Flamings buy historic property off Main St.

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Woodland and grassland property, along with a historic Marion house in what once was a park, has been purchased by Merle and Michelle Flaming.

The property is south of the former Building Center, 143 W Main St. in Marion, and includes 40 acres of land.

The house, built in 1869, was once the home of William Billings, who built the first stone residence in Marion.

The Flamings bought the property under their company, Midway Forest LLC.

Merle Flaming said the couple had not yet decided what to do with the property.

So far, they plan to restore the Billings house, although they might remove an addition later added to it. Perhaps it could be converted to a bed and breakfast, Flaming said.

One possibility is to build homes on the picturesque acreage surrounding the house.

A drive looping through wooded acreage south of the house would provide a peaceful setting for homes.

Flaming said the couple would get through their end-of-year business matters for Flaming’s Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning before turning their attention to what to do with the property.

Housing is needed in Marion, he said.

Part of the land is zoned agricultural, so a zoning change would be needed before building homes.

One area along the bank of the creek that runs through the property might have been an amphitheater in older days, he said.