100 years ago: Two new bus lines bring modern transportation to O’Fallon

100 years ago, July 23, 1925

Two bus lines between this city and St. Louis started operations over the Lincoln Trail (Highway 50) Tuesday. One of the lines is being operated by the Community Bus Company which has a route between Nashville and St. Louis over the Atlantic-Pacific Trail (Route 15).

The new route starts at Trenton with 4th and St. Charles St., St. Louis as a terminus. The company is making eight round trips every day. We understand the service is to be extended to Centralia as soon as a new set of parlor buses are completed, which are expected to arrive within the next week.

On the same day the Superior Motor Bus Company of this city started a route over the Lincoln Trail from Centralia to St. Louis, running one bus each way. The Superior is a local concern operating buses between this city and Belleville, Scott Field to Belleville and Belleville to Mascoutah.

George Warma is manager of this company while Hugo Rule, former O’Fallonite, is at the head of the Community Bus Company.

75 years ago, July 20, 1950

Mrs. Lawrence Harter received word that her son, Stanley Kimes, of New York, has been awarded the Fulbright scholarship which will take him to Italy for a year’s study in opera.

Kimes is a graduate of O’Fallon Township High School and of James Millikin University School of Music, Decatur. As a bass singer he made public appearances and on the radio, having been awarded the $1000 Kate Neal Kinley scholarship after his graduation in 1947 at Millikin.

In addition he also won the Englewood scholarship for study at a Massachusetts summer school.

Kimes, known as an outstanding singer, is to sail about Sept. 21 for a month’s language training in Perugia, Italy, prior to starting study at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan. His wife, also a music graduate, plans to fly to Italy about November 1 to join him.

50 years ago, July 24, 1975

Escaping chlorine fumes at the O’Fallon Memorial swimming pool caused discomfort to several youngsters Sunday night. One was treated at a hospital and later examined by a physician.

William Cornelison, 11, of 118 North Vine, was the child taken to the hospital, but had recovered Monday. Others experienced breathing difficulties but apparently with no serious effects.

The mishap occurred at about 8 o’clock Sunday night when a valve in the chlorine room at the pool stuck and a small amount of the chemical remained in the pipes. It found its way into the room and was expelled by the fan through an air vent. The odor of chlorine was present in an area of the pool near the diving board.

Craig Hangsleben, pool manager, said efforts were made to clear the area of bathers but some returned to the prohibited place and were affected by the fumes. He said he thought three or four children suffered discomfort from the fumes.

The gas was cleared and dispersed into the air.