Lacy S. McDonald manages the Genealogy & Local History Library branch of The Hayner Public Library District in Alton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Carleton College as well as a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and a Graduate Certificate in Rare Books and Special Collections Librarianship from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Last summer, I wrote an article about the July 1925 grand opening of Winkler Tire Service in Alton. You can read it here: https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/100-years-ago-tire-store-grand-opening-with-bears-in-alton-84200.cfm . At the time, I couldn’t figure out what happened to...
The nineteenth annual automobile show of the St. Louis Automobile Dealers’ Association took place February 22 to 27, 1926, in “the great building owned by the City of St. Louis known as the Union Market.” Union Market still stands, is still owned by the City of St. Louis, and...
On February 19, 1926, recently retired boxing champion Benny Leonard (born Benjamin Leiner; April 7, 1896 – April 18, 1947) came to Western Military Academy. Leonard held the world lightweight title (under 135 pounds) from 1917 to 1925 and is widely considered to be one of the best lightweight...
On February 13, 1926, an article in the Alton Evening Telegraph announced “a novel balloon blowing contest” to be held during the Alton Automobile Association banquet. The Association held the banquet at Mineral Springs Hotel. Prizes were offered for the blowing of the largest balloo...
On Saturday, February 6, 1926, Ruth Draper performed at Monticello Seminary in Godfrey. Draper captivated the audience at Reid Memorial Chapel with her dramatic original monologues. New York critic Kelcey Allen had recently credited Draper with being “the best actress in America…she...
ALTON - Alton High School’s mid-winter commencement exercises were held at the school the evening of Friday, January 29, 1926. Two students received special recognition. Valedictorian Caroline Haberer had attained high honors rank for every semester of her four years at Alton High. She...
A convention of the members from the local district of the Illinois Ice Cream Manufacturers’ Association met at 1:30 p.m. on January 21, 1926, in the Rose Room of the Mineral Springs Hotel. The meeting concluded with a banquet, also at the Mineral Springs Hotel. Representatives from surrounding...
ALTON - On January 8, 1926, a TC-7 military airship sailed “majestically over the city” during a snowstorm. Altonians frequently saw airships fly above the city and had gotten used to the sight. But the dirigible flew at a low elevation and the noise of the drumming motor during the...
“The first injury due to the vogue of the Charleston” was reported in the Alton Evening Telegraph on January 4, 1926. The previous Saturday evening (January 2), Miss Mildred Volz of Wood River suffered a dislocation of the kneecap while dancing at the Valley Park dancing pavilion....
ALTON - Princess Theater manager James Reilley invited the newspaper carriers for the Alton Evening Telegraph to see the film Old Clothes at the Princess Theater as a special treat on January 1, 1925. Reilley thought seeing child actor Jackie Coogan (the first major Hollywood child star) would...
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