75 years ago: O’Fallon miners get new state-of-the-art wash house
100 years ago, Feb. 18, 1926
A delegation of Boy Scouts, chaperoned by members of the Rotary Club, were at St. Louis last Friday night where they attended the Fourth Annual Circus of Boy Scouts, held in that city.
The meeting was held in the Coliseum where more than 7000 members of Boy Scout troops from St. Louis and adjacent cities appeared in review at one time. A four-hour program, replete with demonstrations and the practical side of Scout work, was enacted.
The local boys were well-pleased with the exhibition and learned a number of practical pointers which they conveyed to their troop.
75 years ago, Feb. 15, 1951
A new wash house built at a cost of $78,000 has been completed and has been put into use at St. Ellen mine here, it was announced today by John Harvey, mine superintendent.
The wash house is of the latest design and includes all the most modern developments. The new building is of concrete blocks and can accommodate 300 men. It is stoker fired to ensure warmth and the water for showers is automatically regulated so that it maintains a constant temperature.
The building’s roof is almost entirely sky lights, ensuring maximum sunlight and adequate ventilation. The benches are fixed to the floor and their arrangement makes it virtually impossible to leave clothing or other articles lying about. The clothing baskets are kept suspended from the roof and are hoisted and lowered by means of chains, each of them with a check number attached.
Harvey, who designed the wash house, said it is the best in the state and has all the features possible to make it comfortable and sanitary.
A covered walk way will be built between the wash house and the slope that will make it unnecessary for the men to go out in the weather. A new parking lot will be created near the wash house.
50 years ago, Feb. 19, 1976
Complaints of truck congestion on East State Street at Packet Dairy, 610 East State Street, were aired at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Alderman Bob Seipp and Dave Horton, zoning administrator, each recounted receipt of complaints about the traffic hazard at the site.
Seipp said police will be asked to patrol the area on a regular basis to prevent trucks from blocking the traffic lanes. Motorists in the area have complained that trailer trucks park partially in the narrow pavement.
Construction is underway on a second cooler on the front end of the dairy plant. The zoning administrator said he was told by the dairy management that the new cooler would permit trucks to load on the firm’s driveway area.
However, he said he was aware of the problems and will check to see if any zoning regulation violations are involved in the new construction. If so, he said, the building permit would be revoked.