Milestones in the History of Millstadt, IL 1836-2001

Compiled by Robert Buecher, 5400 Pernod Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139-1537 [Revised: October 2002] E-mail: RGB7847@AOL.COM

The following list includes dates of various importance in the history of Millstadt, Illinois. Many of the dates came from newspaper articles published in various issues of the MILLSTADT ENTERPRISE and the BELLEVILLE WEEKLY ADVOCATE and from other research by Robert Buecher.

1836, Jan. 17 - Zion Evangelical Church held its first service south of town at the log cabin home of Johannes Freivogel (Sr.). Rev. Johann Jacob Riess conducted that service and later became the first minister of Zion Church.
1837, March 13 - the town of Centreville/Centerville consisting of 40 lots was platted by Henry Randleman. The new town was recorded with the St. Clair County Recorder of Deeds on 17 March 1837 in Deed Book "I", page 264.
1837 - the first store, a blockhouse measuring 16 by 18 feet, was opened by Henry Randleman and William Davis at the northwest corner of Washington & Jefferson Streets.
1837, July 15 - an additional 60 lots were added to the town & called the "1st Addition of Henry Randleman"
1842, Oct. 27 - 11 more lots were added and called the "2nd Addition of Henry Randleman"
1842, Oct. 28 - 50 more lots were added and called the "3rd Addition of Henry Randleman"
1843 - Mr. Cummings opened the first inn in town
1843, June 7 - George Kuntz was appointed the first postmaster of Millstadt
1844, May 4 - Centreville Cemetery [also known as the Old Millstadt Cemetery] was established at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Harrison Streets. One of the first known burials was Wilhelm Siebert, son of Martin Siebert, who was buried there on 23 Oct. 1844.
1845 - Dr. William S. Van Cleve, the town's first doctor, settled here.
1845, Oct. 15 - 200 lots were added to the town and called the "4th Addition of Henry Randleman".
1846 - Leonard Daab built the first brewery in Millstadt
1847 , Aug. 27 - 79 lots were added to town and called the "Addition of George Henckler"
1848, Fall - the first Lutheran church service was held in town at the home of Philipp Buecher and it was conducted by Rev. George A. Schieferdecker.
1848, Nov. 25 - 69 lots were added to town and called the "Addition of George Henckler"
1849 - the first general store was opened by Loyat Brater
1849 - Valentine Brenfleck built a brewery at the northwest corner of Main & Washington streets at a cost of $31,000. It was called the "Millstadt Brewery" and operated until about 1878.
1849, Summer - a cholera epidemic struck the town with 70-100 people dying
1849, Oct. 21 - Trinity Lutheran Church was dedicated. It was the first church to be built in Millstadt and cost $865.00
1850, Aug. 1 - 40 more lots were added to the town & called the "Addition of Cornelius Gooding". On the same day the "Addition of James Glass", consisting of 36 lots, was also added.
1850 & 1851 - Zion United Church of Christ built their first church in Millstadt in the 100 block of West White Street. It was dedicated on 11 May 1851.
1851 - St. James Catholic Church was dedicated. The first resident priest was Rev. Henry Lierman. Catholics of the area had previously attended St. Thomas Church/Chapel a few miles west of Millstadt. That first church was a log building built on the farm of Thomas Laughlin and dedicated on 26 Nov. 1837.
1852, March 25 - "Stookey & Glass Addition" of 20 blocks was added to the town
1857 & 1858 - Franz Bauer built a mill at the southeast corner of Jefferson & Laurel. It was later owned by Backer & Stern and has been operated since May 1957 as Midland Milling Company.
1860, Aug. 21 - 30 lots were added to the town & called the "Addition of George Henckler and Joseph Kopp".
1860/1861 - Peter Strauss, a native of Niedermohr, Germany, started his carpentry & undertaking business
1861, May - the second section of the Centreville Cemetery was bought for $235.00 from Henry Ohlendorf
1863 - Zion congregation built its third and present church at the northeast corner of White and Monroe Street. It was opposite their 2nd church completed in 1851. Construction was begun on June 1st; the cornerstone was laid on June 23; the bells were dedicated on Oct. 29; and the finished church was dedicated on Dec. 13.
1866, Sept. 30 - the Union Aid Society "Union Unterstuetzung Verein" was organized with 70 members. The society disbanded on 21 Nov. 1931.
