The Marion Tannery one of Marion's important early enterprises was the establishment of a modern system of tanning leather.
Sometime in the year
1868 he Mr. Haynes bought a tract, some ten acres of land, at the southern
border of town. The Marion-Princeton road then separated the
property from the Old Presbyterian Church and Graveyard to the east
and adjoining the property was dense forest, owned by the Robert
Lycurgus Bigham estate. On the property was an ever-flowing spring
of water, and a log house, two rooms, divided by open hallway, and
kitchen detached. (located where Hometown Food Grocery's store is
today)
In that day leather and
leather products were not much sold in stores. Every community
supported its own shoemaker, saddler and harness maker; sometimes all
three in one person, handyman.
With the bright prospects
apparent the company proceeded to acquire basic supplies - white-oak
bark, to be cured without exposure to moisture, and animal skins in
great quantity. For the protection of the dried bark and working
space for the horse-powered bark –grinding mill an enormous size
shed was erected, and curing rooms for raw hides.
Next thing, three pools,
dimensions 10 x 10 ft. and 6 feet deep; one pool fresh water to soak
dry hides in; another, a strong lime solution to loosen the hair, and
a third emersion in fresh water to neutralize the lime. Skins
thoroughly rubbed to remove all foreign matter, graded according to
thickness, the larger ones split in halves; the grades are separately
processed.
Tan vats, 30 in all,
excavations 3 ½ x 6 feet deep, also lined with thick tongue and
grooved lumber and water tight. Arranged in rows with working space
between. Partly water-filled, a generous sprinkle of pulverized bark
sufficient to support the first skin carefully spread, on which
another sprinkle of bark – alternating the skin and bark until the
vat is filled to capacity, there to remain for months in incubation,
until the tanner, by test pronounces the leather matured.
During the period of
leather incubation thee are processing rooms to erect and equip.
Leather leaving the tan must at once be thoroughly treated in oils to
restore pliability; rubbed to a firmness, shaved to uniform
thickness, and when desired, colored. For this precise operation an
expert currier is kept on duty.
Extending the buildings, there are
shops for the tradesmen; harness maker, saddler and long rows of
benches equipped for the many shoemakers always present.
The Marion Tannery rated
of much importance to the community. The trade in tanbark and hides
brought in much needed revenue to Crittenden County and adjoining
territory, and people came from all around for quality goods. A
large number of artisans of the trades had employment there.
Along in the year 1878
someone invented a system of Steam tanning. Using extract
concentrates, and steams under high pressure. They cooked it. It
was all so natural and simple. Leather could be matured in a matter
of weeks. That was the blueprint to the cold water tanner's finish.
He must change his system or retire.
Luckily for us there
came a respite. The first steam-tanned leather offered the public
proved inferior. It had been overheated and broke in places. For a
long time people were prejudiced against the steam–tanned leather.
By the time the error had been corrected and confidence restored, we
had disposed of our stock and sold the property. On the 27th
of August 1879, we vacated the place and left Marion.
A big mill and whiskey
distillery soon occupied the tan yard site and buildings for a good
many years and the ever-flowing spring was their source of water
supply. (This area today is where Hometown Food's grocery store and
parking lot are located.)
