USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Columbia > History of Columbia and Columbia precinct, Monroe County, Illinois, 1859-1959 and centennial celebration, Columbia, Illinois, July 3-4-5, 1959 > Part 3
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July 1891 the town gave the G. A. R. Post 8 pounds of gun powder and the use of the cannon for the Fourth of July celebration. The Turners invited the Town Board to participate in their Fourth of July celebration. The Town Board accepted and hired a rig from A. F. Weinel so they could ride in the parade. This year the town park was opened to the public, the town to build twelve new bench- es. The park was where part of the City Hall now stands.
In 1891 the town was back to road building, for they hired Urmey and Morgan to assist in staking out grades and repairing Cherry street. They were to fill and raise the bridge on Cherry street below Turner Hall. Dr. Wil- liam Rose sold the ground for the fill for $100.00.
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The Joshua Wilson House now 140 years old, owned and occupied by Miss Josephine Burroughs.
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The John and Philip Peter Gundlach house bullt in 1856-1857 as a two family residence. Purchased by Ernst Gross and lately by Paul Heisler by whom it Is now occupied.
These two houses represent two cultures-the English manor house and the sophisticated German residence.
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IMPROVEMENTS
Now more stirring of interest in improvements is evi- dent. A committee was sent to Waterloo to inspect their light plant. The committee consisted of J. A. Breidecker, H. C. Schneider and Henry J. Kunz, Sr. In December the town board wrote to a Mr. Murdack of St. Louis requesting information about incandescent lighting.
There was a robbery at the Catholic Church early in December of 1891. Thieves entered the church and stole sacred vessels from the altar. At the December meeting of the town board a reward of $200 was offered "for the capture and conviction of any burglar, dead or alive, of burglary committed within the corporate limits of Colum- bia." They moved to assist trustees of the Catholic church to hire a detective (paying half the cost) to as- sist in the capture of the burglar. Two night watchmen were hired at $1.00 a night, George Bauer and Conrad Steffenauer, who were to be on duty from 9 p. m. to 6 a. m. The Masonic Hall was the dividing line of their beat. The burglar was never caught but the missing articles were found many years later, having been buried under a tree near town.
In August of 1891 the Bell Telephone Co. sought a franchise to operate a telephone business in Columbia. There is no record of any action on the matter. But in 1895 the town bought two telephones, one for the depot and one for the power house. In 1896 Dr. M. G. Nixon and Adolph Lambrecht asked permission for the Missouri Telephone Mfg. Co. of St. Louis to run a telephone cable through the streets of Columbia, subject to many condi- tions. Permission was granted.
On December 27, 1891 they passed an ordinance to create a light plant, contracting with Murdack for the construction of same. The name was to be the Columbia Electric Light and Power Company. The matter hung in fire until June of 1892 when the Board informed Murdack that if the light plant was not in operation by July 1, 1892, the contract would be null and void. In December the contract was voided.
Still seeking to modernize Columbia, on July 20. 1892 at a special meeting with President Henry J. Kunz, Sr., presiding, Joseph M. Arnin and Charles Pepperni were commissioned to go to St. Louis to find out how to organ- ize and finance an electric light plant. Another special meeting was called for September 5. It was proposed that the town of Columbia purchase electrical energy from a company to be known as the Eagle Electric Company. A building was to be erected, machinery purchased and the town was to have 90 street lights of 32 candle power. The building erected was our old power house. Current was to be purchased from sunset to sunrise, the fran- chise to run for ten years, cost $1.50 a lamp. This was ap- proved October 3, 1892. Columbia purchased the stock. Henry Huch was president of the new company which operated until June of 1903 when the town offered to buy out the company for $2000. However, appraisers were ap- pointed, Arthur Huey, George W. Ziebold and F. W. Baltz. They appraised the holdings at $2750 and the offer was promptly accepted. A special election confirmed the judgment of the board to purchase the plant which was then operated by the town, until it was sold to the Illi- nois Power and Light Co. in 1923.
From 1895 to 1901 there was little of interest to record except the struggles of the trustees to get a satis- factory light plant.
October of 1901 saw a smallpox and diphtheria epi- demic, for a board of health was appointed to guard against smallpox and other contagious diseases. E. F. Schoening, Dr. Wm. Rose and Dr. M. G. Nixon were the committee appointed. It must have raged until spring for there were bills for George Wilson and Conrad Steffen- auer for guarding diphtheria cases and Mr. Wilson for at- tending smallpox cases. Mrs. Charles Schneider was paid for disinfecting "smallpox houses."
