Potter's Pecan Orchard, episode 26

Four miles west of Marion was once an idyllic setting for picnics.
The park like setting of the Potter's Pecan Orchard was unlike anything seen in the area. The forty acre plot of land sat along the Marion-Carbondale stretch of what would become Illinois Route 13.
In its earliest days the orchard had a reputation as a wonderful place for picnics. This gained the area the unofficial name of the "Free Nut Garden."
The creation of Judge William Potter, Marion's expert on nut-bearing trees, the orchard employed several cutting-edge experiments of 1918-early 20's.
By 1923 that experimental piece of land would turn into a great investment when the wagon path along the property's northern border would become the area's first paved state road - Illinois Route 13.
The orchard thrived for several years as Potter's Pecan Orchard, until 1941 when all 40 acres were swallowed up by the sprawling Illinois Ordnance Plant.
Built to supply the United States war efforts during WWII, the entire 22,000 acres of the ORDIL area was surrounded through the war years by more than 50 miles of razorwire topped fencing.
The end of the war meant the plant would be shuttered and the razorwire topped fencing would be removed. Soon after, in 1947, the entire area would be organized into the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.
Today it is the area's local wildlife that enjoy Judge Potter's efforts and his Free Nut Garden.