The Way We Were

30 Years Ago

1990 – The Vandalia City Council voted to designate four parking spaces downtown for special uses – two for 15-minute limited parking in front of First Bank and First National Bank and two for disabled/handicapped parking.
Ramsey Lions Club members were planning their annual community sale.
The Rev. Edward Lucas of First Pentecostal Church was honored by his congregation for 25 years as a minister.

35 Years Ago

1985 – Only about 2,800 people turned out for Charlie Daniels Band concerts in Vandalia. There were 800 for Friday’s performance and 2,000 on Saturday.
Tom Dooley was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State Team and was chosen to play in the IBCA All-Star Game in Peoria in June.
DAR winners honored were Anita Masset of Ramsey, Paula Mattix of St. Elmo, Mike Ehrat of Vandalia, Lisa Fisher of Brownstown and Mary Blomberg of LaGrove.
Rich Walker received 1,021 votes to become mayor of Vandalia. He beat the incumbent, Neil Donnals (764), and Orville “Sug” Schukar (536). Norma Cearlock unseated Rose Ann Mull as city clerk. Jerry Swarm, Von Duggins, Darryl Tjaden, Gary Blurton, Norman Lankow and Ed Themig won the aldermanic races.
Clifford Motley beat out three other candidates for village president of Brownstown. Ardin Brandt beat Kevin Borchelt in the race for St. Peter Village president.
Liquor referenda failed in St. Elmo and Farina.
Brownstown voters approved the formation of the Greater Brownstown Park District by 10 votes.
Democrat Melvin Bone defeated Gene Daniels by 24 votes for Vandalia Township Supervisor, but Republican Gerald Woolsey beat Joan Shafer in the clerk’s race. Democrat Helen Culbertson was elected assessor, and Democrat Lloyd Donaldson beat two other candidates in the race for highway commissioner.

45 Years Ago

1975 – In his visit to Vandalia, Gov. Dan Walker appealed for support in his acceleration of the fund for the structural changes at the Old State Capitol.
All Fayette County communities were represented at the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development commission meeting held in Vandalia Monday night. Speaker for the event was Congressman Paul Simon.
Rich Rames headed Vandalia Community High School’s tennis team.
Joe Jones of Mt. Prospect, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones, received his master’s degree in chemistry from Illinois State University, Monday. The De Soto Inc. of Des Plaines employed Joe.
Patsy Schwarm of Loogootee, a teacher in the Highland schools, was name Outstanding Young Teacher.
The banks were encouraging people to borrow money – the people were told that bank’s money was a great buy. They wanted to help people change things for the better. For sound financing, people could use a land bank loan for any long term needed.

55 Years Ago

1965 – Of the 12 team captains for an attendance contest at First Methodist Church, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Cearlock had the most points.
John Palecek was elected as vice chairman of the Kickapoo District, Boy Scouts of America.
Venice Village Pizza House No. 3, corner of South Fifth and Johnson, provided carry-out service.
The Vandalia Fire Department planned an open house at the new fire station on Sunday.
Moritz Inc. of Effingham was awarded the contract for two bridges over Hurricane Creek.

65 Years Ago

1955 – Saturday morning, a big snow fell and the thermometer dropped to 6 above.
Vandalia Grade School Band soloists walked off with 13 superiors; 15 first and three seconds at the annual music contest held in Altamont on Friday and Saturday. The band was rated first superior. Lloyd Higgerson was director.
Hurricane farmers claimed that 27 sheep had been killed by dogs and asked for $480 from the county in settlement for same.
A new, 25-foot neon at First National Bank gave the time and the temperature.
Among those awarded caps at Springfield Nursing School were Phyllis Engeljohn and Joyce Nowlin.
Cameo Club planned to send Nancy Nutter, an eighth-grader, and Jeanna Rose Porter, a sophomore, to Egyptian Music Camp and to summer art camp at Monticello, Linda Mabry and Shelly Yarbrough.