COLUMBIA BECOMES A VILLAGE
On September 7, 1903 a petition signed by 40 legal voters was presented to the board to submit the question to organize as a village under the general law. The elec- tion was held and on October 5, 1903 by a vote of For 53 Against 16, spoiled ballots 7. By this vote Columbia be- came a village.
The pace of Columbia's growth begins to accelerate. In 1904 Henry N. Kunz, son of former mayor Henry J. Kunz, Sr., was elected president of the board to succeed the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Warnock.
The new presiding officer was young and full of energy. He was a methodical business man and a farm land owner. One of his first official acts was to order the village attorney, A. C. Bollinger, to prepare one hundred copies of the revised ordinances of the village. It was ap- parent his administration would be a business adminis- tration. And well it might be, for there was a great need for improvements. Many of these were in a formative state. In previous administrations there was a quest to find a source of water that Columbia might have a municipal water plant of some sort. In 1901 legislation was passed in the village board to examine springs and make surveys from springs to town and make estimates of costs of waterworks. The town passed an ordinance allowing the Columbia Star Milling Company, owned by E. F. Schoening to test the town well at their own ex- pense and if sufficient water was found to reimburse the Mill for all expenses and permit them to use water for $1.00 per year, but with the town to take over the well. Louis Bendit asked to clean out and test the town well and was authorized to do so, but nothing came of it. The water problem, it seemed, could not be solved, so the new mayor turned his attention to other problems he felt he could solve.
Columbia, under President Kunz, showed increasing evidence of the changing times. He presented the 1904 appropriation ordinance for $5620 for streets and alleys; $1300 for lights; $2600 for contingent fund and $1300 for salaries.
He appointed Albert Lepp superintendent of the light plant, with Henry Frierdich engineer; Dan Eckert fire- man. Charles Morgan succeeded Frierdich as the engineer. Many improvements were made then, including adding of machinery, and supplying electrical energy three days a week.
In August of 1904, the city bought a strip of ground 35 feet wide and 77 feet easterly, to be used for street purposes to the new Mobile and Ohio station. Previously it had been located at Rick street near the Briegel resi- dence and then across the tracks from its present location. There was much passenger traffic then and seeing the trains come in and depart, especially on Sunday, was a favorite Columbia recreation, for many from St. Louis carre to spend their Sundays here.
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PHILIP SCHMIDT, BREWERY OWNER, RESIDENCE
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JOE SCHULER RESIDENCE
OTTO GASSER RESIDENCE
PHILIP SCHNEIDER RESIDENCE
NICOLAUS WILDE HOME
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CHAS. SCHNEIDER, SR. RESIDENCE
PHILIP SCHMIDT BEER CELLAR
PHILIP SCHMIDT
NICOLAUS WILDE
JOE SCHULER
The above pictures were procured from the Library of Congress at Washington, D. C. and are fine examples of the architecture introduced to Columbia by German settlers.
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WORLD'S FAIR 1904
In September 1904 the city officials, businessmen and citizens of Columbia decided to go to the World's Fair at St. Louis in a body.
On September 22, 1904 every business house and all the schools in town and in the neighborhood were closed and given a holiday at the World's Fair.
Among the enthusiastic workers were Mayor H. N. Kunz, John A. Pfeffer, E. F. Schoening, J. M. Arnin, O. M. Rendelman and Henry Reichenbach.
There was a special train of seven coaches, with streamers indicating that it was Columbia day. They had the Columbia Star Band to furnish the music. After their arrival at Union Station, the Shuttle Train had a special awaiting them to take them to the Fair Grounds. On their arrival, to the stirring music of the Columbia Star Band, they marched to the Illinois State Building. There an address of welcome was delivered by Commissioner C. J. Doyle and responded to by Honorable A. C. Bollinger and Mayor Henry N. Kunz. Then the crowd disbanded and spent the day seeing the sights.
From the St. Louis Republic under the head "Hail Columbia" in reference to Columbia Day we take the fol- lowing:
"Were a medal struck to celebrate the city, town or hamlet, which relatively, should make the best showing in attendance at the World's Fair, the honor would belong to the village of Columbia. Illinois.
This village could not send 400,000 people to the Ex- position in one day as St. Louis did, or 50,000 as Chicago will; but its record is glorious enough to make the bigger cities envious.
Columbia's record is so creditable to the Exposition and to St. Louis as well as to the people of Columbia, as to require special attention.
