About 500 persons visited Marion’s new $100,000 fire station during an open house reception Sunday afternoon.

Members of the fire department conducted the visitors through the new station, city council members were on hand to greet the visitors, and refreshments were served by members of the Marion Junior Woman’s Club. Defense volunteers were on hand to direct traffic. The visitors were escorted through the buildings beginning with the office of Chief James C. Dungey where Mrs. Dungey registered the guests and through the communications room, dormitory, lounge, shower room, kitchen, work room and the large equipment room housing the city’s two pumper equipped trucks and ladder truck.

Firemen who served as guides for the tours were assistant Chief Bill Whiting, Bob Cash, Bob Yost, Paul Barnwell, John Lewis and Jack Wells. Junior Woman’s Club members serving refreshments were Mesdames Fred Pool, Terry Brandon, Charles Thomas, Caryl Sullins and Bill Stapleton.

The refreshments were donated by Hubert Benedict and John Boswell and the Marion Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. Display cards advised the visitors the names of donors of various articles provided for the use of firemen in addition to the equipment and furnishings purchased by the city.

A color television set in the lounge was the gift of Tempo Department Stores and Rodd Realty Co. A barometer donated by Charles D. Winters was mounted in the center of a turned wood ornamental piece made by Herwald “Doc” Smith. Sam and Betty Kelton presented a mixer, electric can opener and clock which were part of the kitchen accessories of the modern kitchen, complete with new refrigerator and stove.

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