Home economics was a vital part of the high school curriculum a century ago

A century ago, the curriculum at O’Fallon Township High School was very different from what it is today.

During the 1920-1921 school year, one difference was the Home Economics Department under the supervision of Sylvia Neuling who was also the sole teacher. Two “selective” courses were offered: sewing and cooking, each in their own room.

Here’s a description of that department, quoted from the 1921 OTHS yearbook.

“Home Economics was introduced into the O.T.H.S. in the year 1919-1920.

“Since then its work has been an important factor in the H.S. curriculum. Some of the interesting topics studied are foods – their production, sanitation, cost, nutritive value, preparation and serving – these followed by a study of the household budget and accounts, methods of buying and laundering, also a study of textiles, sewing, costume design and dressmaking.

“The efficient homemaker must be skillful in all of these arts. She must understand the selection and preparation of food, she must know how to buy and repair clothing. The health of her family, the standard of living in the home are all among her responsibilities.

“The need for home economics may be seen in the small percentage of the women managing the twenty million homes in the U.S. who have had training for homemaking. More than half of the fifty million girls and women reported by the census of 1920 are over twenty years of age; 80 percent of these are married, and it is safe to assume that as large a proportion will marry.

“The chief occupation of these girls will be homemaking and it is wise to teach the fundamentals of homemaking to all since there are few women, whether in business or at home, who do not have some share in home duties.

“Home training is no longer a sufficient education for homemaking. In many homes there is a lack of interest or time on the part of the mother or daughter, and the changing conditions of homes do not offer the old time standards and opportunities for homemaking; these things together with the fact that a large number of girls are employed and have no home advantages emphasize the need for home economics courses in school.

“Changing conditions in living have done away with the passing down from mother to daughter many of the household traditions, and this instruction must be supplied in the school. Homemaking education should be available to every girl.”

75 years ago, Sept. 16, 1948

A new rural fire protection district, created by a favorable vote at a special election last May and approved by County Judge C.C. Dreman, has been established with the naming of three trustees.

The new organization will be known as the O’Fallon-Caseyville and Shiloh Valley Fire Protection District, operating for greater protection to the rural areas covering portions of the three townships.

It is to be served with the fire equipment of the city of O’Fallon and members of the local department. Trustees named for the new organization are Irvin Hartman, of Petersburg, for O’Fallon township (3-year term); Walter Seibert for Shiloh Valley township (2-year term), and Ray Wiemann for Caseyville township (1-year term).

The trustees organized by electing Hartman, president, and Walter Seibert, secretary.

At a meeting held in City Hall Thursday night the trustees passed a $3,000 tax levy resolution.

Several residents of east O’Fallon Township attended the session with the request that consideration of annexing their areas to O’Fallon be considered, since they live nearer this city than Lebanon which serves them now.

Until next May the organization will operate by giving the affected areas fire protection with the city’s equipment and firemen at $10 a run for use of the equipment and $2 for each fireman for the first hour and $1 for every additional hour.

City officials and firemen are in the hopes that new firefighting equipment will be possible by next May to better serve the affected rural areas which comprise the territory of north of O’Fallon to the Madison County line; one mile east of the city limits; south to the Southern Railroad right-of-way and west to Becherer Cross Roads.

50 years ago. Sept. 13, 1973

The front wall of the Midway Tavern building at First and Lincoln, one of O’Fallon’s oldest business buildings, collapsed late Sunday afternoon.

Five customers and a bartender, inside at the time, left through the rear door when the brick wall crumbled and no one was injured.

The building is owned by Joe Vaughn, operator of a job printing shop just east of the tavern building. The tavern was operated by Don and Mona Hancock.

An inspection of the property by city employees indicated the remaining structure was unsafe and will probably be razed. However, a study will also be made to determine if the ground floor could be rebuilt and utilized.

It appeared unlikely that the shops along Lincoln were in danger.

These include Mrs. Jane Lee Barrows’ women’s wear shop and the Spice Pantry. Doris Votrain, serving as bartender Sunday, said she looked toward the front of the building Sunday afternoon and saw the front window bulge outward and some bricks shower down.

She shouted a warning to the customers, and they went out a rear door. Almost immediately, she said, the wall crumbled to the ground.

Vaughn said he and Hancock were on the sidewalk cleaning up some bricks that had fallen from the northwest corner of the building earlier. Vaughn had a shovel and wheelbarrow. He said he saw the window buckle and he, Hancock, and an unidentified bystander ran for safety.

The collapse came immediately afterward.

Vaughn said he believes he will have to raze the building. One problem is a common wall between the tavern and the print shop. Demolishing the building will have to be done carefully to prevent damage to the print shop.

The area was roped off immediately Sunday.

A crowd of perhaps 500 persons was on hand at one time Sunday night.

The building had been at times a clothing store and a tavern. It was used as a tavern by Jerry Mackin some 70 years ago.

There are two floors of living rooms above the tavern but were not rented out at the time of the collapse.

Vaughn said he noticed a crack in the corner of the building and had been trying to get a contractor to make repairs.