100 years ago: There’s no shortage of liquor in Prohibition-era O’Fallon
During Prohibition, there seemed to be no shortage of illegal liquor and no shortage of attempts to find it by law enforcement.
Here’s a Prohibition story from the O’Fallon Progress that took place Friday, Dec. 7, 1923, in the area of Hartman Lane and Booster Road in west O’Fallon.
“Last Friday afternoon while everything was quiet and serene at Booster Station, a delegation of deputies from the office of Sheriff Martin Schnipper invaded the territory and proceeded to conduct a search for illicit liquor at the Elmer Conklin home.
“A raid was made simultaneously at the home of Jesse Conklin, a brother, residing within a short distance from Elmer. Deputies Val. Schnipper, John Stevens and Gus. Meder were at the Elmer Conklin home while Deputies Charles Ahrens, Al. Petri and Adolph Breisacher conducted a search at the home of his brother.
“The visits to both homes proved fruitful and a quantity of home-brew was confiscated at each place.
“For nearly an hour the three deputies searched the Elmer Conklin home and premises, but could find no evidence. Later they were joined by the officers who raided the Jess Conklin place.
“Continuing the search the officers were tipped off by a party acquainted with the place, revealing the hiding place of the ‘forbidden fruit.’
“The tip led to the chicken yard where one of the deputies discovered some loose ground.
“Further investigation revealed several loose boards covered by ground. When the boards were lifted a passageway led to a cache, which was four feet square and four feet in depth.
“About 250 bottles of beer were found there.
“At the Jess Conklin home about 400 quarts of home brew was found in the cellar, but no effort had been made to hide the product.
“Elmer Conklin also had two barrels of grape juice in his home, but this was not seized as he produced a permit from the Internal Revenue Officer Schwaner at Springfield for the manufacture of grape juice.
“The Conklin brothers were each placed under $1,000 bond on charges of having liquor in their possession. They furnished the required bond.
“Search warrants on which the raids were made were sworn out by Assistant State’s Attorney Waldemar R. Weber, who said numerous complaints had been made about ‘parties’ held at the homes of the Conklins.”
75 years ago, Nov. 25, 1948
Old King Corn is in all his glory in this area, heavy deliveries being received at the Oberbeck Feed Company elevator (just west of Oak and State) daily.
At times there are long lines of corn-laden trucks awaiting their turn at the elevator.
This year has been one of the busiest experienced by the feed company during a corn harvest. The large crop, of unusual quality grain, is being reflected by the market.
Monday the elevator paid $1.22 a bushel as compared with a top of $2.10 about the same time last year.
50 years ago, Nov. 22, 1973
The Thanksgiving season was celebrated with a little different twist Friday when 30 fifth graders at Marie Schaefer Grade School made holiday decorations with their feet.
The idea was that of Vara Best, a physical education teacher, and Ida Crosbie, an art instructor at the school.
The lesson, the two say, teaches the children both artistic design and co-ordination of the feet.
No matter what was to be taught, the kids had a lot of fun. The method was simple. All the children had to do was remove their shoes and socks, step in a pan of tempera paint and press their foot on a piece of newsprint paper.
The footprints were made in fan design to look like turkey feathers. Four different colors were used for four layers of feathers.
A team of four children was used to make a picture, each foot being assigned a different color. After the four layers were put on the paper, they used their big toes to make the eyes and the mouth.
So mothers, in case your child came home last week and was a little painted up and told you he stepped in paint, believe him.
