11/22/01

By DAVID POLC
Special for the Courier-Post

In the midst of a town was a tavern - a gathering spot for cement plant workers and their families

A short history of the last standing commercial building in Ilasco, also known as Al's Tavern and Stephens General Store (formerly the Miller General and Dry Goods Store).

It is estimated that the building was constructed about 1908 on land subject to a lease with Samuel Heinbach who owned the land which comprised what was then known as the "business district" of Ilasco. The tavern-store building was built with a solid concrete floor and brick walls with living quarters and/or office space on the back side of the building. It was further unique in that all of the commercial buildings built in Ilasco were of frame construction with typical wood siding or else tarpaper composition. Almost all of these buildings disappeared over the years.

During the early part of the 1900s, Ilasco boasted of an area population of almost 3,000 people. However the economic uncertainties of the 1920s, the Great Depression of 1930 through 1937, unstable employment at the local cement plant and the exodus of many people leaving for employment in wartime industries and military service during World War II resulted in less need for commercial enterprises in Ilasco, which resulted in almost all of the commercial buildings disappearing over the years. In1943, the only remaining commercial buildings were this building and Steve Oslica's general store in what is known as Monkey Run.

Also contributing to the demise of commercial businesses was the automobile. During the late 1920s and into the 1940s, people in Ilasco were acquiring the automobile which was becoming more affordable, and they would do their shopping in nearby Hannibal. Ilasco had a one car taxi service that was provided by John Pavlovic during the 1930s and 1940s. He carried a round metal tub in the trunk of his car to transport blocks of ice for the ice boxes for many of the families in Ilasco. Usually, John would take customers to Hannibal where they would buy fresh meat and groceries. Then the last stop was at the ice house on Fourth and Church streets in Hannibal. John was a Slovak who worked at the cement plant and used his car as a taxi when not at work.

Information is insufficient as to whom owned the building in 1908, but it has been determined that a Greek immigrant, James Zugas, who earlier had come to Ilasco and worked as a laborer at the Atlas Cement Plant, had owned the building for an undetermined number of years prior to 1914, at which time he decided to sell the building to Chris E. and Myrtle Miller. It is noteworthy that James Zugas operated a general mercantile store and a saloon in the building. The store was in the north half of the building and the saloon was in the south half.

On Feb. 14, 1914, Ralls County voted to go "dry," which meant that liquor and spirits could no longer be sold in Ralls County and that included Ilasco. Nationwide prohibition was to come later in 1919. This was possibly one of several reasons that motivated Zugas to dispose of the building. He continued to reside in Ilasco for several years.

Also noteworthy is the fact that Ilasco had a village physician whose name was Dr. Marvin Winn who had a practice for several years in Ilasco. His office was in the upstairs back portion of the building for several years (exact years are not known). There was also a barbershop at one time in this part of the building.

The Millers, along with their daughter Nedra, lived above the building from about 1914 through 1923 at which time they acquired a house in an area of Ilasco known as "Country Hill." Different segments of Ilasco had names some of which were quite colorful such as Monkey Run, Buda's Corner, Hunktown, Company Row and Pumphouse Hollow.

During the time frame the Millers owned the building (1914 through 1931), the Millers continued to operate the store in the north side while the south side (formerly the saloon) was utilized partially as a storage room. The major portion of this side of the building was also utilized by the Ilasco Methodist Church as a Sunday school which was taught by Clarence Nerlich, one of the principal organizers of the Ilasco Methodist Church. This portion of the building was also utilized as a voting precinct for the village of Ilasco and as a temporary courtroom for the Ilasco justice of peace - Chris Miller - who also provided notary services at the store.

The Millers were assisted in the store operations by their daughter Nedra Miller, who was to graduate from the first Ilasco High School graduating class, later attend college and become a teacher in the Ilasco School system from 1931 through 1943. At that time she and her husband, James G. Clark, moved to St. Louis and subsequently to California.

On January 2, 1931, at age 55, Mr. Miller - afflicted with cancer -passed away. A few months thereafter, his wife sold the building to John W. Stephens who continued to utilize the building as a general and dry goods store. John later married Virginia Roach. Their daughter Lois Stephens Warner recalled living at first in the rear of the store (south half) then later moving upstairs to the upper living quarters which had previously been rented out. The Stephens family lived here from about 1931 through 1939 at which time they moved to Saverton where John also owned and operated a store.

In early 1935, John Stephens moved the general store operation into the south half of what is now known as the store. The larger half (north portion) was sold to Herman "Skipper" Barnes who opened a tavern (saloon) business. Only 3.2 percent beer was to be sold. At this time no hard alcohol mixed drinks could be sold in Ralls County even though "Prohibition" had been earlier repealed in 1933 with the inauguration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Five percent beer licenses were not available in Ralls County.

In late 1940, Harry Truman visited the store and tavern while campaigning for the U. S. Senate. He reportedly bought a round of beer for the patrons in the tavern at that time.

