Celebrating
PAGE 2 ● Saturday, September 27, 2008
How Wood River
got its start
The original Wood River was
located west of the railroad tracks on
what had been the Janssen farm. In
1907, John Janssen's widow,
Elizabeth Haller
Janssen. sold the
farm to Ashlock
and Dulaney.
P.E. Ashlock,
or “Doc” Ashlock
as he was known,
was prominent in
the development
of Wood River. On
Aug. 9, 1907, Wood
River Heights subdivision, which
included the land
west of the railroad tracks was
recorded.
A petition for
incorporation of
Wood River into a
village was filed
July 3, 1908, and
the petition was
approved by a
judge. Residents
approved the
incorporation in
August 1908 and
village officials OK'd it on Oct. 6.
1908.
The area rapidly developed due to
the construction of the Standard Oil
Refinery. The story of the refinery
spread rapidly and it brought specu-
lators and workmen from miles
around. It became known as the
fastest growing city in the country.
What once had been farmland was
now a refinery,
located in Wood
River and two
other villages;
East Wood River
and Benbow City.
East Wood
River incorporated in 1909 and
within a year an
election was held
and approved to
annex Wood
River to East
Wood River. In
June 1911, an
ordinance officially changed the
town's name to
Wood River.
Benbow City
had incorporated
in December 1907.
It was known as a
lawless town and
at one time boosted 23 taverns.
Wood River voted
to annex Benbow City on April 24,
1917.
Visit the Wood River Museum and
Visitors Center, 40 W. Ferguson Ave.,
to find out more about the city's history.
100 years
THE TELEGRAPH
Marie (Lacout) Zakrzewski and Celina
(Lacout) Gildersleeve, remembers ...
FACT
The city's last centennial
celebration will be held
downtown Oct. 5.
The Italian - Croatian
Fall Festival will take
place between
1 and 8 p.m.
The event will include
authentic food, wine
tasting, car cruise,
children's activities,
Italian/Croatian music
and other entertainment.
lex and
Christina
Lacout
immigrated to the United
States from France
in the early 1920s.
They moved to Wood
River shortly after
and in the 1930s
opened Frenchy's
Tavern in Little
Italy, a popular tavern, eatery and nightspot for locals.
The tavern served barbecue and fish. On weekends the Bill Shaw
Band of Alton would play jazz. It was the only Wood River establishment that allowed blacks. Shaw was a black musician.
Frenchy's closed during the 1950s.
While operating the tavern, our parents also ran Phelan's Corner
Confectionery. They later went on to run the Soho Tavern at 408 S.
Main St.
At 83 years old our father was one of the first people in the area to
walk with artificial legs in 1972. He lost both legs due to circulatory
problems and was fitted with prosthetics.
A
submitted by Marie (Lacout) Zakrzewski and
Celina (Lacout) Gildersleeve
Family Owned
& Operated
for Over 80 Years.
Tom & Judy Wilder
Local Owners Since 1983
40 East Ferguson, Wood River • 618-3654-5712
www.smitsflowers.com
TOP, Phelan's Corner
Confectionary adjacent to
Frenchy's Tavern in "Little Italy."
Pictured in back, owner Alex
Lacout.
ABOVE, construction of Frenchy's
Tavern, 198 Old St. Louis Road,
built by Alex Lacout in 1930-1931
LEFT, patrons inside Frenchy's
Tavern.
THE TELEGRAPH
Celebrating
100 years
Saturday, September 27, 2008 ● PAGE 3
Winter Wonderland
ack in the winter of
the late 1940s as
teenagers we waited for the big
snow. When it came the streets
were packed full of snow and
then we would gather our sleds
— store-bought and homemade
— and head out.
We would attach a rope to
the sled and then to an automobile bumper and then would
get towed around the streets of
Wood River. Some of the sleds
held up to five people and any
person on the tail end had the
scariest ride going around the
corners.
This all took place before
the city started shoveling its
streets, of course.
B
Square Dancing part
of city's history
n Sept. 18 the Hoedowners
Square Dance Club celebrated its 59th anniversary. In 1947, a well-known
resident in the Wood River community — Lucien “Ring” Ringering —
ignited the spark that started the
club. Lucien and his wife, Marge,
attended a Boy Scout program and
the entertainment was square dancing and as a result the Ringerings
became “sold” on square dancing.
Upon learning all the moves to
dance, the couple also learned to call
and began teaching classes in their
small apartment. In the fall of 1949
Ring's Hoedowners held their first
club dance and later that year the
Hoedowners started holding dances
at the Wood River Roundhouse.
In 1968, Keith Eddinger of Wood
River became the club caller. In 1970,
dance lessons were taught at the
Roundhouse.
Ring's Hoedowners changed its
name to Hoedowners of Wood River
in November 1977. In June 1991 the
club officially became known as the
Hoedowners Square Dance Club Inc.
Bo Semith started teaching square
O
dance lessons in September 1991 as
Eddinger planned for his retirement.
The Hoedowners have helped host
the Square and Round Dance
Jamboree, which is sponsored each
April by the Greater St. Louis Folk
and Square Dance Federation. In
June 1993, nearly every member
helped with the National Square
Dance Convention in St. Louis.
