Author Archives: editor

Zoo Park

Posted on September 14, 2016 by editor

Zoo Park was an ambitious, but short-lived amusement park set on nearly 200 acres of land off Eighth Street Road north of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Early ideas for the park included not only a zoo, but also a mile-long … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Business, Parks, Social life, Sports and recreation, Transportation | 2 Comments

Old Stone House, Rochester

Posted on September 7, 2016 by editor

The Old Stone House, a project of the Rochester Historical Preservation Society, is an 1830s dwelling moved from its original site east of town to near Rochester Community Park. It is open periodically as a living history demonstration. The house … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Communities, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Markers, Museums | 3 Comments

Illinois Hotel

Posted on September 1, 2016 by editor

The Illinois Hotel operated on the northeast corner of Fourth and Jefferson streets from 1905 until 1947. See Dineen family (hoteliers).

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Hotel Silas

Posted on September 1, 2016 by editor

The Silas Hotel opened in 1897 at 113 N. Fourth St. See Dineen family (hoteliers).

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Palmer Hotel

Posted on September 1, 2016 by editor

The Palmer Hotel was at 429 E. Jefferson St. from 1927 to 1979. See Dineen family (hoteliers). 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Dineen family (hoteliers)

Posted on September 1, 2016 by editor

When Robert Dineen died in 1970, his obituary stated he had been an owner of the Palmer Hotel and the Illinois Hotel in downtown Springfield. Although not mentioned in the obituary, he also was the past president and a founding … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Hotels & taverns, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Downtown business map, 1913

Posted on August 19, 2016 by editor

The Oct. 7 and 8, 1913, editions of the Illinois State Register, published during the Illinois State Fair (then held in the fall) included a map of the area surrounding Springfield’s courthouse square that showed many of the city’s downtown … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Illustrations, Maps | 8 Comments

Olympics gold-medal winners from Sangamon County  

Posted on August 16, 2016 by editor

Olympics gold-medal winners from Sangamon County through 2016, as listed on Wikpedia, were: Ryan Held, Springfield: Men’s 4×100 freestyle relay (swimming), 2016. Graduate of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. Andre Iguodala, Springfield: Basketball, 2012. Graduate of Lanphier High School, MVP of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and vice, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | 4 Comments

Alice Gilliland (Royal Neighbors of America)

Posted on August 14, 2016 by editor

Alice Gilliland (1863-1926) helped found the Royal Neighbors of America, the first “fraternal” benefit society to offer life insurance to women, and rose to become the group’s Supreme Oracle, its top post. Gilliland, who was among the first 500 members … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Prominent figures, Women | Leave a comment

‘The Badlands’

Posted on August 7, 2016 by editor

For a brief description of “the Badlands,” a residential and commercial neighborhood northeast of downtown Springfield that housed a number of saloons and bawdy houses at the turn of the 20th century, see “Cocaine Alley.” 

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