Author Archives: editor

Church of St. Francis of Assisi

Posted on December 13, 2013 by editor

The ornate Church of St. Francis of Assisi, built from 1920 to 1924, is the centerpiece of the motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis northeast of Springfield. See Franciscan Motherhouse.

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Springfield Junior College

Posted on December 13, 2013 by editor

Springfield Junior College was founded in 1929 by the Ursuline order of Catholic nuns. Its name was changed to Springfield College in Illinois in 1968. The school became affiliated with Benedictine University of Lisle, Ill. in 2003. It now is … Continue reading →

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Franciscan Life Center (former Franciscan motherhouse)

Posted on December 12, 2013 by editor

The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis  operated a convent and church on a 300-acre site northeast of Springfield from 1917 until 2021. The order of Roman Catholic nuns, which began providing medical care in central Illinois in 1875, bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arts and letters, Churches, Public health, Social services, Women | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Mission

Posted on December 6, 2013 by editor

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Mission was a congregation of black Episcopalians founded in Springfield in 1891. The congregation was renamed St. Luke’s in 1908, when Episcopal Bishop Edward Osborne authorized the membership to begin using the building formerly occupied by the … Continue reading →

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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Posted on December 6, 2013 by editor

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1218 South Grand Ave. E., began in 1876 under the name of Lincoln Memorial Chapel, an Episcopal mission directed at former slaves. The mission was short-lived, but local Episcopal bishops Revs. George Seymour and Edward Osborne … Continue reading →

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Progressive Mine Workers Auxiliary march, 1933

Posted on November 27, 2013 by editor

One of the signal events of the struggle between the United Mine Workers of American and the insurgent Progressive Miners of America union was a march by the PMA Women’s Auxiliary to the Statehouse on Jan. 25, 1933. See Coal … Continue reading →

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Andrew train bombing, 1933

Posted on November 27, 2013 by editor

The bombing of a Chicago & Illinois Midland railroad train at Andrew on Feb. 24, 1933, was one of the most serious of the bombings aimed at coal haulers during the central Illinois mine union war of the early 1930s. … Continue reading →

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Edris Mabie shooting, 1935

Posted on November 27, 2013 by editor

Edris Mabie (1894-1935) was a Progressive Miners of America activist who was shot to death at Sixth and Washington streets in Springfield on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1935. See Coal mine union war.

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Coal miner union war, 1932-37

Posted on November 26, 2013 by editor

A bitter battle between rival coal mine unions, a battle that began and effectively ended in Springfield, led to strikes, bombings, street riots and at least six killings in Sangamon County in the 1930s. The United Mine Workers of America, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coal mines and mining, Depression, Law enforcement, Prominent figures | Tagged , | 25 Comments

Loami

Posted on November 22, 2013 by editor

Europeans first moved into what now is Loami Township in 1819, but the village of Loami didn’t get its start until William and Ebenezer Colburn erected a steam saw and grist mill there in 1836. A settlement grew up around the … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Disasters, Mills | 8 Comments