Members continue to hold leadership
positions on the St. Louis Metro
Square and Round Dance Association
Board. The club enters the Wood
River Halloween Parade every
October and most recently has started a fall food drive to benefit
Operation Blessing.
Dances continue to be held the second and fourth Saturday every month
at the Roundhouse with visiting
callers from across 48 states and fall
lessons are held on Tuesday nights.
Plans are currently under way for
the Hoedowners' 60th anniversary on
Aug. 30, 2009, at the Roundhouse.
BEV MEYER
Representative of Hoedowners
Square Dance Club in Wood River
ANN BROWN
of Wood River
Congratulation to our whole city,
young and old for making
Wood River a Great Community!
Marks Mortuary
Our family loving and caring for your family.
For 107 Years Marks Mortuary has been recognized for
providing riverbend families with the finest in funeral services.
Feel free to call us...
6331 Lorena Ave. • Wood River, IL
254-5544
visit us at MarksMortuary.com
PAGE 4 ● Saturday, September 27, 2008
Celebrating
100 years
THE TELEGRAPH
TO MARKET
TO MARKET
y father owned the J.B.
Friederich Market from 1916 to
1945. He had been working in
Chicago with his nephew when he
read about Wood River being the fastest-growing area in the United States. At that time
Standard Oil Co. was being built and established. He came to the area and had the courage
to examine it and realizing what the community
needed he established a spot on the corner of
Loren and Wood River avenues. The order for
groceries was taken over the telephone and was
then delivered by two drivers in two trucks. My
dad had a three-car garage built to accommodate the trucks.
My father was in business during the
Depression until 1945, at which time the same
time World War II was brewing. My father and
mother married in 1919. They raised five children and I am the oldest and only daughter.
M
MYRTLE GRANT
of Godfrey
Old Wood River Market. The J.B.
Friederich Market, at the corner of
Lorena and Wood River avenues, is
shown in 1923. Pictured, from left:
J. B. Friederich; Andy Manchak;
Frank Schmittling; Glenna
(Reardon) Boshert; and Sophia
(Krauss) Reynolds.
THE TELEGRAPH
Celebrating
100 years
Saturday, September 27, 2008 ● PAGE 5
Reminiscing on downtown
I
grew up in East Alton but
went to grade school at St.
Bernard's in Wood River. I
would frequently ride my
second-hand bike from where we
lived at 227 Washington St. in East
Alton to the school, using all the
shortcuts, alleys and quiet streets I
could find. Sometimes when I rode
home, I would ride through downtown Wood River, so I have a lot of
memories that center on downtown
and the businesses I remember as a
kid.
As you started to enter the downtown area past the Post Office, I
would stop at the Midtown Theater to
see what was playing, but most of us
kids didn't go there very often. What
we wanted to see was usually at the
Wood River Theater. Across the
street from Midtown was Mrs.
Seibold's Bakery; I would take a look
in the window but never bought anything, just looked, didn't have the
money, besides my Mom made a terrific coffee cake and would even
make a few dollars selling them.
Back across the street was Wells
Tire; I didn't need any tires back
then but I sure did want one of those
new Schwinn bicycles. That fever
never subsided; now there are six
bikes in my garage, four of which
are mine.
Going back across the street again
was Trattler's Men's Store. I didn't
go in back then, but later as a
teenager that was the place to
splurge $10 on a nice shirt. If you
bought a sport coat or a suit, you left
with it on a fancy hanger and Jerry
would put it all in a nice zippered
vinyl bag with Trattler's logo on it. If
you ever shopped there, you never
forget the million-dollar smile of
Jerry's. Next door was Reese Drug
Store. If I had a little change in my
pocket, I would stop at the soda fountain for whatever I could afford.
Across from Reese's was Tri City
Grocery store. My brother, Pat,
worked there for a while, but my
folks did most of their grocery shopping at Schutz Tom Boy on Sixth
Street. My mom and dad were old
friends from when they lived in
Vandalia with Kenny and Maurine.
Down from Reese's on the same
side of the street was a Ben Franklin
5&10 store. That was the place for
school supplies. That was also one of
the many downtown stores that used
to participate in the annual
Halloween "Paint the store windows"
contest. One year Chuck Hoffman
and I painted the Ben Franklin window. Candy Bill's was next door, I
think. The Tsimpris family tempted
generations with their chocolate
treats. The window at Easter was a
feast for the eyes and the sweet
tooth. Western Auto was in the same
block. That's where you could buy a
Red Ryder carbine-style lever-action
b-b-gun and possibly risk shooting
your eye out. You could buy a nice
bicycle there, but not a Schwinn.
Back across the street was Fulp's
Drug Store on the corner of Ferguson
and Whitelaw and Phoebe Goldberg's
on the opposite corner. Phoebe's was
where Mom had to have a very special occasion before she bought
something. Later on I would buy a
blouse or sweater for a special girl
friend there. Fulp's was I guess
where the seed was planted for my
love for pharmacy. Of course, it
helped that your first encounter as
you entered Fulp's was a display full
of warm fancy nuts. Gosh, I loved
cashews. I think I knew most everyone that worked there: Karl and
Mrs. Fulp, their son Barney, Rich
Gulotta, Bernie Hohman and Helen
Troeckler.
