Downtown Marion was often crowded with shoppers in the 1930s.

A very busy Main St., with single-globe, low-level lights somewhat similar to three-globe lights at Luta Creek showed off a large number of Model A Fords in this photo from the late 1930s looking east from 2nd St.

Many present-day buildings remain. Notable exceptions are the Case Building (fourth from left), which burned in the 1960s, and two buildings (fourth and fifth from right) that were demolished beginning in the 1960s to make way for the current Central National Bank building.

Among the businesses visible in the photo was Rexall Pharmacy on the southeast corner of 3rd and Main Sts.

Prominently shown at left is Mack Hardware, which replaced Pantle’s Hardware in 1937 and was a fixture on Main St. for the next 20 years.

The hardware store’s owners bought Badger Lumber in 1954 and consolidated the two businesses two years later into Mack-Welling Lumber on S. 4th St., where Marion County jail now is located.

The Main St. store was sold to Hassinger Plumbing and a series of other businesses, including most recently Country Lakes Café, that now is vacant and for sale.

Have a photo to share?

If you have a historical photo you would like to share, contact Joan Meyer at joan@marionrecord.com or (620) 382-3475.