Remembering the way we were
Staff writer
It was 80 degrees with a cool breeze rolling through — a good thing, too, because Old Settlers Day brought alumni near and far Saturday to Marion’s Central Park.
Multiple out-of-towners commented on the unseasonably good weather, which made the festivities even more enjoyable.
At 11 a.m., Alex Case announced the start of the annual parade, and Old Settlers Day officially began.
Twelve class floats, as well as a hodgepodge of floats for other organizations — St. Luke Hospital, Marion High School’s cross country team, a local biker club, a lawn care company, and a pickup truck that simply waved a “Trump 2024” flag — ambled down Main St.
Riders threw Tootsie Rolls, lollipops, and other candy out as they passed eager children waiting on the curb and in the street.
Around 50 members of Marion High School’s Warrior Band marched in the parade, serenading the crowd with brass and wind instrumentals.
The Rube Band was not able to march after class reunion floats stole away key members, but they reconvened in Central Park after the parade.
Trombone player Bob Brookens expressed disappointment that the band did not march.
“I wish we’d just done it anyway,” he said.
However, the stationary location allowed for a larger Rube Band than usual. In front of a handmade sign reading “Here today: The Park-ed Rube Band,” 10 performers, dressed in colorful costumes and wielding instruments such as the slide whistle and dinner bell, performed “Show Boy,” the band’s best and only song.
Lauren Anderson, who played drums and kazoo, was a highlight of the performance.
Trumpeter Andy Methvin was one of the Rube Band rookies.
“I got talked into this,” he joked afterward.
Beverly Hoch, a long-time Rube Band member and melodica aficionado, donned bumblebee ears and wore Christmas lights around her neck.
“It was great to be stationary,” she said. “We could hear each other. This is a great little venue, and we just wanted to be able to do something. We’ll be back on our feet next year.”
Music performances are “part of the healing” for Marion, she added.
Hoch and her husband, Mike Steinel, attended their Class of ’69 reunion this year.
“It’s great. It’s always great,” she said. “Our whole family comes back from Colorado and Chicago and Texas.”
As a camera crew filmed the staff of the Record for an upcoming documentary, student volunteers doled out soft drinks, chips, and sloppy Joes for lunch in Central Park.
Judy Gautschi, a resident of Marion, sold rolls, peppernuts, brownies, and other baked goods outside the park.
“You have to pay to be in the park this week,” she said.
Gautschi’s pies did not sell well; she discovered later she was being undercut by the lunch, where slices of pie were sold as a dessert option.
“A lot of times, people don’t want a whole pie; they just want a piece of pie,” she said.
Although Gautschi has lived in Marion for a long time, this was her first time attending Old Settlers Day.
“It was nice. I had fun with people,” she said. “I think it was very exciting for a small town, you know. This is a big event for them.”
Lunch was when Central Park was at its busiest and the day at its balmiest. More than 100 gathered to eat and reminisce.
“Made me feel old,” former mayor Max Hayen said of his 70th class reunion.
Hayen missed his last reunion five years ago because of a heart attack but has since recovered and was excited to attend this year.
“I’ve been to most of them,” he said proudly.
Sandy Clemmer, Class of ’74, Marion of her high school years.
“It was a hoppin’ little town,” she said. “We’d play Chinese Stoplight. We’d stop the car, run around, get in the car, and take off.”
Virginia Bentz, also a member of the Class of ’74, recalled visiting the old Dairy Queen on Main St. and ordering “graveyards” — a mix of every kind of soft drink in stock.
Clemmer recounted a story located on the roof of another defunct business, Al’s Standard station.
“We were up there sitting and drinking beer, and Charlie the policeman, comes up, and he goes, ‘I know what you kids are doing.’
“And he goes, ‘I don’t care, but you need to be going out of town to do that, and not right here.’ So, he knew we were drinking. We got in our car. He didn’t stop us for drunk driving or anything. And we went to the reservoir.”
Clemmer recalls the community having more trust in one another back in the ’70s.
“Everyone is nice nowadays, but we just had more freedom,” she added.
After lunch, ceremonies in Central Park honored each returning class.
“We’ve had a great turnout this year,” said Denise Hutcherson, a member of the Class of ’74 who made the journey from her home in Arlington, Texas. “I was encouraged that most everybody recognized me, and I could remember everybody’s name.”
The ceremonies went by fast, concluding in half an hour, after which alumni filtered slowly out of the park.
“One thing that a lot of us noticed is there’s a few people we didn’t recognize until you get to talking to them,” Bentz said. “You know, after 50 years, a lot of people have changed.”