1867 - the St. James Catholic School was built at the northwest corner of Madison and Lafayette streets for $4,000. It was demolished in 1958 to make way for a new rectory.
1867, Oct. 26 - the town of Centreville [Millstadt] was officially organized. The first Board of Trustees were elected on 2 Nov. 1867 and consisted of: George W. Sieber, Adam Hoffman, John Olinger, Henry Schultheis, and Nicholas Theobald.
1871 - Trinity Lutheran Church built its second church on West Madison Street for $2,449.00. The building was demolished in July 1969. The Father Freund Parish Center at St. James Catholic Church was later built on the site.
1871, Aug. 6 - Centreville Union Fire Company was organized with 32 charter members. Charles Jacobus was the 1st captain and George W. Sieber was the 1st president mid-1870's - Franz Bauer built a flour mill for $50,000 in the 100 block of West Oak Street with a capacity of 450 barrels a day. In 1902 it became the Millstadt Brewery. The building was demolished in Dec. 1968.
1875, April 17 - the Independent Order of Odd Fellows [I.O.O.F.] was started in town as Aurora Lodge No. 567
1878, Jan. 12 - an election was held for the organization of Centreville as a "village". There were 51 votes 'for' and 26 votes 'against'. Charles Jacobus was elected that year as the first mayor of Centreville [Millstadt].
1878, Sept. 14 - Board of Trustees of the Village of Centreville passed a revised ordinance to change the name of the village to the "Village of Millstadt".
1881, Oct. 1 - the Peter Kalbfleisch Hotel was dedicated at the northwest corner of Jefferson and Laurel streets.
1883, May - the Bell Telephone Company extended its telephone line to town.
1883, June 23 - the Millstadt Liederkranz was organized as a singing society with 21 members. The first musical director was Philip Andreas. The society disbanded shortly after 1949.
1883, Nov. 13 - the first railroad train entered Millstadt with schools and businesses closed to witness the event. The line was built by the St. Louis & Cairo Railroad which later became the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. Railroad service to the town ended in July 1961.
1884, April 1 - Millstadt Township was officially organized
1885, Sept. - the new public school building was completed in the 200 block of West Mill at a cost of $9,793.70. The new school building opened on Sept. 14th. It was torn down during the Summer of 1954 to make way for a new school which was built around it.
1887, Sept. 4 - Millstadt celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding with a parade and huge festival.
1887, Oct. 18 - the present St. James Catholic Church at the southwest corner of West Washington and Lafayette was dedicated. It was built at a cost of $7,300.00
1889, Sept. 22 - Millstadt area veterans of the Civil War organized G. A. R.(Grand Army of the Republic) Post 684 with 30 charter members. William Hartmann was the first post commander.
1892, Feb. 6 - the Millstadt Creamery was incorporated with a capital of $3,000.
1892, May - the newly built Merkel Hotel was opened by Cornel Merkel at the northeast corner of Washington and Main streets.
1892, Sept. 18 - the Millstadt Liederkranz Society dedicated their new hall on North Jefferson Street. It was built for $3,079.00 on land donated by Caspar Boemer. The hall was extensively remodeled in the Spring of 1922. The building was demolished on March 31, 1996.
1894, Oct. 9 - the Millstadt Milling Company was incorporated with a stock of $28,000 and a capacity of 265 barrels of flour a day. It was sold to Meletio in April 1957 for the production of 'Golden Dipt'.
1895, March - the Weible Merchantile Company store was built at the northwest corner of Washington & Jefferson streets by James F. Weible. The building was bought by John Hirsch and used as his mercantile store from 1900-1930. It was razed in Oct. 1957 to make way for a new Standard Filling Station.
1897, Feb. - an electric light plant was built by the village at a cost of $9,000 with 600 incandescent lights. It was located in the 100 block of West White Street, next to Zion's second church.
1897, May 14 - the first issue of the town's newspaper, the "Millstadt Enterprise", was published. Edson W. Cross was the first owner and publisher.
1897, July - the Star Creamery Company was first organized. The building was sold in 1913 to August Diedrich for use as a garage.
1902, May - the Millstadt Brewery Company was incorporated by William Strauss, Louis Kalbfleisch, and William Pistor with a capital of $20,000
1903, June 1 - the First National Bank of Millstadt was opened by Fred L. Baltz in the office of the Millstadt Milling Company. The bank moved into its new building at 115 East Washington on August 3.