Further down the street from
Phoebe's was another men's store
that I would shop at frequently as a
teenager, but the name of that store
escapes me for now. There was also
Hartmann's jewelry store. Martin
was a real gentleman. He was very
kind to me, when in later years I had
decided to buy an engagement ring
for that special girl; I didn't have the
princely sum of $400. He was patient
with me. Further down on that same
side were one, maybe two, barber
shops; Braves was one. And there
used to be a bus station in that same
block and one the corner was First
National Bank of Wood River.
On the other side of the street was
Frank's Shoe Store, where all the
Cleary family worked at one time or
another, United Men's Shirt Shop,
and another shoe store. Next door to
Frank's was Wood River Hardware,
which had a distinct smell of a mixture of paint thinner, leather and the
sweeping compound they used on
that creaky wooden floor. Tony
Militello's was another shoe store on
Wood River Avenue around the corner from the bank.
The Wood River Theater was the
place to go on Friday night and
Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It
was located where the present City
Hall site is now. A wonderful couple
who became customers of mine when
I owned The Medicine Shoppe managed it back then. I don't think they
ever knew that I was one of the little
jerks that would give them trouble on
a Friday night.
The former City Hall, Police
Station and Fire Station were all in
the same building on a plot located
on the same area where the water
tower is currently located. The
Frank’s
1948
President Skating Rink was across
from City Hall on Madison Avenue. It
was a dingy, dark place, just perfect
for kids attaining puberty.
You could buy a Hudson
Automobile at Sido's at the corner of
Whitelaw and Lorena avenues or pay
your utility bill down the street at
Illinois Power building. You could
buy a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria; my
brother did, at the Ford dealer on
Wood River Avenue. I think it was
Carter Ford.
These are just some of my recollections from 55 to 60 years ago. I am
sure there are some inaccuracies.
Also I know there are omissions in
regard to some businesses that I may
have forgotten. For those people who
may have been associated with those
businesses, I apologize and would
appreciate your input.
MIKE CLEARY
of Wood River
ClearLya’s
ter
60 Years
SAS Days are Here!
$
15 OFF
Your Favorite SAS
Shoe or Handbag
Now through Oct. 4th
“We’re here to satisfy your sole”
48 E. Ferguson, Wood River
254-0276
www.clearyshoes.com
Discount does not apply to already discounted items or previous sales.
Celebrating
PAGE 6 ● Saturday, September 27, 2008
100 years
THE TELEGRAPH
Remembering the city back then
y husband and I, Bill
I did all my shopping downtown.
Lackey, moved to
I worked during Christmas at
Wood River on Sept.
Linden's Dime Store. I remember
22, 1946, from
all the merchants such as Phoebe
Southern Illinois. We rented an
Goldberg, Trattlers, Pope Gift
upstairs apartment at 111 E.
Shop, Frank's Shoe Store, Smit's
Lorena Ave., where we resided for
Flower Shop, then on Lorena
three years.
Avenue across the street from
I remember at the time Gloss
Streeper Funeral Home.
Motor Company was at the corner
I bowled at Wood River Bowl
of Lorena Avenue, next door to
when it was located in the basement of
Stocker Norge
Wood River Furniture
I remember all the
Appliance.
Mart, owned by
Walnut Grove
Juitt.
merchants such as Marion
Dairy was at the corI was active in
Phoebe Goldberg,
ner of Lorena and
community affairs. I
Whitelaw avenues
Trattlers, Pope Gift served as Wood
and Ed Sido Motor
River Township
Shop, Frank's Shoe chair for American
Company was across
the street near the
Store, Smit's Flower Cancer Society and
Wood River Journal.
Heart
Shop, then on Lorena Illinois
Whitelaw Hotel was
Association. I served
Avenue across the as an ambassador
at the corner of
Whitelaw Avenue
Wood River
street from Streeper for
and Acton Street,
Chamber of
Funeral Home.
which was owned by
Commerce, president
Ralph and ElFrieda
of Wood River Civic
Schoeneweis. Wood River Public
Action Association, president of
Library was located at 114
Alton-Wood River Zonta Club and
Whitelaw Ave.
received service award for outIn the early 1950s my husband
standing services to the community
and I built a house at 318 Thomas
in 1982. I was a member of the
St., Roxana, where we lived for 11
Independent Insurance Agents of
years. I worked at the Roxana
Southwestern Illinois, organized the
Market, owned by William Hoeche.
Friends of Wood River Public Library
In the late 1950s I went to work
in 1992, served on the city's appearance board and as secretary on Wood
for Emmet P. Howard Insurance
River Township Hospital auxiliary.
Agency on Whitelaw Avenue, which
My husband retired from
is currently Illinois Cleaners.
Laclede Steel in Alton in 1980. I
Howard purchased a small building
retired in 1990 after working in the
at 130 Whitelaw Ave. and renovated
insurance industry for 35 years.
it to use as his insurance office.
Bill was a member of the Wood
Howard retired in the late 1960s and
River American Legion Post No.
