Bad drivers arrived in O’Fallon almost as soon as cars became common in the 1920s

Cars and traffic in the 1920s were a bit different than they are now.

Here are two O’Fallon Progress stories from May 1923 that shed light on car issues back then. The first is about bad driving on Route 50 and do-it-yourself gasohol.

“Monday morning the Anheuser & Ruth garage (across from present-day O’Fallon City Hall) had four automobile wrecks in the work shop. All were in collisions Sunday afternoon and night on the Lincoln Trail (Route 50).

“Then they say it’s safer to drive on the country highways than on the city streets.

“One accident was the result of both drivers hugging the center of the road and trying to negotiate a turn at the same time. The other it is said was caused by too liberal an application of moonshine mixed with gasoline.

“Not hardly a week passes but what one or more wrecks are directly due to the latter.”

The second story talks about speeding and the use of exhaust cut-out valves to bypass the muffler.

“The promiscuous use of automobile cut-outs in the city limits is tabooed according to an edict issued to the police department by Mayor Ralph Kampmeyer.

“According to instructions the police are to arrest all parties who use their cut-outs and who are in the habit of making a race track of the city streets. Violators are to be punished according to a city ordinance which prohibits the use of cut-outs and speeding on the streets.

“This is a move in the right direction as citizens are about tired of hearing unnecessary noises emanating from roaring automobiles, especially at night.

“Speeders should be given the fullest extent of the law as parents as well as children are disgusted with dodging speeders who endanger the life and property of pedestrians.”

Bad driving, loud driving, speeding, and gasohol. Maybe things weren’t so different after all.

75 years ago, Oct. 21, 1948

The Aurora Borealis (northern lights) was visible in O’Fallon Sunday night. Although not as clear as it has been seen in the past, it had the appearance of an immense fire in the distance.

50 years ago, Oct. 18, 1973

The four-way stop at West State and Oak Streets was approved Monday although some city officials still feel the move was hasty. The stop ordinance was approved by a 6-1 vote with Alderman Joe Hubbard voting against the ordinance and Alderman Glenn Loyet voting present.

The ordinance created quite a bit of discussion on the council floor and on a previous occasion was voted down.

A petition bearing 234 signatures was introduced by Robert P. Weinel, engineer and land developer, whose office is at the intersection.

Mayor Gary Mackey said that he was hoping for the council to move to have the ordinance put back in committee for further study.

“The state, when the survey was being done of the stops in town, disapproved of our putting a sign there. A little more study could have proved right,” Mackey said.

Mackey also said 8,000 cars use State Street daily and only 300 travel on Oak. Sgt. Victor Logan of the police department said observations made by police indicate little speeding.