Planning for an elderly low-rent housing project that was formed as early as 1960 finally came to fruition in 1963 when the Williamson County Housing Authority got approval on 40 units in Herrin for $506,834 and 20 units in Marion for $265,684. By March of 1963, the Marion units were well under way but bad weather and an area-wide carpenter’s strike delayed construction of the units early on. By June the units were reported to be 98 percent complete and by the end of July they underwent preliminary inspection and final touches.

When the 20 Marion units were finally available for lease in mid-August, it was reported in the Southern Illinoisan that 11 of the units were leased “like mad”, most of the units having been leased in the first few days.

Qualifications for residency were an age of 62 or older, an income of not over $2,800 for a single person or not over $3,600 for a couple and a 90 day residency in Marion.

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(Southern Illinoisan articles from Jan through August 1963, Marion Daily Republican photos from august 22, 1963; 2014 photos and article by Sam Lattuca)