This newspaper clipping from 1918 captures the first time that the body of a Williamson County soldier had been returned from foreign soil. It, unfortunately, would not be the last.
Body of Soldier Arrives From England
Dennis L. Kirby, former private in the 113 Sanitary Train, is to be buried with military honors in Marion on Tuesday afternoon. The body was returned from England on Sunday and is held at the Cash Undertaking Parlor pending the funeral. Continue reading
Melvin Lee Felts was born October 17, 1924 in Pittsburg to Troy Felts and Vivian Williams. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1942 and entered the navy on July 15, 1942. While serving in the U.S. Navy, his parents were employed in a Chicago war plant and his brother, Floyd E. Felts, was a machinist’s mate in the Navy.
In 1945, he was awarded a bronze star and cited by Admiral W.F. Halsey for outstanding service in action against the Japanese. Continue reading
Washington School, Built in 1886 Still Serving Marion’s Youth
The Washington School is probably the best constructed school building in the city system with the exception of the recently constructed Jefferson building. Rumors dating back nearly a decade have had the old seventh and eighth grade school condemned, or should be condemned. But the fact remains and backed up by state investigators, that the school is not condemned, never has been, and will not be condemned unless situation unforeseen make it so. Continue reading
In November of 1950, the old Illinois Central train depot in the 500 block of N. Market Street got temporarily repurposed and was occupied as a grocery store for twenty years. Upon its original opening it was called Daniel’s Super Market, 514 N. Market St., and drew over 2,000 people who made purchases in the store. During the opening the store gave away 2,500 orchids to women who visited the store. Continue reading
Paul Rametta Shot Down By Luther Frey, Marion Daily Republican, Dec. 8, 1950
A gun duel which blazed briefly across North Court Street early Thursday evening (Dec. 7) left one man dead as his slayer calmly telephoned police. The slain man was Paul Rametta, Marion truck operator.
Held in the county jail Friday pending a coroner’s investigation of the shooting was Luther Frey, 31, of Marion, ex-convict. Continue reading