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OHS Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2000
In this issue: Officers and Directors, 1999-2000
Newsletter Editorial Staff
President's Message We were all shocked and saddened on November 1 to hear our newly elected President, Dolalene "Dolly" Hesse, had passed away. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to her husband, Maurice; her sons, Scott and his family and Chris and his fiancé; her mother, Ida Hertzler; and all of her many relatives and friends. We will all miss her many ideas, her caring and sharing, and her enthusiasm. She was a very special person. Special Thanks We would like to thank everyone who has helped at the Museum, especially Ralph Keller who opens the Museum every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. We would also like to thank everyone who has donated items to the Museum. Please remember us when you find those items that relate to O'Fallon's past. It is a good feeling to know that things that we have preserved will be shared with the people who visit our Museum. It might be as small as a thimble or as big as a piece of barn wall, but to us, it is a part of O'Fallon's history. Items of Interest Our "O'Fallon Wedding Thru the Years" was a huge success. Our O'Fallon 2000 Calendar is hot off the press. We have had a lot of special tours: August 12-19: 19 children and 3 counselors from the Y.M.C.A. Day Camp August 5: Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood visited Main Street and we had the Museum open. September 7: We had a group from the Faith Lutheran Church visit. September 16: Linda Suits, a consultant from the Illinois Association of Museums, spent several hours at the Museum, sharing ideas. There will be a report in the next newsletter. October 25: Doris Johnson gave a talk, "How Things are Named," to the combined fourth grades at Hinchcliffe School. December 7: Brian Keller gave a talk at the O'Fallon Rotary about "Christmas a Long Time Ago." Programs July 21, 1999 - Helen Grandcolas gave us an interesting talk about the St. Clair County Historical Society. August 17, 1999 - Brian Keller showed us slides of some O'Fallon Homecoming Parades. September 21, 1999 - No program. October 19, 1999 - Brian Keller showed us slides of some O'Fallon Homecoming Parades. November 16, 1999 - Doris Johnson had trivia questions. December 21, 1999 - Brian Keller talked about "Christmas Past" and we had our Christmas Party. Exhibit Committee - Brian Keller The past six months have proved once again that there is always something new to see at the museum! Here's a sampling of some of the items we have received from generous donors: Abbott Singing Society program from Town Hall (1892), 1881 History of St. Clair County, 1920s delivery receipts from the old B&O depot, Sanborn Fire maps of O'Fallon (copies), O'Fallon Sportsmen's Club banner, 1935 dog tax tag, Ghost of the Southern Belle, A Sea Tale (illustrated by Bernie Fuchs), wooden desks from the 1925 High School, Instructor Picture Study Series Set, OTHS 1943 class ring, G.A.A. patches, original architectural rendering of the new City Hall, 1936 wedding gown of Lucille Keller Heien and wedding picture, 1889 wedding suit of Joseph Mantle, WWII boot polish, Independent Engineering Co. Christmas card, WWII Marine life jacket, glass battery jar, and 19th Century stereoscope. Many thanks to those who donated items: Dorothea Canterbury, Louanne Sprenger Donovan, Bernice Funk, Ed Funk, Anne Glasscock, Gary Graham, Anna Swartzel Grassley, Virgil Greene, Gary and Frances Heien, Wayne Heilig, Maurice and Dolly Hesse, Ida Hertzler, Sara Mae Hinchcliffe, Doris Johnson, Norma Keller, Arline and Cara Magee, Betty McAllister, Judy Meier, Barbara Nute, O'Fallon Historical Preservation Commission, Bill Peach, Miriam Greene Roe, Leslie Schau, Chris Schildknecht, Gloria Lautz Schobert, Elmer and Wilma Seel, Charlene Young Sprenger, Art Villhard, Fred and Mary Wiechert, and Joyce Greene Zimmerman. The back storage room now boasts shelves built by Ralph Keller to store the Society's back issues of the O'Fallon Progress, dating back to 1898. More shelves to store other documents and books are planned. The south middle room on the second floor is being developed into an exhibit reminiscent of a 1920s school room in O'Fallon, featuring original fixtures from the 1925 High School, including desks, flag, blackboard sections, and glass doors. Through a grant from the Illinois Association of Museums, Linda Suits visited the Museum and gave us some good advice on improving the Museum and preserving our collection, which we are in the process of implementing. Thanks to all of the volunteers who staff the Museum and keep it clean. Without you we would not be able to keep open one of O'Fallon's greatest assets! Library Committee - Doris Johnson I have donated O'Fallon Business II to the museum. It is not complete, but it has businesses that were located on Lincoln, Vine, and Cherry Streets. I will add the rest as I get the pages typed. I continue adding to my scrapbooks and will soon be donating 1999 - Volumes 1 and 2. We helped a college girl find information about the old City Hall for her report. Every year we have someone coming in for information for their reports, and it is a good feeling when we can help them. We also learn something new. This time I found some copies of Kristi Vetri's speech that she gave at the 100th birthday of the City Hall. Oral History Committee - Mary Helen and Charles Bevirt Charles and Mary Helen interviwed