Chapter 11  (1981-1990)

All religions around the World have been praying since WWII for the conversion of Russia from Communism. With present developments, it appears that our prayers have been answered. I believe Presidents Reagan and Bush are responsible for this wonderful accomplishment but the American people are fickle, or better yet, forgetful. President Bush "hasn't done anything lately".

Today is August 1, 1992 and I am still a "Bush Man".

Their son, Carl Officer, was elected Mayor for three terms largely due to their popularity. Carl got carried away with all the fanfare and media attention. He is an intelligent man and meant. well for the city, but his friends took advantage of him and the city. I believe that he left the office a much smarter man than when he went into the Mayor's office. I told him when he was first elected that he had a tremendous opportunity to do good for East St. Louis. He told me that this was his intention. Another fact about Carl Officer is that I don't remember that anyone accused him of benefiting finacially. Mismanagement by friends - Yes! Personally- No!

At the new location (10th & State Sts.) there was a large cave under the old Heim's Brewery. The old Frank Hauss Family had the original blueprints. Frank Hauss had three children Frank Jr. (Bud), Jordan, and Rosie (Hauss) Kling. Lee Kling, the son-in-law was Democratic National Chairman and the head of the Landmark Bank chain which recently sold out to Magna Bank.

Anyway, Russ and his wife have no children but they enjoy farms and horses. He talked about the "326 Club" and the "City Club" which became the "Illinois Club". Russ was a great friend of Lee Crank and they spent many enjoyable hours at our Bush's Steak House planning new and exciting things for downtown East St. Louis.

On May 25, 1975, the journal had a picture of the Sears Store with the story " East St. Louis Sears Store rose and fell with the City".

On Friday, July 31, I ran into several people at Brother Jack's: Rim SAUGET, the developer; MRS. FRANCIS (DAHM) WALSH and MAXINE THOMAS who both came in from the Beauty Shop and both looked great.

TONY GOETZ who lived in the Apex Tavern Building at 15th Street and Lynch Avenue was there. Tony and ALEC GERGZITIS were great friends for many years. Tony is a regular at Jack's. I saw CHARLIE AND MARY KAY BEYERSDORFER who had several bakeries. One on Caseyville Avenue at 37th Street in East St. Louis and later in Fairview Heights.

Also ran into "Coach" JOHN J. O'BRIEN who retired in June of 1990 as Principal of Althoff Catholic High School. He served seventeen years as principal. BISHOP JAMES P. KELEHER praised John for his dedication to the school system over the past 37 years.

BORIS JOHNOFF of the former "Embers" in St. Louis, and the former Holiday Inn in East St. Louis has retired from the Drury Inn organization and he and his wife "Nicky" (Nichols) are living in Columbia, MO.

BEVERLY SWEENEY of Little Rock, Arkansas wrote that she has two aunts living here. One aunt, JULIA BUTCHER, in Belleville and the other GLADYS GOWAN in East St. Louis.

J. B. SCHWABE of Cottage Hills, IL was assistant manager at Woolworth's back in 1939. "We found the people to be polite and accommodating. It was a safe and comfortable place for us to live, and entirely for people like us of limited income. We had no bad experiences while living there and work was plentiful".

MRS. FRANCES M. SPRICK of Green Valley, Arizona wrote that her husband, Louis, died in 1977. She was a nurse and has had a pacemaker for 20 years. She graduated from East Side High (1941) and Christian Welfare School of Nursing (1947). Then she and a friend were accepted for a year of Post Graduate study in New York City. She worked for DR. W. SCRIVNER, DR. L. A. RYAN, DR. WATERS AND DR. WEATHERS. Both of the latter were black and they did the first heart muscle repair surgery in the area. "East St. Louis High School was the equivalent to Junior Colleges now".

BETTY (FISHER) DOMESICIK of Collinsville, IL writes that the schools and teachers (1940) were excellent. "it was a safe city to live in (even in night time)". "I remember the Playdium, the Terrace, and Bush's Steak House which was run by Jack and Ed English and had good food".

MRS. ELIZABETH (GROMMET) BYINGTON of Sunrise Beach, MO writes that she had an Aunt Virginia (Thoene) Winstanley, who donated the land for St. Teresa's Academy.

