From well before the turn of the century, coal became king in Southern Illinois and reshaped the economies and landscape of many counties, Williamson County among them. Coal mining has always been part and parcel of the lives and livelihoods of most of the citizenry of this county and back in the day if you didn’t work for the coal mines you assuredly knew someone who did. Continue reading
Category Archives: A thru G
The Ben Hur Life Association was founded in 1894 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, as a fraternal insurance group for persons of both sexes over the age of 18. Continue reading
Charles Weston Hay was born August 3, 1873 in Carbondale where his parents lived on land that had been formerly owned by his great grandfather, William Morrison. Mr. Hay retained this land until Southern Illinois University instituted condemnation proceedings against the land. The “Stone House” was built over the foundation of his birthplace, and the rest of the land became the University Farms. Continue reading
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
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Marion Lodge #800 Continue reading
