Author Archives: editor

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 , , | 23 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

Springfield street car service

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

Both the Capital Railway Co. and the Springfield City Railway Co. began horse-drawn trolley service in 1866, according to the History of Springfield, Illinois, Its Attractions as a Home and Advantage for Business, written by John Carroll Power in 1871. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Transportation | Tagged | 6 Comments

Springfield tornado of 1957

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

The storm that forever repudiated the theory that Springfield was immune to tornadoes occurred at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, 1957. The storm — later designated as F4 in severity — swept through the south side of Springfield, killing … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Weather | Tagged | 1 Comment

Springfield Woolen Mills

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Woolen Mills produced woolen cloth and textiles for Central Illinois and consumers around the United States.  The mills operated from 1834 until 1906. For much of that time, the operation was housed in a three-story brick plant on … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Industry, Mills, Prominent figures | 3 Comments