125 years ago: O’Fallon gets its own ‘neat little brewery wagon’
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, Oct. 20, 1899
“O’Fallon now sports a neat little brewery wagon of its own. The E. Tiedemann Grocer Co. has arranged to deliver the Western Beer to all parties in town here.
100 years ago, Oct. 16, 1924
(A column about O’Fallon Township High School activities submitted by Felton Koch.)
“The program, which was given by the Whittier Literary Society in the high school auditorium last Friday afternoon was excellent. It ranked as being the best rendered this year. Quite a large number of visitors attended, and all enjoyed the entertainment.
“The next program will be given on Friday afternoon, October 24th, by the Superior Society. This society ranked the highest last year by scoring the best yearly average, so a good program can be expected.
“An election was held last Thursday to select the cheer-leaders for this year. The following were elected: Melvern Hemmen, Margaret Schuetz and Felton Koch. With the aid of these three cheer leaders our team should annex many victories.
“Miss Josephine Rieder entertained a group of Seniors at her home Monday evening. All reported as having spent a very enjoyable evening. The freshman class enjoyed a wiener roast at Schaefer’s Grove Tuesday evening. This was the first Freshman entertainment of the year and all enjoyed their first high school function. The members of the Senior Class were greatly overjoyed when their class rings came Tuesday.
“Mr. Morris, the photographer for the 1925 Memini (yearbook), on Tuesday took the pictures of the Freshman and Sophomore classes and of the various literary societies and the Glee Club.
“A male Glee Club was organized last week consisting of the following: Harold Taylor, Wilbur Heien and Julius Runkwitz, basses; George Remick, Carl Gause and Elton Remelius, baritones; Theodore Warma, Felton Koch and Joseph Mach, second tenors; and Curtis Muelchi, Fred Brewer and Norman Stites, first tenors. Prof. Hinchcliff has been practicing with the boys every evening and hopes to have them make their first appearance at the operetta which will be given by the high school several months hence.”
75 years ago, Oct. 20, 1949
“The many friends of Rev. R. W. Watson, pastor of the First Baptist church will be sorry to learn that he has accepted a call to another church and will leave O’Fallon by the end of the month.
“Rev. Watson, pastor here for the past four years, will move to Central City, a suburb of Centralia, where he will be in charge of the First Baptist church of Central City, entering on his new duties November 1. He will deliver his farewell sermon at the local church at the Sunday morning services, October 30.
“Rev. Watson came to O’Fallon from East St. Louis in 1945. The pastor was here a short time when the congregation had the misfortune to lose its church building in a night fire. Undaunted by the serious loss, Rev. Watson, with the support of the membership, made immediate preparations for a financing plan in the construction of a modern church building. The structure, a credit to the community, was erected at a cost of $35,000, made possible by contributions of the congregation and the voluntary donations by members of other denominations in the city.
“Under his leadership the indebtedness of the church has been reduced to approximately $5,500 at the present time. This was also possible through an increase in the membership of the congregation which has grown during Rev. Watson’s stay from less than 100 members to approximately 135.
“Rev. Watson desires to express his appreciation for the splendid spirit and cooperation accorded him during his stay here, not only by the congregation but by those of other denominations as well.
“’It was only through this fine Christian spirit of the people of O’Fallon that the First Baptist church was able to achieve its standing in the community,’ he said.”
(At the time, the church was located at the northeast corner of Washington and Cherry.)
50 years ago, Oct. 17, 1974
“Visitors at the O’Fallon Fire Department Fire Prevention activities had an unusual opportunity to watch the firemen in action last week when fire alarms sounded on four of the five nights of the program.
“One fireman, answering a weed fire, remarked that he did not believe the message was getting through to the residents. On Monday night the week started with a house fire when grease on a kitchen stove overheated. On subsequent nights there were a brush fire Tuesday night and a weed fire that threatened a utility pole Wednesday night and a hay fire Friday night. None was reported Thursday.
“Fire Chief Clete Schau said that 2,000 youngsters were given rides on the fire apparatus. He said he believes the week was a success even if it marked an unusual flurry of fire department activity, all at about the same hour of the day.”
(The fire department open house was in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week which ran October 6 through 12 that year.)