I purchased the agency. It then
204 and served as bingo chair for
became known as the Lackeythe Wood River Moose Lodge for
Howard Agency. Estelle Killam
many years.
served as my secretary.
We have a son — Dan Lackey —
The city later purchased the buildwho served on the Wood River Fire
ing and it was eventually torn down.
Department as a paid on-call fireI remember having lunch at
fighter for 30 years. He now resides
Reese Drug Store, now Eagles
in Brighton.
Club, Candy Bill's, Sunshine Coffee
We have resided at our current
Shop, Tug Boat Annie's, Dinner
home at 752 N. Ninth St. for the
Bell luncheonette, owned by
past 47 years.
ElFrieda Schoeneweis-Skaggs,
A lot has changed in the neighSteak House, owned by Tom
borhood.
Skaggs, which was later sold to
James Jones. Bill Vogan owned
Parkway and Bill Farthing owned
BETTY LACKEY
Farthing’s-Drive In.
of Wood River
M
photo submitted by JEAN (BYRON) BRUCE
1930 — Pelan's Gas Station was located at the corner of Main Street and Ferguson
Avenue. The station remained at this location by the state of Illinois. It was later
known as Angie's.
Congratulations!
We are proud to be part of the
Wood River Community for
the last 39 years!
(618) 254-3441
232 N. Wood River Ave., Wood River
www.dicksflowers.com
TRICKEY’S SERVICE, INC.
Auto Repair
&
24 Hour Towing
Family owned &
operated for
40+ years in
Wood River
254-0404
www.trickeystowing.com
380 E. Edwardsville Rd. • Wood River, IL
THE TELEGRAPH
Celebrating
100 years
Saturday, September 27, 2008 ● PAGE 7
submitted by CHARLENE AND ED HAMLIN
This picture of Edwardsville Road was taken from Charlie Albrecht's airplane in
1952. In it you can see Skagg's Restaurant, Jimmy Baker's gas station, which is just
west of Albrecht-Hamlin Chevrolet. Across the street is the VFW, Florence's Tavern
(now Phil's). Eastwood Subdivision was not yet built. Ray's Motor is on Whitelaw and
Edwardsville Road. The Virgil Chessen home was where Walgreen's now stands.
Parkway and Fairy Inn were across the street.
photo submitted by HAROLD MEISENHEIMER of Alton
The destruction left behind after a tornado blew through the city in 1949.
Happy to be in business since 1986.
Happy
1986.
Over
City of
of Wood
Wood River.
River.
Over 20
20 years
years in
in the
the City
100 Great
Great Years!
Years!
Congratulations
Congratulations on
on 100
PHONE MASTERS
is a full service telecommunications company dedicated to providing integrated
business solutions to our customers at a fair price. From Network based voice
and data services to the equipment that makes them work,
we can help you build the right solution for your business.
PHONE MASTERS
523 N. Old St. Louis Road
Wood River, IL 62095
618-254-7330
Celebrating
PAGE 8 ● Saturday, September 27, 2008
100 years
THE TELEGRAPH
Remember kick-the-can?
y dad, Herb Cleary, used to
work part time at Frank's
Shoe Store, 22 E. Ferguson
in downtown Wood River.
He worked there to supplement his paycheck from his full-time job as an operator
at Shell Oil Co. I don't know how long dad
worked there; I just don't ever remember a
time that he didn't. The extra income I am
sure went toward sending all four of us
boys to Marquette High School.
Mr. Frank Saxe was very good to my
dad and our family, never mind that he
was Jewish and we were Catholic. My
mother, Arline Cleary, was a stay-at-home
Mom, nothing unusual when you grew up in
the 50s. But I can remember my mom
working at Frank's on occasion when there
was a special event like a sidewalk sale.
Sometimes she would help my dad change
the displays in the windows with the change
of season.
Mr. Saxe gave my brother Bob, the oldest of us four boys, a job sweeping the
floor, washing windows and just being a
gofer: trips to the post office, then bank
and the shoe repair shop. Once in awhile,
he could earn some extra money by washing Mr. Saxe's car. His car was always the
newest and fanciest car in the alley behind
the store.
When Bob outgrew the job, I grew into
it, doing pretty much the same tasks as
Bob, only I was better at it. I was in high
school when I took the job and Frank let
me take time off for football season as long
as I would break somebody else in. When
football season was over, I was able to
return to the job; that was the deal.
When I left Frank's to go to pharmacy
school, my younger brother Pat was old
enough to take over the job. Pat did a good
job, but not as good as me. Pat became a
good friend with the people at Wood River
M
Community
Credit Union
Hardware, which was next door at the
time. Later on, when Pat was raising his
family, he had a part-time job working for
Bill Tite at Wood River Hardware.
When Pat moved on from Frank's, it
was only natural for him to pass the job to
the youngest, Tim. Tim did an adequate
job, but not as good as me. Tim, however,
got serious about the selling side of the
business that the rest of us boys only dabbled in. Tim stayed on and showed an interest that impressed Mr. Saxe. He sent Tim
to several seminars and training sessions to
help him improve his knowledge of the shoe
business.
