And why should a railfan care (Marge was the outspoken and alas somewhat bigoted former owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team)?
Well the reason why a railfan should care is that Marge’s husband was the last owner of the Purington Brick factory in East Galesburg Illinois. Purington Pavers were not only commonly used for city streets but for depot and station platforms. If you nose around the sites of abandoned depots you might well find a Purington Paver buried in the dirt or weeds. They are collectors items. Some streets in the midwest remain paved with these extremely durable bricks.
The factory was/ is on the old ATSF (now BNSF) main line in East Galesburg and the remains of a smokestack can be seen from railside. The factory itself is in total ruins and trespassers are not welcomed (and the East Galesburg police have been known to use the site for target practice – so when I say “not welcomed” I mean “not welcomed.”)
Oddly I do not know if the Santa Fe ever served the plant – the CB&Q had a spur to the plant until the late 1960s or early 1970s. At one time this was the largest brick factory in the world. The land has been undevelped because Marge Schott did nothing with it. This might change. It it became residental property or a hotel that would be primo railfanning.
Dave Nelson
It’s amazing the facts on this forum you can find out because someone out there knows.
…it would be even better if they moved an industry in there that would utilize the rail spur.
Instead they’ll put in housing filled with residents who will complain about the railroad…
Rest in peace Marge.
stay safe
joe
WILL WE CARE IF GEORGE STIENBREENER DIES NO SO WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT THIS BRAT
Don’t care about Marge. But the hotel sounds good.
(1) If DOGGY knew a little more about Marge Schott, he might consider eating his words. Beyond the well publicized miscues, the lady did not take a back seat to anyone, was actively civic minded and was ahead of her time. George is a little bit phony - Marge, for all her faults, was the real thing. (Anyone who could take on General Motors and win gets my vote)http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/03/03/loc_schottmain.html
p.s. Doggy, please find the “shift” key and QUIT SHOUTING, please.[}:)]
(2) Purrington Brick got absorbed by the Alton Company (Maryland Heights / St. Louis) somewhere before Schottco (The Schott’s family business) owned it as part of the purchase of Alton Co by Mr.Schott before he died in '68…
(3) Galesburg (yes, the same folks who are suing BNSF over the closing of the locomotive and car shops) probably would like to see development of the brick refractory on one hand, on the other they are probably chafing at the bit to stick their noses into the problems created at a refractory. Those busybodies probably are of the “somethin -for-nuthin” persuation that would make redevelopment of the white elephant site even more expensive. In the end, Schottco got stuck with a problem, not of its own creation. Time will tell…
Yes, Marge, rest in peace. You deserve some peace. You might have been opinionated, but you helped Cincinnati and its citizens in ways that lots of
people do not know about. Now, who will do the GOOD things for Cincy that you did?
I think that before people start criticizing Marge they should know how generous she was. She gave millions to the CIncy Zoo as well as for the homeless in the area, both in Cincy and Northern Ky. She also gave to the children in the area whether it be for cub scouts or any other child societies.
As for her estate, all the money that will be recieved, it has been said, will be donated to various charities. I heard that she was worth 200 million.(Don’t know how accurate that is.) Some of that money will be for the homeless in the area and the boy scout organization. Who knows what else will be donated.
It was also said that she would write a check for half a million to a charity and not worry a bit, but be bothered about buying an $80.00 dress for herself. If she was somewhere and saw a person that needed to eat she would feed them and not blink an eye. If you were at a game you could go down and get her autograph and she was happy to do so.
As for the Reds, I believe she took a professional approach to the team. She cared about the fans as much as people do for their own children. I know that some of the remarks she made about certain issues were very wrong, but she was not afraid to speak her mind. I know that the remarks she made about race was way out of hand, but she grew up in a time that some of us probably don’t understand and to her that was common. It was very wrong for what she did. For everything that she did good that is probably the only thing people will want to remember her by. Exactly why I felt to post my two cents here.
Everyone always looks at the negatives of someone without seeing the real person. She was a class act. Giving to those who are less fortunate than a lot of us here.
As for the Cincy area she will be deeply missed. That is all I have.
Brian (KY)
Well they will not close the Galesburg sop because Burlington is closing I will not take back my comments about Ms. Schott she had a big mouth also I’m a baseball fan and she led to the collasep of the Reds and she was too convertial
Having lived in Cincinnati, I am glad to see some people see the good side of Marge. I have read obits in the The NY Times and Chicago Tribune which focused on her down side and not what she did on the good side. Please read the article referred to above to see the good side. P.S. You could still a $1.00 hot dog at the ballpark when she still owned the team.
Anybody who liked dogs and baseball was always OK in my book.
She had flaws, we all do. But she was a life and we should respect and regret her passing.
Hope you meet your “Schottzies” at “The Bridge” Marge.
Ken Strawbridge
Marge always said that a family should be able to go to a baseball game and actually afford it. I wouldn’t go now if you gave me front row tickets. For a family of 4 with a median income you could spend easily 1 weeks paycheck. Another reason I don’t go is from the last strike. I’m not missing anything. I really used to enjoy baseball at one time and could tell you quite a bit about it.
As for Doggy saying she was the collapse of the Reds. I kinda have to disagree. I really think that those million dollar, steroid pumping crybabies had a little to do with that. They are the ones that actually played the game. But that is my opinion.
Long live the memory of Marge and her kind generosity of others. Read the link from Mudchicken also. It will show exactly the kind of lady she was. Can also check out:
www.wcpo.com and www.channelcincinnati.com . Both these websites have tributes to her. Read all the links and you will understand just the way she was. It was more than making racial remarks.
Now it’s back to reading about railroads. Hope that I did not cause any controversy here about the players.
Brian (KY)
This is an interesting but tenuous connection between Marge Schott and railroads. If I am not mistaken Marge Schott inherited a GMC csr dealership from her late husband. Was it Chevrolet or Buick?
Unfortunately, all I knew about Marge Schott’s remarks was they were off-base, so the bad out weighed the good she did.
louis,
She took away the copy machines, the out of town scores, killed the scouting and be the stupiest owner behind Bud Selig and Wendy Selig of the Beweres
I’m sure the employees and team members of the Reds would like to kindly remember Marge for her endearing ways with her employees and fill her coffin with some of those Purlington Pavers and a few of those Baseball Card packets with stale bubblegum she gave out as Christmas Bonus’s one year before they heave the coffin into the river…
Ladies and gentlemen
Being a lifelong reds fan I can testify to all the bad things she did in public and to the team but please lets remember the good and let her rest in peace.
please thank you[:)]
stay safe
joe
Well even with that My oppinoin still hasan’t changed of her she was a bum and had a big mouth but I give her credit for making ballgames afforable
Well see one of the reasons that you guys should care. She is a part of my family, granted its down the line aways, but she is still family. I am so glad that you guys are seeing the good in her, and looking over some of the bad. She was an awesome owner of a baseball team. She was a very nice person, even though she got bad press. So I jsut hope that you guys don’t DOG on her to much, remember she is a human being and we all make our mistakes.
Rest in Peace, Marge Schott
Thanks guys, Dru Alan Schott