The village was represented one day at the Expo- sition by 1000 of its inhabitants, which means that only 300 remained at home, as the total population is 1300. This is a record which it would be almost impossible to beat. And it must be said that the honor for attendance belongs to Columbia."
A note of tragedy and sadness entered Columbia Day when John Novack fell off the train as it was returning to Columbia, in the tunnel, and was killed.
A newer form of transportation, the streetcar-ap- peared on the horizon. On October 1, 1906 by Ordinance No. 10, the East St. Louis, Columbia and Waterloo railway and its successors was granted permission to build, main- tain and operate a street railway.
In January of 1907, following the submission of a petition by William Hills and Fred and Philip Gummer- sheimer, officers of the Farmers Fountain Telephone Com- pany, said company was granted the right to operate on Columbia streets. The line finally began operation on August 7, 1912.
Employment was increasing in Columbia, the Colum- bia Quarry Company was operating two quarries and on a large scale; Dupo and Bixby had opened up as railroad centers for the Missouri-Pacific and allied lines. A news- paper had come in, The Columbia Star. Due to the en- couragement given by President Kunz and stories in the metropolitan press, that Columbia, almost to a man, had attended the St. Louis World's Fair on Columbia Day George W. Smith located here and established The Co- lumbia Star on May 7, 1906. He worked for many years in Chicago, and most of the large dailies in the country and then established a country newspaper in West Point, Iowa. Being originally from Waterloo from an old
German family, Columbia appealed to him. Editorially he supported every measure that was for the good of Colum- bia and was not averse to taking a very personal interest in any disputed matter. He was a fighting editor of the old school and was afraid of nothing. The Columbia Star was made the official newspaper of Columbia.
In March of 1907 a special meeting of the village board was held for the purpose of securing granitoid (or cement) sidewalks for Columbia. This was a great step forward, for the old plank walks had practically disinte- grated. The plan was for the city to pay half of the cost and the property owner the other half.
Not much time was wasted, for Farley and Company of Homer, Illinois got the contract. Good sidewalks they were, too, for most of them are still being used and are still in good condition.
Other new things became a part of the Columbia pic- ture for on June 1, 1908 Emil Pfeffer established the first movie house in Columbia in the old Harmacek building now operated as a tavern by Harry Kuehner. An ordin- ance provided that "a bona fide resident of Columbia, by paying a fee of $50 a year or $30 for six months could operate a movie show, mutascope or magic lantern show. Art Penn also conducted an airdrome at the Gundlach place.
Old things were passing away in Columbia, for in 1908 the A. F. Weinel Company discontinued their livery stable, so long a part of old Columbia.
Then in February of 1907 came a crisis. The village announced that it would be unable to furnish light unless a larger dynamo be installed. This was met by the order that no one be allowed to burn electric lights all night and other essential cutbacks. In April of that year E. L. Rauch was appointed superintendent of the light plant. a position he occupied for eighteen years. He introduced an era of economy and good business methods that put the light nlant on firm footing. By 1909 Columbia had full day current and on February 1, 1909 the tungsten system of street lighting was installed. The schedule of rates posted at that time is interesting.
1-4 lamps 16 candle power $1.50 per mo.
5-8 lamps 16 candle power $2.00 per mo.
9-12 lamps 16 candle power $2.50 per mo.
12-20 lamps 16 candle power $3.00 per mo.
For all over 20, 10c each additional light per mo. Saloons and R. R. Depots:
1-5 lamps 16 candle power .85 per mo.
6-8 lamps 16 candle power .75 per mo.
9-12 lamps 16 candle power .65 per mo. Stores:
1-5 lamps 16 candle power .60 per mo.
6-8 lamps 16 candle power .55 per mo.
9-12 lamps 16 candle power .50c per mo.
On March 2, 1908 the village finished paying of the Eagle Electric Company and finances began to get better.
There were a number of "thou shalt nots" intro- duced at this time such as, "Children are not allowed to fly kites in any street, avenue or public place, not to have a hand or a toy sled on the street, nor to obstruct or use sidewalks, footways, or thoroughfares within the village, by playing marbles, spinning tops, rolling hoops, playing ball or toss ball of any description." Violator's parents were to be fined $3 to $15.
Another ordinance provided "Anyone propelling an auto or conveyance propelled by steam, gas or electric, more than six miles per hour through the village was subject to a fine of $5 to $200 or confined in the county jail for not more than six months."
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October 1, 1906 a street railway ordinance was pub- lished in the Columbia Star authorizing the E. St. Louis and Columbin Ry. to operate on the streets of Columbia.
