“The local board of fire underwriters met on Monday evening in the directors’ room of the First National Bank. Besides the transaction of routine business the matter of asking for better protection from fire was brought up. A committee was appointed to call on the city council at the next regular meeting of that body, and to beg of the mayor and council to take such steps as they might deem proper to compel the Marion Electric Light and Water Co. to furnish more water with which to fight fire, and to abide by the ordinance relating to the water works of the city, wherein it is specified that a water tower is to be erected and maintained by the water supply company.”
This report was printed in the Marion Evening Herald March 20, 1907. A copy of the newspaper with its report of Marion’s water problem of more than half century ago so similar to the city’s current situation, was found this week with a bundle of other newspapers in an attic of a home at 1007 North Monroe Street. The discovery was made by E. R. Followell, 908 S. Vicksburg St., plumbing and heating contractor, employed by the new owners of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Miller.
The pile of newspapers, yellowed with age, included copies of both the Herald and the old Marion Evening Post, published in 1906 and 1907. Study of the crumbling old newspapers reveals interesting glances at life in Marion in those early years of the century.
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Activities in Marlon’s two theatres, the Marion Opera House and the New Roland Theatre found prominence on the front pages of the newspapers. “Romeo and Juliet” was the attraction at the New Roland on Dec. 31, 1906, presented by a “New York cast” under the auspices of the Marion Shakespearian Club. Proceeds went to charity. A coming attraction was Robert Fitzsimmons in a “sensational 3-round Glove contest and marvelous bag punching demonstration.”
At the Marion Opera House, Miss Florence Davis, described as a “kinswoman” of Jefferson Davis, was playing in ‘The Player Maid.”
The Bijou Theatre at 211 North Market St. was offering a newer form of entertainment. It advertised “Moving Pictures” described as “beautiful productions, pleasing scenes, strictly moral and first class.” “Subjects tonight,” an advertisement said, “arc Mason and Forbes and Curfew.”
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The plain-spoken journalism of that day is revealed in the Herald’s report of the departure of a city alderman from his home town. The newspaper story said, “Alderman _________ of Ward 2 of this city, and a man well known as one of the city’s best business men, has resigned his position and left Marion to seek a new location. His change is made on account of trouble which has arisen in his home through too familiar connections with another woman of this city.”
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Politics played an important part in the news of the community. Socialists of the 50th Senatorial District wore holding their convention in Marion in April, 1906 to pick their candidate for state senators. The candidates for city office in the election that year included a full slate of aspirants running on the “Anti-Saloon Ticket.”
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Williamson County was crowing with the development of the coal fields. The Evening Herald on Dec. 26, 1906 reported, “Some few months ago there was much ado about a new town in Williamson County — a new community christened Pittsburg. S. M. Keeling, a citizen of the new town, was in Marion Monday, and stated that the Eldorado, Marion and Southwestern railroad was completed to within a short distance of Pittsburg, and that freight was being hauled over it from Marion. Also, a lump of coal weighing 2,700 pounds had been taken out of the Colp Coal Company’s mine and the big lump may be brought to Marion as an advertisement far Pittsburg and her interests.”
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The Herald on Jan. 2, 1907, reported plans to remove the electric trolley lines from West Main and North Market Streets and the re-routing of the Coal Belt Electric Line interurban cars over new tracks extending the Herrin-Carterville-Marion line to Johnston City from a junction point on North Market Street.
(Glances at Life by Homer Butler, Marion Daily Republican July 6, 1963)