A time came when Mr. Saxe was ready
to retire; you might say he too grew out of
the job. My brother, Tim, was there at the
right time and with my dad's help and also
that of Tim's father-in-law, Vernon
Munzert, Tim bought the business in March
1984. He carried on the business as Frank's
Shoe Store at the same location for an additional 19 years.
In 2002, Tim bought the building at 48 E.
Ferguson, the former P.N. Hirsch business.
He remodeled the building and moved
Frank's Shoe Store. I remember being part
of the team, as was every able-bodied family member, that moved all the shoes. You
have no appreciation for how many shoes
there are in a shoe store until you have
moved them all. I moved my store, The
Medicine Shoppe, from 601 Edwardsville
Road to 901 Edwardsville Road. That was
just a lot of pills and fixtures. Moving the
shoe store was far more difficult.
Today, my brother Tim has the most
beautiful store in downtown Wood River,
now known as Cleary's Shoes & Boots.
y family consisted of my parents and
three younger sisters. I attended St.
Bernard's Church and School and I still
have close friends from early school
days. My childhood brings back memories of going to
the Wood River Pool every summer afternoon and after
supper going back so you could swim under the lights
as my parents watched from the benches and then we
got a Popsicle. The summers were so hot and we would
play kick-the-can and catch fireflies and then drag our
mattresses out to our screened-in front porch to sleep.
Many hours were spent running barefoot and getting
sand burrs in your feet, picking cherries from our trees
in the back yard, riding our bikes to the top of Ninth
Street hill, and spending time with the neighbors. My
dad worked at Standard Oil and we were all familiar
with the whistle that blew for lunch, quitting time and
the fire whistle. In the winter we went sledding on St.
Bernard's hill and it was a treat to go to the Wood
River Show on Friday night.
I attended East Alton-Wood River High School and
loved being an “Oiler.” Those days were filled with
dances, sporting events, Jiveland, Parkway, Blevin's
root beer stand, Alt-Wood Drive-In Movie, going downtown on Saturday afternoons with girlfriends to Rich's,
Ben Franklin and Candy Bill's for a Coke. My first job
was at Camp's Drug Store, working the soda fountain. I
married my high school sweetheart, Don, a few years
later and we raised our family in Wood River.
I have lived on George Street, Tipton Avenue and
Sotier Place and I'm proud to say I am a lifelong resident of Wood River. Now that I am a "senior citizen," I
serve as co-president of the Wood River Heritage
Council and volunteer at the Wood River Museum and
Visitor's Center. Although Don and I travel a lot, we are
always happy to come home to Wood River to family
and friends.
M
JUDY (VINOVICH) PRICE
of Wood River
MIKE CLEARY
of Wood River
Serving the Wood River
Community Since 1935
• First-Rate
Member Service
• E-Statements
• No Fee Checking
• Savings Accounts
• Christmas Club
• Kids/Senior Clubs
• ATM Debit Cards
• Home Banking
• Online Bill Pay
• Tractor Loans
• Motorcycle & ATV Loans
211 Madison Ave.
Wood River
300 Commerce Blvd.
Jerseyville
618-254-2823
618-639-8989
www.atlascreditunion.com
Appetizers • Salads • Sandwiches and Pizza
$200
Appetizers
4-7 Tues-Sun
Monday
Night Special
$
00
5
2 topping 16” Pizza
Starting Friday, Oct. 3
DJ
Every Friday & Saturday
Now Thru Summer
Reserve our Front Room for any Special Occasion
259-2413 601 Edwardsville Rd. Wood River
THE TELEGRAPH
Celebrating
100 years
Saturday, September 27, 2008 ● PAGE 9
Excellence
in education
im Harris of Wood River
wrote his memory before
he died at the age of 91
on
July 25.
I came to Wood River in the
fall of 1947 to teach business education at East-Alton Wood River
High School. Chester Hughes and
Fred Scharf came at the same
time.
There were 1,400 students in the
main building at that time. It was
a mess at times. In 1950 the South
building was opened. It was an
outstanding basketball facility and
classrooms for vocational education.
Many people have forgotten we
J
submitted by JANE FLAHERTY OF ALTON
Jane's 13th birthday party, pictured in front, from left: Myrna Ritter, Mary Flaherty,
Jane Flaherty, Joan Horvart and Jean Byron. Back, from left; Rosemary Henkhaus,
Judy Volz, Judy Vinovich and Theresa Horvat.
After all these years ...
came to Wood River to live
with my aunt and uncle,
Rose and Harry Scoggins on
West Jennings Avenue,
because of the illness and subsequent
death of my mother. I attended first
grade and made my first communion
at St. Bernard's. At the end of the
school year, I went back to Alton to
live with my father, but three years
later, due to his illness, I returned to
my relatives, who by this time had
two small children — Jim and Janet.
I again attended St. Bernard's, joined
the Girl Scout troop led by Mrs.
Hoormann, took piano lessons from
Mrs. Reaser and went swimming at
the Wood River pool. My friends
were classmates and children in the
West Jennings and Carstens neighborhood.
After completing the eighth grade
in 1953, our class went to three different high schools. Most went to Wood
River or Roxana, and I was one of
three who rode the bus each day to
attend Marquette High School.