In mid-1936, Barnes sold the saloon business to two Italian immigrants - Giovanni "Big Jack" Scampoli and Francisco "Big Frank" Gizerli who formed a partnership. It was rumored that in addition to selling 3.2 percent beer, they also had available some of their famous homemade dry red Italian wine at the tavern. In 1938, Scampoli sold his half interest to Gezzerli. The story has been told about Big Frank that when it got time to close the tavern and he had customers at the bar who didn't want to leave, he would blow ground red pepper in their face to provide motivation for them to go home so he could close up.

In July of 1939, Big Frank sold the tavern business to Albert Venditti and it became known as Al's Tavern. This same year, Al installed two hardwood "duck pin" bowling alleys on the south wall of the tavern or to the right of the entrance door. The 20-foot-long bar was located on the north wall. The rear interior of the tavern was partitioned off with a floor to ceiling wall with a draped entrance. This was to become the card playing room for the next 30 years. The duck pin alleys provided entertainment for the local men who lived in Ilasco and also worked at the cement plant.

In 1946 the alleys were removed and the bar was moved back to the south wall where it presently is located. During the time frame from 1939 thru 1946, there was Sunday afternoon team bowling that was a weekend event that many local Ilasco residents looked forward to. Paul Tretiak remembered setting pins all Sunday afternoon and eventually making a total of 48 cents and this was in 1940. Paul considered that a handsome sum for a 14-year-old to earn for an afternoon's work.

Jimmy Tatman recalled that being a pin setter could be quite hazardous as you had to set pins in both alleys and while you were setting pins in one alley, someone was bowling in the adjoining ally, would hit the pins and that sometimes one or two pins would fly over the top of the dividing wall. Jimmy said he didn't wear a hardhat when he were a pinsetter. He also said that Bill Morris and George Mojzis rolled the small bowling balls harder than anyone in Ilasco. The pins flew everywhere when he hit them. It was reported that wives would come with their husbands from Hannibal to also bowl at the tavern.

During World War Il, Albert Venditti was inducted into the Army to participate in the European campaign. Albert entrusted the management of the tavern to Louis and Lloyd Fleurdely (father and son). These two managed the tavern during the time he was in the service. Albert's wife and two daughters (Armenia and Mary Frances) moved to the country to live with their grandfather Julius Sunderlik. Albert returned from the service in 1945 and managed the tavern until his death in 1987. His wife Anna Sunderlik Venditti continued to manage the tavern and lived upstairs in the apartment until about 1989 when she closed the tavern. During the time that Mrs. Venditti managed the tavern, she came to be known as Mrs. Al. She continued to live in the apartment upstairs until her death in January of 2000. The building has remained unoccupied since that date.

During the 1930's, '40s, '50s and '60's, many former residents of Ilasco recall Al's Tavern being the place where they went to meet friends, socialize and pass the time. This was a place where young and old both gathered. If a person did not play cards in the back room, he or she played the pinball machine or sat on the front steps drinking a soda. Many who worked at the cement plant would stop at the tavern on their way home and have a beer. On payday, both the tavern and the store acted as the local bank by cashing payroll checks for many of the local cement plant workers. Some of the immigrant workers did not believe in banks and dealt only in cash. Pay day was also settlement day when the store and tavern collected on credit given between paydays. It was well known that Al Venditti would loan money to individuals until payday at which time he was repaid with no interest charged.

A former resident of Ilasco stated that after Al Venditti first opened the tavern in 1939, he would permit poker playing in the back room. However instead of gambling for money they had to purchase poker chips from Al. These chips later could only be redeemed for merchandise such as candy, ice cream, beer etc. Many husbands came home with extra treats for their children.

Prior to September of 1953, the Ilasco Grade and High School had no school cafeteria. Most of the students brought a sack lunch to school and at noon would go down to Stephens store and buy a soda to have with their lunch. Some of those perceived as being more affluent, would go down to the store and would buy their lunch which could consist of the following choices: a bologna sandwich with either mustard or catsup for 10 cents or a hot dog for 15 cents and of course a choice of mustard or catsup. The story has been told over and over at Ilasco reunions that the water in the wiener pan was changed at least once a week. A soda and a candy bar cost 5 cents and there were nickel and dime bags of potato chips.

Mrs. Ethel Lewis, who was the third- through fifth-grade teacher at Ilasco, would at noon ask if someone would be going to the store and if so, could she or he please bring her back a Coca Cola, a 5 cent bag of potato chips and a Mars candy bar. She would always give the student a quarter to pay for the items that cost a total of 20 cents. Mrs. Lewis would let the student keep the nickel. Most of the kids would not take the nickel as they considered it an honor and privilege to get these items for Mrs. Lewis. She always brought a sack lunch and would have her lunch at her desk. This was the same routine with the other two grade school teachers. Even after the installation of the school cafeteria and a hot lunch program in September of 1953, some of the students would still go down to the store and have that famous bologna sandwich with chips and a Pepsi. With closing of the Ilasco High School and the graduation of the last senior class in May of 1959, John Stephens closed the store at Ilasco but continued to operate his store in Saverton.

