75 years ago

july 14, 1949

Private Howard K. Slifer, another of Marion’s war dead, will be reinterred Sunday afternoon at Marion Cemetery.

Ecker-Fulkerson-Slifer VFW Post will conduct the services.

Slifer, who died Nov. 9, 1943, on Fiji Island, served in Australia, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, and Fiji Island. His death was the result of wounds from a defective artillery shell that fell short.

A new cement block building under construction at Schroeder Produce, 5th and Main Sts., is nearing completion. The new building will be used in front for display and in the rear for feed storage. Ralph Popp is doing the work.

Andrew J. Thomas, formerly of Marion, is reported to have been stricken with heart trouble at the home of his son in Port Angeles, Washington.

Many remember him as foreman of the WPA project that built picnic units, stone arch bridges, horseshoe grounds, and other stonework at the county lake.

He built the first commercial bake oven in Marion, at the old Pete Magathan café. He also cut the stone arch entrance to the Presbyterian Church, was foreman of the county bridge gang, and supervised construction of many of the scenic bridges in this county.