100 years ago: When Belleville’s gas stations went on a ‘seller’s strike’
Brian Keller is president of the O’Fallon Historical Society and a weekly columnist for the Belleville News-Democrat’s O’Fallon Progress section online. This is what he found reported by the O’Fallon Progress on Jan. 31, 1924:
“Belleville was confronted with a peculiar situation last Saturday when the oil companies and filling stations went on a “seller’s strike” by shutting down and refusing to sell gasoline and oil.
“Practically every large filling station was closed and oil could only be procured from a few independent companies and garages, which had a supply on hand. The dealers had a sufficient supply but were unable to deliver to stations due to the teamsters’ and chauffeurs’ strike which was called last Thursday.
“The oil companies then banded together and refused to sell their product to anyone.
“Pending a settlement of the teamsters’ strike many of the filling stations remained closed.
“Belleville has 24 oil filling and distributing stations of which 18 were not operating. Those that are able to furnish a supply are said to be reaping a harvest.
“It was at first feared that the strike would extend to this city as local filling stations depend on their supply from Belleville concerns.
“Several O’Fallon stations made arrangements to have deliveries made by an independent company and thereby kept the automobilist supplied with the necessary product.
“Quite a number of Bellevilleans came to O’Fallon to have their tanks filled to last them over the strike.”
75 years ago, Feb. 3, 1949
“Many O’Fallon residents experienced falls during the icy condition of sidewalks and streets. While some escaped with minor bruises, a number of others suffered more serious injuries, or fractures of various types.
“While skating on the sidewalk near his home, Ralph Lurtz, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lurtz, fell and suffered a fracture of two bones on the right wrist.
“Miss Mary Taylor escaped with a severe shaking up when she fell on the icy walk in the 100 block on East First Street.
“As Otto Heien was returning home from the State Theatre he slipped and fell on the walk in front of the Methodist church, escaping with slight bruises.
“Mrs. Elbert Reaka suffered bruises and abrasions on the right leg between the knee and ankle when she slipped and fell on an icy spot on the steps of her home.
“Mrs. John Sapp fell on the ice near her home in the eastern part of the city and had the misfortune to suffer a fracture of the right arm at the wrist, Monday.
“Mrs. Robert Thomas, of Shiloh also fell on the ice and suffered a fracture of the left arm the same day.
“Alex Fisher slipped and fell on the ice in such a manner as to fracture a rib.
“Mrs. Oscar Busch fell on icy steps at her home and fractured two ribs.”
50 years ago, Jan. 31, 1974
“Have you ever wondered what’s underneath you when you walk on a sidewalk or drive down a street?
The ground, of course. But what’s under that? To be more specific, what’s under the St. Clair Square Shopping Center?
“Last spring, the Penndrill Underground Survey Co. from Pittsburgh, Pa., did some underground surveying work for the city of O’Fallon for the placement of its water tower for the St. Clair Shopping Center.
“Dave Davis, city engineer for O’Fallon, said in order to find out exactly what the tower would stand on and be supported by, a survey would need to be taken of the area.
“The company took pictures of the underground area at 176- and 181-feet deep coal mine shafts. The pictures taken, however, are very interesting and unusual.
“Old timber supports, some split, some still good as new, can be seen in the pictures.
“The picture-taking was done through the means of a cable-wired camera lowered through a hole in the ground and accompanied with a strobe light. The camera would take one picture and turn 30 degrees and take another picture and so on until the entire area was photographed.
“Davis said the process used in taking the underground pictures is similar to that used in aerial photography.
“A stereo picture-taking camera was used to figure out the depth of the shaft.
“The men doing the photography could tell what they were taking pictures of by monitoring the view above ground.
“A total area of 100 feet in diameter was photographed during the project and results of the photography were pretty conclusive.
“The underground area where the tower was to be located would need to be filled with concrete.
“A total of 350 yards of concrete would be used to fill the gap between the floor and the ceiling of the shaft.
“Davis said the entire area around the St. Clair Square is similar to what was found where the water tower was placed.
“The mines were once very active years ago.”
(The St. Clair Square mall in Fairview Heights sits on top of the former Prairie coal mine which operated from 1902 to 1942.)
