old town


                                                                                          MARIONVILLE           

                           The area of seven springs (now inside the Marionville city limits)
          was settled in the 1830's.  The town was incorporated in 1854 having a population  of
          300,and was named after James Marion Moore, an early settler.
                           A teachers college began in the 1870's and was later taken over by the
           Methodist Church, but closed as a college in 1924. The Methodists converted the
           buildings to a retirement home which still exists today.
                           From 1880 to 1905, a flour mill operated near the seven springs area on
              Mill Street in the east part of town.  The city experienced a period of hard times
              from 1904  to 1934.  Many businesses closed their doors and by 1943 there was not
              a  doctor, dentist or bank left in town.  Before the hard times period, there were acres
              of apple trees and strawberries surrounding Marionville, but disease killed most of the
              apple trees.  Many of the orchards were replanted and several orchards produced
              many bushels of apples.  Today only one orchard is in production.
                            A unique feature of Marionville is its white squirrel population which has 
              attracted visitors to the city.  The town also has some fine examples of Victorian 
              and Four Square architecture which may be seen in some of the older homes.
                            A more detailed history is available in "Centennial History of Marionville"
               (1854-1954) by Lee Collier.