The old Marion High School building was torn down in the spring of 2024. It was sad to see it go. It's only a memory now, as a graveled lot is in it's location.
I happen to run across these old articles in the archives of the Crittenden Press and found it interesting to read how some caring folks did try to save it several times and make it useful again, but it just never happened, on account of the cost.
The first I found was in Sept. 24, 1998. Murray State University wanted to make a satellite campus for the Murray State University. I'm not sure what happened with this project, but it never came to pass.
Here are two other articles I found interesting.
Crittenden Press, June 18, 1992
Plans Made To convert School Into Elderly Housing
Marion’s old Junior High School would be converted into 12 to 14 one-bedroom apartments under a plan being developed by Crittenden County Elderly Housing Corp.
Lois Hicks, president of the not-for-profit public corporation, announced last week the group is applying for a $562,000 low-interest loan from the Farmers Home Administration to buy and renovate the for,mer school, located across the street from the Marion Post Office.
the building, last used as a school in 1981, is now owned by Marion businessman Tommy Wright, Wright has used the building over the past few years as a retail store, for a storage and for light industry
.
The proposal would convert each of the 700 sq. ft. classrooms into a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, bath and living room.
The gymnasium would likely be used as a community meeting room.
The three-floor building would be made entirely handicapped accessible, and all apartments would be designed to accommodate people with wheelchairs and walkers.
The Elderly Housing Corp. was organized about a year ago, Hick said, on the suggestion of County Judge Executive John May, who noted a need for alternative housing for the county’s elderly.
Other corporation directors are Peggy Howton, vice president, Jean Greeman, secretary treasurer, Charles Aldridge, Elmer Ibert, Guy and Nellie Lowery, Mickey Myers, Janice Newcom, Edith Russell, Sheryl Watson and Ina Mae Little.
Many Litchfield of PADD said a survey was conducted and confirmed a need for at least 12 additional rental units.
Four other sites were surveyed for either renovation into elderly housing or for new construction. Those were the old hospital building, vacant lots near Fohs Hall and the courthouse, and the Fohs Hall annex, which has since been bought to house the Element Mineral Museum.
The old Junior High building was picked because it was near the downtown, near stores, churches, the post office and other government agencies, and was structurally sound.
It’s a tremendous building, it was said of the structure which was built in 19 38-39 by the WPA. It’s reinforced concrete would cost a ‘zillion’ dollars to try and build it today.
The group should learn, Litchfield said, whether the loan will be funded by late September or early October.
The local project has to compete for about $1.2 million available statewide for FmHA for non-profit elderly housing.
But, at present, Lietchfield said she was aware of only one other application for money.
If the loan is approved, interim financing would be arranged, probably through a local bank, until the construction project could be completed and the loan taken over by FmHA.
Construction could begin with 60 days of loan approval, and could be expected to be completed in six or seven months.
The exterior of the building would not be changed substantially,. Windows would be replaced with new, energy efficient ones, parking would be developed along with landscaping.
(This project failed as the grant never came through)
Crittenden Press, October 18, 2001
Plan would revive old school as new location for city hall.
One of Marion’s oldest and prized landmarks may again have a chance at new life if local officials follow through on a plan to save the historic building.
On Monday night, Marion’s city council gave Mayor Mick Alexander the authority to enter into an option agreement with Tommy Wright for the City of Marion to purchase the old Marion High School on South College Street. If feasible, the city could soon call the deteriorating building home, converting the former school into Marion City Hall.
The council is also eyeing a building owned by Frances Grady behind the school that was formerly used as a bandroom and special education building. Both option agreements would give the city one year to make a decision on the properties at an agreed price.
Alexander would not disclose the discussed purchase price for either property, saying that information could jeopardize the deal with Wright and Grady.
Bart Frazer, legal counsel to the city of Marion, said the parking lot located on the school’s grounds would not be a part of the potential purpose. That paved lot is currently owned and used by the Marion United Methodist Church.
Last year, attempts by local officials to purchase the school and its surrounding property for use as a joint city-county justice center were hampered by real estate acquisition discussions involving the parking lot.
Frazer said the plan to purchase the school is not intended to exclude the county from joining the city in any future ventures on the property. He said the primary reasons for seeking purchase of the property at this time are to save the building from further deterioration and to give the city a potential prime location for new offices.
"One consideration is to put in a drive-thru window," Alexander said, "That is really needed: for payment of utility bills and similar transactions."
Alexander said he would not know to w hat extent the city could utilize property until an architectural study could be completed.
If feasible, he said, it is possible that the administrative offices and the police and fire departments could all be moved. In that case, the current city hall building could be razed to make way for another structure or parking.
He added, however, that a more likely scenario would be to keep the fire department at its present location, allowing room for expansion when other offices move out of the building.
The mayor said the city has enough money in reserve to get the building "stabilized," repairing the roof and other structural problems that have arisen in nearly 20 years without regular maintenance. Several exterior problems are obvious, broken windows, crumbing woodwork and unattached gutters – but extensive water damage exists inside on either end of the building covered by a flat roof.
Alexander said any use of the property by the city would maintain the historical integrity and outward appearance of the structure.
Though Frazer said the city would welcome the county’s involvement with the development of the property, inviting the jail to the site is not a part of the plan. Under the previous city-county justice center plan, the jail, city police, sheriff’s department and administrative offices of the courts would have been located on the property.
Frazer said relocating the administrative offices of the courts – or circuit clerk’s office – to the old high school would still seem a viable option.
This most recent effort to save the historic school marks the third time in four years the property had been considered for the development by local officials. Prior to last year’s justice center plan, a 1998 study looked at converting the structure to a center for higher education.
***
This project was finally closed in the year 2003, the city had spent about $50,000 studying the building renovation and an estimated cost for the project came close to $9 million dollars. Council members decided it was a lost cause to try and renovate the old building.
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