O’Fallon Historical Society’s fresh initiatives reach beyond the museum walls

To make history more accessible, the O’Fallon Historical Society is branching out beyond its museum walls with new initiatives.

The group’s efforts are focused on expanding hours at the caboose downtown, hosting Pub Table Historian at Gears, partnering with the O’Fallon Public Library on a History Portal, and co-sponsoring Founders’ Day this Saturday, May 14, in the downtown district.

“We’ve been working on several new things to help the society branch out. It’s part of our effort to make local history more accessible and learning about it interesting and even fun,” O’Fallon Historical Society President Brian Keller said.

“While the museum is our flagship operation, not everyone can come and visit. So, these are ways we can bring the museum and awareness of local history to them,” Keller said.

History Portal at the Library

The partnership with the library on the History Portal uses modern technology — QR codes — to open more windows to learning and information on smartphones, such as websites, documents, and videos.

The History Portal is in a nook on the library’s second floor and features a rotating local history theme every three months to encourage patrons to learn more and visit the museum, which has thousands of items that are informative and entertaining with their own stories. The museum is located at 101 W. State St. in the former First National Bank building.

With cooperation from Library Director Ryan Johnson, OHS board member Greg Zelinske put in many hours to get the portal up and running.

“This portal is a gateway to the O’Fallon-Shiloh area’s past — people, places and events,” Zelinske said. “A portal is an entry to another place — we want people to come down to the museum. This introduces us to people.”

Johnson said the use of QR code technology allows for the library to provide local history and expand more in its offerings. For instance, using the QR code to get an 8-minute tour of the museum.

“It’s not just text,” he said.

The digitizing of content will expand what they can offer and provide ease in retrieving it.

“You’ll be able to pull it up in a matter of seconds,” Johnson said.

Partners with Downtown District

OHS, the O’Fallon Station Vine Street Market and the Downtown District are kicking off the annual market season on Saturday, May 14, with the first Founders’ Day, which will celebrate O’Fallon’s May 1854 founding. It will take place from 8 a.m. to noon.

Guided historical horse-drawn trolley tours on public streets from O’Fallon Station to the Community Park will be conducted. Other key activities include a championship pie-baking contest, old-fashioned games, and a re-enactment of the town’s original parcel auction — only instead of lots, it will be O’Fallon experiences.

As a nod to the town beginnings, an auction showcasing unique O’Fallon experiences will kick off at 10 a.m. Bidder numbers are $5 each.

The committee includes Keller, Andrea Fohne and Valerie Hancock, officers of the O’Fallon Historical Society, in addition to Jon Greenstreet of the Downtown Merchants and Sarah Burton, Vine Street Market coordinator and downtown coordinator.

That evening, the Friends of the O’Fallon Public Library are hosting an appearance by “The History Guy” — Lance Geiger, who has more than a million subscribers to his YouTube channel.

That will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. at the O’Fallon Station, and the $25 admission comes with two drink tickets, which can be used on a selection of wines at the event. Sweet Katie Bee’s will provide appetizers.

All proceeds from this event support early childhood literacy initiatives, including the Friends’ work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

To reserve a space, register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-the-history-guy-tickets-292731256067.

Pub Table Historian

In partnership with the Downtown District, the historical society started a new history program at Gears Bar & Café, which is inside the Bike Surgeon at 201 E. State.

Led by Keller, the informal gathering features an hour-long talk about a local history topic. Questions and discussion are encouraged. The program is free, and those in attendance are welcome to purchase food and drink.

The first one was Feb. 10 about O’Fallon “Lawlessness”; March 10 was “It Made the Papers”; and April 14 was “Fires.”

The next one is at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, with “Prohibition” as the topic. Keller said he will talk about the town during the Prohibition era and the Roaring ‘20s.

“We’re hoping to make it a regular monthly event,” he said, advising to watch the OHS Facebook page for further information about other dates and topics.

Coal Mining Exhibit

The latest addition to the museum is the Coal Exhibit room. From its founding in 1854 to the close of St. Ellen Mine in 1960, coal mining was a vital part of O’Fallon’s economy, Keller said.

“Understanding the role coal played is crucial to understanding O’Fallon’s history during its first century,” he added.

The exhibit was the Eagle Scout project of Tommy Fulford of O’Fallon Boy Scout Troop 46, who spent nearly a year working on it until it was finished Sept. 24, 2017.

“Not only does it display artifacts related to coal mining, but it gives the feel of actually being in a mine,” Keller said.

Cemetery Detectives

On April 9, the Belleville Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented members of the Cemetery Detectives with an Excellence in Community Service Awards in recognition of their efforts to locate lost or unknown tombstones, repair fallen and broken tombstones, and identify unmarked graves.

This year, they have been focused on Bethel, Bryan, Hoerath-Rupprecht, and Lemen cemeteries.

“They’ve made some new tombstone discoveries, uncovered others known but long buried in addition to fixing and resetting a variety of stones,” Keller said.

Donations to the OHS Cemetery Fund support their efforts.

Caboose Hours

The caboose is open to the public from 10 am. to noon the third Saturday of the month May through October. This year’s dates are: May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 — and by appointment.

Historical Society

Founded in 1988, OHS is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. The OHS meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the museum. The next one is May 17, and the topic is coal mining.

The annual picnic — a potluck — is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, at Joseph Farm. Two membership field trips are set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at Keller Farm and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Obernuefmann Farm.

Besides Keller, officers include Vice-President Tom Schwarztrauber, Secretary Valerie Hancock, Treasurer Sam Fussell and Directors Vern Malare, Elinor Schlosser and Greg Zelinske.

The museum is open from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and by appointment (call or email).

For more information, visit www.OFallonHistory.net; email: info@OFallonHistory.net; or call 618-624-8409