Author Archives: editor

Albert Booth family, wagon makers

Posted on June 13, 2020 by editor

The A. Booth and Son Wagon Factory once dominated the northeast corner of Eighth and Washington Streets in Springfield. The factory was built by Albert Booth (1813-1873), who moved his family from Menard to Sangamon County around 1840. He first … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Industry, Prominent figures, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Alfred Booth, grocer, developer

Posted on June 13, 2020 by editor

Alfred Booth was a grocer and property developer in Springfield for more than 60 years. His most obvious legacy is the eight-story Booth Building at 516-18 E. Monroe Street. At the height of his career, Booth (1853-1939) developed single-family residences, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Charles Longest, stickup artist and Army hero

Posted on June 6, 2020 by editor

Charles Longest was in state prison, accused of being the mastermind of an ambitious Springfield robbery gang, when he was judged fit to serve in World War II. See Springfield stickup gang, 1938. 

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Springfield’s statewide stickup gang, 1938

Posted on June 6, 2020 by editor

Authorities squelched a statewide crime wave with the arrests of a Springfield-based stickup gang in March 1938. Sangamon County assistant state’s attorney John Curren called the group, which he credited with 150 or more robberies, “the best organized gang of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and vice | 1 Comment

‘Big Tent Theatre’ photographs

Posted on June 2, 2020 by editor

These photos apparently are publicity stills produced when the Depression-era Federal Theatre Project played a season of live, professional theater in a tent at West Grand Avenue (today’s MacArthur Boulevard) and Outer Park Drive in 1936. The venue was known … Continue reading →

Posted in Theaters, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Harry Eielson’s miracle touchdown, 1918

Posted on May 30, 2020 by editor

Harry Eielson was a dominant athlete in high school and college. The Springfield High School basketball team, with Eielson as captain, won the 1917 state championship. Eielson took first place in pole vault at the 1915-16 state track meet, setting … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | 3 Comments

Body in the barrel mystery, 1930

Posted on May 25, 2020 by editor

Springfield police thought they’d wrapped up their case when junk dealer Harry Ross confessed to murdering his partner and trying to burn the man’s body. But a judge said detectives went too far when they interrogated Ross for six days … Continue reading →

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Roosa-Diller fire, 1920

Posted on May 22, 2020 by editor

A “small army of suffering humanity” poured out onto the frozen streets of Springfield when a fire destroyed two dilapidated apartment buildings on Dec. 23, 1920. A passerby discovered the blaze about 7:30 p.m. He alerted residents and the Springfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Disasters, Fires | Leave a comment

J.C. Penney store, Springfield

Posted on May 17, 2020 by editor

J.C. Penney’s Springfield store was the 1,001st in the chain when it opened on Oct. 5, 1928. “Large crowds attended the formal opening yesterday of the new J.C. Penney company store at 522 East Adams street,” the Illinois State Journal … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Department stores, Fires | 3 Comments

House of prostitution standoff, 1885

Posted on May 15, 2020 by editor

While a crowd gathered outside, a stylish bordello madam held off a Springfield police raid for nine hours in August 1885. Police tried to serve a warrant on Retta Rawlins’ “house of assignation,” which was upstairs in a building on … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and vice, Law enforcement | 3 Comments