W.R.C. Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall at 760 11th St. in Marion was the result of planning and seemingly endless fundraising by the Robert Mitchell chapter of the Woman's Relief Corps No. 126 in Marion.

At the formal opening of the hall, The Evening Gazette said, "The hall not only serves as a permanent memorial to those who answered their country's call in time of need and who will ever have the admiration and sympathy of every true American, but it is also an honor and credit to the city."

The Woman's Relief Corps was the auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was composed of veterans of the Civil War.

Marion's G.A.R. chapter was named for Marion native Robert Mitchell, who enlisted in 1861 in Company A, 6th Iowa Infantry. He was killed at the battle of Mission Ridge.

The W.R.C.'s members were the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of Civil War soldiers. They decided that area veterans needed more than a memorial, but also a place to meet.

In July 1899, they planned a building that would be built on the lot north of the First National Bank and facing Daniel's Hotel (later Balster Furniture store).

The lower floor was designated as a storeroom and the upper floor would have lodge rooms with steam heat, electric lights and other modern amenities. The total project was expected to cost at least $5,000. The women, who hoped to start construction on the hall in September 1899, saw the basement walls finished that fall.

The funds to build the Memorial Hall were raised mostly through dinners, suppers and entertainment nights. An early fundraising event was a dinner and supper in the basement of the Baptist Church in May of 1899.

In November, the W.R.C. still was planning fundraisers. They picked Election Day to serve a dinner and supper and decided on a carnival fundraiser for Dec. 7 and 8. They solicited "either fancy or useful articles" or food for the meals to be served during the carnival.

At the end of November, the W.R.C. asked for bids on constructing the hall, but fundraising continued into March 1900 with an entertainment program at the IOOF hall. Donors were treated to an evening of instrumental and vocal performances and recitations.

By mid-June 1900, building materials were being delivered to the building site on north 11th Street. The front of the building was pressed brick made in Shellsburg, while the brick for the other walls came from McBride & Snyder of south Marion. After the ceremony for laying the cornerstone on June 23, 1900, the women served supper with proceeds to go to the building fund.

By August, the building's contractor, J.S. Collins of the Cedar Rapids firm of Collins & Emery, was pushing for the work to be done within the next 60 days. Dramatic interpreter Noah Gause and area musical talent scheduled as entertainment Sept. 25, with proceeds going toward furnishings. Admission was 25 cents.

In October, the building was finished and occupied by the Robert Mitchel Post of the G.A.R., but the dedication was planned by the women of the W.R.C. They continued to host fundraisers, including a Halloween social. For 10 cents, patrons were treated to games, music, pumpkin pie and coffee. Proceeds went to furnishing the parlor.

On Nov 22, 1900, the ladies of the W.R.C. finally held their inaugural banquet in the new Memorial Hall. The public was invited to pay 50 cents to enjoy music by Professor Laas' orchestra and sample "delicacies of the season" prepared by Marion caterer Mrs. John Emberson. Guests were greeted in the east parlor and then invited into a red-white-and-blue-decorated main hall.

"Every patriotic citizen and the public are invited to this banquet to help the ladies who have worked so diligently and faithful in placing so beautiful a building in our city as the Memorial Hall to the memory of Linn County soldiers."

Was that the end of the fundraising? Not quite. A New Year's Eve dinner, also held in the new hall, provided the last payment on the building's furniture.

The Memorial Hall in Marion was used by the Robert Mitchell Post G.A.R. and other veterans groups into the 1950s. After that various commercial enterprises operated from the building and in the 1970s, Marion's Chamber of Commerce was located there.

Most recently the hall was purchased by Jeanne and Paul Matthews who plan to restore it to house a boutique or pub on the lower level and turn the upper level into their home.