1905, April - a jail was built on West White Street near the old Village Hall [Zion's 2nd church] at a cost of $477.00.
1906, April 6 - the Millstadt "Enterprise" newspaper was bought by Arthur J. Mollman.
1906, April 12 - area citizens met at the Village Hall to make arrangements for a local telephone system.
1907, June 11 - Benjamin J. Reitz published the first issue of the "Semi-Weekly News" of Millstadt. The paper stopped publication in October after about 40 issues.
1908, Jan. 16 - Mount Evergreen Cemetery was dedicated. The first burial on that day was William Schmahlenberger.
1912, April 2 - train wreck on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad in which the engineer, William Strauss, and the brakeman, Arthur Swinderman were killed.
1912, April 30 - the Millstadt Commercial Club was organized for the purpose of securing the right-of-way for the Fischer Coal Company. Fred L. Baltz was the first president.
1912, Sept. 1 - a celebration was held at the Liederkranz Park in honor of the 75th anniversary of Millstadt.
1914, Sept. 3 - the fire company changed its name to "Millstadt Union Fire Company".
1914, Sept. 20 - the first annual "Millstadt Homecoming" was held.
1917, April 10 - the Domestic Science Club was organized with Mrs. A. J. Mollman as its first president. The name was changed in July 1942 to the Millstadt Woman's Club
1917, June - a Chapter of the American Red Cross was organized in Millstadt
1920, Jan. 15 - the Millstadt Legion Post 502 was organized at Merkel's Hall with 15 charter members. Dr. G. J. Diesel was the first post commander.
1924, March - The Boy Scouts were first organized in Millstadt
1927, Sept. 27 - the new highway between Belleville & Millstadt was officially opened.
1928, June 1 - dedication of the present First National Bank building at the northeast corner of Washington & Jefferson streets.
1929, August - the Junior Household Science Club was organized with Louise Mollman as its first president. It later became the Millstadt Civic Club.
1931, July - the four year legal battle against the Millstadt city sewer system ended when the Illinois Supreme Court overturned a St. Clair County Court ruling against the new sewer system
1931, August 1 - the Weil-Kalter Factory building was dedicated in the 300 block of West Washington Street. It was built at a cost of $20,000.
1931, August - the Millstadt water tower was erected.
1931, August - the Peter Oldendorph blacksmith shop was dismantled and moved to Chicago for the World's Fair Exhibit
1932, June - Dan Niemeier was the first resident to have Millstadt city water connected.
1934, Feb. - the Last Man's Club of Millstadt was organized for World War I veterans
1934, May 20 - August Schmidt died at the age of 93 years. He was the last Civil War veteran from Millstadt to die.
1937, Oct. 3 - the American Legion Post 502 dedicated their new building at the southwest corner of Washington & Polk streets.
1939, June 8 - the Millstadt Rotary Club received its charter as a new organization. Dr. L. E. Tegtmeier was the club's first president.
1939, Sept. - the Millstadt Girl Scouts were first organized with 3 patrols
1941, Sept. - St. James Catholic School is reopened after being closed for 14 years.
1942, Sept. 15 - the Millstadt Parent Teachers Association [P.T.A.] was organized with Mrs. Kenneth Mollman as its first president.
1943, May - the last class graduated from Millstadt's two-year high school
1946, July 12 - Post 7980 of the V. F. W. [Veterans of Foreign Wars] was organized in Millstadt with Robert Sauthoff as the first commander.
1947, August - Kommunity Lumber Company to build on West Washington
1948, August - area voters approved the new Millstadt Consolidated School District # 160.
1948, December - Millstadt School Gym finished
1950, July - the first Learn to Swim program graduated 37 pupils. It was started by Mr. & Mrs. Barney Hirsch after 3 Millstadt youths drowned within 4 days in June of 1950.
1950, Nov. - the 4-Way Stop at the intersection of Washington & Jefferson got its first blinking stop light.
1951, Jan. - the first "Miss Millstadt" contest was sponsored by the Millstadt Civic Club. Joan Kern was the first "Miss Millstadt" in that year and Donna Battas was the last one in 1977.
1951, April - Millstadt installed street signs for the first time.
1952, March - the Millstadt Khoury League was started.
