Marion Timeline 1954-2016

In the process of creating an extensive article about the Robert L. Butler administration (1963-2018) a few years back I searched through the Southern Illinoisan newspaper archives back to the late 1950’s and took note of significant events that occurred … Continue reading

1941, Marion Has Ample Water

City Reservoir Google image 2012While Carbondale, West Frankfort and Other Towns Suffer Marion Has Ample Supply

Residents of Marion, who can reflect back twenty-three years ago can sympathize with Carbondale, West Frankfort and other Southern Illinois cities who are now suffering from a water shortage.

Twenty three years ago, during WW I, Marion was only able to have water for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. You had to fill your bathtubs and surplus pans with needed water for drinking and sanitation. Citizens were patrolling the streets to prevent the possibility of a fire breaking out, and the community was in constant fear that what water they had would evaporate before rains filled the deep wells from which our water was then obtained. Continue reading

1967, City Annexes Right of Way West of Marion

City Annexes Right of Way West of Marion

State right of way along New Rt. 13 westward from Interstate 57 to Broeking Road was annexed this week to Marion by the City Council.

Robert Hall clothing store is included in the annexation.

This council action paves the way for businesses along the highway that want city service to petition for annexation into the city. Continue reading

1967, Marion’s Original Water Tower Comes to an End

Original Water Tower 1921-196341 Year Old Water Tower Heralded Marion, The Opportunity City

Perched 150 feet above the ground, two men with cutting torches have been sawing off the limb thery were sitting on this week as they dismantled the abandoned water tower that has stood at the Marion Water Plan on North Madison for 47 years.

Workmen for the Globe Construction Company of Henderson, Kentucky began taking the tower down Wednesday and expect to finish this Tuesday. They first removed the standpipe which extended from the ground 100 feet to the bottom of the elevated 150,000 gallon tank. They then began cutting away the rest of the tank in segments and dropping them one by one through the bottom. Continue reading