75 years ago: O’Fallon mailman was ahead of his time for getting his steps in

He was one O’Fallonite who certainly got his steps in before it was fashionable.

In July 1948, the Progress wrote about Julius Schalter, Jr. who was one of the first two mail carriers in O’Fallon (the other was Wilbur Scott) when house-to-house delivery started in 1925 inside the city. Before that, you had to pick up your mail at the post office. Here’s the story.

“We hear of all sorts of oddities in the news, but many of our readers probably will be surprised to learn that O’Fallon has a man who soon starts on the way in his fourth lap around the world. No, not in an airplane, rocket, or other fast mode of transportation, but of all things, just walking. He is no other than city mail carrier Julius C. Schalter, of the local post office, who started walking for Uncle Sam back in 1925 when the mail delivery was established in O’Fallon and who is still at it.

“Schalter, an ardent, but sometimes obstinate baseball fan, whose city delivery takes eight hours of walking a day, five days a week, covering approximately 15 miles of O’Fallon city streets, with more time thrown in during the yuletide season, can well qualify as the city’s No. 1 walking man. In fact, a little figuring, allowing vacation time off, will reveal that Schalter, theoretically is well on his way on his fourth lap around the world without leaving O’Fallon.

He averages 3,915 miles of walking a year on his route which covers the north side, not counting the detours in the snow, ice and sleet and an occasional walk across the street to get the latest baseball dope via someone’s radio or television or chance meeting with bad dogs which adds to the walking mileage.

“And he does walk a little after hours and on holidays, but that new automobile solved this problem somewhat. The grand total of miles of leg stretching for Schalter next month will reach 90,045, or well over three and one-half times around the world, figuratively speaking. Schalter became a village carrier when the service was established August 1925 under John Lawrence then postmaster. He became a city carrier April 1, 1937 when that service was inaugurated under postmaster John L. Anheuser.”

75 years ago: July 15, 1948

Thieves, with probably a crude sense of humor, were not satisfied with stealing a truck belonging to the O’Fallon Lumber Company but they took the time to remove the ignition keys from three other trucks belonging to the firm. The truck, a Ford 1938 dump type, was stolen sometime Sunday night, being recovered the next day in East St. Louis where it had been abandoned after the gasoline supply was exhausted.

Entrance was gained to the lumber yard after forcing a lock on a door at a storage shed where all the trucks are housed. To get to the dump truck the sneaks had to move a small pickup, also ignoring a new 1948 model. The authorities are puzzled why the thieves removed the ignition keys from the other trucks. A member of the lumber yard stated that the keys were left in the vehicles so they can be quickly moved in case of a fire.

50 years ago: July 12, 1973

Announcement in Washington that O’Fallon has been approved for a $1,733,150 sewer grant has cleared the way to accept bids for the work by about Aug. 20. The grant is about 75 percent of the cost of the sewer trunk line and disposal plant planned by the City of O’Fallon. A $600,000 revenue bond issue has been approved by the voters of O’Fallon to be used in connection with the grant.

Dave Davis, city engineer, said some slight alterations in plans have been recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but that there should be no delay in getting all plans ready for probably Aug. 16 bid opening. A new tertiary treatment plant required by the EPA will be located at the present lagoon site on Rieder Road. The trunk sewer line is to follow Engle Creek generally on the north side of town and eastward to the lagoon site. The site is just west of Silver Creek.

The city’s bonds are also to be sold in August, according to City Attorney Delmar Koebel. In addition, city officials hope to obtain some additional funds in state funds. A bond issue was voted in Illinois for pollution control. It was originally hoped the state would provide a 25 percent grant. However, the higher than expected Federal funding makes this unlikely.

It is now believed that Federal funds will amount to about 75 percent of the cost. The grant was announced by Cong. Mel Price in Washington. O’Fallon’s grant was one of eight announced Friday. More than $19 million was allocated to nearby communities. Belleville received a grant of $2,941,875 for improvement in its sewer plant. Troy’s grant of $408,525 was announced at the same time. Largest of the grants was to Granite City with $8,981,175.