1952, July - construction began on the V. F. W. home at the corner of West Washington & Veterans Drive
1953, Oct. - the Millstadt Cub Scouts were newly organized with 5 dens.
1954, Sept. 1 - the new Millstadt Consolidated School was opened at 211 West Mill with a formal dedication held on Jan. 23, 1955.
1955, March - the Millstadt Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps made its first public appearance at a MCS basketball game.
1955, June - Millstadt first gets the GReenfield Exchange for its telephone system.
1955, June 26 - Rev. Edwin Hoelter dedicated the newly constructed Trinity Lutheran Church at 503 East Washington.
1956, Sept. - the first house-to-house mail delivery began in Millstadt.
1958, April 20 - the new St. James Catholic School on West Washington was dedicated by Bishop Albert Zuroweste.
1959, Feb. - the Millstadt Knights of Columbus was first organized
1960, June 8 - the Golden Age Club was formed at the V. F. W. home with 36 members. Mrs. Fred Bange was the club's first president.
1961, April 29 - the new Millstadt Post Office building was dedicated at the southeast corner of Main & White streets.
1962, July 1 - Westview Baptist Church of Belleville opened a mission in the old post office building on East Washington Street. Rev. Steve Latta was the first pastor.
1963, May 30 - the Veterans War Memorial was dedicated at the Fire Company Park on South Jefferson.
1966, Oct. 17 - the Millstadt Jaycees were organized with 24 charter members. Don Speichinger was the groups first president.
1969, April 12 - the Municipal Building and Millstadt Library were dedicated at the northwest corner of Laurel & Main. The site was the former "Centreville Brewery" owned by Daniel Schuff in the 1860's and 1870's.
1969, Oct. 18- The Millstadt Enterprise was bought by George J. Santner.
1971, Oct. 10 - Greenbrier Shelter Care Home was opened at 415 Veterans Drive. The name was later changed to Millhaven Care Center. It closed in 1990.
1972, June 4 - the Gateway Baptist Church building was dedicated at the southeast corner of Laurel & Veterans Drive.
1973, Nov. 3 - Ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the Millstadt Swimming Pool. The final cost was $162,000 and it opened on June 30, 1974.
1974, July 22 - Citizens Savings opened at 11 West Washington, later moving to a new building at 217 West Washington. In Jan. 1984 it became part of Illini Federal Savings & Loan and later a First Financial Bank.
1974, Oct. 20 - Trinity Lutheran Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary.
1975, April - H. W. Gossard Company closed its Millstadt factory in the 300 block of West Washington after almost 44 years of operation under various names and owners.
1977, May 14 - the Millstadt Lion's Club held a charter celebration meeting with 43 members. William Sisk was the charter president.
1977, Sept. 17 - ground-breaking ceremony for the new fire department building at the northeast corner of South Jefferson & White. The building was dedicated on Oct. 28, 1979.
1980, Feb. 1- The Millstadt Ambulance Service started operations in the old fire department building on South Jefferson.
1983, July 20 - Millstadt Mayor, Gary Shondy, was presented with a sign indicating Millstadt as a winner of the 1983 Governor's Home Town Award.
1985 - Zion United Church of Christ began a year-long celebration of its 150th Anniversary.
1987, Aug. 22 - the Father Freund Parish Center was dedicated at St. James Catholic Church. It was built on the previous site of Trinity Lutheran Church.
1987, Sept. 5 & 6 - Millstadt's annual 'Homecoming' is held celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Millstadt and the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Millstadt Commercial Club.
1987, Sept. 27 - the name of the Millstadt "Enterprise" newspaper is changed to the Millstadt "Enterprise Journal"
1992, May 24 - the dedication of the new addition to the Millstadt Village Park.
1995, April 12 - the first meeting of the Millstadt Sister Cities Organization was held
1996, March 31 - the Millstadt Liederkranz building built in 1892 was demolished.
1999, June - the Millstadt Sister Cities Organization formed an official pact with the town of Gross Bieberau in Germany. Many Millstadt residents can trace their ancestry from settlers who came here from Gross Bieberau.
1999, Oct. 24 - Trinity Lutheran Church celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its founding
1999, Nov. 23 - The Millstadt Historical Society held its first meeting
2001, Sept. 15 - St. James Catholic Church celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its founding

Additional information about Millstadt can be found on these web sites:

History of Millstadt, IL
Genealogical Research in Millstadt, IL
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