70 years ago

july 5, 1951

A general downpour last Thursday night sent the Cottonwood and its tributaries out of their banks on Friday and water poured down Marion’s Main Street for the second time in the month.

The wheat harvest in Marion County, predicted last week as probably being nearly normal, will be less than normal since later rains have continued the damage and prevented harvesting in many places.

One of Marion County’s oldest structures, a stone house built in 1871 a mile north of Cedar Point was struck by lightning Thursday night and completely burned out. Only the walls were left standing. John J. McLinden, who owns the house, said it was built by Billy Byram, one of the earliest stone masons in this county.

Kingfisher’s Inn, well-known eating place at Marion County Park and Lake, has been leased and will re-open July 7, according to word from Mr. and Mrs. George King, owners. It has been closed since last December.

Marion will soon have a complete new street lighting system in the business district. A digging machine belonging to Leo and Ed Wiederstein of Hillsboro has been digging holes along Main Street and adjacent streets and the project will be completed as soon as lighting fixtures arrive.

Wayne Thies, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Thies, celebrated his 11th birthday with a skating party June 27. Invited guests were Tommy Shirley, Junior Bledsoe, Jimmie Christensen, Neil Hoopes, Gregory Henry, Richard Vogel, Darlene Oblander, Cynthia Carney, Rita Miser, Mary Williams, Gaila Jost, Caroline Susdorf, Marilyn Dixon, Jeanette Russell, LeNore Wheeler, and Phyllis Thies.

A large group of men and boys gathered at the Youngtown school house on Monday of last week to shingle the school’s roof.

Nearly 50 cyclists took part in the race conducted recently by the Bicycle Club, new organization sponsored by Marshals Dale Sisson and Pete Schambron of the Marion Police Department.