100 years ago: Scarlet fever and home quarantine come to O’Fallon
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
100 years ago, Jan. 22, 1925
“Irene Schildknecht, 8 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Schildknecht, Jr., living northeast of this city, is ill with a severe case of scarlet fever.
“The health authorities immediately took steps to have the home quarantined and Supervisor C. D. Schafer fumigated the Oak Hill school, which the child attends in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease.
“Two other children in the same family, Lucille and Leo Schildknecht, became ill with the same disease on Monday.
“These are the first cases to be reported in the vicinity, although the disease has been prevalent over the state for several months.”
75 years ago, Jan. 19, 1950
“O’Fallon’s up and going firemen took another commendable step in attaining one of the most modern departments in this section of the state when they purchased a complete portable generator for lighting purposes Tuesday night.
“The unit is considered one of the most modern and compact outfits available. It is a 2500 watt generator, operated by a small gasoline engine and can be carried by one man, weighing but 135 pounds.
“This new outfit will be carried on the department’s disaster truck, being constructed so as to be serviceable anywhere, including attachment to a regular light circuit in homes or institutions in emergency. A set of large floodlights were also ordered.
“O’Fallon is believed to be the first fire department in this section of the state carrying a lighting unit of this type as firefighting equipment.
“Fire Chief Elton Dressel, when asked how they propose to pay for it, declared “the cost will be met somehow by the firemen, the same as other obligations we undertook to modernize our department in the past.”
“’Of course, we always appreciate contributions,’ he added.”
50 years ago, Jan 23, 1975
“Students at Marie Schaefer Junior High School will not be allowed to leave the campus for lunch effective Monday following the policy adopted Tuesday evening by the O’Fallon District 90 Board of Education.
“The policy approved by the board states that only students with dietary problems and a doctor’s excuse will be allowed to go home for lunch.
“Students caught off campus for lunch will be excluded from school for a set amount of days according to the number of times they have been caught. Those students caught for the first time will be excluded from school one day. Those caught a second time will be excluded from school three days and must have their parents meet with school administrators in order to be readmitted to school. Students caught a third time will be suspended from school and be brought before the board for possible expulsion from school.
“Superintendent of Schools Harold Landwehrmier said the O’Fallon Police Department and parents of the junior high students have been notified of the policy.”