100 years ago: O’Fallon basketball team was a knockout in Carlyle — literally

Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 100, 75, and 50 years ago:

100 years ago, Jan. 29, 1925

“Two members of the O’Fallon Township High School basket ball quintet were injured at Carlyle last Friday evening during a game with the high school team of that city.

“Melvern Hemmen, a substitute player, was rendered unconscious in the last quarter of the game after being in play about 15 seconds. In addition he suffered a badly cut lip and is still under the care of a physician, being unable to attend to his studies in the high school. He is a son of Fire Chief and Mrs. Herman Hemmen.

“When the local quintet and a delegation of rooters arrived here after the game it was discovered that Warren Morgan, 19 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Swiney Morgan and star guard on the team, had also been injured. He was taken to a local physician who found that the lad was suffering with a fracture of two ribs.

“The game was one of the most thrilling in the history of the present team and was won by Carlyle by a 23 to 18 score.

“Prof. Franklin and W. C. Shoupe, president of the Carlyle high school, and other Carlyle citizens, upon learning of the injury of the O’Fallon boys, came to this city Monday evening and conferred with the local school authorities, regretting that the unfortunate accidents during the game occurred.

“They assured the board that the injuries were beyond their control and hoped that the city would not brand Carlyle and its schools as indulging in “rough” tactics in order to win a game, assuring the locals that they fostered clean sport in their schools, but that Friday’s accidents were unavoidable.”

75 years ago, Jan. 26, 1950

“A number of useful items will be placed on sale at the salvage warehouse, building 1206, Area Four, Scott Air Force Base beginning January 23. Items may be inspected Monday through Saturday from that day until February 6.

“Bids may be placed at the time of inspection and will be opened at 10 a.m., February 7.

“Among the items on sale are radio equipment, power units, furniture, clothing, metals, and other useful articles.

“Further information may be obtained from the Salvage Officer, telephone Belleville 4000, Ext. 688.”

50 years ago, Jan 30, 1975

“In an effort to stimulate the car buying public into getting out and buying a new car, car industries have been offering rebates in the form of cold, hard cash to those people who buy a car between now and the end of February.

“Rebates amount to figures anywhere from $100 to $500 depending on what you buy, when you buy and what you trade-in.

“Business is tremendous,” said Roy Bischoff of Central Chrysler-Plymouth.

“Bischoff reported a 200 per cent increase in sales in January over December. “People are really taking advantage of the rebates and are beginning to loosen up a bit,” Bischoff said.

“Chrysler Corporation is offering weekly specials with $200 to $300 rebates on cars plus an extra $100 rebate if a certain car is traded in on a new car.

“Darwin Huller of Huller Ford said, ‘People are making a lot of inquires but sales are not spilling over.’

“Ford offers four different types of rebates. A $500 rebate is offered on the Mach I and Ghia Mustang models; $350 rebate for club cab trucks; $300 for 2 plus 2 Mustangs and $200 for Pintos and Mavericks purchased.

“’I think people will begin to come in and buy when it gets close to the deadline,’ Huller said.

“Steve McKinley of O’Fallon Motor Co., reported sales picking up and said the rebate plan is a good one - to a point.

“’It seems the factory is always the one that has to do the cutting,’ McKinley said.

“McKinley said unions and other businesses should offer rebates to their members and employees for buying a car.

“’One business in the country is offering a $150 rebate to its employees if they buy a car by the end of the month and a $100 rebate if they buy a car by the end of February,’ McKinley said.

“’We’ll get people back to work when cars begin to sell again,’ McKinley said.

General Motors is offering a $200 rebate on purchases of compact cars and a $500 rebate on the Monza car model.

“’People have been using the rebate for the first couple of car payments or just about anything they please,’ McKinley said.

“One dealer who doesn’t have to worry about the rebate program is Bill Schmidt of Schmidt Oldsmobile. He doesn’t have any new cars to offer rebates on.

“’There aren’t any new cars in stock here to offer the rebates. That’s what the whole rebate program was designed for - to clear out the inventory,’ Schmidt said.

“So the car industry for the first time in its history is offering the general public some cash to coax them into buying that new car. The rebates could come in handy - like saving for those higher fuel bills or gasoline bills.”