100 years ago: American Legion Women’s Auxiliary formed in O’Fallon
100 years ago, Dec. 17, 1925
O’Fallon added another organization Tuesday night when a women’s branch to be known as the Auxiliary to H. Edward Fischer Post, American Legion was formed at the City Hall by wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of ex-service men.
The organization, which starts with 30 members, was perfected with the election of officers, as follows: President – Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon. First Vice-Pres. – Mrs. Dorothy Hartman. Second Vice-Pres. – Mrs Sarah Fischer. Secretary – Mrs. Mamie Schobert. Treasurer – Mrs. Kate Tiedemann. Chaplain – Mrs Winnie Rock. Historian – Mrs. Augusta Fink. Serg-at-Arms – Mrs. Rose Hughes.
The officers are to be installed at a meeting in January. Wives, mothers and daughters of ex-service men who served in the late war, or deceased members of the Legion, are eligible to membership.
75 years ago, Dec. 14, 1950
A tribute to the Quality Dairy Co. of O’Fallon is contained in the convention of “The Milk Dealer,” national magazine of the bottled milk industry.
The local firm has the featured spot in the publication with the front cover taken over entirely by a photograph of the dairy’s new building. The Quality Dairy story is the feature story of the magazine.
George N. Schwarz, founder and president of the dairy, is given credit for doing a first-class job in the industry. The dairy is described as “one of the finest milk pasteurizing plants in the State of Illinois.”
Tracing the history of the dairy the article starts with the beginning when Schwarz was talked into going into the dairy business by local milk producers. In 1923, the article states, Schwarz was operating an ice manufacturing plant that also served as a receiving plant for the Illinois Missouri Cooperative Milk producers for the O’Fallon area.
The co-operative went broke and its members talked Schwarz into becoming a milk dealer to provide them with an outlet for their product. Schwarz accommodated by buying a milk route with 150 customers and a volume of 150 gallons daily.
A horse-drawn wagon was the mobile equipment of the day. Now the dairy handles 1,250,000 pounds of milk a month, employs 55 persons in comparison with the two it had originally and does business throughout St. Clair, Clinton, Madison and Bond counties. Its products include, besides regular milk, homogenized milk, chocolate milk, cottage cheese, orange milk, buttermilk and ice cream mix.
This business is housed in a building completed May 1, 1948. Schwarz has three sons in the business with him. Jack is plant manager, William is a general utility man and Robert supervises routes. Robert and William are vice presidents, Jack is treasurer and Mrs. Schwarz is secretary. A family business the industry and O’Fallon is proud of.
50 years ago, Dec. 18, 1975
The Later Years program for senior citizens, operated under the direction of Our World Inc., has moved into its new quarters at 119 West State Street.
The building was refurbished and enlarged by its owners for lease to the program. The location also houses the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce and John Hancock Insurance Co. occupies the same building at 121 West State Street. The location was formerly occupied by The Progress.
The Later Years program is open to all senior citizens. A recreation center plus handicrafts and information of interest to older persons is available at the new location.
Mrs. May Hogan, director of the center, said information concerning Social Security benefits and income taxes are available. Mrs. Hogan said a sewing machine could be used by the center and she hopes one could be donated.