125 years ago: New cork leg helps O’Fallon man get along ‘quite sprightly’
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O'Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
"George Keck, whose leg was cut off by a B. & O. train, is now the possessor of a cork leg and gets around quite sprightly."
"The first arrest of a speeder on the newly-opened Lincoln Trail (Highway 50) was made by state motorcycle cops Saturday when Lee R. Baker, about 18 years old, a student at McKendree College, Lebanon, was apprehended and taken before Judge J. W. Asbury where he pleaded guilty to charges of speeding and was assessed a fine of $5.00 and costs, the fine amounting to $10.
"Baker, who is a son of an instructor at McKendree, with several companions, were driving along the hard road near Lincoln Heights (just west of Community Park) at a speed of 54 miles an hour, according to Motorcycle Policeman Warren Sexton, who gave chase and arrested the young man. Ray Taylor, another cop, was with Sexton at the time.
"Baker admitted in court that he was speeding but stated that he was traveling 40 miles an hour when Sexton arrested him. Judge Asbury admonished the lad, stating that he was not only endangering the life of others but was also gambling with his own and that of his passengers when he drove at the rate of 54 miles an hour.
"He paid the fine and assured the court that it would not happen again, thanking the judge for the leniency shown on his first offense. Before Baker's arrest it was not known generally that the Trail, which is only partly open to traffic, is being patrolled by motor cops.
"We understand that state cops from other hard roads are being assigned to the Trail periodically in an effort to check speeding on the new hard road, which has been a favorite with a number of autoists, who took advantage of the fact that no "cops" were on the highway."
"A deal was consummated Tuesday in which Albert F. Hartman sub-leased Moonlight Recreation, including the tap room, lunch room, bowling alleys, hall and living quarters to Robert Million and Charles Rubin, both well-known young men of this city.
"The deal included an agreement with Frank Hartman, owner of the building, whereby the leasees will continue to operate the entire business under a long-term lease now held by Al. Hartman. The latter is retiring from the business on December 31 and the new owners will take charge the first of the year.
"Hartman and his wife Florence have no plans for the immediate future, having decided to retire due to the confined nature of the business.
"Albert F. Hartman, one of the community's progressive citizens, is widely known, due to his activity in bowling circles, and civic interests. He has been in business in O'Fallon for 30 years.
"In the prohibition days of 1919 to 1930 he operated a soft drink parlor and bowling alleys at the corner of South Lincoln and First Streets. He then took over the Moonlight Recreation which was established by his father back in 1903, the latter retiring in 1919.
"When the elder Hartman came to O'Fallon, he started a one-story building at the present site where he established the first bowling alleys in O'Fallon in 1905. In 1908 he erected the present two-story Moonlight building which has been a landmark since.
"During the time Albert F. Hartman was in Moonlight he also was connected with bowling alleys at Highland and Chester, relinquishing his interests in those two cities several years ago. It was only this year that he was the first in this area to install automatic pin spotters at the local alleys.
"James Harter has managed Moonlight for the past three and one-half years."
"The Halloween trick-or-treating in O'Fallon last Thursday evening was marred by sabotaged candy distributed in the Southview Gardens area.
"O'Fallon Police Detective Dennis Sheldon reported that candy bars received by some children in the Southview Gardens area contained needles and pins. The candy, which was turned over to police Sunday evening, was Three Musketeer bite-sized candy bars.
"Police said the pins were apparently discovered in the candy after one child had begun to bite into the candy bar. No injuries were sustained from the pins.
"The children who collected the deadly candy have no idea where they received the candy except for the fact that they collected only in the Southview Gardens subdivision. Two of the five candy bars collected by the children contained needles. The name of the family and children involved is being withheld by police.
"Sheldon said the incident brings out the need for the curfew and age limit imposed by the city for Halloween trick-or-treating.
"'Personally, I think they should do away with it (Halloween) altogether when things like this happen,' Sheldon said.
"Sheldon said that many communities are forbidding trick-or-treating and instead forming 'block' parties supervised by parents in the neighborhood. Sheldon also asked that all parents go through all their children's candy to look for dangerous objects in them. Candy which tastes bitter should also be thrown away or brought to the police station.
"Police are investigating the pin incident in the Southview area. There was a similar incident last Halloween in the Carbon Hill area."
