Why I Ask You to Vote for Marion in the Strongest Town Competition

By: Wendy Weichenthal

I am proud to vote for Marion, Ohio, in the Strongest Town Competition. Why Marion? Because I believe in Marion and in the resilience, cooperation and creativity of this community.

A mom smiles at a preschooler. — Leslie and Wendy Weichenthal in the 1980s in Marion. (Photo by David G. Weichenthal)

Growing up in Marion, I enjoyed biking through my neighborhoods and stopping at the Isaly Shoppe. My mother helped students from all walks of life succeed at Marion Technical College. My dad used a second degree from Marion Tech to start a new career in computers and eventually started his own IT business.

Classes from The Ohio State University at Marion taken during high school helped me save a year of tuition when I graduated from River Valley and headed off to Ohio University. I started my career in Columbus. I moved back to Marion to raise my son in 2011.

A smiling boy with an angry bird hat and red coat. — My son

Downtown Marion Making Moves

Looking on Marion with new eyes, I was amazed at its changes. While downtown Marion once had more boarded up windows than storefronts, it has come alive with many restaurants and breweries, with treats including an empanada from Marcela at Baries to a prickly pear seltzer from Marion Brewing Company. Even better, the owners know each other and support each other.

Building exterior with an old-fashioned, light up marque and decorative architecture rising over a row of wooden doors and a bridck building.

The anchor of the downtown, the historic Marion Palace Theatre, was in danger of becoming a parking lot in the 1970s. Concerned citizens formed the Palace Guard to restore this local jewel. The historic stage has hosted hundreds of plays, concerts, graduations, and even once to my delight, Weird Al Yankovic.

When the National Robotics Competition was in danger of closing, three Marion teachers brought it here to encourage students to advance in STEM.

Forging New Businesses

Attaboys Rachel McCall MarionMade — Chris Rennick, Rachel McCall and Robert Turner in 2018.

Teachers like Cindy Binns and Rachel McCall took their ideas from a dream to a reality with help from the Alluvial Private Wealth Forge classes. Cindy opened the amazing Explore-It-Torium Children’s Museum for kids to unplug and play. Rachel opened the Sweada Mae Art Café featuring pottery and painting for all ages.

A young girl smiles while wearing goggles and holding a toy drill. She has a tool box and is working on a wooden large car. — A child having fun at the Explore-It-Torium.

The Leadership Marion class who created the Forge knew that more small businesses would help our community thrive, and it has paid generous dividends the community. POET Biorefining, Sika, Nucor Steel, OhioHealth have invested hundreds of millions of dollars Marion because of its people.

Inspiring Kids

After going to the Marion County Fair for deep fried Oreos, it’s great to take the family through the Huber Machinery Museum. My son loves science and engineering. There, he can see how one young inventor rocked the agricultural world in the 1800s.

Crowd shot of dozens of people in front of various food stations at the Marion County Fair in 2023. — Marion County Fair (Latisha Lewis and Emma Matthews Photography)

Edward Huber continued to focus on innovation. His company, later named Marion Power Shovel, created the enormous equipment needed to dig the Panama Canal and move NASA shuttles to the launchpad.

A space shuttle sits atop a large, moveable platform. — NASA’s crawler-transporters were built in Marion, Ohio.

Marion’s Proud History

Marion has some proud history. Sportsman of the century Jim Thorpe, the first president of the NFL, played professional games with the local NFL team, Oorang Indians, at Lincoln Park. From President Warren G. Harding to U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow, Marion has produced leaders.

Jim Thorpe wears a white T-shirt with a shield with stars and stripes on his chest. He has an intense gaze and dark hair, short hair. — Jim Thorpe

Passionate local historians including Carroll Neidhardt, Johnnie Jackson, Cody Higley and Brandi Wilson work to preserve and share our stories and traditions.

Rising Up to Meet Challenges

Every town in America has challenges. I love the innovative ways Marion rises up to address them.

Teen pregnancy: In 1980, when Marion County had one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the state, a local doctor created Marion Area Pregnancy Program to cut that rate by 65%.

Child Hunger: Worried about local kids going hungry, Brock and Amy Parker created the Peanut Butter Jelly Truck.

Brock Parker waves while driving the Peanut Butter Jelly Truck.

Poverty: A couple concerned about neighbors in need opened Leapin’ Outreach Center.

Volunteer and local teacher jane Harper, a white woman with long brown hair, a gray sweatshirt, and light blue jeans, holds an armload of puzzles as she helps someone shop for a child in need. — Jane Harper, a Leapin’ volunteer and local teacher, helps someone shop for a child in need before Christmas.

For those working to escape generational poverty, Marion Matters offers the Getting Ahead Class to help them reach that goal.

Safe, Inclusive Spaces: When Marion’s main playground needed to be replaced, a group of parents of kids with disabilities built a new, accessible playground at no cost to taxpayers.

Luke Fox at the Run for Luke 5K in 2023.

Kids in Need: As a local boy, Luke Fox, was dealing with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, the Waldo community rallied around him and raise money for wheelchairs, ramps and other needed items at the annual Run for Luke 5K.

These efforts to make Marion better, one swing, one warm coat, and one peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a time.

Marion: Surviving and Thriving

An elderly woman with soft white, curly hair smiles while surrounded by four taller sons. — Front row: Carroll Neidhardt and his mother, Mary Ellen Dune. Back row: Richard Dune, John Neidhart and David Neidhart.

Many businesses and families and people have seen Marion through nearly a century. Mary Ellen Dune, a 98-year-old who worked as a “Real-Life Rosie the Riveter” during World War II, told me, “I’m a survivor.”

Mary Ellen believes the right attitude and faith can get you through anything. Like Mary Ellen, Marion has a tough backbone. We are thriving because of thousands of people making a difference each day.

This is an exciting time to be a part of Marion. I’m proud to be MarionMade!

Please vote for our scrappy little town as we move through the Strongest Town competition before Thursday at 1 p.m. Sometimes, Cinderella stories come true!

Real-Life Rosie the Riveter Declares “I’m a survivor” | MarionMade

Kids and Families Find Fun at the Explore-It-Torium | MarionMade

National Robotics Challenge | MarionMade

Leapin’ Outreach Center | MarionMade

Marion Matters | MarionMade

Run for Luke 5K: Waldo Community Supports Kids with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy | MarionMade

Carroll Neidhardt: Marion Man Preserves History | MarionMade

Marion Brewing Company Brewing Business | MarionMade

Local Entrepreneurs Awarded $7,500 in Alluvial Private Wealth Forge Competition | MarionMade

Alluvial: Don’t Leave Goals to Chance | MarionMade

Marion Power Shovel & NASA Crawler-Transporter | MarionMade

MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.

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