1959, Keystone Cops on Fire Engine #4, Marion, Illinois

Keyston Cops as Firemen ca 1959

Keyston Cops as Firemen ca 1959

In the mid 1950’s throught the early 1960’s the Marion Elks Club in cooperation with the Marion Illinois Fire Department would annually promote fire safety. Each year, Elks Club members would dress as Keystone Cops and board the fire engine loaded with fake guns and candy to distribute. The engine would make the rounds of the local schools and hand out candy to the children. Sam Lattuca, my father, would regularly participate in this event. He is shown in the center of this picture pointing the gun. Continue reading

1918 Lynch Mob Gathers on N. Market St., Marion, Illinois

Lynch Mob Gathers ca 1916

Lynch Mob Gathers ca 1916

This photo, circa 1918, of the east side of the first block of North Market Street just off the square shows a lynch mob gathering. According to information on the back of the photo the man on the balcony is holding a machine gun. Blowups of the picture show a white man in a dark suit holding a black man in a white shirt by the arm under the balcony. The crowd is split on racial lines with blacks facing south toward the camera and whites facing north with their backs towards the camera. Continue reading

Marion, Illinois Officer Gene Goolsby Displays Thompson Submachine Gun

Gene Goolsby with Thompson

Gene Goolsby with Thompson

This photo was taken in 1995 by Jon Musgrave for the Marion History Edition of the Marion Daily Republican. Officer Gene Goolsby displays a 1921 Thompson submachine gun that was apparently confiscated during the gang wars era of the 1920’s. Policemen still test fire it on the shooting range periodically.