75 years ago: A pair of movie stars stopped for lunch in O’Fallon

100 years ago, March 18, 1926

Automobiles who have been compelled to traverse South Lincoln Avenue during the past weeks are saying about everything but something nice of the condition of this principal thoroughfare.

While the city made exceptional efforts to place it in repair the old chuck holes are again in evidence, and worse than ever, according to some auto owners.

Last Saturday night a stranger drove his machine into one of the larger holes, the impact tearing off a new tire from one of the rear wheels. He lost control and almost upset the car.

Driving slow at the time is all that saved the occupants from probable serious injury. The fellow didn’t fail to express his opinion of O’Fallon when he sauntered about in the business district. And so our city gets plenty of uncomplimentary publicity, all on account of the streets.

75 years ago, March 15, 1951

Movie stars William Holden, formerly of O’Fallon, and his wife Brenda Marshall were in O’Fallon Saturday for a visit. They visited at the First National Bank with E. H. Smiley, president of the board, and with other bank officials. The two ate lunch at the bus station with Smiley.

Holden became a star shortly after leaving O’Fallon.

Holden, an O’Fallon native, actually left O’Fallon with his family for California during the spring/summer of 1923, shortly after his fifth birthday. The bus station restaurant was located at 102 W. State, the present home of Gia’s Pizza. It was across the street from the bank, now the O’Fallon History Museum.

50 years ago, March 18, 1976

The O’Fallon City Council is looking into slowing down trains as they pass through the city limits following a suggestion by Alderman Robert Lillie, who has received a complaint about the excessive speed of the trains.

Lillie said the trains are reported to be speeding through the city in the early morning hours.

“If one of those things comes through here sideways, we’re going to have a disaster on our hands,” Lillie said.

He added the tracks were in need of repair in some places. Lillie had suggested that the police department time the trains which pass through the city by using the department’s radar gun.

The question of whether or not there was a speed limit for trains passing through the city was brought up but was not answered.

City Attorney Delmar Koebel said he was unaware of a train speed limit for the city although there may be one in the older city ordinances.

Chief of Police Darwin Lehmann said he thought the train speed limit should be the same as the car speed limit – 25 miles per hour.

“Streets on both sides of the tracks have 25 mile an hour speed limits so I figure the trains have the same speed limit,” Lehmann said.

The chief said he is unaware if the trains have ever been timed with the radar gun.

“We’ve never officially timed the trains and recorded them but if they (the council) wants us to then we’ll do it,” Lehmann said.

The council directed Koebel to write a letter to the train companies asking them to slow down the trains as they pass through the city. Lillie’s suggestion of timing the trains was not acted on.