125 years ago

june 5, 1885

Arrangements have already been made for a grand celebration of the Fourth of July at Marion, under the auspices of, but by no means to be confined to the Sunday Schools of the town and county. Everybody will be invited to participate in making the affair the grandest and best celebration ever held in the county. If possible, excursions will be arranged for towns in this and adjoining counties. The Marion Band has been engaged and Central Park secured for the great event.

Walter Sharp will construct a “swimming hole” near his mineral well, next week. It will be twenty feet wide, forty feet long and deep enough to swim in, with board walk around it, the whole enclosed with a high close fence. It will be cemented and arranged so the water can be supplied from the well and changed so frequently as to be kept fresh and clean. We hope this experiment of his will reward him well financially.

The recent rains have developed long suspected defects in the John Wand stone building on Main street—one of the oldest business buildings in Marion, and the settling of the West wall has been so rapid during the past week as to render it liable to fall at any time. The whole structure is being taken down, and will be rebuilt upon a safer foundation.

The ice wagon now makes the tour of the town regularly each morning.

A little son of Taylor Riddle’s wandered from home, last Sunday, and sat down on the railroad track to rest. He paid no attention to a train which was approaching at the time, but he was discovered by the engineer just in time to stop his engine and remove the child from his dangerous position.

Marion is not the only town which has had architectural weakness revealed by the recent rains. Newton’s opera block has settled so that its occupants have removed to safer quarters.

We have never, in our thirteen years experience in Kansas, seen the farming season so late. Just think of it! Hundreds of acres of corn yet unplanted in Marion county, and this the 5th of June.

Mr. E.N. Eby has purchased the beautiful lots on Lincoln Avenue between “Squire” Gaver and W.F. Hoch’s, and is preparing to fence them. We guess that means a nice residence.

Decoration Day was observed in Marion county this year with increased interest. Peabody honored itself by honoring its dead heroes, and Marion and Florence illustrated the principles of friendship by uniting in the observance of the occasion. Marion observed Friday and was joined by the Florence Post and band. Marion, of course, turned out in large numbers. The capacious opera house was packed with people. Rev. P.F. Jones delivered the principal address, and was listened to with close attention. Short addresses were also made by Eld. Foote and Rev. Archer. Excellent singing interspersed the exercises. The long procession then took up its march to the cemetery, where the usual ceremonies were performed. On Saturday, the band and quite a number of our citizens and ex-soldiers went down to Florence to participate in similar services. Eld. Foote was the principal speaker, and of course entertained his hearers in his usual popular manner.