Ilasco was now without a store. However, seeing the need for a store in Ilasco, Rexie and Oma Dixon Tatman opened a store in a house about one block west of the high school. The store that opened for business in early 1960 served the village of Ilasco until about 1965 at which time they were forced to abandon the store building due to the construction of Highway 79. During this time frarne, many of the few older remaining Ilasco families relied on this small store for their basic staples. After 1965, Al Venditti would carry a small quantity of bread at the tavern for the convenience of the few remaining local families.

Fireworks were sold at both the tavern and the store. There was a verbal agreement with the Ilasco School that no fireworks were to be displayed and/or sold until the last day of the school term. Students were usually dismissed at noon on the final day of school at which time most the boys would immediately head for the store and tavern and usher in the season of fireworks. This was considered a holiday that many of the older kids eagerly anticipated.

During the 1940s, '50s and '60s, it was not unusual for three card tables to be going full blast in the back room of the tavern. The card games were pitch, pinochle and tonk (a form of knock rummy). During the early '60s, David Polc remembered going to the tavern on Saturday and or Sunday at noon, which was the time that Al generally opened the tavern. By about 1 o'clock, enough people had arrived to start a card game of pitch with the round table being able to seat a maximum of five players. These games would sometimes last until 1 a.m. Toward the early part of the evening, some of the players would go home to eat dinner and then return to play cards. Others however chose not to leave and would sustain themselves with Quincy Maid potato chips, Frozen Gold ice cream, Pepsi and 3.2 percent Falstaff beer. Sometimes Al would not have a customer up front at the bar and would tell the card players he was going upstairs to bed and to help themselves to whatever they needed at the bar and leave the money for beer or soda on the cash register and to lock the front door when they finished playing cards. It was a honor system that no one dared abuse.

Two colorful characters who loved to play pitch in the back room were Theodore Poletta and Pete Viscoglisio - both Italian immigrants who had retired from the cement plant. Both spoke broken English, were temperamental and took their pitch playing seriously. Pete chewed tobacco and would sometimes get excited and get tobacco on the cards - which was disturbing especially if you were eating ice cream and potato chips. Theodore, on the other hand, would receive cards that were not exactly to his liking and if dealt the card or cards in succession, would literally chew them up in his mouth and throw them on the floor thus making absolutely certain that he would not receive the cards again.

Another favorite character was an unnamed gentleman who having received a bad card consecutively, would quietly tear it up into very small pieces and profoundly comment: "Guess we won't see that card again." Usually when the card game started at 1 p.m. with a deck of 52, there probably would only be a deck of 32 cards by about 9 p.m. Al kept an ample supply of playing cards on hand.

From 1940 through 1959, John Stephens employed local Ilasco residents (usually high school students) to manage the store when he was absent. During a conversation with Kenneth Lawson (now retired) who was raised in Ilasco and who graduated in 1953, he said that he and his two brothers and a sister all worked at different times for John at the store. Kenneth said that during his junior and senior high school years, on Monday through Friday, he would open the store each morning at 6 a.m., work till 8 a.m., then go to school, return to the store at noon, work until 1 p.m., go back to school, get out of school at 3:30 and go back to the store and work till 6 p.m. and lock up. On Saturday, he would work from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. The store would open for 1 hour on Sunday from 10:30 through 11:30 a.m. so that people getting out of church could stop and buy basic staples to take home for their Sunday dinner.

The building was originally constructed on land owned by Samuel Heinbach. This tract of ground was eventually acquired through the courts by Universal Atlas Cement Plant. In 1966, Albert received title to the land on which the tavern building is located from US Steel, who owned the cement plant at that time. In exchange for the tavern tract, the cement plant received a small tract where Lake Ilasco is presently located.

After Anna Venditti passed away, many local people and former Ilasco residents became concerned about the future preservation of this venerated landmark. The Ilasco Area Historical Preservation Society initiated a petition drive to save and preserve the building. Approximately in excess of 1,000 signatures were obtained which addressed the parties involved. After several months, the matter was resolved. Pace Local 5-205, the union that represents the laborers at Continental Cement Plant, has purchased the building from the estate. The union is planning to restore the building that is to be utilized as their union office and meeting hall.

The Ilasco Area Historical Preservation Society, the local union and the descendants of Albert and Anna Venditti would like to thank all those involved and their support given in the quest for preservation of this historical landmark

As a final commentary to the story of this building, it is noted that from 1908 through 1914, Mr. Zugas operated a store and saloon in this building. During the strike of 1909 and 1910, it and other saloons in Ilasco acted as meeting halls for the then unorganized cement plant workers who had no union or representation and were attempting to improve dangerous working conditions. Many of these workers were recently arrived European immigrants. The two strikes in 1910 at the cement plant in Ilasco was put down by the Missouri National Guard. On May 16, 1910, the commander closed all saloons including this tavern during its occupation of Ilasco and the cement plant. It perhaps is fitting that after all these years since that time in 1910 that the cement plant union is now going to own the building and the workers will continue to meet in the same building a did many of their ancestors.

Sources for much of the above information were as follows:

The book "City of Dust" - by Gregg Andrews

James G. Clark who provided information on the Miller family.

Jimmy Tatman

Paul and John Tretiak

Kenneth Lawson

Martha Northcutt

Lois Stephens Warner

And many former Ilasco people.