Category Archives: Chamber of Commerce

Marion Chamber of Commerce

Marion Timeline 1954-2016

Posted on by September 25, 2024

In the process of creating an extensive article about the Robert L. Butler administration (1963-2018) a few years back I searched through the Southern Illinoisan newspaper archives back to the late 1950’s and took note of significant events that occurred … Continue reading →

McCormick, Raymond L. 1921-2014, WWII Vet, City Commissioner

Posted on by February 28, 2014

Raymond L. McCormick 1921-2014
Raymond L. McCormick 1921-2014
Raymond L. McCormick 1921-2014

Raymond L. McCormick, former Marion City Commissioner, WWII veteran and civic leader, was born on Tuesday, August 2, 1921, in Marion, the son of Ray and Ora (Cothran) McCormick, being one of five children. A Marion directory places the family in a home at 1204 E. Parham Street in 1928. Continue reading →

1960-62, Old Marion Armory

Posted on by February 13, 2014

In early 2014, the old Marion Armory building at Vicksburg and DeYoung is being remodeled for use as the new Marion Police Department. The armory itself was vacated many years ago, when the reserve unit built a new armory west of the city close to the county airport property. The following is a series of articles related to the old armory land and building. Continue reading →

Schafale, Oscar 1897-1988

Posted on by January 14, 2014

Oscar Schafale 1897-1988Oscar Schafale, the son of a blacksmith, was born September 11, 1897 in Cherry Valley, southwest of Marion. He moved with his parents, Mike Schafale and Mary Weilmuenster, to Marion when he was 6 years old. His father later started an International Harvester farm implement dealership in Marion.

He began working at the Schafale Brothers International Harvester farm implement dealership when he was 11 years old, working there until he was 42 years old.

Schafale attended Marion schools through the eighth grade. He took a short business course at Brown’s Business College in Marion, as well as attending bank courses at the University of Wisconsin for three summers. Continue reading →

1976, Downtown Marion Revitalized

Posted on by January 6, 2014

Tower SquareNo Buildings Empty on the Square as City, Businesses Invest Millions in Downtown Redevelopment

No vacancies.

That’s the way it is for business buildings on the public square in Marion.

And that’s the way it is despite the opening of a new shopping center in Marion.

Merchants have spent more than $1 million for improvements in the downtown area, according to Milt Witt, Executive Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Continue reading →