50 years ago: Landmark grocery, butcher shop closes its doors on O’Fallon’s State Street

“After 36 years of sales, deliveries, credit and chit chat, Schmidt Market is closing its doors to the public.

“Richard Schmidt, owner and operator of Schmidt and Sons Market, 118 E. State St., is trading in his meat cutting apron for a real estate broker’s license sometime next week. And the closing of the store brings to an end another chapter in the history of downtown O’Fallon.

“Schmidt’s Market has a long line of stories and history from the time the store first opened its doors on April 19,1938, by Richard’s father, the late Ben Schmidt. Ben had previously worked as a supervisor for the Kroger Supermarket chain before opening his own store. Richard joined his father as soon as he graduated from high school in 1938. When Ben died in July, 1968, the store’s operation was taken over by Richard and his wife, Elvira.

“Richard Schmidt remembers a lot of the earlier years of the store’s business and how the store used to be one of the center meeting places in town. “Guys used to meet here to go hunting or fishing. Informal meetings among some residents used to be held in the store. There was always lots of conversation here besides grocery items,” Schmidt said.

“When coal mining was the number one industry of O’Fallon, Schmidt said his father would extend credit to many of the coal miners who were short on cash to pay for groceries.

“’We had credit customers and we still have a few today. My father always felt people had the right to eat. He gave them credit and he was always paid,’ Schmidt said.

“Schmidt said that he is not being run out of business by the bigger supermarket stores. Rather, he is getting out of the grocery store business to relax and get away from the hectic six-day-a-week job.

“Schmidt feels there will always be a place for the small market. He feels the stores like his are more than just a place to buy the family’s needs and wants. ‘Besides waiting on customers, we take a little time out to talk about the latest things. You can call it gossip if you like, but we got to know all of our customers very well,’Schmidt said.

“There are still 15-20 customers that have patronized the store since it first started in 1938. The store, complete with pine wood floors, have supported the business which has seen grocery items pass along the way and become extinct. Things like coffee which was hand ground when purchased and glass barrels with pickles floating in its own brine.

“Schmidt’s Market used to make deliveries with groceries during the earlier years. The store still does on a much smaller basis.

“’We really got to know people in this business and people got to know us pretty good too,’ Schmidt said. ‘That’s one of the things I dislike about the big supermarkets. Everything’s so fast and rushed that no one gets to know anybody else.’

Next week, Schmidt will hang up his apron, ring out the cash register and take home the original chopping block that his father bought for the store 36 years ago.

“’We’ll miss the people and the business and the many good times we had here,’ Schmidt said.

“Downtown O’Fallon will miss Schmidt’s Market, too.”

(The building was torn down in 1982, and the lot is now used for parking next to the Masonic Lodge. For a time, the market was an IGA store.)

Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75 years ago:

125 years ago, July 14, 1899

“The Great Western Theatre Co. in their private car “Geyer” arrived Thursday over the L. & N. (railroad) expecting to give us a two nights engagement and then transfer to the B. & O. but found that the car could not be handled on the mill turn-table it being about 20 ft. too long.

“This has necessitated a change of plans and the Co. has arranged to give us three of their excellent performances at Wachter’s Hall (226 West State) commencing Monday July 17 with that beautiful drama in five acts entitled Davy Crockett, the backwoods hero of Kentucky. The Co. consists of 10 people.

“The prices are placed at 10, 20 and 30 cents with a ladies Free Night, Monday night. Two ladies or one lady and gent admitted on one paid ticket. The Co. guarantees satisfaction or money positively refunded.”

100 years ago, July 10, 1924

“Not a single accident resulting from the Fourth of July was reported in O’Fallon this year although the observance was more noisy than in past years.

“This indicates that while the citizens maintain the same principle of celebrating they are becoming more cautious in the practice of ‘safety first.’

“The Fourth this year came in with the banging of firecrackers and toy torpedoes of every description, simmering down to an occasional “bang” in the afternoon. By night the bombarding broke out anew and the crashing of firecrackers and their noise producers was heard in every part of the city.

“At night multi-colored lights illuminated the sky and Roman candles made their appearance, rockets, like miniature comets, climbed into the sky, leaving a trail of sparks as they shot through the air. The display of pyrotechnics began to cease shortly after 10 o’clock and aside from the occasional “bang” of a cracker the city began to settle into the usual quietude.

“No public celebration was planned with the exception of the firemen’s picnic and dance in the evening, which as usual, was largely attended. Other methods of celebrating the day were house parties and the entertaining of visitors from other cities where a three-day holiday was in vogue.”

75 years ago, July 14, 1949

“Arthur J. Huller, newly-appointed dealership for Ford Motor cars and parts, announces the formal opening of the agency at 615 South Lincoln Avenue, Saturday.

“The public is invited to visit the salesroom and inspect the new Ford cars and trucks and register for awards to be made every hour.

“Arthur Huller will personally manage the new agency. M. K. Schwarz has accepted a position as salesman for Ford products. The other personnel is comprised of David Obernuefemann, mechanic; Lloyd Perschbacher, service station attendant and Betty Huller, bookkeeper and cashier.”