What’s New

A group called “Learning in Retirement” from Carbondale, Illinois toured the Williamson County Musuem on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The group is as it sounds, a group of retired individuals looking to explore new areas of learning. The group was guided through the museum by guide and current society president, Sam Lattuca.

Society president, Sam Lattuca, gave a talk to residents of the Fifth Season assisted living facility in Marion on Wednesday, March 20^th 2024. Lattuca gave a program about the presence and history of Native Americans in Southern Illinois through time by showing a short video and presenting the evolution of natives over the years.

The Williamson County Historical Society will be returning to its schedule of four days a week beginning on Wednesday, March 6^th. The museum and library located at 105 S. Van Buren St. in Marion will be available during the hours of 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Wednesday through Saturday for tours of the museum or genealogical research.

The museum is located at 105 S. Van Buren Street in the old county jail on the west side of the Marion Civic Center and was in service as a jail from 1913 till 1972. The building doubled as a sheriff’s home and jail and now consists of four floors and 26 rooms full of historical objects. Since 1976, the building has served as the Williamson County Museum and was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 2007, one of only five in the county.

Sam Lattuca, president of the Williamson County Historical Society gave a program to the residents of Fifth Season Assisted Living in Marion on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Lattuca addressed the residents and explained the formation of Marion, Williamson County and the historical society. He explained the society’s museum and library and what was available at the museum as far as displays and research materials.

The Williamson County Historical Society held its latest membership meeting on January 28^th, 2024 at their museum/library at 105 S. Van Buren St.  Society President, Sam Lattuca, presented the state of the museum as well as displaying their latest items and photos accessioned into the museum, discussed ongoing projects and gave a brief presentation on the use of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps as a resource in studying the history of our local towns.

A Christmas lunch for the historical society staff was held on December 14^th, 2023 at the Asian Star restaurant in Marion. The lunch was a thank you and late year get together for the board members and active volunteers that serve the historical society. Those present from L-R are Leeann Johnson, Charla Murphy, Sharon Vansaghi, Lisa and Andrew McRoy, Michael Spinks, Sam Lattuca, George Mavigliano and Helen Lind. Not shown are Debbie Lattuca, taking the picture and Gloria Spinks who arrived later.

Our museum and library has recently switched over to our winter hours of operation. We will only be open to the public on Saturdays from 9:30 till 3:00 P.M. until the first of March next year when we go back to our regular hours of operation.

I you are doing research and need assisistance, you may contact us by email at wchsmail@yahoo.com or call and leave a message at 618-997-5863,

A membership meeting of the Williamson County Historical Society was held on October 8^th, 2023 at 2 P.M. at the society’s museum/library at 105 S. Van Buren in Marion. The state of the museum was laid out by current president Sam Lattuca indicating the current status of programs that are in progress and membership. Lattuca displayed the latest accessions to the museum, including a turn of the 20^th century mourning dress, bonnet and cape, the christening gown belonging to Oldham Paisley from 1892 and more. Oldham Paisley was part owner, editor and reporter of the Marion Daily Republican newspaper in Marion from around 1915 through 1974 as well as serving both in WWI, WWII and the reserves. A program related to archeological and historical research done on the old Slave House, also known as the Crenshaw house was shown.

After nearly a decade, investigators with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office were able to return a displaced tombstone back to its home in Marion, Illinois.

According to the sheriff’s office, the tombstone was originally found at a home in Pittsburg, Ill. in 2014 when the property was acquired by a new owner. Since that time, it has remained in evidence at the Williamson Co. Sheriff’s Office without any leads to identify where it originally belonged.

Our next membership meeting will be held on Sunday, October 8th, 2023, 2:00 PM at the museum. Elections will be held to compose the board of directors for the year 2024. All board positions except for two director slots are to be voted on. Nominations can be made all the way up to election time, so if you have an interest in helping guide our society or know someone who might be interested, be sure to contact us or you may place names in nomination at the meeting prior to the election.

Our meeting will have a 30 minute program on an SIU archeological dig and research done at the old Crenshaw home known as the “Old Slave House” now owned by the State of Illinois.

Please be sure to check and see if your dues are caught up by looking at the date on the latest mailing label. If you’re dues are paid up it will say 2023 or higher. Membership dues will increase from $20 to $25 for next year, 2024, due to rising costs after remaining the same for 15 years.