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Subject: Re: [ILMASSAC] Little Egypt Heritage, 3 August 2003, Vol 2 #28
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 16:47:49 EDT
Hi,
Regina Markowicz here. My husband and I visited Metropolis last May. I
noticed that my father's Great Aunt Alma Taylor's house is falling in disrepair.
I is the only Fifth Street across from the high school that is brown and
orange. It big porch with a Victorian turret in front with a bay window. It seems
like it must be rented out. The owners used to have an old Dodge Coronet in
front that matched perfectly in color to the house.
We were sadly disappointed to find that the lot on Front Street and Ferry
that my family owned for nearly 100 years and was donated to the city for the
City Park has become a parking lot and has been rented to the casino on a fifty
year lease. That made me nearly cry with sadness. It is the lot that had the
caboose on is that was being used by the Historical Society for many years.
Now it is a parking lot. Wow.
We visited the mayor to inquire about this and we will now have to
investigate the long term lease and current use as it was not in agreement with the
intended use. We see that they are negotiating with the casino to switch the lots
currently being used for the park but they must have forgotten just how they
got the lot that they leased.
Our Covington, Taylor, and Bruner heritage in the town is so important to us
and we are devastated. MY father, Mason Bruner, born in 1912 in Metropolis,
would roll over in his grave if he knew how the lot is now being used. Harry
Humma arranged the donation through the Rotary Club and the donation was the
first that started the donations for the park. It was in the paper several times
and he was given a plaque by the mayor at the time.
It was great to be back in town as it had been nearly 10 years since our last
visit. We were able to have an interview with Verna Helm and talk to her
about the old days and ask some questions of her. She was a delight.
We visited the Metropolis City Cemetery once again at the Covington Family
site where my Great-grandparents, my cousins, grandmother, great aunt and uncles
are buried.
I would like to send a letter to all of the members letting them know how
much we felt at home and how much we enjoyed the Library genealogical room. It
was also the first time we experienced the river in flood stage.
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