100 years ago: O’Fallon was the place to be with record-breaking Homecoming festivities
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, Sept. 1, 1899
“M. Schwarz has purchased a fine new latest style hearse from Rock Falls Manufacturing Co., Sterling, Ill. The hearse will be a beauty and will out class anything that has been in O’Fallon.
“Mr. Schwarz is to be congratulated on his enterprise in always giving his customers the very best. Our citizens should patronize home industries and especially so in this case as we believe the home service will be better and cheaper than anything they can get elsewhere.”
(Schwarz Funiture and Undertaking was located at 225 W. First Street in a building now occupied by Fezziwig’s.)
100 years ago, Aug. 28, 1924
“What is believed to be the largest crowd ever assembled in O’Fallon at one time was here Saturday to attend the annual Home-Coming and Fall Festival, exceeding by far all previous attendance records.
“Conservative estimates are that between 13,000 and 15,000 people were in O’Fallon on that day. Ideal weather prevailed and throngs of people were in the city early, many coming several days in advance to attend the Home-Coming.
“Street cars started to unload crowds during the afternoon which increased as night drew near. Long lines of automobiles, coming from all directions began to arrive and by the time the Mardi Gras was ready to start the city was crowded with automobiles and throngs of visitors who came to enjoy the hospitality of O’Fallon and the citizens.
“The festivities started at 1 o’clock in the afternoon with the arrival of visitors. A feature of the afternoon was the children’s parade at 1:30 o’clock, starting at the school grounds and terminating at the City Park. With nearly 300 children in line this was a pretty spectacle, exceeding all previous events.
“A galaxy of miniature floats and prettily dressed children, the zoo and a representation of Petersburg won the admiration of the spectators as the parade traversed over the streets. This was followed by free band concerts and free aerial exhibitions by a Chicago troupe of trapeze performers.
“Another feature of the afternoon was the Old Settlers’ Meeting which was presided over by J. W. Asbury. Cyrus Thompson, of Belleville, delivered an interesting address in which he touched on olden times. Mrs. George Verbeek, of Pontiac, Mich., was awarded a handsome parasol for coming the longest distance to attend the Home-Coming…
“The refreshment stands and concessions were conducted by the various lodges, organizations and the ladies served a fine meal which was enjoyed by many hundreds. The evening’s main event was the monster Mardi Gras parade, which was the most spectacular ever held in O’Fallon.
“Hundreds of additional electric lights, street decorations and glaring red and green fire in the parade made this the crowning number of the Home-Coming. The parade, which was the largest and most stupendous ever held in this section of the state, started shortly after 7 o’clock, traversing through the business section and terminating at the City Park.
“Fourty-three gaily decorated floats were in line, eclipsing all previous parades insofar as brilliancy was concerned, as many carried their own electric lighting effects. The parade was led by Grand Marshals Gerke Lemen, Jerome Munie and M. K. Schwarz. The two O’Fallon bands, Glen Carbon drum corps of 25 pieces, Belleville Moose drum corps and the Scottish bagpipe troupe of Gillespie, furnished the music.
“At the conclusion of the parade Miss Anita Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George O. Meyer, was crowned O’Fallon’s 1924 queen by Mayor Kampmeyer. Hon. E. E. Campbell, editor of the Alton Times and a yearly visitor at the Home-Coming delivered a short talk and then introduced the Mayor, who proceeded with the ceremonies. The queen’s maids of honor were Misses Erma Yanda, Kathryn Phillips, Alda Spargo and Evelyn Lauermann, with little Misses Nidra Schwarz and Alma Thomas as train bearers.
“Merriment proper was then begun in the spacious City Park where thousands had gathered to join in the festivities. While the crowd was large and with the many concession stands there was no interference or disorder and the affair passed off with remarkable success, everybody enjoying the hospitality accorded them.
“Dancing was followed on the large out-door floor for which Toots Juen’s 12-piece orchestra furnished the music. During the evening the various committees worked diligently to entertain the visitors and in this they succeeded beyond expectations.”
(City Park was located just east of Old City Hall, north of Washington Street, between Lincoln and Vine. The fire station and District 90 offices now occupy the site. Homecomings were held in Community Park starting in 1926.)
75 years ago, Sept. 1, 1949
“A deal was consummated in which W. E. Sager, of Collinsville leased a portion of the Moonlight building on the First Street side from Frank Hartman. The lease covers two business storerooms, one formerly occupied by the First State Bank and the other by a Kroger store.
“Mr. Sager announced that he is making preparations for the opening of a Goodrich Silvertown tire, auto and home supplies business under the firm name of Sager Auto and Home Supplies. He intends to move his family here as soon as suitable living quarters are available.
(The building is now home to Peel Pizza at First and Cherry streets.)
50 years ago, Aug. 29, 1974
“Sherry Moomau, 16-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vic Logan, 1410 Princeton Dr., was named Miss O’Fallon for 1974 before an over-capacity crowd at the O’Fallon Township High School Stadium Friday evening.
“In talking with the green-eyed blonde Saturday morning, Sherry was still a little numb to the whole thought of being Miss O’Fallon. “It all seems like a dream,” said the newly-crowned queen.
“Sherry plans to study sociology in college, work as an airline stewardess and then go into government and social services work. Sherry is a junior at OTHS. Besides taking top honors as Miss O’Fallon, Sherry was also named Miss Congeniality – an award voted upon by the girls participating in the pageant.
“One of Sherry’s first official acts will be to bat during pre-game ceremonies at the O’Fallon Day celebration at Busch Memorial Stadium Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
“First runner-up in the competition was Marie Tippin, second runner-up was Barbara Knewitz, third runner-up was Karen Adamcik and fourth runner-up went to Tacia Leshe.
“Retiring Miss O’Fallon for 1973, Nancy LeFrancois, read a poem as a final farewell to the audience and then stepped aside to make way for the new Miss O’Fallon. The girls competed in swim suit and formal wear and in talent. Sherry performed a jazz dance to the song “Jennifer Tompkins” for her talent.
“The pageant is sponsored by the O’Fallon Junior Women’s Club in conjunction with the Homecoming celebration.”
This story was originally published August 24, 2024 at 6:00 AM.