75 Years Ago

1945 – The Lions and Rotary clubs were to have sponsored an athletic banquet April 10 honoring the VCHS basketball team in the Methodist Church basement.
Wounded in action – Pfc. C.E. Elam, Mulberry Grove; Cpl. Robert Stevenson, Vandalia.
The last seven words of Christ of the Cross were used as the themes of talks made by the Rev. J. H. Reeter, the Rev. H.A. Van Horn, the Rev. Cecil Smith and the Rev. J. Paul Carleton for the Good Friday service.
Union School led in school bond sales by more than meeting their quota of $3,375. The student council headed the VCHS drive.
The local Lions Club and ladies were invited to attend the Ramsey Club’s anniversary April 17.

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1974 – County DAR winners were: Nancy Stine, Brownstown; Ruth Etta Mills, St. Elmo; Carol Ann Kruenegel, Vandalia; and Theresa Travis, LaGrove.
Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Isbell were delighted to have all seven of their children home for Christmas.
Leora Sluder and Larry Coughlin, representing the Boosters Club, presented St. Elmo Board of Education with a check for $250, final payment on a whirlpool bath.
Eight evenly matched teams competed in Vandalia’s Holiday Tournament: Dieterich, LaGrove, Nokomis, Oblong, Vandalia, Gillespie and Casey.
50 Years Ago
1964 – Carl A. Janett of Belleville, and Frank A. Reed of Clinton were presented their 50-year membership cards by Worshipful Master Morris Beabout on Monday night at Temperance Lodge No. 16 A.F. & A.M., Vandalia.
Since the city council adopted a housing project, 50 units were anticipated.
Temperatures for the week ranged from a low of 30 degrees to a high of 53 degrees – unusual for Christmas week.
Bertram Foehley was named director of Civil Defense work in Vandalia.
Fayette County Hospital received three-year accreditation.
National honors came to Crane Packing Co. of Morton Grove and Vandalia when the firm received the John C. Caaler award for its major contribution toward more efficient and effective operation of plants in the chemical processing industries.
Vandalia was included in the communities judged to have top-rated voluntary vehicle safety check programs throughout Illinois 1964. William Brown and Mayor Michel received the plaques on behalf of sponsoring Vandalia Lions Club and the city, respectively.
Mr. and Mrs. Neil Donnals entertained at a family Christmas dinner in their new home on Sunday.
60 Years Ago
1954 – Sherrill Blankenship of St. Elmo received the tractor given away by Brown Implement of Brownstown on Saturday.
Queen of 1954 Princess Peggy Christmas party was little Sidney Burgess, in the absence of her mother, who was accorded that title by fellow employees. Tillie Nimmo was retiring queen.
Gene Boley was re-elected president of Fayette County Fair Board.
The Vandalia Historical Society honored descendants of Old Capitol Day at a tea in the Blue Room at Evans Hotel, Dec. 19.
The John U. Metzger Home was awarded first place in the Christmas Home Lighting Contest.
Phil Craycroft and Harold Hartwick were injured fighting a fire.
Bertha Peterson retired after 17 years with Illinois Public Aid Commission.
Homer Britton, head of the shipping department at Princess Peggy, turned over a large box of toys to Glen Scholes, commander of American Legion’s distribution to needy families for Christmas.
The Rev. William Henderson, pastor of Vandalia First Methodist Church, christened DeWayne Walton on Christmas Sunday.

70 Years Ago
1944 – Fayette County was $125,000 short of its E bond quota of $403,000. The school children solicited from house to house.
A furnace explosion caused nearly $2,000 worth of damage to the Dick McWhirter residence and contents on North Fourth Street on Thursday night.
Vandalia won 48-21 over Litchfield; Cisne beat Farina, 37-27; Champaign defeated Vandalia, 45-33; and Vandalia defeated Collinsville, 46-47.
The following organizations celebrated Christmas with parties this week: Friendly Circle Club, Court House Girls, T.E.L. Class, Silver Star Class, Lions Club, Bonsoir Club, B.T.U. Class, Dorcas Class, Parish Daughters, Methodist Choir, B.W.C., Kalupian Class, Mission Study Circle and Woman’s Bible Class.
The Vandalia’s Women’s Club sponsored a Christmas party and buffet turkey dinner at Evans Youth Center for husbands or friends as quests.