Category Archives: Local government

Elijah Iles House

Posted on October 24, 2013 by editor

The house pioneer merchant Elijah Iles is thought to have had built for his family near Sixth and Cook streets in the 1830s* now is a museum and display place for exhibits focused on Springfield history. Both Abraham Lincoln and … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Early residents, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Museums | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Thomas Cox (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 23, 2013 by editor

Thomas Cox (1787-1844) bought out the property of the John Kelley family to become one of the four original proprietors of Springfield in 1824. (The others were Elijah Iles, Pascal Enos and John Taylor.) Cox previously was a prominent resident … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Local government, Prominent figures | Tagged | Leave a comment

John Hay Homes

Posted on October 22, 2013 by editor

The John Hay Homes was a 599-unit public housing complex built in 1940 in Springfield and demolished in 1997. When built, the Hay Homes replaced a slum neighhborhood known as the Badlands, and the townhouse-style complex was designed for middle-class … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Local government, Parks, Prominent figures, Social services, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Mayor John ‘Buddy’ Kapp

Posted on October 21, 2013 by editor

John “Buddy” Kapp (1888-1978) served four terms as Springfield mayor, from 1931 to 1947, the longest mayoral tenure in city history.  One of his secrets? Kapp never forgot a name,  State Journal-Register reporter Mike Kienzler wrote in a profile of … Continue reading →

Posted in Law enforcement, Local government, Prominent figures, Springfield | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lake Springfield

Posted on October 21, 2013 by editor

Lake Springfield is a 4,000-acre artificial lake constructed by the city of Springfield in the early 1930s. The lake first reached full pool (560 feet above sea level) on May 2, 1935; it was dedicated in a three-day-long celebration in … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Prominent figures, Public health | 4 Comments

Charles Matheny (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 16, 2013 by editor

Charles R. Matheny (1786-1839), was a prominent political and religious leader in Sangamon County’s earliest days. Born in Virginia, Matheny was ordained a Methodist minister and studied law in Kentucky. He was elected to the Illinois territorial legislature from St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Early residents, Local government, Prominent figures | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mildred Park (Bunn Park)

Posted on October 14, 2013 by editor

Mildred Park had rides, a swimming, boating and fishing lagoon with a suspension bridge and other attractions. The area is now Bunn Park. The suspension bridge was the site of a near-tragedy on Aug. 16,1905, when one of its cables … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Disasters, Early residents, Local government, Parks, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Mordecai Mobley (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 14, 2013 by editor

Mordecai Mobley was an early merchant who had a store on Jefferson Street west of First Street, according to John Todd Stuart’s recollection of 1828 Springfield. (The store is listed as No. 11 on the reconstructed map of 1828 Springfield.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Prominent figures | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Oak Ridge Cemetery

Posted on October 14, 2013 by editor

Oak Ridge Cemetery was founded as about a 28-acre site in 1856. Dedication ceremonies were held on May 24, 1860, with the highlight being a lengthy, fulsome oration by James C. Conkling (1816-99). A sense of Conkling’s speaking style — … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Old Market House

Posted on October 13, 2013 by editor

A 1905 drawing by A.V. Arnold shows the Old City Market and City Jail, which were in the middle of Sixth Street between Washington and Jefferson streets. The offices of the Illinois State Journal are on the right, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Illustrations, Local government | Leave a comment