Category Archives: Business

Springfield Furniture Co.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Furniture Co. was formed in 1890. Original directors included such Springfield luminaries as George Black, C.C. Brown, Alfred Orendorff, John McCreery and George Pasfield. Prospects seemed good, the new board was told, “as almost every factory of any … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry | Tagged | 4 Comments

Springfield Iron Co.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Iron Co. — better known as “the Rolling Mill” — produced railroad rails and other products at a 45-acre plant near 11th Street and Ridgely Avenue from 1872 until the early 1900s. More than 1,000 men worked at … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Railroads | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Marine Bank (original)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

Springfield Marine Bank, originally chartered as the Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co. in 1851 and now part of JPMorgan Chase, is the oldest banking institution in Illinois. Abraham Lincoln banked at Marine. Original stockholders included Jacob Bunn Sr., Robert Irwin, John Williams, Stephen T. … Continue reading →

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Springfield Motor Car Co.

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

Only about 10 Springfield Motor Cars — “the made-to-order car for 300 exacting people” — were produced in 1909 and 1910, most from a third-floor assembly plant in downtown Springfield. The undoubted high point of the company’s existence was when … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Transportation | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Springfield street car service

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

Both the Capital Railway Co. and the Springfield City Railway Co. began horse-drawn trolley service in 1866, according to the History of Springfield, Illinois, Its Attractions as a Home and Advantage for Business, written by John Carroll Power in 1871. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Transportation | Tagged | 6 Comments

Springfield Woolen Mills

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Woolen Mills produced woolen cloth and textiles for Central Illinois and consumers around the United States.  The mills operated from 1834 until 1906. For much of that time, the operation was housed in a three-story brick plant on … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Industry, Mills, Prominent figures | 3 Comments

Street car ‘war’ of 1890

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

Springfield’s street car “war” of 1890 actually consisted of several months’ worth of legal and political maneuvering between two local street car operators, although a brief confrontation on Spring Street did leave the president of one of the companies with … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Local government, Transportation | Tagged | 2 Comments

Torrence Mill

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

The Torrence Mill, one of the last watermills to operate in Sangamon County, was on the South Fork of the Sangamon River in Cotton Hill Township, north of modern-day New City Road. The Torrence Mill dates to the late 1830s. … Continue reading →

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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

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