STRICTLY BUSINESS: MARBLE HILL HAD VARIETY OF CITY NAMES

Marble Hill, situated on both sides of Crooked Creek in Bollinger County, hasn't always been called Marble Hill.

Nor has it always been situated on both side of Crooked Creek.

When Bollinger County was organized, a few years before the Civil War, the county seat of the new settlement was an unincorporated town named New California.

This was in 1851.

Seventeen years later, when townspeople decided to incorporate, the city was named Marble Hill.

Townspeople of the era said the new name fit in with the decor of the area, with outcroppings of white limestone once thought to be marble.

Marble Hill quickly became a center of commerce. In 1860, the town had a Missionary Baptist Church, two lawyers, two blacksmiths, three carpenters, five general stores, a watchmaker, steam flour mill, two grocers, saddle and harness maker, a tannery, two hotels and two doctors.

Lutesville on the scene

It wasn't until nine years later that Lutesville was founded.

Eli Lutes donated 10 acres to the Iron Mountain Railroad for a station. The railroad provided the town's major industry into the first part of the 20th century. It was also responsible for the growth of the community because both passenger and freight trains served the area several times a day.

The community of Lutesville was situated on the west side of Crooked Creek; with Marble Hill was on the east side.

Will Mayfield College, a Baptist college, located in the area. The college offered 60-hour teachers' certificates to its graduates. At its peak, the school had 200 students, but it experienced financial difficulties and was forced to close in 1934.

The Lutesville Normal School, which was primarily Methodist, was organized in 1901, by Professor Wingo, a former president of the Will Mayfield College.

There used to a big rivalry between Marble Hill and Lutesville, according to area residents. "Each was always trying to outdo the other in everything," residents said.

There is no longer two towns. They merged in 1985, and following a vote in 1986, the official name of the consolidated town became Marble Hill.

A number of issues could have been factored into the decision. Marble Hill was the older of the two towns, and was the Bollinger County seat, home to the county courthouse.

The idea of merging the two towns was not a new one. An editorial in the 1891 edition of the Marble Hill Press raised the question of consolidating the two towns and incorporating under one name. It didn't happen at that time.

A 10th anniversary year

Bootheel Area Rapid Transportation (BART), a business that started with a single van transporting passengers between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis' Lambert Airport, has grown during its 10 years in existence.

Founded by John Marek and Ray Duffey in 1987, Bart now operates 19 vans, providing shuttle services in a number of areas. Eight vans work out of the Cape Girardeau area, six provide shuttle service between Carbondale, Ill., and St. Louis, and five operate out of Springfield, Ill.

Bart added the Carbondale service during the second year of operation and initiated the Springfield service in 1992.

Marek sold his share of the business to Duffey in 1989 to relocate to an area where he started a similar service.

"We have a total of 19 vans running now," Duffey said, who is sole owner and president of the company. "It's a far cry from where we were in 1987."

Plenty of pick-up points

Headquartered at 2900 Kage Road. BART dispatches all its vans from the Cape Girardeau office with pickup points at Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Charleston, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Perryville and Jackson in Missouri and Murphysboro, Carbondale, West Frankfort, Benton, Marion, Mount Vernon, Springfield and Decatur in Illinois.

The majority of BART trips are still to the St. Louis airport, but more people are using the services for business trips to St. Louis, Duffey said.

Occasionally passengers go to St. Louis for a day of shopping, and the company provides some special same-day rates for people who visit the city for a day.

BART averages seven trips a day to St. Louis from Cape Girardeau, seven out of Carbondale, and five out of Springfield.

"Bart is popular with a lot of people simply because of the convenience of not having to fight traffic and park in St. Louis," said Duffey. "A lot of our business is from visitors or business associates coming in."

Duffey says he is pleased with the company's growth and the support BART's received in the area.

"Right now our only plans are to solidify the markets we have, as opposed to looking for new markets," he said. "We also have the authority now to provide a small-package delivery service. That's something we're going to expand as the need arises."

Marcia Ridenour is manager of the Cape Girardeau office. She has been with the firm since August 1989, and was recently promoted to her new position as manager. She will be responsible for all daily activities of BART, including the Carbondale, Springfield and Cape Girardeau operations.

A 50th anniversary year

Jim Wilson Co. is observing its 50th anniversary this year.

The employee-owned wholesaler of tires, automotive and truck repair parts and related equipment will hold an open house for its buyers at its warehouse and office facilities next weekend.

"Several of our manufacturers will display merchandise at booths throughout the warehouse," said James B. Wilson, company president.

Open house activities will be spread over three days -- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Jim Wilson Co. salesmen will serve as hosts for their customers, conducting tours of the facilities.

"Factory representatives will be present to answer questions about their products," said Wilson.

Various door prizes will be awarded throughout the open house.

Customers will be treated to lunch during the three days -- burgers Thursday and Friday and steaks Saturday.

Company representatives will also register for the company "Golden Anniversary Prize," a seven-day Caribbean cruise for two. In addition, a number of daily door prizes will be awarded.

The Jim Wilson Co. started business in 1947 in a 600-square-foot garage, which served as a warehouse and main base of operations for James W. Wilson and Jack Wilson.

Family-oriented company

The firm has grown from that two-man operation to an employee-owned firm operating out of a 72,000-square-foot facility. Jim Wilson Co. is also the parent company of Express Tire & Auto Service centers at Cape Girardeau and Dexter.

Jim Wilson Co. was incorporated in 1955. In 1977, the firm was sold to the Jim Wilson Co. Employee Trust.

The company, which employs 74 people, includes a sales force of 16 road salesmen and three telemarketing salesmen who service customers in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee.

"We're a family-oriented company," said Wilson. "We realize that the progress and success we have attained would not have been possible without valued customers, and we look forward to serving the new customers with the same enthusiasm the Wilsons did in serving their first customers 45 years ago."

Express Tire & Auto Center, a subsidiary, opened in Cape Girardeau in October 1988 in a 7,628-square-foot building with 11 bays, as a retail outlet that offers tires, motor tuneups, and other automotive service.

The local center, which employs 14 people, is at Independence and Clark streets, across from Plaza Galleria.

The Dexter center is at 1432 W. Business 60.