A curfew ordinance was passed keeping the children of Columbia off the streets after 7 p. m. in winter and S p. m. In summer. However, they continued to play "Lay Low, Sheep", the game of the time, until bedtime. Con :- pared to today it was certainly a harmless game, although at that time many complained of the noise.
Much was accomplished in the Kunz administration, particularly in paying up old debts and laying the founda- tion tor improvements Mayor Kunz knew were to come.
In 1909 H. N. Kunz, retiring president, presented the new president Fred G. Rapp with a bundle of work and trouble when he passed him and the new board cor- respondence regarding sewerage and waterworks for Co- lubla. Mr. Kunz knew that though the time was not yet ripe for them in his administration. Mr. Rapp would fall heir to them and he wished to help him all he could.
FRED G. RAPP NEW PRESIDENT VILLAGE BOARD
The new president of the board was a former school teacher. He was also a businessman conducting a large insurance agency, the Rapp Insurance Agency. He was a civie-minded man and loved Columbia with a rare fervor. He knew that Columbia had many civic problems to solve, but he was happ" to give of his time and talents to make Columbla a better place to live in.
Since his work involved much traveling he sold Co- lumbia to everyone who would listen to him. He coined the phrase "Columbia, the City of Gardens and Homes." It was largely, too, through him that Columbia became known as "Spotless Town."
He was a member of the board of the St. Louis Metro- politan Planning Commission, as was the former presi- dent, Henry N. Kunz and the present Mayor A. C. Metter.
Mr. Rapp's task as the presiding officer of an old, old, successively, village, town and city, was not an easy one. There were many problems, sometimes seemingly insur- mountable, but through it all he never lost interest, never grew discouraged. Nearing the end of his final term of office he announced he would not run again. But to the end of his term he was as interested as the day he 100k over the reins of government of his beloved city. Herewith, step by step, we give the record of his regime as compiled from the proceedings of the elty board.
Under the leadership of the new village board presi- dent In June of 1909 the search for water for a municipal plant in Columbia began In earnest. Sewerage, too, was on the agenda. In August of that year George Cadoogan Morgan was ordered to draw up plans for water and sewerage, and the search for water began.
Columbia had its first annual Clean-Up Day on Oeto- ber 14, 1910. This became an annual event and continued until Columbia employed a garbage man and a man to take away tin cans and other accumulated junk.
At the January 2d. 1911 meeting the board talked of buying ground for a light plant. On February 11 the same year the board was authorized to purchase ground adjoin- ing the power house, what was known ns the Mill lot from the Columbia Star Mill. E F. Schoening, president, for $5500 They also bought a new hoi.er for the light plant.
In June 1911 the citizens of Columbia asked for oil on the streets. The village agreed to place the oil on the streets if the property owners would pay for the oll. This they were eager to do.
In October of that year the Council voted to modern- lze their bookkeeping methods by requiring numerous forms Including burial permits. All death certificates were ordered filed with the State Board of Health in Springfield.
At that time too the East St. Louis, Columbia and Wa- terloo Railway asked for an extension of the time limit set for them to have their railway completed. There was some litigation about the right-of-way. This permission was granted with September 1, 1912 as the deadline. They heat the deadline for on August 7, 1912 the first street car came to Columbia, thus beginning another step forward for Columbia.
On January 22, 1912 the survey of Columbia of R. J. Arbogast was questioned and he resurveyed and replatted at a cost of $400. The project was completed April 1, 1913.
At the March 12, 1912 meeting the board moved to abolish slot machines.
Now comes a real search for water for Columbia. In February of 1913 the village secured an option of two acres of ground from Adam Grieshamer with orders to proceed at once with drilling for water. On March 3, 1913 one acre of ground was leased from A. F. Weinel for the same purpose with John M. Burkhard to drill for water. On June 3, 1913 the Illinois State Water Survey reports that the water on the Grieshamer property was satisfac- tory.
On August 19, 1912 it was ordered that Columbia put up the new, recently purchased street signs. At the same meeting waterworks and sewerage reports were brought In and the water committee was granted permission to drill for water in and about Columbla.
On July 7, 1913 it was ordered that the village scales be moved to Schoening avenue.
On August 3, 1913 liability insurance was placed on all village employees.
On December 1, 1913 it was decided to try a metered rate for electricity. Previous to that time only the flat rate system was used.
In 1914 the village paid for oiling the streets, an in- novation then, but custom since then.
