1927, Start Work on Catholic Church

Start Work on Catholic Church

Father Joseph A. Tragesser of West Frankfort, who is overseeing the work of building a Catholic chapel in Marion, announced that actual construction work started on Wednesday when the first ground was broken.

The chapel, which will be of frame construction 32 by 72 feet and costing nearly $5,000 will be built at once and it is hoped to have it ready for occupancy before snow flies. Continue reading

1976, Downtown Marion Revitalized

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

1960, Marion Public Square Bypassed by New Route 13

On Friday, October 28th, 1960, the Marion Public Square was bypassed by new Illinois Route 13. For the first time, east and west bound traffic on Route 13 no longer had to pass through the middle of town and around the square with the completion of DeYoung from N. Fair Street on the east side of Marion.

Traffic at this time still had to enter and exit Marion from the east on old 13, but got jogged by way of N. Fair which had to have three blocks from Boulevard to DeYoung converted from the old tar and chip city street to a paved surface as is explained in the following article.   Continue reading