Naturally, we became involved in
activities at our respective high
schools and didn't see a lot of each
other. Last year, 54 years after graduating from St. Bernard's, our
eighth-grade class had a reunion. We
were able to locate all 32 members of
the class still living and 22 came.
I
I lived on the East Coast for most
of my adult life, but came home to
visit about once a year. Although I
often stayed in St. Louis with my sister Mary, who was raised by other
relatives, I always came back to
Wood River to spend time with my
surrogate family. Jim, Janet and I
have remained like brothers and sisters all these years; their children
even call me “Aunt Jane.” After retiring in 2004, I moved back to the area
and live near Janet's family in Alton.
One day, I decided to visit the
Wood River Museum and found an
old playmate from West Jennings
working there. I learned that four
members of our St. Bernard's class
were active in the Wood River
Heritage Council and the museum, so
I decided to join. I then heard about
the people who walk in the Holy
Angels (St. Bernard's) gym on weekday mornings and began going there
occasionally, to find out that several
of the walkers were also in my
eighth-grade class. (What a class.)
It's wonderful to have reconnected
with Wood River, to have renewed the
friendships I had here long ago, and
of course, to be near my family
again.
JANE FLAHERTY
of Alton
had an election to establish a community college, before Lewis and
Clark were formed. It failed miserably.
You have to be past 70 to
remember teachers such as Ray
Floyd, Willie Fulton, Marion
Bumstead, Helen Christoe, Ruth
Steel, H.H. Smith, Velora Bucher
and Avis Spragg.
In 1956, the business manager
was replaced and the board of
education named Dick Paynic as
his replacement. Dick kept the job
for several months, then resigned
to join the priesthood. The board
appointed me to the job in the
summer of 1957 and I retired in
June 1983.
Benbow City
The number of saloons in the town
varies with the storyteller, but from
19 to 23 seems to be agreed upon.
Population ranges from 75 to 87.
There were games of chance and the
bright red lights of doubtful houses
gleamed around town. A long low
building, called the Red White and
Blue near the main office of Standard
Oil, was a home to many of the
“ladies” who arrived from St. Louis,
by trolley on Friday night, and
returned on Sunday afternoon somewhat richer. This was a wild and
woolly town with a motto of “anything goes” — and anything did.
Taken from the
“History of Wood River”
If you never have Congratulations
It’s time to... to the City of Wood River
on their
Fall in Love
with
Centennial Anniversary!
259-6292
Flowers by Design
322 Lakin Blvd.
Wood River
Celebrating
PAGE 10 ● Saturday, September 27, 2008
100 years
THE TELEGRAPH
Many memories ...
y wife, Betty, and I
resided at 430 Tipton
Ave. for 42 years. We
are the parents of one
daughter, Lynn Marie Keller and one
grandchild, Shawn.
Lynn Marie attended Wood River
schools and was active in both grade
and high schools. She received her
doctorate degree from Saint Louis
University in St. Louis.
My father, Irvan, and I owned and
operated Illinois Cleaners at 13
Whitelaw Ave. for 50 years. We had
pick-up or delivery service for our customers. My dad drove the delivery.
My father passed away in 1994 and
I operated the business until 1989. I
sold the cleaners to Nancy Russell,
who still operates the cleaners at the
same location.
I have many memories of Wood
River, especially of all our customers
over the years. Coffee breaks in
morning and afternoon, with Lou
Potter who worked at Taylor
Jewelers, Barney Fulp, Bud Grove,
Jim Schmidt L. Thorp and many oth-
M
ers who wanted to join us.
We would either go to Candy Bill’s,
Nita’s Cafe or Luncheonette and of
course my daily chat with little Doc
Morgan, who had his dentist office on
the second floor of Fulp Drug Store.
In the days before shopping centers, we had all necessary stores
within two blocks — Reese Drug
Store and Fulps, Candy Bills, Art
Hunt Clothing, Trattlers and Jack
Slein Men's, Clothing, Max
Nissenholts Shoe Store, Franks Shoe
Store, Wood River Hardware, Fulp's,
Phoebe Goldberg, Lee Shop, Taylor
Jewelers, Hartmanns Beauty Shops
and many others.
I was a member of Jaycees for
eight years. Betty was active in
Friends of Wood River Public Library.
I retired in 1989 and Betty in 1991 from
Alton Mental Health Center.
We now reside in Lebanon, Mo.,
and Lynn Marie in Naples, Fla.
DICK SMITH
formerly of Wood River
Throughout the year the Park &
Recreation Department provides residents
of all ages with a variety of activities to
choose from. Here are just a few!
October 5th
Downtown Croation/Italian Fall Festival
held on Ferguson Ave. 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Volunteers Needed! Call 618-251-3100
Flea Market • Car Cruise • Wine Tasting
Lots of Food & Drinks!
Pumpkin Patch • Pop Star Makeovers
Fun for the Whole Family!!
October 20th
23rd Annual Halloween Party
At the Round House in Wood River
October 25th
23rd Annual Halloween Parade
For more info call 259-0984
Call 618-251-3130 for more information
Metzger Street
retrospection
Metzger is a dead-end street off of
Edwardsville Road. It was great to
grow up there. In the summers we
played softball and kickball in the
Thatchers' vacant lot next to their
house; we girls played paper dolls
and Barbie dolls on Sherry Williams'
carport and back porch; we waded
through the puddles up and down the
street after every rain storm; and we
loved to coat the bottoms of our bare
feet with warm tar and rocks after
the street department tarred and
chipped our road.
