Tag Archives: public square

Joseph’s Clothing Store

Posted on by May 26, 2014

A.H. Joseph\'s Clothing
A.H. Joseph\'s Clothing

A.H. Joseph Will Retire

Veteran Clothier Announces Sale Preparatory to Retiring from Business in Marion

A.H. Joseph is today announcing a sale which will start on Saturday and which is for the purpose of closing out his stock of clothing preparatory to retiring from business. Mr. Joseph came to this city from St. Louis twenty six years ago and opened up his store in the Warder block on the east side of the public square as soon as that building was completed. He received his stock before the building was ready and for a couple of months conducted his business in another location bur for more than a quarter of a century has been in business at the head of East Main Street. Continue reading →

Dunaway Opera House

Posted on by April 4, 2014

From the time I first compiled an article on the formation of the Marion Elks Lodge #800 in Marion a couple of years ago, I was intrigued with the statement that they were occupying the old Dunaway Opera House. The Dunaway building was located where the old F.W. Woolworth building is located in the 600 block on the west side of the public square. Since then, I have kept my eyes open for clues as to some history on the building and finally found its origins. Continue reading →

1976, Downtown Marion Revitalized

Posted on by January 6, 2014

Tower SquareNo Buildings Empty on the Square as City, Businesses Invest Millions in Downtown Redevelopment

No vacancies.

That’s the way it is for business buildings on the public square in Marion.

And that’s the way it is despite the opening of a new shopping center in Marion.

Merchants have spent more than $1 million for improvements in the downtown area, according to Milt Witt, Executive Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Continue reading →

F.W. Woolworth Company

Posted on by April 13, 2024

F.W. Woolworth Company
F.W. Woolworth Company
F.W. Woolworth Company

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 →