125 years ago: That time a bunch of partiers broke into O’Fallon Turner Hall with a keg
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75 and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, July 28, 1899
“Tuesday evening a party of pleasure seekers with a keg broke into the Turner Hall and proceeded to hold high carnival.
“Marshal Evans and a few deputies attempted to restore order and arrest some of the lawbreakers.
“The party resisted arrest and Wm. Alexander, who was assisting the Marshal, was struck. Wm. Ahring was brought before Esq. Dunn Wednesday evening and fined $20 and costs for his share of the fun.
“Other arrests may follow as the Turner Society have a charge of burglary against the party which, if properly prosecuted, might send some of them to the penitentiary.
“While we have no personal feeling against any individual connected with this case, yet we do wish to assert that we are uncompromisingly opposed to the growing spirit of lawlessness in our village. Law-abiding citizens will agree that it is time for something to be done.”
100 years ago, July 24, 1924
“Miss Alice Schlinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Schlinger, has the distinction of being the first O’Fallon citizen to receive a letter via the air mail route between Chicago and San Francisco.
“The letter is from an uncle, Henry Schlinger, and was mailed at San Francisco on Tuesday night at 10 o’clock, arriving here last night.
“The time was about 44 hours and the postage was 16 cents. The average mail time between these two points via railroad is about 90 hours.
“While the air mail service is still in its infancy, it is making rapid strides and the time is not far off when large quantities of mail will be transported via airplane.”
75 years ago, July 28, 1949
“There is not telling what, when and where a volunteer fireman’s duties extend. This was experienced Sunday night by Elton Dressel, chief of the fire department.
“The chief had gone to the engine house at 8 o’clock on one of his routine checkups of equipment. He had just entered the door when a woman with an unclothed 3-year-old boy in her arms, rushed in, breathlessly remarking, “Hurry, or it will be too late.”
“A hurried examination by the chief revealed that the boy was deathly sick, in a coma and breathing practically extinct. Quickly applying the department’s ever-ready resuscitator, faint gasps for breath became visible and within a comparatively short time, breathing had been restored to normal.
“A physician, who was summoned by Dressel, pronounced the little patient out of danger.
“With the child wrapped in a department blanket, the mother departed for home. She is said to have told the physician that the child had a high fever and went into a coma.
“The boy is Jimmy O’Brien, son of Mr. and Mrs. William O’Brien, of Capitol Oaks, four miles west of this city. The mother is the former Marjorie Walker.”
50 years ago, July 25, 1974
“The O’Fallon Downtown Merchants Association is sponsoring an essay contest in conjunction with the city’s Homecoming festivities. The contest is open to four age groups and contestants will write an essay of 500 words or less entitled “What Living in O’Fallon Means to Me.”
“Winners of the essay contest will receive a $25 savings bond.
“The four age groups for the contest are seven to 10-year-olds, 11 to 14-year-olds, 15 to 18-year olds and 65-years-old and over. The winners in the four age groups will be announced during the Homecoming weekend. There will be one winner from each group. Judging will be done by the Merchants Association.
“The deadline for submitting entries to the contest is Aug. 17. The essays may be submitted to any downtown merchant. More details are available from the merchants also.”