The old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 906 W. Boulevard caught fire shortly before 11:30 am today. Two Marion trucks were on the scene immediately and a Herrin truck was to stand by at the station. Firemen at noon had broken out a window on the north wall of the frame structure and were pouring water on to the smoke filled church. Firemen reported the fire had broken out in the basement of the church along the flue and had worked its way into the first floor. Some of the church’s furnishings had been removed to the new church on North Russell Street which was dedicated last Sunday. There was still some in the burning building, which were being removed while the firemen battled the blaze. Fire Chief Dungey stated at 12:10 that the fire had been checked although they were still pouring on water. He said flames were coming out of the basement window when the department arrived and that the fire started near the coal-fired stoker. The church had completed the removal of the organ to the new church only yesterday, Father John Cedilot said. An instruction class had been held at the church until about 10 o’clock. Father Cedilot was at the VA Hospital when he was advised of the fire. Considerable damage from heat and smoke as well as water in the church was reported.

(Extracted from local newspapers and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted at http://www.marionfire.us )