Gene and Delores Elliott, Bill Jenner, Geraldine Kloustermeyer, and Doris Johnson. The topic was "Entertainment When We Were Growing Up." We had a wonderful time. They also interviewed Edna Wright. Membership Committee - Carol Souza At the end of the year, we have 110 memberships (which includes 42 life memberships). There were 146 members. New members the past 6 months are Vernon Keck of St. Louis, who became a life member, and Barbara Nute of O'Fallon, who became an individual member. We lost 3 members this past year: George Wood died on May 20, Elvira "Girley" Schmidt died on March 8, and Dolalene "Dolly" Hesse died on November 1. Our sympathy goes out to their families. Memorial gifts were given in memory of GARY MACKEY, BETTY McGEEHON, MARY BOLLER and DOLALENE "Dolly" HESSE. Cemetery Committee - Maurice Hesse Tom Brennan was under contract to keep the Rock Spring Cemetery mowed. Thanks for a good job, Tom. "Weddings Thru the Years" - Dolly Hesse and Joyce Lurtz, Chairmen When Dolly and I started on this project, we had little, if any, idea of how to begin. One by one, the pieces started to fall into place. It would have been a lot harder, but Dolly knew where to contact for each item, made 1 million calls (500,000 to me), and made another 1 million trips to town to see numerous people. As we got closer and closer to 10/24/99, we became more apprehensive. Every day, one of us would call the other one and say, "We have bitten off more than we can chew." The other one would always respond, "No, we haven't, we can do this!" We almost believed what we were saying. As the days passed, it became reality. We laughed, moaned, cried, and laughed some more. All in all, it was great! We were lucky to have a great group to work with. Without you, your talents, hard work, suggestions, sales ability, and support, it would not have been a success. And success it was, both socially and financially. I hope you are as proud as we are of a job well done. Thank you and "Happy Holidays!" Historical Calendar - Betty Klingelhoefer Our Historical Calendar sales are in full force at this time. We sold calendars at the Bank of O'Fallon on Saturday, December 4, and at the First Bank on December 11. Calendars are also available at Steven Mueller's Florist Shop, Causey's Jewelry, Schwarz Furniture, Medicine Shoppe, Reflections, State Coffee Shop, and Bittles Drugs. They are also available at the Museum on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 1 to 4. If none of these places are convenient, please call the Museum, and we will be glad to see that they are delivered to you. It would help our fundraiser if every one of our members bought one. They are great keepsakes, or they make nice gifts. Looking Back - Doris Johnson The Woman's Club opened The Woman's Club Library on the second floor of the First National Bank Building in April, 1930. Jeannette Reiss was the first librarian. In September, 1939, they turned the Library over to the W.P.A. In 1940 the Library went back to the Woman's Club. A second room had been added to the Library, but because of a lack of space, the Library was moved to 119 E. First St. In 1959, it became affliated with the Regional State Library. Mrs. Edna Ayres was the librarian. After the First National Bank moved into its new building at 100 S. Lincoln, it leased its former bank building at State and Lincoln to the City of O'Fallon for $1.00 per year. In June, 1961 the City Council gave approval for the first phase of remodeling the First National Bank building for use as a public library. In November, the City Council passed an ordinance providing for a levy of a tax to pay for improvements to the building. The O'Fallon Library closed on December 15, 1961 to move to its new quarters. Volunteers moved the books and an open house was held in February, 1962. In April, 1972 Don Brown, president of the First National Bank, presented the deed to the O'Fallon Public Library building to Mayor Roy Smith. The building was tuckpointed in 1975. In February, 1977 the Library decided to lease or buy the space occupied by the Warma Witter Insurance Co. at 109 W. State St. to expand the Children's Library. The City did not have enough money to buy the property at that time. In November, 1981 the City Council approved a resolution to use up $37,500 in revenue sharing bonds to purchase the building next to the library. The building had once been accessible from the existing library with only paneling over the door that was once used. In July, 1982 the Library Board was making plans to raise funds to turn the builiding bought the previous November into useable space. In August, the $30,000 fundraiser was off to a good start. In September, 1982 the wall was removed. By Feburary, 1983 demolition was completed, and by May, 1983 the Children's Section of the Library was open and in July they had an open house. In March, 1986 the Library celebrated its 75th birthday. In 1987, Georgia Dallas, who had been a librarian for 19 years, retired, and Mary Smith of Belleville was hired as the new librarian. In 1988, it was decided the library needed a new home. In July, 1995 the old library was closed, and they moved into the new library. The new library was opened on July 10, 1995. ATTENTION: Please remember to stop in to visit the Museum. We are always getting in new things to see. Bring friends and relatives. Please remember dues are now due. Please fill out your membership application and return it to Treasurer Brian Keller with your check. |
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