Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, March 27, 1975 -- DIPPING INTO OLD MAN MOSES' BUCKET -- In a previous article, I mentioned the early settling of the Staunton area, as recorded in some of the published histories of Macoupin County.

It seems that the families who came to this area were concerned with the Three Rs – reading, riting and rithmatic.

Among the first school teachers were William Wilcox. Roger Snell, Tristian and Archibald Hoxsey.

Inasmuch as most of the early settlers acquired land on which they grew crops, the need for a placea to grind their grain was imperative, and early millers were Richard Chapman, John Wood and Stephen Wilcox.

In 1831 Stephen Hicks opened a store in what is now Staunton, and in 1834 John Cormack opened another general store. In 1835 David Hendershot laid out lots in what is now the center of Staunton, and the settlement was called Centerville, but later changed to Stanton, and then to the present name of Staunton. However, the village was not incorporated until 1859.

Although the settlement grew, there was no railroad, and the nearest source of goods and supplies were hauled overland from Edwardsville. Mail service was from Bunker Hill, carried on an overland stage. It was in 1871 that a railroad was completed, known as the Decatur & East St. Louis Railroad, later as the Wabash.

It was after the railroad was completed that the village grew, and several larger mills were built, the largest and most prominent being the Royal Gem Mill, located on East Main Street, which produced the Jack Frost Flour, which won a gold medal at an exposition in Paris, France, in 1877. A disastrous explosion forced this mill to be abandoned. However, part of the mill buildings still stands, and has been remodeled by Tom Kolkovich for his TK Garage.

The Staunton area was underlaid with abundant veins of coal, and in 1870 Henry Voge sank a mine a short distance west of the present city limits of Staunton, called the Gin Shaft, employing only a few men, and supplied the needs of the immediate area.

In the early 1870s after the railroad had been completed, Henry Voge and William Panhorst sank a mine near the tracks on East Main Street, later known as No. 5 mine.

Shortly afterward No. 6 mine was sunk south of Staunton, and in the early 1900s shafts employed many men.

However, the mines suspended operation after years of activity, the last to close being No. 2 mine, which suspended operations in 1957.

I hope to be able to continue with the growth of Staunton in future comments on Staunton and excerpts of its industrial history.

Vacation Trip -- On March 26 eight Worden high school students and their teacher will leave for a weeks vacation in Munich, Germany. Those making the trip are seniors Rita Ashauer, Debbie Emrich, Kim Weishaupt; juniors Becky Ludwig, Debbie Stille, Bob Vazzi; sophomore Jeni Heinemeier; freshman Andy Schneider and their teacher Mrs. Melba Dagy.

They will fly from Lambert Airport to O'Hare International where they will board a Pan Am 747 which will take them directly to Munich. Munich will be their home base from which they plan to take several short trips to the surrounding areas of Austria, Switzerland and possibly Italy.

Thursday, April 3, 1975 -- COMMUNITY MEMORIAL MOVED TO NEW BUILDING -- Staunton Community Memorial Hospital opened the doors to its new building Monday morning. The move to the new facility actually began last Thursday afternoon when the X-ray department transferred its equipment to augment its new wing in the new hospital.

On Friday evening, volunteers mainly composed of the newly formed group, the Staunton Emergency Preparedness Squad, headed by James Harmer, director of Civil Defense, in a few hours time, completely transferred all the kitchen equipment from the old building to the kitchen and cafeteria of the new hospital.

The volunteer group was formed last week when Mayor Russell Masinelli signed an ordinance establishing the unit. They are to be commended for doing a fine, difficult job in a short period of time under adverse weather conditions. Also assisting in the move was the ambulance services in our area. Concerned citizens also donated their time.

On Monday morning hospital personnel, both those on scheduled duty and many contributing their days off in a giant effort, smoothly moved all patients and equipment to their new accommodations.

Their magnificent effort was highly praised by the hospital administrator, Mr. George Schneider, as far above the call of duty.

Citizens of the area, our new hospital has truly become a reality and is now operational. Our fine efforts have finally been realized. We have a hospital to be proud of and it is you who have made it possible.