Author Archives: editor

Mariah Vance

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Mariah Vance (1819-1904) is believed to have been a maid and housekeeper for Mary and Abraham Lincoln in Springfield from 1850 to 1860. She also was the alleged source of an inside look at the Lincoln family, published in 1995 as Lincoln’s … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Lincoln, Abraham | 3 Comments

W. H. Roland women’s clothing store

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

W. H. Roland, who owned a Bloomington women’s clothing store, opened his second outlet in downtown Springfield in 1912. Contents of the Roland store on the east side of the Old Capitol Plaza were badly damaged by smoke and water … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Department stores | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Wabash Railroad Employees Hospital

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Wabash Railroad employees injured on the job were brought to Springfield for treatment from 1884 to 1902 at a hospital dedicated to them. The infirmary was established in the former James Conkling mansion at Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Public health, Railroads | Tagged , | 3 Comments

William Walling’s article on the Springfield Race Riot

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Journalist and socialist William English Walling and his wife, Anna Strunsky,  rushed to Springfield as soon as they heard of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot. “We at once discovered, to our amazement, that Springfield had no shame,” Walling wrote in … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Race riot of 1908 | Leave a comment

Springfield in 1828 (map)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

The map above, which gives a sense of Springfield’s layout in 1828, is a reconstruction based on two primary sources: the reminiscences of Zimri Enos, contained in Papers in Illinois History and Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Maps | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Hooper Warren (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Hooper Warren (1790-1864) was a peripatetic journalist who edited Springfield’s first newspaper and played an important role in keeping slavery out of Illinois. His stay in Springfield, however, was brief. Warren had made the Edwardsville Spectator, which he edited from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Washington Park children’s corner, 1914 (Springfield Survey photo)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Survey, where this photo originated, was a massive study of local schools, prisons, and other institutions undertaken in 1914 by the Russell Sage Foundation with the help of hundreds of local volunteers. Topics covered included schools, care of … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Children, Sports and recreation, Springfield, Springfield Survey | Tagged | Leave a comment

Washington Park

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Washington Park is one of the largest and the most popular of the parks in the Springfield Park District system. Built in 1900-01, the park is home to lagoons, tennis courts, and playgrounds as well as a botanical garden and … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Sports and recreation | Tagged | 1 Comment

Weaver extortion and shootout, 1930

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Springfield’s police superintendent narrowly missed being shot to death while on a stakeout related to an extortion attempt aimed at a prominent businesswoman in 1930. Police superintendent T.P. Sullivan and a special police officer were patrolling near the home of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Law enforcement, Prominent figures | Tagged | 1 Comment

Weaver Manufacturing

Posted on October 4, 2013 by editor

Weaver Manufacturing, founded in Springfield by brothers Ira and Gailard Weaver, was for a time the nation’s largest manufacturer of automobile garage equipment, such as jacks, safety test equipment, hydraulic presses and other items. Ira “I.A.” Weaver (1871-1965), was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Prominent figures | Tagged , | 34 Comments