Mrs. Byington attended the Winstanley Avenue Baptist Church and lived on Winstanley Avenue at the L & N railroad crossing. "All in all, it was a fine city and one I have never denied. East St. Louis had much patriotism". Her father opened Thoene's Department Store in 1904 at Collinsville and Illinois Avenues. Her grandfather owned Heim's Brewery at 10th & State Streets

"After dark, we would make light houses out of shoe boxes, cut designs in them, cover with colored paper and put a candle inside. Then, put string on and pull by neighbors' houses who were clapping for the winners. (What a "Hometown)".

MRS. WILLIAM CONNORS of St. Louis, MO wrote that she went to Alta Sita and St. Regis Schools and then to St. Theresa's Academy in 1941 and was one of ten children. One brother was an electric meter reader and another brother was a mailman. She is working on a family history and will send me a copy.

WANDA (CICHOCKI) KUEHL of St. Louis, MO remembers East St. Louis with very fond memories. She and her husband run a Security Company NO Digital Electronics). She went to St. Joseph's Grade School and East Side High School. The East St. Louis Library was near the High School and was one of her favorite places. She writes that State Theater had a continuing serial on Buck Rogers and the 20th Century. She also mentions State Park where she was able to board her horse and enjoy, riding. All five of her children were born at Christian Welfare

GLADYS GOIN of Carbondale, IL writes a newsletter for her nursing home and is quite a joke teller. She sent me a newsletter and she is very clever.

RITA MAE (HOUSER) KOHLER of St. Louis was a 1939 graduate of St. Theresa's Academy and attended their 50th reunion. She was a good friend of my late sister-in-law, NORMA JEAN (BURNWORTH) ENGLISH. We had excellent educations and "You only realize these values later in life. I remember how beautiful I felt St. Joseph's Church was; the Christmas Mass with the beautiful music and trumpets and singing was magnificent. When they sang "Holy God", the volume seemed to rock the Church.

GEORGE W. TRIPP of Emmons Title Co. of St. Charles, MO graduated in 1940 from East Side High School. He also wrote about the good schools and excellent education.

DOLLY (HOGGE) REDDEN of Rossville, IL wrote that her Uncle, ALVIN GEBHARD, was a Master Mechanic on the Illinois Central R.R. who sent her a four page letter which she transcribed. He gave Dolly and his daughter their "only" doll. His daughter's name was Lola Mae. Dolly winters in Sebring, Florida. Alvin, the Uncle, writes from Fayetteville, Arkansas, at Christmas of 1987:

Dolly added a postscript that the doll she received was "the only doll I ever received and she lies in the bottom of my cedar chest now."

Dolly enclosed a two page typewritten letter of her own. Space doesn't permit me to add, but hopefully another book will come. -Author.

MAYME "HOGGE" McCORMICK of O'Fallon, IL was one of ten children in Alta Sita across from Virginia Park.

They played "hide and seek" after dark and also roller skated without any fear. She played on the softball team at Clark Jr. High competing with teams from all over the city.

ELIZABETH C. RALEIGH of Belleville wrote that growing up in the 1930's as a kid, "I had so many fond memories". Her father worked at Armour's and he took her to the Stockyards. He built his own Bar-B-Que stand at 13th Street and Baugh Avenue and her mother had her own recipe for Bar-B-Que sauce. Elizabeth had iced soda in bottles (Ne-Hi) and got ice with her Uncle in his Model-T.

She learned to drive in Jones Park where she played a lot of tennis. She played bugle in the Rock Jr. High Drum & Bugle Corp and 1st clarinet in the East Side Band at East St. Louis football games. They had blue and orange uniforms and the instructor was Mr. Tillison with an assistant Carl.

She worked at Red Goose Shoe Store at 2800 State Street and "was as happy as a lark".

She was a member of the Winstanley Baptist Church and still attends the same Church in Fairview Heights. Her minister in East St. Louis was REV. LAMB and the deacons were R. J. Cox (R. J. Cox Monument Co.) and R. M. BAGWELL, a pattern worker. 'World War II split our group up with the young men going off to war, our happy groups were split up and everyone went his own way.

"I took your card to Sunday School Class meeting and several will be writing you as they took your name and address". (Thanks for a beautiful letter - Author).

ORILLA HELFRICH (BRENDEL) of Smithton, IL wrote that she lived at 18th Street and Baugh Avenue and 8th Street and Ohio Avenue. She went to Jones Park to swim and -rode a bicycle to the roller rink at 20th & State Streets. She spent a lot of time at the Knights of Columbus Building where her cousin's (HINIE ZITTEL AND ELEANORE GRAY) had their wedding reception. She was in the Drum & Bugle Corps and the advanced chorus at East Side. "East St. Louis was a wonderful town - No crime or locks". She was raised by her Grandmother "with no automobiles either walk or bicycle".

