100 years ago

july 20, 1911

The Chautauqua was opened by a concert on Main Street at noon Saturday by Bosh’s Bohemian band. And there’s a band that can play. It is a musical organization that would be a credit to any community. Composed of busy men mostly, if not all of them farmers, and men of musical talent, who have given years of faithful service to the building up of the organization.

When the four fine college young men who compose the Chautauqua crew arrived in Marion, the writer happened to be one of the first persons to meet and greet them. I took them to the Park and showed them where they were to erect their great tent. They looked around in evident wonder and amazement over the beautiful Park (and one gets the best view of it from the south side) and their sweep of vision took in the great trees, the winding stream, the flowing spring, the fountain and flower beds, and then one of them voiced the sentiment of all in these classic words: “You’ve got ’em all skinned.” And fellow citizens, that’s the way strangers all feel and talk about it. Do you want to witness one of the finest scenes you will ever see? Then stand some evening on the brow of the hill near headquarters tent and watch the crowd wending along the White Way from the new bridge, past the spring, till the throng is lost to view on Main street. You’ll not witness many prettier sights than that in our journey of life.

A party of about fifteen young people from Lyons arrived here yesterday and has gone into camp at Chingawasa Springs. Nearly the same crowd was here last year and Marion people are glad to have them come back again. There are but few, if any, better places to camp in the state.

One of the best advertisements Marion ever had is that electric light on the water tank.