Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, June 28, 1923 -- HEARD PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS -- Quite a number of Staunton people on Thursday evening heard the address delivered by President Harding at the Colesium at St. Louis and chances are that most of them did so with a greater degree of comfort than the audience in St. Louis. Radio brought the message to Staunton and the owners of several of the larger outfits entertained great crowds, the chief places of assembly being at the home of Dr. McBrien and at the place of Mr. Lambert in Klondike.

The instruments transmitted the President's address clearly and all present greatly enjoyed the opportunity of listening to the speech made by the country's foremost man.

STORM YESTERDAY MORNING -- This community was visited by a severe thunderstorm yesterday morning shortly before six o'clock. Rain fell in torrents, lightning crashed and thunder rumbled. A heavy wind accompanied the rain and blew a large number of limbs off of trees. Lightning also played havoc with the electric light system in our city and the linemen were kept busy yesterday, repairing the damage done.

PARKING SPACES MARKED OFF -- Work was started Tuesday to mark off parking spaces on various streets in our city. The white lines are placed there for the convenience and guidance of motorists and all are asked to keep their cars within the spaces indicated when parking.

A bit of co-operation in this respect will aid materially in relieving traffic congestion during busy times and consequently will result to the benefit of the public in general.

HIT BY AUTOMOBILE -- Wilbur Parnell and Hugh Tollman, two Gillespie men, on Sunday evening were hit by an automobile while walking along the hard road north of Gillespie. Parnell sustained a broken arm and several broken ribs and Tollman suffered a fracture of the pelvis. Both men are at present at the St. Francis Hospital at Litchfield where they are getting along as well as may be expected under the circumstances.

ENDORSE CHECK SYSTEM -- The men of Local Union No. 720, U. M. W. of A., the members of which are employed at the No 2 mine of the Mt. Olive & Staunton Coal Co., at an election held Monday evening voted two to one in favor of the check system of paying the men. The company, following several hold-ups, recently adopted the check system of paying the men instead of paying in cash as is generally done, and the vote Monday evening was to determine the sentiment of the men. Votes cast were 296 for the check system and 137 against.

Train Demolished Ford -- Jos. Milchus, 16-year old son of Tony Milehus, and five small children on Saturday evening had a narrow escape from death when a Ford car in which they were riding was struck by a train on the crossing at the depot in Livingston. Jos. is a new driver and killed his engine just as the car rolled onto the track. Seeing a passenger train coming from the west, all of the occupants of the car scrambled to safety and the train hurled the Ford onto the next track, where it was struck and totally demolished by an eastbound freight train. The engineer of the freight train was later arrested and fined $13.80 for running his train through Livingston at a speed greater than that allowed by the ordinances.

Thursday, July 5, 1923 -- STAUNTON LADY ACCIDENT VICTIM -- Our community was deeply grieved Monday morning to learn of the death of Miss Nerina Marra, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orresta Marra of our city, in an automobile accident which occurred near Bloomington Sunday evening at about 9 o'clock.

Miss Marra in company with a number of other young ladies from our city, was attending summer school at Normal, Ill. On Sunday afternoon Miss Marra and her friend, Thomas Cardis, drove to Peoria in the latter's big Paige car. They returned via the Washington street road, which was heavily oiled and at a point between Mackinaw Junction and Bloomington the car skidded and turned completely over, killing Cardis instantly and Miss Marra expired only a few minutes afterward.

Other members of the Staunton party of students at the school sent word of the tragic occurrence to our city and on Monday morning the unfortunate young lady's parents went to Normal to take charge of the body. An inquest was held Monday afternoon at which a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Mr. Cardis was a prominent young business man of Bloomington and owned considerable real estate in that city. He was also financially interested in a number of business ventures there. He was of Greek extraction and his body was taken to Chicago, where burial took place.

Miss Nerina Marra was born May 7, 1902, in Brazil, South America, hence attaining an age of only 21 years, 1 month and 24 days. When about three years of age she came with her parents to the United States, the family locating at Staunton, and the young lady spent practically her entire life here. She attended the local schools, and after completing the course at the high school, took up the vocation of a school teacher, serving in this capacity for the past two terms at the Williamson public school. Her sojourn at Normal was for the purpose of further fitting herself for her chosen work. She was endowed with a friendly disposition and was a general favorite among all who knew her and her tragic death came as a severe blow to all.

The funeral will be held this Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home at 816 West Sixth street, Rev. Floyd W. Johnston officiating. Interment will be at the Memorial Park cemetery.

Those left as nearest relatives to cherish her memory are: The grief stricken parents; two brothers, Alfeo and Ettore, and one sister, Dea.

SOLD STORE -- A deal was closed Monday whereby Nathan Kotler disposed of his grocery store on East Main street to Frank Kuzia. Mr. Kuzia and his sons will conduct the business and operate the same under the name of Kuzia Bros. Nate was one of the old-timers along Main street, and his many friends will regret to learn that he has sold out.

Mr. Kotler and family intend to remain in our city for several months, after which they will move to St. Louis where Nate and his brother, Dan, will enter a clothing and men's furnishing business, the building for which is at present in course of construction on one of the busy corners of the South Side.