100 years ago: Paving Lincoln Trail created easier connection of O’Fallon to Lebanon
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
100 years ago, March 20, 1924
Preliminary work on the paving of the 13.5 miles on the Lincoln Trail (Route 50), from the unfinished portion west of O’Fallon through the city and east into Lebanon, is to start within the next few days, weather permitting.
L.N. Hoppock, civil engineer of the Capital Construction Company of Des Moines, Iowa, lowest bidders on the job who have the state contract for the laying of the paving, has been in this city for the past week making the necessary arrangements for a start as soon as weather conditions permit.
Mr. Hoppock has rented a bungalow in East Park Place (off of South Park Street in O’Fallon) and expects to move his family to this city, where he will maintain his residence until the job is completed which will be about 15 months.
A large quantity of road machinery is already in transit and is expected to arrive here any day. The construction company is said to have bid on this work due to the fact that no road building program is contemplated in Iowa this year.
About 100 men will be employed on the job.
The firm received the contract on its bid of $339,500.00 which was recently confirmed by the state highway department. This includes the paving of the Lincoln Trail from a point west of here to a point below the hill near the eastern limits of Lebanon.
The contract price also includes the widening of the present concrete paving west of O’Fallon to French Village and the elimination of the sharp curve before entering French Village.
A new road is to be built from a point where the Trail touches the Suburban tracks, running parallel with the car line to the hard road which was finished last fall.
The contract provides for a widening of three feet of the present paving, west of O’Fallon. This is to be done after the paving between O’Fallon and Lebanon is completed.
Hoppock expects, with favorable weather, to lay from 800 to 1000 feet of slab a day.
75 years ago, March 24, 1949
Stanley Kimes, young O’Fallon basso, who is fast becoming one of the outstanding young American singers, will make his debut at Carnegie Hall, New York City, Wednesday evening, March 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Kimes was selected from a field of 100 applicants in a competitive audition for the bass solo role in the “Passion According to St. Matthew” by Bach, to be presented by the famous Schola Cantorum of New York City.
The Schola Cantorum is the oldest singing society of New York City and has an international reputation. The chorus and soloists will be accompanied by a full philharmonic symphony orchestra.
Dr. Hugh Ross, famous English conductor, will direct the performance of the Bach work.
Usually solo parts of this nature are given only to Metropolitan Opera artists.
Kimes will have as assisting artists in this performance, outstanding American singers.
Kimes, a son of Mrs. Lawrence Harter of this city is at present studying in the Julliard School of Opera, New York City, as the result of three previous audition awards.
50 years ago, March 21, 1974
At the O’Fallon City Council meeting Monday night… The city also heard a request from the Southview Plaza Shopping Center Merchants’ Association that the words “St. Clair Square” be removed from atop the O’Fallon-owned water tank at the square.
Don Darr, president of the merchants association, said the name of an out-of-town business on a city-owned water tank is taking business away from O’Fallon including valuable sales tax.
“We just feel the city shouldn’t advertise something on its water tower that isn’t benefiting the city itself,” Darr said.
The request stated that the merchants have agreed to sue to have the name removed.
(The name would be removed and, to this day, the tower has no writing or design on it.)
