Pat Gauen, the name pops up
During a lunchtime conversation last week, local metro east/Collinsville/Highland Post Dispatch reporter, Pat Gauen's name came up. His name reminded me that I hadn't noticed his byline in the paper for some time and wondered if he'd retired or taken a buy out or some such. But as often happens in things like this, I stumbled on Gauen's byline in the P-D today as he gave answers to a quiz on past local events he must have published last week. So he is still around.
A couple questions caught my eye.
Fairmount Park in Collinsville is the only horse racing track in the region. Why did it close for a while in the mid-70's? Answer: The grandstand burned to the ground. I didn't know that and have never heard any conversation about it.
A developer planning to build homes on a tract near Caseyville filed a federal lawsuit last year against the previous owner, alleging a failure to disclose the presence of 159,000 tons of what? Answer: Manure from Fairmount Park and some farms. This strikes me funny, farmers have laid their livestock manure on their fields forever. Why would it be a surprise?
What star of the silent screen was from East St. Louis? Answer: Lillian Gish. Was she the "it girl"? No, that was Clara Bow.
Diane, thanks for the info on Pat.
Posted by: Rand Conley | May 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Diane:
Here's some trivia from our Derby Party:
What track did the Churchill Down owners buy in 1925?
Answer: Fairmont Park
Posted by: Allen Adomite | May 29, 2008 at 01:32 PM