ROBERT DOUSSARD of Belleville, IL writes that he remembers the Majestic Theater with their bank-nites and free dishes to the ladies. He recalled that the Esquire and Roxy Theaters were owned by STATE SENATOR LOU MENGES, the Waverly Theater (40th & Waverly) was managed by CHARLIE BURNS, the Home Theater at 17th & Gaty was owned by BOB DAVIS and the Playdium by JOHNNY PERKINS.

JULIAN J. ALTROGGE AND DIANE WALSH sent in their recollections of old East St. Louis. Diane resides in Belleville and is a member of the St. Clair County Historical Society. She wrote a nice letter and passed along an interesting letter from her cousin, Julian J. Altrogge of Indiana, PA. Julian's Mom was a cousin of FLORENCE AND MARGARET HUSCHLE who lived at 1720 State Street.

Julian's dad worked at Liebschitz Jewelry (later Altrogge's Jewelry). He remembers a strange big man bet $100 against a ring that he could lift an automobile. The big man lifted the car and won. He recalls Pittsburgh Lake when it was across from Aluminum Ore Co., and the Vitaphone system which was used to make the first talking movie. He saw Marlene Dietrich (who just passed away) in "Blue Moon".

His dad's cars were a Chrysler touring car with "isinglass" flaps, a Maxwell, and Essex and a Rickenbacher. His neighbor owned a "Moon Jewett".

He also remembers the J. S. steamer before the Admiral and St. Paul. His uncle, Hienie Poettgen lived on South 97th street in Belleville (behind my Real Estate office).

NELLIE AUGUSTINE FALKENHEIM of Highland, IL writes that she lived in East St. Louis for forty years and attended the First Presbyterian Church at 13th Street and Gaty Avenue. She had three daughters that got a good education at Monroe, Rock Jr. High and East Side High schools. She got a Masters Degree at Illinois U. and is owner of three Sylvan Centers. One daughter was secretary of National junior Achievement. She knew Al Fastabend at 14th and State Streets and later of 8315 State Street. She lived in the South End as a kid and got coal from the Railroad Yards to heat their home. In the 1930's her husband worked at Kratzmeyer & Rochelle's (16th & Illinois) and was cut to $14 per week for a sixty hour week working Fridays and Saturdays until 9 P.M. His job included dressing live chickens and turkeys. Her landlord was D. LEROY MORGAN who reduced the rent to $13 per month. She had cresoline or kerosene lamps and it cost five cents to walk across the Eads Bridge.

PAUL F. BROWN, M. D. of Maquoketa, Iowa was asked to give the main speech at his East St. Louis High School graduation (the 50th reunion was held in 1990). His letter is seven typewritten pages and I'll not try to paraphrase it. The letter is so good that I have decided to put it in completely.

Following is Dr. Smith's speech given to the people attending the 50th reunion of the East St. Louis High graduating class of 1940:

Click here to read Dr. Smith's nostalgic reunion speech

CHARLES SPICUZZA was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and a long-time Officer in the East St. Louis' Knights of Columbus. He was responsible for my selection as "senior Knights of Columbus" in August of 1992.

Thanks Charlie, and you too Clare, for your well-written letter. I wish I could have put your letter in its entirety because it was so interesting.

ROSE MANSFIELD of Belleville was the mother of five children. She was also a teacher and an author. She was, the editor of the St. Clair County Historical Society journal before she passed away several years ago.

Our daughters were schoolmates and friends. Rose. was a friendly and lovely lady.

HUNTLEY AND BLAMER was the fourth largest plastering contractor in the United States during the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's. There were two Blazier brothers and two Huntley brothers. TERRY BLAMER, the eldest, started the business with the Huntleys' father and became a giant company.

They were all good customers of Bush's Steak House and entertained lavishly in their fashionable homes here and in Florida.

Tom BLAMER AND HIS WIFE, NAN, are special friends of ours and we visit them in North Fort Myers, where they have a large recreational vehicle park. They are nice people.

BILL AND VERNA (NICHOLS) HORSTMAN are good friends of the Blaziers. Bill is retired as head of Central Trades.

Click here to see even more former East St. Louisans at Brother Jack's