O’Fallon had a rabies problem in 1916

It was the dog days of summer, literally, 100 years ago in O’Fallon.

In the summer of 1916, O’Fallon had a rabies problem.

By July 21, the city marshal had killed eight dogs “affected more or less with rabies.”

Local veterinarian, Dr. C.F. Behrens was able to confirm the diagnosis by sending the head of one of the dogs to a lab in St. Louis.

To prevent further spreading of the disease, the city decreed that all dogs be kept chained or muzzled until Sept. 15. Any dog found loose without a muzzle would be shot on sight.

75 years ago July 24, 1941

The Independent Engineering Co., L.R. Cartier, president, on Monday tendered an attractive offer to acquire the present plant of the defunct Eureka Products Corp., now in the hands of the Reconstruction Finance Corp. to satisfy a RFC loan.

The Eureka, considered one of the best equipped stove plants in this section of the country, has been idle for several years or only on a part-time working basis when the owners, who acquired it from the Willard family in 1934, ran into financial difficulties.

Two years ago they were granted a $135,000 loan by the RFC and after unprofitable operation for nearly a year, another loan.

But they were unable to repay the loans and the plant reverted back to the RFC. (The offer would be accepted.)

50 years ago July 21, 1966

A suggestion that O’Fallon consider annexation of a large portion of Fairview Heights was made at Monday night’s O'Fallon City Council meeting by Granville McIntosh, a spokesman for a group in the area.

He said the opinion was that the suitable area for annexation would be from the O’Fallon west city limits to route 159.

There was a concern that motor fuel and sales tax money is not being kept in the area and might be better spent if it was part of O’Fallon. (It didn't happen. Fairview Heights was still unincorporated back then.)

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 12:08 PM with the headline "O’Fallon had a rabies problem in 1916."