Author Archives: editor

1925 Springfield City Plan (The West Plan)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago inspired the so-called City Beautiful movement that dominated urban planning in the U.S. and abroad until well into the 1920s. One of the more successful City Beautiful planners in the Midwest was Myron … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Public health, Sangamon River, Social services | Tagged | Leave a comment

Springfield Fire Department, 1925 (photo)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

Springfield Fire Department Engine Co. No. 1, circa 1925. The driver of the middle truck is identified as Patrick Hayes. (Sangamon Valley Collection)  

Posted in Local government, Photos and photosets | Tagged | Leave a comment

First Citizens (through 2025)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The First Citizen program was created in 1963 as the Copley First Citizen program by Springfield’s Copley-owned newspapers, the Illinois State Journal and Illinois State Register. The name was changed after Copley sold the merged State Journal-Register in 2007. The … Continue reading →

Posted in First Citizens, Prominent figures, Social services, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Springfield Furniture Co.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Furniture Co. was formed in 1890. Original directors included such Springfield luminaries as George Black, C.C. Brown, Alfred Orendorff, John McCreery and George Pasfield. Prospects seemed good, the new board was told, “as almost every factory of any … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry | Tagged | 4 Comments

Springfield Hospital and Training School

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

A home on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and North Grand Avenue in Springfield was the genesis of today’s Memorial Medical Center. The house was built by T.S. Little, described in 1874 as a “clothier and merchant tailor” with a shop … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Medicine, Public health, Social services | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Springfield in 1867 (map)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

Although not to scale, the 1867 bird’s-eye view of Springfield drawn by A. Ruger for the Chicago Lithographing Co. is considered accurate in its placement and depiction of city buildings and streets. Note that the map is oriented with north … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Churches, Maps, Railroads | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Springfield Iron Co.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Iron Co. — better known as “the Rolling Mill” — produced railroad rails and other products at a 45-acre plant near 11th Street and Ridgely Avenue from 1872 until the early 1900s. More than 1,000 men worked at … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Railroads | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Marine Bank (original)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

Springfield Marine Bank, originally chartered as the Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co. in 1851 and now part of JPMorgan Chase, is the oldest banking institution in Illinois. Abraham Lincoln banked at Marine. Original stockholders included Jacob Bunn Sr., Robert Irwin, John Williams, Stephen T. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Springfield Motor Car Co.

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

Only about 10 Springfield Motor Cars — “the made-to-order car for 300 exacting people” — were produced in 1909 and 1910, most from a third-floor assembly plant in downtown Springfield. The undoubted high point of the company’s existence was when … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Transportation | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Springfield Redemption Home

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Redemption Home, organized by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Hunt in 1903, was set up for the “conversion, reformation, and Christian education of penitent erring girls and to provide a home for dependent infants and children.” It operated … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Social services | 5 Comments