A large, two story brick building appears to have been built around 1910 at 508-510 W. Union Street, roughly behind the current location of Stotlar Lumber to expand their operation.
Officers of the company in 1919 were as follows: Warren Goddard, president; S.P. Goddard, vice-president; and G.H. Fob, secretary-treasurer.
W.G. Metzinger, the local manager of the company, had been in their employ for twelve years, five years in the St. Louis office, and seven years as manager in Marion. He was born in St. Louis, Nov. 16, 1889; educated in the common schools and later finishing a course in the Columbia Business College. He was described as a progressive citizen and made the Goddard Grocery Company a Marion and Williamson county institution.
With a superb warehouse and office, unequalled facilities for handling goods, and splendid transportation mediums, its promptness in meeting the orders of a large number of customers in Marion and surrounding country was evidence of a complete system.
Some of the standard brands which had become favorites were Marion Club, Sweet Home, Goddard’s 1872, Sugar Loaf (exclusive agency), Hunt Bros, canned fruits, Festal Hall, Aero Brand Coffee, and Cowboy Baking Powder, for which they are the sole distributors.
This wholesale distributor appears to have thrived at their W. Union location until the depression of the 1930’s, by 1939 they are no longer listed in directories and the building was then listed as the Goodall Building instead, likely used as storage.
By the 1940’s, this section was occupied by residential units, indicating that the building had been demolished or destroyed.
(Data and photos from Williamson County in the World War (1919) and Marion, the Opportunity City (1913); Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca 07/23/2013)