Days Gone By In Staunton
November 16, 2022
Thursday, Feb. 20, 1975 -- VOLUNTEER FIREMEN TOUR NEW HOSPITAL -- On Monday evening, Feb. 10, over 40 members of the Staunton Volunteer Fire Department were afforded a tour and inspection of the new Community Memorial Hospital building. This pre-opening tour was arranged so that members of the department could inspect and examine the entire facility including the operating rooms, OR ward, isolation ward, intensive care unit and other areas which would ordinarily be closed to the public in an operating hospital. Of prime interest to the firemen was to familiarize themselves with the physical layout of the facility as well as to inspect and become familiar with the fire prevention and control systems which were incorporated into the new facility.
All storage areas of the new hospital have sprinkler systems, the kitchen cooking areas have a special dry chemical extinguisher system for extinguishing grease fires. The entire hospital has a smoke and heat detection system which will detect excessive smoke and automatically feed a signal to the central alarm system which will within seconds seal the heat and ventilating system so that smoke, fumes and possible flames would be isolated. Also all fire doors within the entire facility would be automatically closed.
Besides the central fire alarm panel, each floor has a panel which will indicate exactly where the fire or smoke is located. All windows in the hospital can open so that there is no chance of anyone being trapped within their rooms in case of fire. Fire extinguishers are liberally located through the building. A central oxygen supply system has been installed in the new building with emergency cutoffs located in key areas. The systems just mentioned along with many of the most modern fire resistance building materials have made our new hospital facility far above the present requirements for fire prevention and control.
Members of the fire department were very impressed with this new facility, not only with those facets dealing with fire prevention and control but with the entire design, planning and up-to-date equipment which will undoubtedly rank our hospital as one of the most modern and well equipped hospitals of our size in the state if not country.
We have been told that the target date for moving into the new facility is sometime in March. We're sure that when the residents of our community and area have an opportunity to tour our new hospital that they will be just as impressed and proud of the facility,which the entire area rallied behind to build, as was the Staunton Volunteer Fire Department.
Lioness Sponsor Clothing Party -- The Staunton Lioness will sponsor a Fashion Frocks Clothing party on March 3rd.
The public is invited to attend the party to be held at St. Paul Educational Building beginning at 7:30 p.m. Anyone not able to attend may place advance orders with any Lioness member.
Five door prizes plus a $25.00 wardrobe will be awarded.
Thursday, March 6, 1975 -- THE COUNTY FAIR 50 YEARS AGO -- The Macoupin County fair started in 1852, and it was fitting and proper, in its 100th year, to have a new permanent location in 1951, at the county nursing home grounds, the present site.
Since the fair will celebrate its 25th anniversary at this site in 1975, the secretary did some research on how the county fair operated 25 years ago, and also 50 years ago.
With a 1927 fair book loaned to her by George Eiehen, it reveals that a total of $4,375 was offered in prize money in 1927, plus several hundred prizes donated throughout the county. This figure is approximately one-half of that offered in 1951, as $8,400 was the premium amount in 1951, and the amount was $45,877 in 1974.
In comparing admission prices, adults were charged 50c in 1927, kiddies 25c, cars 50c in the daytime and 25c at night, with carriage or saddle horse, 25c. Admission prices to the fair in 1951 were 35c for adults, 15c for kiddies, 25c for cars. In 1974, 50c for adults, 25c for kids and cars free.
Dates of the county fair were later in the old days, the fair ending Sept. 2 in 1927, running Aug. 1-4 in 1951 and the 1975 fair date will be July 15-20.
Stall rent for beef and dairy cattle was $2 per head in 1927 and 1951, while it is $3 per head at the present time. Sheep and hogs were 75c in 1927, $1 in 1951 and $1.25 in 1974.
Entertainment featured in 1927 was as follows: "Better babies contest," 2 days harness and running races, judging jacks, mules, draft horses, roadster and buggy horses, saddle horses, ponies and equestrian classes. There was a band concert, a night horse show, a few free acts, a fireworks display and a parade of premium livestock, all at the old fairgrounds at the northwest edge of Carlinville.
There were over 100 stockholders who had free admission during the fair "and their lady," and everyone over 75 years of age was admitted free, also Civil War veterans.
There were premium offerings for 37 breeds of chickens, pheasants, bantams, guineas, pigeons, guinea pigs, ducks, geese and turkeys and ground hogs.
Sheep were divided into three classes, fine wool, long wool and middle wool. There were only three breeds of beef cattle, four breeds of dairy cattle and six breeds of swine.
Featured entertainment in 1951 was the amateur contest, baton twirling, local contests including hog calling, husband calling, pie eating, tug-of-war open to all, three hours of square dancing open to the public and some free entertainment two afternoons and evenings.
The County Fair in 1975 will feature harness racing four days, a daredevil show, the queen contest, the Sonny James Country Western Show, the Demolition Derby, the tractor pull, calf and pig scramble, Senior Citizens day, Nursing Home Day and other musical entertainment.
Lions Queen Candidates Are Announced -- The Lions 20th annual Lions Queen Crowning will be held Friday, May 9, at the local high school auditorium. A variety show featuring Lion Chaw Mank's band will precede the crowning ceremony.
The following young ladies and their headquarters are: Mona Campbell, First Community State Bank; Pam Haase, Marty & Millys; Pam Lotter, Matthews Studio; Charlene Maxville, Staunton Star-Times; and Marlene McMahon, Western Auto.
The young ladies will be selling tickets for the variety show and crowning at a cost of 50 cents. There will also be three cash prizes awarded. Proceeds from this project go into the Lions Nurses Scholarship Fund.
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