1964, August 9 – Five Businesses Burned Out

” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]1964, August 9, Five Marion Businesses Burned Out Marion, ravaged by a $2.22 million 1963 fire loss, suffered a $150,000 fire Sunday, August 9, 1964, which destroyed five businesses and professional Sites. The fire, which raged … Continue reading

Wimpey’s Cafe 1953-1966

Wimpey’s Café was a converted trolley car diner that was located at 106 S. Court, squeezed into a small lot between the Marion Motel Courts and a corner gas station located at the intersection of W. Main and S. Court Streets. It was established by Bunice Tyner in 1953. Tyner also operated numerous taverns in Marion and the surrounding area since 1941. Continue reading

1875, Gunfight on the Marion Public Square

James Bishop Morray was born in Kentucky in 1821. Due to the early deaths of his mother and father, he was raised by an uncle, William Bishop, in Pope County, Illinois. While still a young man he returned to his home state of Kentucky to work for William Wyatt, eventually marrying his daughter, Izzarilda Wyatt in 1842.

In 1844, the Morray and Wyatt families moved to Illinois, purchasing several parcels of land in Creal Springs and Stonefort Townships. During the 1860’s and 1870’s James became the largest landowner in Johnson County, eventually owning thousands of acres in Johnson and Williamson Counties. Continue reading

2013, November 16, Fire at Jackson Grey Insurance Co.

Jackson and Gray Ins fire on 11_16_2013  SThe cause of a Saturday fire that heavily damaged the Jackson & Grey Insurance Company building at 413 N. Market Street in Marion remains under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office and Marion Fire Department.

No injuries were reported from the blaze, which took about 2 1/2 hours to put out. Marion firefighters were assisted by other local departments. Continue reading