100 years ago: Man found wandering Scott Field declared of sound mind
100 years ago, March 25, 1926
Dan McLaughlin, 45 years old, who was picked up last January while wandering about in an aimless manner near Scott Field, last Wednesday was declared of sound mind by a medical commission which conducted a hearing for him in the county court.
McLaughlin was picked up at the aviation camp after a farmer resident in the neighborhood reported to Sheriff Schnipper that the man had come to his farm, started to chop some cord wood and then started to demolish a barn door with an ax.
He told the court at the hearing that he got to drinking some moonshine liquor in St. Louis and after that did not remember anything of his movements.
Investigation disclosed that McLaughlin had been in an asylum in Denver, Colo., for a time, but that he had been discharged as cured. He will be taken back to that city by relatives.
75 years ago, March 22, 1951
The O’Fallon Kiwanis club will sponsor a marble tournament for O’Fallon area children with the final championship play to be on May 24, the date of the annual school picnic.
The tournament is open to all children, both boys and girls, below 15 years of age. Trophies and medals will be given the winners and efforts are being made to hold a district-wide championship with other cities.
Eight other communities in this area are being asked to participate in the area contest. Communities invited are Belleville, Litchfield, Greenville, Hillsboro, Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville.
Lester B. Sample, industrial arts teacher at O’Fallon Township High School, is in charge of registration for the tournament.
The Kiwanis club Monday night entertained the conference and tournament winning Grade School basketball team. The 11 boys and their coach attended the dinner meeting.
50 years ago, March 25, 1976
Wessel’s Supermarket in Southview Plaza will close as of the end of business Saturday, it was announced by the management.
The store is owned by a Belleville firm that will continue to operate its store and meat market at 701 South Belt West in Belleville. The store has been in operation here since August. It specialized in meat and meat products killed and processed in the company’s plant.
However, business has never come up to expectations and it was decided it is uneconomical to continue operations in O’Fallon. Volume has remained at about 50 per cent of the expected level, according to Jim Wessel, manager of the Belleville store.