Author Archives: editor

The Sternaman brothers (football pioneers)

Posted on September 16, 2017 by editor

This article has been expanded twice. Added were: more information about Joey Sternaman; William Barry Furlong’s account of how Dutch Sternaman bowed out as co-owner of the Chicago Bears; Jeff  Davis’ account of the deterioration of the relationship between Dutch … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | Leave a comment

Farm machinery, 1870s-1950s

Posted on September 11, 2017 by editor

Sangamon County farms switched from man- and horsepower to fully mechanized operations in fits and starts over more than 80 years. But the key impetus may have been six disastrous weeks of rain in the fall of 1926. Traction engines … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, Farming, Industry | 4 Comments

Whig Party rally, 1840 (letter)

Posted on September 3, 2017 by editor

The Whig Party of Illinois held a giant rally in Springfield from June 2 to June 4, 1840, in support of their presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison. (Harrison and vice-president candidate John Tyler were known by their slogan “Tippecanoe and … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Politics, Prominent figures, Spectacles | Leave a comment

George S. Connelly (grocer)

Posted on August 27, 2017 by editor

George S. Connelly (1849-1918) built a retail and wholesale grocery company from a one-room store on East Monroe Street. See Butternut Bakery.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Butternut bakery, Jefferson Street

Posted on August 27, 2017 by editor

George S. Connelly & Co. began baking bread in an L-shaped building surrounding the corner of Second and Jefferson streets in 1913 or 1914. The Springfield area would eat Butternut bread baked there for almost 60 years. George S. Connelly … Continue reading →

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

Coal mines in Sangamon County (maps)

Posted on August 24, 2017 by editor

The map above is a small-scale reproduction of an Illinois State Geological Survey map showing the extent of underground coal mining in the two Springfield quadrangles, Springfield East and Springfield West. The original map can be found at the survey’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Coal mines and mining, Maps, Resources | Leave a comment

Melanie Bryant, first woman firefighter

Posted on August 21, 2017 by editor

Melanie Bryant, hired in 1994, was Springfield’s first woman firefighter. See Harry Taylor, first black firefighter, police detective.

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Harry Taylor, first Black firefighter

Posted on August 20, 2017 by editor

Harry Taylor (1861-1928) was Springfield’s first African-American firefighter, but became better known as a Springfield police officer and detective. Positions on both the police and fire departments were patronage appointments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Taylor was … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Crime and vice, Ethnic groups, Law enforcement, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Women | Leave a comment

Sangamon County’s Confederate memorial

Posted on August 19, 2017 by editor

Note:  Camp Butler itself (see link below) describes its Confederate obelisk as a “monument.” However, it probably is more accurate to call it a “memorial,” because the obelisk was erected, as its inscription says, in memory of  Confederate soldiers buried … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Sites, Markers, Military | 4 Comments

Bel-Aire Manor Motel

Posted on August 13, 2017 by editor

The Bel-Aire Manor Motel, 2636 S. Sixth St., opened about 1953 and was demolished in 2015. See Carl Rinnus, popular sculpture.

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