We kids collected empty soda bottles for the 2-cent deposit, and made
yarn loop potholders and went door
photo submitted by LINDA KEEFE HOFFMAN
“Metzger Gang” includes Larry Thatcher
in the front, and from left are Jan
Thatcher, Sherry Williams, Linda Keefe
and Gail Keefe.
to door selling the potholders to our
mothers so we could earn money and
walk up to Smitty's Market, turn in
the soda bottles, and buy candy.
Every summer, my mom and dad
would have a wiener roast in our
back yard and we'd have all the
neighborhood kids over. After we ate
and roasted marshmallows, we'd
play long base (a variation of softball, when you didn't have enough
room for three bases and an outfield)
until dark.
LINDA KEEFE HOFFMAN
of Wood River
GREGORY C. MOSSMAN
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
STATE FARM
INSURANCE COMPANIES
HOME OFFICE:
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS
600 N. Wood River Avenue
Wood River, IL 62095
Off:
Res:
Fax:
254-1251
465-7035
254-6000
THE TELEGRAPH
Celebrating
Exploring the old dump
Emerick Sports Complex is
built by the old dump.
I grew up in Lincoln
Addition, sort of a no-man's
land between Wood River and
East Alton.
I remember having dirt clod
fights at the construction sites
for the new subdivision behind
the Wood River Hospital. On
Sixth Street, on the other side of
Lincoln Addition, were the pond
and the dump. I don't know if we
ever caught any fish in the pond,
but we sure had a lot of fun catching crawdads along the bank.
Another source of fun for us
kids was exploring the dump.
You never knew what treasures
someone was going to throw
out. Once Albrecht Chevrolet on
Edwardsville Road threw out
boxes of stickers. We kids plastered our bikes with them. It
made a fine addition to the
noise-making cards we had
clipped to our spokes.
One other time, I found an
early trivia game called The
Mystic Moolah. At least, that's
what I think it was called. It
involved questions and answers,
magnets and a little spinning
statue. I'm still trying to find
information about that game.
Our primary reason for exploring the dump and the alleys in
between was to find the coveted
empty soda bottles. Soda bottles
could be returned for a 2-cent
deposit and we were always
scavenging. When we had a
large collection of bottles in our
wagons, we would turn them in
and then head over to the
Frostop Drive-in at the corner
of Sixth and Edwardsville Road
for a quart of root beer. Today
with its playground and ball
fields, Emerick Sports Complex
is entertaining kids just as that
area did more than 50 years ago.
CHARLIE HOFFMAN
of Wood River
KXOX and Johnny Rabbit
Who could grow up in Wood
River and not have memories of
the Wood River Pool? After all,
at one time it was the largest
swimming pool in the United
States.
Imagine the impression this
made on a young boy. My parents bought me a season ticket
to the pool every year and I
would trek to the pool almost
every day of the summer. I
would swim and lay out and
would get totally brown without
the benefit of sunscreen. This
was way before we were concerned about skin cancer.
During those days KXOK and
Johnny Rabbit and Chicken
Man would play in the background.
I remember things a kid will
probably never see again. Once
a helicopter flew over the pool
and dropped ping-pong balls.
Some store was doing a promotion and whoever found a ball
with a number or message on it
received a prize. I remember
the rush of kids that ran up to
the fence to watch John F.
Kennedy's motorcade pass by
during the election campaign.
As we entered our teens, we
would hang out at the high dive.
Although we weren't Olympic
caliber, we practiced our dives
and became skilled at doing the
one and a half, the jackknife
and the back flip. While we
were up there we would also try
to peek down the girls' tops on
the low dives. After all, we
were teenage boys. I remember
saying bye to my friends and
walking home for dinner.
Sometimes after spending
the afternoon at the pool, I
would go back to stay until the
pool closed at 9 p.m. As I cut
across the football field the
lights in the distance would
draw me like a moth as I listened to the siren song of the
radio in the distance.
CHARLIE HOFFMAN
of Wood River
100 years
Saturday, September 27, 2008 ● PAGE 11
Who says you can't go home again?
y sisters and I grew up on
Metzger Street in Wood
River during the 1950s
and early 1960s. My memories of that time are some of my fondest. We grew up on 539 Metzger St. Some
people may remember that house was
the center of controversy a couple years
ago because the house had been painted
taxicab yellow, which offended the neighbors. But back when we were growing up,
it was a pale green with dark green shutters that my dad made; and it had a
large screened-in back porch that my dad
built.
I think when I was a kid, we must
not have had winters. In my memory it
is perpetual summer on Metzger Street.
