89 years ago, vandals gave O’Fallon coal miners that sinking feeling

On Monday, Oct. 15, 1934, coal miners heading to work in the O’Fallon area got that sinking feeling.

Or at least their tires did.

Here’s how the O’Fallon Progress reported this pointed tale of vandalism:

“When early Monday morning workers at the various mines in this vicinity turned their automobiles into the roads leading to the shafts they did not realize the trouble that was in store for them.

“As they drove along the roads, practically all of which are cindered, one tire after another would start going down, some cars having all four tires disabled.

“It was common to see automobiles with ‘flats’ all along the roads. An investigation revealed that vandals had promiscuously strewn large new roofing nails all over the road. Not only were those menaces to tires placed on certain sections of the highway but practically all the way to the mines.

“More than five pounds of these puncture producers were picked up on Carbon mine road while no estimate could be made of the number that were strewn in the lane leading to St. Ellen mine.

“Reports from Mine No. 2 of the St. Louis & O’Fallon Coal Company and from Little Oak, near Belleville are that the vandalism also prevailed on their roads Monday morning.

“Reasons for the depredation could not be given as there is no labor trouble at any of the local mines and evidently is not directed at the coal companies or the men employed at the shafts.

“The only possible cause prompting the action is that St. Louis truck drivers may have a controversy, although this could not be verified. Practically all of the output of the four mines where the nails were spread is hauled away in trucks.

“A close watch is being maintained for a return of the vandals.”

75 years ago, Oct. 7, 1948

O’Fallon’s park board is interested to learn the identity of the miscreant who made away with one of the new steel park benches recently placed in Community Park.

The theft came to light when the park benches were being gathered for winter storage. They were a gift from the Woman’s Club.

Anyone having knowledge of the theft or identity of the guilty party will do a real community service by giving the information to any member of the park board or the city authorities.

O’Fallon is making all efforts to make Community Park an outstanding recreational center by providing convenience to the public.

“When someone stoops so low as to indulge in the theft of these or any other convenience in the park, it is time to take stringent action by exposing the party to the public and penalizing to the fullest extent of the law, if identity is established,” one member of the board commented.

50 years ago, Oct. 4, 1973

It’s now official.

The City of O’Fallon topped the 10,000 mark with a new official census count of 10,045.

A special census taken in July shows the new census figure, according to notice received from the United States Census Bureau.

The new figure shows an increase of 680 from the 1970 census figure that put the population then at 9365. A preliminary figure of 9923 was reached at the time of the census but additional residents were located for the count later.

Many of the added names were submitted through a coupon printed in this newspaper after the census team completed their canvas.

The additional population will mean added income to the City of O’Fallon. State income tax payments and Motor Fuel Tax funds are allocated on the basis of population.

One estimate puts the added income at some $11,000.

The city bore the cost of the census at about $4400.