On September 17, 1914 Columbia was Invited to attend the St. Clair County Centennial at Belleville at which Co- lumbia entered a float.
At the same meeting Willlam Vogt presents the plat of Columbia Heights to the city This Is Columbia's first new subdivision, and thus marks another step forward.
On March 1915 the official village base or plane of re- ferral is established. It is a fixed stone sill 100 feet away from South Second and Cherry Streets. At this meeting Henry N. Kunz was appointed publie engineer and E. A. Weinel, Superintendent of streets.
BOND ISSUE FOR WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE DEFEATED
On April 3. 1915 a special election was ordered held for a bond issue of $10,000 for waterworks and sewerage. It was held on June 12, 1915. Results: 248 yes, 363 no.
On October 4, 1914 the Columbia Star Mill nsked for a switch to their property from the Mobile and Ohio R. R. Permission granted.
At the November 6 meeting, 1914 E L. Rauch, light plant superintendent, proposes day current for electric light users here. To augment this the board authorized light plant Improvements.
At the October 1917 meeting Chas Kern was appointed night marshal. He served until July 1941, He died follow- ing an automobile accident early in July of that year
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1909-1910 Mayor and City Council. Policemen George Baner and John B. Schmidt. Ferdinand Fiege, Albert Lepp, Louis Tunze, Gustav Tunze, Fred G. Rapp, Mayor; Chas. Lotz, William Haberlah, E. L. Rauch and Herman Meyer.
At the October 1917 meeting the Columbia Commer- cial Club presented a petition for free mail service.
At the January 7, 1918 meeting the Village bought a road oiler, and in that year also authorized the purchase of a road oiling wagon for $400 from the Austin Road Machinery Co.
At the March 4, 1918 meeting it was reported that smallpox was rampant in Columbia.
At the May 6, 1918 session R. P. Briegel plats sub- division of lots 17, 18, 19 and 21 of McKee's addition and the board accepts it.
On March 11, 1919 W. A. Fuller, engineer for proposed improvements at the light plant, is asked to submit an estimate of what it would cost to secure current from the East St. Louis, Columbia and Waterloo Railway. At this meeting it was reported that a boiler costing $1596.50 was needed for the light plant.
NEW LIGHT PLANT AUTHORIZED
On April 1, 1919 day and night current was authorized for Columbia electric light customers. In April of this year an election was held to authorize the building of a new light plant. The vote 192 for, 8 against.
At the September 1919 meeting businesses were again ordered licensed.
Trouble at the light plant in January 1920 when it was agreed the light plant could furnish current for only three days a week. In February of that year the influ- enza epidemic struck and quarantine regulations were set up.
On April 12, 1920 full day current was restored.
In September of 1921 R. W. English asked permis- sion to use the city park for a playground. Permission was granted and he was appointed Superintendent of Playgrounds of the park which was officially named the Columbia Community Playground.
New subdivisions were platted from 1922 to 1924 as follows: Pauline Grieshamer, Clara Schmidt Addition, naming alleys; Lena Rose subdivision, Warnock subdivis- ion; Fred Lepp, resurvey; and Charles Grosse subdivision.
At the September 22, 1922 meeting the paving of Main street was authorized.
In 1924 the village board authorized the selling of the light plant to the Illinois Power and Light Company, for $30,000 and so ended the headaches of the village's municipal plant.
In the September meeting mention was made of the death of a city employee, William Rauch, special police officer, who was killed by the automobile of David L. Smith.
COLUMBIA BECOMES A CITY
Came a new era for Columbia for on March 22, 1927 there was an election held to change from village to city. The project carried, with a vote of 159 for and 50 against.
In 1927 the board again received a petition for free delivery of the mails.
Like Banquo's Ghost, the water problem would not down. To seek to solve it the City Board got prices for the installation of a water and sewerage system in Columbia. This report was presented in the October 27 meeting:
PRICES FOR WATER
East St. Louis $292,325; River Bottom $105,404; Hill's Spring $99,809; Olympia Street $73,623; Sanitary sewer system $70,623.
Ground was bought from Adam Grieshamer for well and pump house; not quite an acre of land was pur- chased on which was an abandoned mine shaft. Here the water was located. It was installed during 1928 and 1929
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and Columbians were quite happy over this, what they thought, was a solution of the problem. The sewer plant. an Imhoff Tank system, was located.
This too, was a step forward, but very shortly trouble began to develop there too, and what seemed to be the Ideal solution to sewer problems became almost as trou- blesome as the water problem.
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