At least that's the way it seems because
most of my memories center on summertime. In June, after the schools let
out for the summer, kids immediately
shed their shoes. Surprisingly, I have a
lot of memories associated with being
barefoot in summertime on Metzger
Street. I clearly remember the sensation
of the scalding pavement against my
feet as I would run barefoot across hot
summer streets, as well as the sensation
of cool relief when I reached a spot on
the pavement where a tree cast a shadow. And I remember the feel of the cold
concrete floor of Smitty's Corner
Market where we kids would go to buy
bonomo Turkish taffy, wax teeth, Pixy
Stix and colorful Kool-Aid in little 3inch-tall wax bottles. I also distinctly
remember the pain of accidentally stepping on sand burrs…….ouch! (Do those
things grow anywhere but Wood River?
No one I know outside of Wood River
seems to have seen them).
I believe Metzger Street was one of
the best neighborhoods to grow up in for
two reasons.
It was a dead-end street, which made it
great for playing games out in the street.
There was an abundance of kids
growing up on that street at the same
time. There were Linda, Gail, Julie,
Kathy and Carolyn K. (i.e. my sisters
and I); Sherry W.; Karen and Terry
B.; Jan, Cindy, and Larry T; Jimmy
N.; Carol T.; David and Keith E.;
Johnny, Jeffrey, Jana W.; as well as
Sharon S. and Barb E., who lived across
the alley but joined our neighborhood
from time to time.
Because of the large number of kids
in the neighborhood, we were able to
M
play organized games like SPUD, Kick
the Can, Cops and Robbers, Red Rover,
softball and kickball — either out in the
street or in the Thatchers' vacant lot.
We'd play into the dark with lightning
bugs blinking all around, often with our
parents sitting out in the front yard talking
to other neighbors and parents who also
were sitting outside (probably because no
one had air conditioning back then).
In the summer, we kids also occupied
ourselves in a variety of ways: making
and selling pot holders that we created
using nylon loops on a small loom; having plays and parades; standing at the
end of our street yelling things at the
Berry Road kids; getting the “hairyfaced dog” (that's what we called the
McKay's dog) to chase us on our bikes;
or by collecting soda bottles that we
could take up to Smitty's Market and
collect 2 cents per bottle, which we used
for candy purchases.
Among us kids, we had some neighborhood mythology. I actually don't
know if all of the kids believed this stuff
or if it was just I being a gullible kid
believing what some other kid told me.
Myth 1: We believed there was a
man made out of coal named “the coal
man” that lived in the Thatchers' basement because once when we were down
there we saw a picture of a man made
out of coal on the furnace and when the
furnace rumbled we thought he was
coming out to get us.
Myth 2: There were two dogs down
the street. They were boxers named
Susie and Ace. I don't know if that was
their real name or we made that up but
anyway, we believed that Ace had killed
a person once. So when those dogs got
out occasionally, we ran.
When I grew up and got married, I
moved to St. Louis with my husband for
a number of years. My sisters also
moved away. But the memory of my
childhood in Wood River always tugged
at me. After my kids were grown, I
moved back to Wood River nine years
ago. I'm so glad I did. Two of my sisters
also moved back to Wood River. We all
live within a short distance of my parent's house, where they live today. Some
people say, “You can't go home again”,
but that's not really true at all.
GAIL KEEFE
of Wood River
PAGE 12 ● Saturday, September 27, 2008
Celebrating 100 years
WOOD RIVER HARDWARE
26-28 E. Ferguson, Wood River
618-254-7447
Locally owned & operated since 1964
For All Your Fall Home Improvement Needs
Congratulations
to all of the
Wood River
Community!
Proudly serving Wood River since 1968!
THE TELEGRAPH
In the line of duty
On the 6th day of December, 1912,
S.T. Thompson was killed in the line
of duty. Thompson had been called
to arrest a man who was threatening to shoot his boss, and as he
approached the man fired and hit
Thompson. The chief also fired,
hitting the man, who later died. A
resolution was passed by the
Village Board of Wood River, com-
mending his efforts in the performance of duty. Thompson became
the first police officer to be killed.
On Jan. 25, 1916, John Phipps,
the second police officer to be killed
in the line of duty, died at St.
Joseph’s Hospital from rabies contracted while he was attempting to
kill a rabid dog that had bitten a
child.
Phil’s
Donna’s
Bar & Grill
225 E. Edwardsville Rd.
Wood River, IL
(618) 259-9778
2nd Annual Chili
Cookout (
(
and
Join us f
($10 entry fee)
or
Trophies Quada-Thon
Foo
Washers, Darts, Pool & Bowling - 1 p.m.
d
Awarde
Free to Participate
2 Gallon Minimum
11am - 1pm
d, Fun &
Also, A Benefit for Sydney Mead A Good Ca
use!
A 4-Year-Old suffering from luekemia
(618) 254-0605
Waterless Fire Suppression Systems ƕ Commercial
Cooking Fire Suppression Systems ƕ Fire Alarm and
Detection Systems ƕ Fire Extinguishers ƕ Fire Training
ƕFoam Systems ƕ CO2 Systems ƕ Fire Hose Accessories ƕ
Fire Cabinets
420 North Wood River Ave.ƕ Wood River, IL 62095
Phone 618-254-2323 ƕ Fax 618-254-0713
www.firesafetyinc.com
Happy 100th Wood River!
Safe & Secure Since 1935
101 Lakin Blvd, Wood River, IL 62095
2813 North Center St., Maryville, IL 62040
www.shellcu.org