50 years ago: St. Clair Square opened with music, balloons and a crowd of excited shoppers
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, Nov. 3, 1899
The first fall of the beautiful snow here this season occurred yesterday. Large and beautiful flakes came down, enough to have covered the ground about two inches had it not melted almost as fast as it fell.
100 years ago, Oct. 30, 1924
“Lincoln Heights, the new south side sub-division, was formally opened last Saturday with the sale of lots by Edw. N. Thomas, the owner.
“The site has all been laid out in lots with well-graded streets and presents a pretty appearance. Quite a number of lots have been disposed of and indications are that it will be one of the finest residential sections in the city within the next few years. It is an ideal site for homes, bordering on the Lincoln Trail (Route 50) and on South Lincoln Avenue, with the Home-Coming Association park (Community Park) bordering it on the east.
“We understand Mr. Thomas already has disposed of more than 40 lots. Of this number, six were sold to an East St. Louisan who will erect a modern brick gasoline filling station and residence at the corner of Lincoln Trail and Lincoln Avenue.”
(Lots were priced from $300 to $450.)
75 years ago, Nov. 3, 1949
“Ben Allen, president and manager of Allen Foods, Inc., wholesale grocers, has announced that the concern has made preparations to move their warehouse and offices, now located at 117 West Second Street, to St. Louis.
“The corporation, which has enjoyed a steady growth since embarking in the wholesale business, has negotiated a lease on a large industrial building with 90,000 square feet of floor space at Seventh and Hickory streets in that city. Moving is expected to begin about December 15.
“Mr. Allen told the Progress that while they regret leaving O’Fallon, it is being done after much consideration, the move becoming necessary for more centralization in the operation of the business as their product is distributed in 25 states. They employ 25 salesmen. The personnel at the local warehouse and general offices comprises another 25 people, of whom a number will continue in their positions in the new location.
“Allen Foods, Inc., was originally a retail grocery business which was established in this city in 1901. Before the late war the retail grocery was discontinued and the firm entered the wholesale market. From the start it was a success and after operating several years in the old Tiedemann building on West State Street they outgrew the quarters and then moved into the property formerly occupied by the Independent Engineering Co. on West Second Street. Their business comprises a full line of food products which are distributed to institutions and military reservations, hotels, restaurants and caterers.
“Officers of the corporation, all members of the Louis Allen family, are: Ben Allen, president; Al Allen, vice-president; Harry Allen, secretary-treasurer; and Louis Allen, chairman of the board. All reside in St. Louis, except Harry Allen, who lives here and will continue to manage Allen’s clothing store which was also founded by Louis Allen, the father, 48 years ago.”
(The clothing store, next door to the east of what is now Wood Bakery on West First Street, was destroyed by fire in 1953 and did not reopen.)
50 years ago, Oct. 31, 1974
“With a welcoming word, a flare of music and a volley of gift-bearing balloons rising above the crowds, St. Clair Square Shopping Center will open its mall doors at 11 a.m. Thursday.
“Prior to the mall’s opening, the Illinois State Lottery will be held at the St. Clair Square parking lot in front of the Famous-Barr store. The drawing will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Illinois Governor Dan Walker may be on hand for the drawing and opening of the mall. Some 25 contestants from previous drawings are also expected to be on hand.
“Chick McCuen, formerly with NBC-TV will emcee the event with Linda Graham as hostess.
“Several area celebrities are invited to take part and help draw the weekly lotto numbers at St. Clair Square. St. Clair Square will provide shopping facilities including Famous-Barr which has been serving the needs of the area for more than a year in this location, and many specialty stores offering both quality and variety to the shopping public.
“’St. Clair Square is even more than that. It is a community gathering place, an exciting showcase setting for events ranging from local pep rallies to haute couture fashion shows. It is truly a new way of life.’ Said William Harding, executive vice-president of May Company.
“On grand opening day, the 70 piece Grant Jr. High School Band will present a brief musical program. Jim Bolen, well known radio and TV personality, will serve as master of ceremonies and introduce the special guest, Everett Moody, Mayor of Fairview Heights, who will welcome the assembled crowd. Miss Fairview Heights of 1974, Debbie Braden, has been invited to cut the ribbon stretched across the west entrance of the mall on the upper level. As the ribbon is cut, all mall doors will open and a volley of balloons – some of which containing gift certificates – will be released. The center will then open.
“Jim Liggett, who has been associated with May Company Inc. for more than seven years, is center manager with offices in the mall. Anne Murphy of O’Fallon, promotion and public relations director, said that a number of events have already been scheduled for St. Clair including guest appearances by members of the Mississippi Valley Barbershop Quartet Association on November 8 and 10; a salute to county high schools in mid-November, and Christmas Carolers in December. Following their standard merchandising practice of constructing a shopping Center that is both beautiful and practical, The May Company involved their landscape supervisor, Fred Echeverria, in the earliest planning stages of the new Mall.
“According to Echeverria, the exotic plantings chosen for St. Clair Square were selected for their ability to survive – and thrive – in the light and conditioned air of a modern enclosed shopping mall.
“’We moved full-grown Indian Laurel trees to Illinois from Florida in temperature-controlled vans,’ explained Echeverria, who gave up his own nursery business to join the May organization in 1960.
“The center island of the new Mall is planted in Alexander Palms. Planters along the mall will be lined with Kentias Palm which Echeverria says are commonly called “Paradise Palm,” and originate on Lord Howe Island off the coast of Australia.
“The Mexican-born horticulturist has been in St. Clair County for some six weeks personally supervising the installation of hundreds of trees and plants seldom if ever seen in the Mid-West.
“’Many of our plantings, such as umbrella trees and Costa Rican palm originated in the jungles of South America,’ commented Echeverria. ‘Their ability to flourish in the shade and filtered sunlight of the jungle make them ideal choices for an indoor mall.’”