Marion Apartments, 610 Commercial Street NE. (D)

Research is beginning on this 1920 apartment building at the northeast corner of Commercial and Union Streets. The Sanborn map of 1926 shows the footprint as the building today, although the L section at the rear appears to have been constructed at a slightly different, lower elevation. The City Directory shows 16 apartments from the earliest listings.
The apartments show an elegant style that would have been attractive for short stays, such as 1920s state legislators or someone needing temporary quarters, or even the more prosperous commercial travelers: they might have been designed as suites rather than apartments. The rooms have high ceilings, large windows, wooden floors (under carpets), alcoves without doors for closets (some with small windows), small bathrooms and kitchens. Fireplaces are in some units. However, one unit has built-in storage drawers and a roll-out bed behind glass doors.
In 1989, the apartments were sold by Betty Louise Bradshaw, as a personal representative of Elma Childs, to C. Rex and Ruth M. Layton of Marion County. It passed into the ownership of the Boys and Girls Club and then to the present owner.
(CAN-DO)