In the depression and into the 1940’s various Work Progress Administration (WPA) projects were activated by the federal government to put people to work. There were new roads built, state park improvements, sewing rooms, etc. One of those projects was an authorship in which local authors documented local housing, recreation, businesses, churches, etc. One of those projects was the Illinois Writers Project based out of Chicago. I ran across a series of articles written in 1941 specifically about the black community of Marion under the general heading of “The Negro in Illinois.” I present these articles just as written in 1941.
Business, Marion, Illinois —- By Beulah DeVard
Early Businesses:
It is said that as early as 1872, Tom John (colored) barbecued the meat for those who came to the county fair or similar gatherings. He also sold barbecue Saturdays of each week. Dan Webster, Dan Watson and others assisted him when needed. He was very successful and held this job until 1896. William Harris, a colored farmer living near Marion took up the trade selling barbecue until 1909. Then Howard Hughes was the barbecue man until about 1938. As the population increased the popular demand for barbecued meats increased. Andy North has had a barbecue stand at 717 S. Liberty Street for the past six or seven years. He is a hard worker, catering to public gatherings out of town as well as the local trade with the aid of his brother and wife. He has a nice home and is enlarging his place of business. Oscar Harris also runs a meat market and barbecue in connection with his grocery store at 700 South Liberty Street.
About 1882, Richard Tony, a colored barber, built up trade in a white man’s shop on the public square in Marion, Illinois. John Ellis is another early barber. They worked in various shops and finally run shops of their own. Mr. Tony was a prominent barber until a year before he died in 1940. About the same time Dan Watson held the job as foreman of the blacksmith shop on West Main Street. Archie Summers was a foreman of the steam laundry located on South Court Street from about 1888 to 1900. There were about twelve employees both white and colored.
At an early date the colored people saw need of a grocery store in their neighborhood. Accordingly, one was started on South Monroe Street by Jake Sanders who was finally succeeded by Mr. Price and Mr. Price was succeeded by his son-in-law, J. Oscar Harris, who kept this location about three years and then moved to the new location at 700 South Liberty Street, where he has been in business for the last fifteen years. He has a barber shop in one room and a grocery store and meat market in the large room. He has a barbecue pit just outside the store. His stock of goods is adequate. The building is neat in appearance with brick composition siding.
Mr. A.M. Allen wo has sold groceries at 716 South Liberty for the last twenty years has the appearance of a white man except for the fact that his white hair is kinky. He is a champion checker player. His stock of goods is not large and his building needs painting. Many of the colored people go up town to buy their groceries at the chain stores in order to save some on the higher cost of living.
Mr. Van Dorsey and his wife, Mary, live at 1101 South Mechanic, a white neighborhood. He came here from Kentucky working in the coal mines of Colp at first but has been doing landscape gardening for the past thirty-five years. In 1918, he bought his present home. He has surrounded it with tea roses, evergreens and annual flowers of all kinds until it is now the most attractive place in the block. Although advanced in age he has a ready smile and plenty of “pep.” He keeps busy most of the time and expects business to be better in the future. He has no help except that of his grandchildren who live in Gents addition.
Mr. A.M. Jones has a barber shop and gun repair shop at 607 South Liberty Street. Although he has been here for the last ten or twelve years, his buildings are small, unpainted and scantily furnished.
John Varboo is an auto mechanic. He has a small wooden garage in the yard of his home located at 507 W. Copeland Street. He has been located here for the past five or six years. He has all the work that he can handle.
Hosea Gardner has a saloon at 800 South Liberty Street. Although he drives a good car there is not much evidence of prosperity.
Rosevelt Greenway, Logan Allen and George Smith are junkers. They also do short distance hauling of coal, etc.
Ruben Tittsworth does moving of furniture, etc.
Lizzie Starkes is a dressmaker.
Frank Clemons is the only coal miner employed at the present.
Wyatt Lanton is a farmer on a small scale.
Powell Barnett, Joe Sanders, Carl Stewart, Louie Jackson and David Clark do janitor work for a living.
Stanley Thomas, Maud Clark and Clara Kirk teach in the Douglass school. Mrs. Russel Duncan teaches in the school at Colp.
Rev. A.C. Jones is pastor of A.M.E. Church.
Mr. Henry Ellis is assistant to Eugene Keathly undertaker at Colp and Harrisburg. He also runs a rooming house.
Cleve Shafer is a medicine man after the Indian tradition.
A few men work on WPA Lake projects and the recreation project; a few women work on the housekeeping-aide, and sewing room projects. Other receive old age pensions or direct relief.
Consultants:
Henry Ellis, Anna Crawford, Van Dorsey, Mrs. Andy North, Jesse Crawford
(Source: Downloaded from the Chicago Public Library)