125 years ago: A spectacular freight train crash east of O’Fallon
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, Nov. 17, 1899
“A serious and damaging wreck occurred on this road Monday afternoon near the Bennett Mines east of town, which resulted in the destruction of seven freight cars, an empty or two and the rest laden with pig iron and cotton and the injuring of a brakeman who was thrown from the top of one of the cars, breaking his arm and two ribs. He was removed to East St. Louis in the evening.
“The train, an east bound freight, became uncoupled in two places just after leaving the Bennett Mine, and the two sections crashed together. Two wrecking crews arrived and cleared the track by evening.
“Monday night one of the drive wheel tires ran off of Engine No. 1 and a second wreck was narrowly averted. A freight engine took the train to St. Louis.”
(Bennett coal mine was just north of Highway 50 on the east side of Rieder Road.)
100 years ago, Nov. 13, 1924
“An automobile belonging to Victor Thoman caught fire from a leak in the gasoline line this morning while the owner was delivering milk at the O’Fallon creamery.
“An alarm was turned in and the fire department responded promptly in a blinding rain which was falling at the time.
“The blaze was extinguished by dashing several gallons of milk on the burning oil and the fire apparatus was not needed.”
75 years ago, Nov. 17, 1949
“Arthur Fauss, a real estate developer of East St. Louis, yesterday announced plans for construction of 60 residences in the southern part of the city. They are to be ready for occupancy next year it was stated.
“The four and five-room houses will be priced under $10,000 each, Fauss said. He has purchased a part of the former Richard Schaefer farm for the project.
“The area lies south of Thomas Park Gardens. The new subdivision, as platted by Fauss was recently annexed to the city to assure sewage facilities. Preliminary work has already been done but by early spring Fauss expects to have the project in full swing.”
(The subdivision is along Joy Drive. Joy was the daughter of the developer, Arthur J. Fauss, Sr.)
50 years ago, Nov. 14, 1974
“The First National Bank of O’Fallon purchased the property at First and Lincoln in a sheriff’s foreclosure sale Thursday at the Court House in Belleville. The bank was holder of a mortgage for $12,000 on the property and the bid, the only one made, was for the mortgage plus costs accrued.
“A second mortgage on the property for $6000 is held by Tom Feltman, former owner of the building. Feltman did not bid on the property but has 90 days to redeem by paying off the amount of the first mortgage.
“The foreclosure suit was filed against Joseph V. Vaughn who formerly operated a printing shop in part of the building. The corner was utilized by a tavern and other businesses occupied the remainder of the structure.
“The difficulties with the corner started more than a year ago when a corner of the two-story brick building collapsed. The tavern was closed and most of the remainder of the building was razed.
“Plans were made earlier to rebuild the corner but nothing developed on this. Don Brown, president of the First National, said there are no immediate plans for use of the property.”
(The property was at the southeast corner of First and Lincoln in O’Fallon.)