Category Archives: A thru G

Marion Organizations A thru G

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 →

1966 Industrial Park Development

Posted on by January 14, 2014

1966 Industrial Park development areaThe following Glances at Life article written by Homer Butler in 1974 summarizes the beginnings of the city’s first industrial park development west of North Carbon in 1966, which made further development of the city’s west side beyond the Interstate possible.

From a vantage point on Interstate Route 57 where it traverses Marion, one can look east and west, and view a wide area of development that has taken place during the last eight years. Continue reading →