Marion Illinois History Preservation

Prater, Charles R., Jr. 1949-2014, Civic and Youth Sports Leader

Posted on July 21, 2014 by wcihsJuly 21, 2014

Charles R. Prater, Jr., active youth sports and civic leader, was born on January 3, 1949 in Pontiac, Michigan, the son of Charles R. Prater Sr. and Marcella (Gutek) Prater.

Early in the 1950’s, the Prater family moved to Marion and later purchased a home at 419 Charlotte Road. Charles’ father managed Sherman’s Department store on the square in Marion, while Charles Jr. attended Catholic seminary in his youth.

Charles was active in the Marion Jaycees, holding several local offices and participating in numerous community service projects held by the club in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was also a member of the Jaycees International Senate and served as the Nation Director of Jaycees of Illinois during that period. Continue reading →

1924, Marion Has a Beautiful Park

Posted on July 13, 2014 by wcihsJuly 13, 2014

Marion Has a Beautiful Park

Large Sixteen Acre Plot at Garfield and DeYoung May be Developed

Marion, the city of Opportunity now has a park of sixteen acres expanse, set with scores of beautiful shade trees and located in one of the most beautiful and accessible parts of the city. That may sound startling but it’s nothing new. For twelve years, sixteen acres of ground donated to the city for a city park, has lain idle. With the arrival of summer, many public spirited citizens have become aware of the fact that the city park which people have been desiring has been here all the time, and an attempt is being made to arouse enough interest in the venture to develop the park. Continue reading →

2014, Marion Opens New Police Department

Posted on May 29, 2014 by wcihsMay 29, 2014

New Marion Police Department Opens

The Marion Police Department hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 to dedicate the new Marion Police Department. A poorly advertised open house followed until 2 p.m. and the public was welcome to attend the event.

The newly modified building is located at 1001 W. DeYoung Street in Marion and used to serve as the Richard G. Wilson U.S. Army Reserve Center which had been unoccupied since August 2011 when the armory was moved to a larger, newer facility. Continue reading →

1916, Marion Carnegie Library Dedication Speech

Posted on May 28, 2014 by wcihsApril 5, 2024

The following was delivered by Ed. M. Stotlar on February 29, 1916 at the dedication exercise held at the library building during the evening:

The first organized effort for the starting of a Public Library in Marion, Illinois occurred in January, 1906 when Prof. J.W. Asbury, then Supt. of the City schools made a public call for a mass meeting of all citizens interested in procuring a public library for Marion. The meeting was held in the City Hall and liberally attended by citizens interested in the movement. At this meeting Prof. J.W. Asbury was chosen chairman of a committee to confer with the aldermen and mayor and city attorney and ask that a library ordinance for the City of Marion be drawn and passed at once. As a result of the efforts of this committee, the first library ordinance was passed on March 12, 1906, known as Ordinance No. 60. Mr. C.H. Denison was Mayor and the board of aldermen consisted of B.H. Jeter, A.M. Townsend, Sandy Miller, E.H. Moulton, Joseph H. Moss, W.O. Potter, John S. Strike and A.B. McLaren, with George Campbell, Secretary and Hosea V. Ferrell, attorney. Continue reading →

1929, Chief Bailey to Quit Force

Posted on May 26, 2014 by wcihsMay 26, 2014

Chief Bailey to Quit Force

Duties as State Oil Inspector in Williamson and Johnson Began Friday

Clyde Bailey 1929 Police Chief

Chief of Police Clyde Bailey was back in Marion Friday ready to render his resignation to the city commissioners following his assumption of duties as state oil inspector for Williamson and Johnson counties in Springfield Thursday.

Rev. Bailey was appointed to the post of oil inspector for the two counties by Governor L.L. Emmerson, and the appointment is recognition of Bailey’s own support of the governor’s candidacy during Bailey’s unsuccessful race for the legislature. As oil inspector, Rev. Bailey will work in the division of oil inspection of the Department of Trade and Commerce. His appointment became effective Friday.

At a special meeting of the city to be held sometime Friday or Friday evening, Chief Bailey expected to ask the city commissioners to accept his resignation as chief of the police department.

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(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican, September 1929)