Category Archives: Transportation

‘How We Come to School’ — Pleasant Plains High School, 1924

Posted on March 19, 2015 by editor

Page 68 of The Anchor, the yearbook of Pleasant Plains Township High School’s class of 1924, suggested most students commuted to school via horseback or buggy, though a few groups posed with automobiles. The class will, below, suggests high school … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Education, Schools and school districts, Transportation | Leave a comment

‘The mule line’

Posted on March 6, 2015 by editor

“The mule line” railroad ran between Mechanicsburg and Buffalo from 1882 until the early 1900s. See entry on Mechanicsburg.

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Sangamon County in 1837

Posted on January 6, 2015 by editor

The following description of Sangamon County is taken from Illinois in 1837: A Sketch by H.L. Ellsworth (Philadelphia, 1837); spelling and punctuation from the original. Note that, two years after this was written, the Illinois General Assembly reduced Sangamon County … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Histories, Maps, Resources, Sangamon County, Sangamon River, Soil, Transportation | Leave a comment

Henry M. Lutz (Capital Airport, Franklin Life)

Posted on December 17, 2014 by editor

See Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.

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Cadillac garage, 1912 (photo)

Posted on November 12, 2014 by editor

L. Lee Savage sold Cadillacs in Springfield from 1911 into 1914. His first dealership was at 312 W. Washington St. This photo, from 1912, shows Savage’s second location at Fifth Street and Lawrence Avenue. The Cadillac Co. of Springfield took … Continue reading →

Posted in Auto dealers, Business, Photos and photosets, Transportation | Leave a comment

Chatham railroad history

Posted on October 5, 2014 by editor

In the early 1800s, like many other places on what was then “the frontier,” lack of reliable transportation was an impediment to the growth of Sangamon County. The Sangamon River was an outlet to the Illinois River, but was too … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Communities, Historic Sites, Museums, Railroads, Transportation | Tagged | 5 Comments

The interurban railway

Posted on September 2, 2014 by editor

The Illinois Traction System, though originally an electric railway, was far more than a trolley. The ITS, also widely known as “the interurban” or “the traction,” was, in fact, a lifeline for many in central Illinois during the first half … Continue reading →

Posted in Railroads, Transportation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Noah Roll (slain police officer)

Posted on August 7, 2014 by editor

Police Officer Noah Roll was attempting to protect two streetcars from a mob at Ninth Street and North Grand Avenue about 9:15 p.m. Aug. 7, 1917, when he was struck in the head by two shots fired by someone on … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and vice, Labor unions, Law enforcement, Local government, Transportation | Leave a comment

General strike, 1917

Posted on August 7, 2014 by editor

Union members shut down mines, railroads, bakeries, restaurants, laundries and construction sites across Sangamon County in September 1917 following the violent breakup by police and the Illinois state militia of a pro-labor march. The march — for which city officials … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor unions, Law enforcement, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Transportation, Women | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Springfield Ceramics and Crafts Club

Posted on May 22, 2014 by editor

The Springfield Ceramics and Crafts Club was founded on May 21, 1924, as the Springfield Ceramics Club. The charter membership was made up of 12 women, and the first president was Mrs. Lewis Minor, who had inspired the startup at … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Prominent figures, Transportation | 1 Comment