75 years ago: Mines proposed as St. Clair County’s shelter against the bomb

100 years ago, Jan. 14, 1926

Sorbie Brothers, local homing pigeon fanciers, carried off five firsts and four seconds on racing homers at the St. Louis pigeon show held December 30 to January 3. In addition, they took first for the best flying homer flown 1,000 miles.

The show had a large exhibit of entrants and the success of the local fanciers is considered quite an achievement which speaks well for their high bred stock.

75 years ago, Jan. 11, 1951

Use of St. Clair County’s mines as bomb shelters in case of atom bomb or other air attacks was suggested to Civil Defense authorities by William Deatherage of East St. Louis, chairman of the county board’s mines and mining committee.

He said that members of its committee agree that the mines would serve as excellent shelters for the 205,000 residents of the county. Nearness to Scott Air Force Base and the large industrial centers has been cited as elements that make this area a potential bomb target.

Deatherage said he believes Federal funds could be obtained to make such structural changes to the entrance to the mines needed to turn them into bomb shelters.

In making the suggestion Deatherage said the County Civil Defense authorities assign the mines geographically.

50 years ago, Jan. 15, 1976

Many area residents attended a gathering Saturday evening to honor their one-time teacher, Mrs. Loretta Van Camp, a teacher for 39 years.

Between 1926 and 1946, Mrs. Van Camp taught at Milburn School, a one-room brick schoolhouse, northwest of O’Fallon. Mrs. Van Camp, 77, retired from teaching in 1960. She and her husband, Harvey, live in Lebanon.

According to Mrs. Genell Cocker, rural route 1, the 120 former students present for the occasion had a marvelous time renewing old acquaintances.

Luretta Van Camp, the correct spelling of her name, died in Lebanon, Illinois in 1993, aged 94.