration in 1939. Especially, since they are all in period costume, which was common for store employees and normal citizens during the celebration held August 26, 1939 through September 1, 1939. Continue reading
Ethel Ashby was born on Sunday, March 7, 1920, at Creal Springs, Illinois, to Walter Tanner and Ethel Davenport. Her mother died the day Ethel was born. Due to a fear that the baby would also be lost, Belle and Roy McGowan, aunt and uncle of the child, volunteered to love and care for the little girl at their home in Carterville. Continue reading
Mark Woodley Jr. was born December 24, 1873 at Dipton, Durham County, England, and was the son of Mark Woodley Sr. and Maria (Williams) Woodley and was partially educated in England
In early January 1886, Mark aged 12, his parents, then in their mid-40’s, and his 3 year old sister Florence boarded the steamship “Indiana” in Liverpool and arrived in the port of Philadelphia on January 29th. The family made their way to the coal fields of northern Illinois and located at Coal City southwest of Cook County. Mark completed his education in this area while his father worked the coal mines. Continue reading
Anyone growing up in Marion from the 1930’s into the 1970’s has to have fond memories of the old five and dime store on the west side of the Marion square called the F.W. Woolworth Company store. From its opening in March of 1927 to its last day on December 31, 1973, the mere mention of the store conjures up very specific smells for this author. I vividly remember those warm summer days when just a stroll past the big wooden, open double doors allowed the fragrance of their candies, chocolates and nuts to stream out onto the sidewalk inviting one in to sample their goods, like a mermaid calling sailors to the reef. Continue reading
