Category Archives: Business

The Cara-Sel Lounge

Posted on June 27, 2014 by editor

One of the more colorful Lithuanian-American businesses in Springfield was the Cara-Sel Lounge, Seventh Street and North Grand Ave, operated for 17 years by Tony and Carol Yuscius. Tony (1923-2009) was the son of Lithuanian-born Joseph and Marcella (Radavich) Yuscius. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Business, Coal mines and mining, Ethnic groups, Hotels & taverns, Lithuanians, Restaurants | 2 Comments

West End Brewery

Posted on May 26, 2014 by editor

Henry Long operated a brewery near present-day Fayette and Feldkamp streets in the late 1860s and early 1870s Long paid $2,500 for a 14-acre tract of land from Peter and George Miller on Sept. 22, 1865. The land, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Breweries, Business | 1 Comment

Population changes, 1830-2020

Posted on April 21, 2014 by editor

Below are U.S. Census population figures for Sangamon County as a whole beginning in 1830 and for the city of Springfield alone beginning in 1840. (The 1830 Census did not separate out figures for individual communities.) Racial designations below are … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Communities, Resources, Springfield | Leave a comment

James A. Stubbs masonry

Posted on April 19, 2014 by editor

James A. Stubbs (1864-1937) was a builder, brick and masonry contractor and landlord for 45 years in Springfield. His work was generally unmarked,  but many of his buildings still stand and are a distinctive part of the city’s fabric. Stubbs, … Continue reading →

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

Central Illinois Public Service Co.

Posted on March 5, 2014 by editor

The utility company now part of the utility conglomerate Ameren Illinois was founded in Mattoon as an electric streetcar line in 1902. The firm eventually moved into other businesses — electric generation and distribution and delivery of  natural gas, water … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Business, Department stores, Depression, Industry | 6 Comments

Armbruster Manufacturing Co.

Posted on March 5, 2014 by editor

Update: Armbruster Manufacturing Co. announced its permanent closure in February 2024. Many artifacts and documents from the company’s almost 150 years in business were donated to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.  In 1875, Rudolph Herman “R.H”. Armbruster broke away from … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Military, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co.

Posted on November 2, 2013 by editor

The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. (later Fiat-Allis and Fiatallis) made heavy construction equipment from 1928 until 1985 at a 70-acre plant between Sixth and 11th streets and Stanford Avenue and Stevenson Drive. At its peak in the 1960s, A-C employed about … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Military | 85 Comments

Abrams Hotel (1828 pioneers)

Posted on November 2, 2013 by editor

The Abrams Hotel was described as “the principal hotel of the city” in John Todd Stuart’s later reminiscence of 1828 Springfield. It was near the southeast corner of First and Jefferson streets and is No. 5 on the reconstructed map … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Hotels & taverns | Leave a comment

Ad Men’s Club

Posted on November 2, 2013 by editor

The Ad Men’s Club was formed in 1906. See Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

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Amrhein Bakery

Posted on November 2, 2013 by editor

Amrhein Bakery, founded in 1888 by Christoph Amrhein (1864-1935) operated first from a shop in downtown Springfield, but moved to Eighth Street and North Grand Avenue a few years later. Business grew to the point that Amrhein built a large … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry | Tagged | 4 Comments