100 years ago: O’Fallon Fire Department’s annual Masquerade Ball draws a big crowd
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, Jan. 5, 1900
“Evangelical Church Notes. At the last meeting the organ question was settled. The Messrs. C. D. Schaefer, Edwin Tiedemann and H. Rahn, constitute the organ committee.
“Mr. August Schmidt is now in the list of membership. The members have concluded to give a picnic on July 4th.
“It has been decided by the congregation that the women should occupy the men’s side (south side) in our church during the cold season. We shall try to enforce this new law.
“The Messrs. Leonhard Schwarz and C. D. Schaefer have been re-elected for three years as trustees by acclamation. The former is our secretary, the latter treasurer.”
(After this week, 125 years ago will be skipped. The O’Fallon Progress back issues after Jan. 5, 1900 and into early 1902 are missing.)
100 years ago, Jan. 8, 1925
“As usual, a large crowd turned out to attend the thirty-first annual masquerade ball of the O’Fallon Fire Department held in Moonlight Hall on New Year’s eve.
“The crowd began to assemble early in the evening and long before midnight the spacious hall was filled to capacity. While several pretty characters were on the floor the masks this year were fewer in number and not as good as in former years, indicating that masquerades hold no interest with the younger generation.
“At ten o’clock the masks were removed and awards made to the following: Best group “Kids” - Marie Harper, Janice Schnell, Margaret Schuetz, Mildred Rapp. Best lady character “New York” - Catherine Howard. Best lady comic “Fortune Teller” - Emma Collins. Best gent character “Father Time” - Melvern Hemmen. Best gent comic “Schalter’s barber shop” - Pete Ritzheimer.
“After the floor was cleared, dancing was enjoyed until the wee hours of morning. The dance was a splendid success financially and the fire laddies take this opportunity to thank the public for their liberal patronage.”
(Moonlight Hall was on the second floor of what is now the Peel Wood Fired Pizza building at First and Cherry.)
75 years ago, Jan. 5, 1950
“After nearly forty-eight hours of almost constant rains during which a fall of some 4 inches was recorded, the temperature dropped rapidly, followed by a blizzard, when the mercury went down 54 degrees in 24 hours.
“With the temperature hovering between 60 and 68 on New Year’s day, rain began falling that night and continued almost uninterrupted until 4 a.m., yesterday morning, when the mercury went tobogganing as the rain froze, followed by sleet, snow and winds of blizzard proportions.
“At 8 a.m., the temperature was down to 14 and an hour later hit 10 above zero.
“Sewers were inadequate to take the incessant water with the result that many basements, especially in homes in the southern part of the city, were flooded by the excess water. Many citizens were busy most of the night pumping or bailing out the rising water and in some homes with coal stokers or oil burners the motors had to be removed and the fires extinguished.
“Creeks and small streams overflowed, flooding highways and rural roads. Route 158 was nearly completely inundated from Route 15 past Scott Air Force Base, being closed for a time until the heavy freeze came.
“The blizzard struck with such fury that within a few minutes the excessive water froze, being rendered into a solid mass with a coating of sleet and snow.
“O’Fallon’s public schools did not open yesterday, due to the severe weather and the danger of transporting by busses the many pupils from the rural areas to classes. The band and shower rooms at Township High were also flooded by sewer backup water.”
50 years ago, Jan. 9, 1975
“Five persons were charged with disorderly conduct following a New Year’s Eve brawl at the Towne Lounge, 119 W. First St.
“The fight sent two persons to the hospital for treatment. Police reported the incident started at 2:37 a.m. at the lounge. An argument in the tavern started the disturbance.
“More than 100 people were at the tavern when the fight broke out. Although the tavern was open after the normal week day closing hour, 1 a.m., Chief of Police Darwin Lehmann said it has been tradition to let the taverns stay open as long as they want on New Year’s Eve.
“’People here handle themselves pretty well on New Year’s Eve. This is the first problem we’ve had on the holiday,’ said Lehmann.
“A number of off duty as well as the on duty policemen were called to the scene to handle the disturbance.”