Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, May 10, 1923 -- IS BUILDING STORE -- Work was started last week on the erection of a new store building to be used by Jung's Cash Grocery, at the corner of West Henry and South Hibbard Streets. Mr. Jung purchased this piece of ground some time ago with the intention of using it for this purpose and will also erect a modern seven room residence just north of the store building. The building to be occupied by the store will front on Henry street and will be 48 feet by 52 feet. Both buildings will be thoroughly modern and the store will have large display windows so that merchandise may be attractively displayed. The erection of these new structures will greatly improve the appearance of that part of town and will give Mr. Jung much better facilities for the operation of his rapidly growing business. Mr. Jung was the first merchant in Staunton to operate a grocery business on a cash basis and stick to it and the great success he has had is proof that it can be done if properly conducted.

Incidentally, Mr. Jung thru all the years of his operation as a cash grocer has never permitted an issue of the Star-Times to appear without his ad in it. While we do not claim that his success has been due entirely to his advertising, we do feel that It has been of material assistance. Gus has a keen concept of the value of printers' ink—that's why he has been able to take charge of an obscure little store in the outskirts of the city and make it a by-word in almost every household for miles around.

FEDERAL OFFICERS AFTER WHITE MULE -- "Mop-up Squad" Puts in Several Days of Staging Raids in Macoupin County -- "The State of Macoupin" was the scene of a number of raids made during the past week by the "mop-up squad" from the Springfield federal office. The officers confined their efforts almost entirely to Macoupin county, making raids at Benld, Sawyerville, and also slipping over the Madison county line to Livingston where they made two raids. The men were in this vicinity for two days and searched ten establishments for illicit liquor. Most of the places visited were in Benld, while in Staunton the soft drink bar of Mary Savalic and the Wabash hotel came under the scrutiny of the officers.

When the officers arrived at the place of Mary Shirebo at Sawyerville they found a truck unloading five cases of alleged beer and the truck was confiscated. The dry law enforcement crew secured a considerable quantity of evidence and loaded all this on the confiscated truck to be taken to Springfield. They left the truck stand at the rear of the Gillespie police station Wednesday night, in care of the chief of police of that city, and the next morning it was found that most of the electrical equipment, Including the battery had been stolen.

Officers state that Macoupin county has an unusually large number of "stills" and that this territory manufactures most of the moonshine whisky which is sold on the St. Louis, Decatur and Springfield markets.

The officials stated that they are working in close co-operation with the sheriff's office and that they hope to clean up the illicit traffic in booze and make the state of Macoupin as dry as the Sahara.

THE STAUNTON OF 43 YEARS AGO -- Old Copy of the "Times" Submitted to us by Local Resident -- The editor of the Star-Times last week had submitted to him for perusal an old copy of "The Staunton Times" dated Saturday, August 14, 1880. The paper consisted of four pages and the name of W. T. Bentley, a brother of Mrs. John Lancaster of our city, appears at the masthead as editor and publisher.

There is quite a contrast between the paper which today serves this community and the one of almost forty-three years ago. In the days gone by practically all of the space in the news columns was given oyer to the discussion of matters of national interest and to comment on current events. From an item appearing in that issue we note that a new school house is to be built and it was apparently attended with as much difficulty as is the case when the subject is broached in this day and age.

Among the advertisers we find several from Mt. Olive, while among the local business houses represented with announcements soliciting patronage are: Wm. Conrad, dry goods and shoes; C. F. Fritz, harness shop; Mrs. Katharina Schnaare, milliner; Miss Emma Weber, milliner; Fritz & Voge, dry goods and general merchandise; H. Smith, harness shop; H. Brass, City Bakery; J. Coerver's Photograph Gallery; Adam Schoen, hardware; D.R. Swenker, dry goods; Staunton Meat Market, Henry Miller, prop.; O. Harmening, blacksmithing, horseshoeing and wagon shop; Jacob Moehrman, furniture and undertaking; Henry Luebbe's boarding house; Royal Gem Mills; Hieronymus & Niedermeier, blacksmiths and wagon makers. Only two secret orders carried announcements, the Masons and Odd Fellows. F.M. Davis was Worshipful Master and C.W. Jageman Secretary for the Masons and E. Weis, Noble Grand, and C. Godfrey, Secretary, for the Odd Fellows.

The paper is interesting and affords an excellent picture of the Staunton of many years ago and we are greatly indebted to Mrs. Lancaster for the privilege of examining this copy of "The Times."

ARRESTED ON CONCEALED WEAPON CHARGE -- Steve Popovich on Saturday evening at about 10:30 o'clock was arrested on a charge of carrying concealed weapons. The case came up for trial Monday morning before Justice of the Peace J. W. P. Kerr and from the evidence introduced it was shown that Popovich fired several shots.

He stated that he did this to scare away prowlers who a neighbor thought were trying to enter his home. The Jury found Popovich guilty of violating a city ordinance and assessed a fine. Popovich took an appeal and the case will now be tried in the county court. In the meantime he is at liberty on a $100 bond.

NEW STEEL TRAINS -- The Wabash railroad since last week has in service a large amount of all-steel equipment on its through trains. The new equipment consists of chair cars, coaches, dining cars and club cars and is said to be a great improvement over the equipment heretofore used. In addition to the passenger cars the Wabash also has bought a large number of all-steel freight oars.