100 years ago
FEBRuary 4, 1906
Main Street Improvements
A few of the improvements that have taken place along the principal business street of Marion during the year just past:
The New Auditorium
This splendid new auditorium, opened to the public about the first of November last, stands near the stone-arch bridge and just opposite the Y.M.C.A. building. It is of cement block stone, 93 1/2 feet long and 55 feet wide. It will seat about 700 people, on ground floor and in gallery, and is provided with opera chairs of the most approved pattern. The stage is 34 feet deep and 55 feet wide and the proscenium arch 26x18 feet. The building was planned by Ed Runyan, a Boston artist and architect. Mr. Runyan was formerly a Marion resident, being a son of W.W. Runyan. The building was erected by the citizens of Marion, many different organizations assisting in the enterprise. The total cost of the building was about $10,000.
BAUER & KERN have put in a handsome plate glass front and thereby effectively increased the attractiveness of their growing establishment.
THE BRADBURY meat market has been re-papered throughout. The fresh, attractive appearance of the place is an advertisement for the business.
STANFORD & BILLINGS have re-papered their store throughout and put in a plate glass front 13 1/2 feet by 9 feet 2 inches, the largest single glass in the town.
A NEW single story cement block building has been erected west of the Y.M.C.A. building. The building is occupied by the Marion Headlight and by the United States Express Company.
GEO. D. SCOTT has moved his hardware store into the room vacated by the Thompson Dry Goods Company. The place has a wide frontage and has been thrown into one large room. The front is all glass and this makes the large room light, and fine. The new quarters are a very good improvement over the old.
JOHN EHRLICH'S SONS completed early in the year their fine new store-room — and addition on the west of the corner room they already occupied — and have fitted it up in modern style. This gives them a double store-room with a glass frontage of 50 feet, and provides accommodation, for awhile at least, for their rapidly growing business.
THE THOMPSON DRY GOODS COMPANY has moved into the fine new building on the corner where the old brick bakery stood and the large plate glass front affords fine opportunity for artistic and effective window display. And the opportunity is certainly well improved. The interior effect and arrangement is in keeping with the fine exterior.
LOVELESS & SONS have made extensive improvements in their large establishment. The street stairway which divided their clothing and dry goods departments has been moved to the east side of their tore and they now have a continuous glass frontage of 80 feet. The store has been remodeled extensively and everything made to look modern and progressive.
THE MARION NATIONAL BANK, opened for business last October, has fitted up elegant quarters in the corner room recently occupied by Geo. D. Scott's Hardware store. The room was beautifully papered and the furnishings throughout are those of a modern, first class bank. A plate glass front was put in and the whole place given a fine, up-to-date appearance. The improvement is a marked one.
THE DEAN BUSINESS BUILDING. This building is of cement block. The ground dimensions are 115 feet by 55 feet. The ceilings are 16 feet high. The ground floor is one large room, with a balcony in one end 25 feet by 55 feet, and one in the other end 12 feet by 55 feet. The basement is one of the finest in the state. The walls are of cement and the supporting pillars of cement block and the whole floor, 55x115 feet, is of, concrete covered with cement. There is an elevator running from the basement to the third floor. The interior wood-work is of a light finish. The building is heated by steam. The first story, basement and half of the second story are occupied by the Thompson Dry Goods company, and the remainder of the second floor is divided into office rooms. The building, complete, cost about $25,000. It is a splendid structure and one of which the town may well be proud.
