Category Archives: Transportation

Edwards Trace

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

Update (November 2024): The most complete information on the Edwards Trace is available at rabbitsrow.com, a website created by Trace researchers Luke Moore, David Brady and Tracy Garrison. It includes: their paper on the history and route of the Trace; … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Native Americans, Transportation | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Fatal racing accident, 1910 Illinois State Fair

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

Driver LaRue Vredenburgh (1882-1910) died in this crash during auto racing at the 1910 Illinois State Fair. The car, a green Stoddard-Dayton characterized as “one of the prettiest running cars on the track,” was traveling 60 mph when it went … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports and recreation, Transportation | Tagged , | 5 Comments

The Grand Avenues

Posted on October 26, 2013 by editor

Springfield’s four Grand Avenues — North Grand, South Grand, East Grand and West Grand — made their first appearance in Springfield city directories in 1866. (South Grand Avenue existed earlier, under the name “Township Avenue.”) West Grand Avenue was renamed … Continue reading →

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

First railroad engineer

Posted on October 26, 2013 by editor

George Gregory (1808-88) was the engineer on the first locomotive to enter Springfield on Feb.  15, 1842. Gregory, a native of Derbyshire, England, immigrated with his wife Sarah to the U.S. in 1832 and arrived in central Illinois in 1836. … Continue reading →

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Charles Lindbergh’s airmail flights

Posted on October 16, 2013 by editor

Before Charles Lindbergh became famous for his nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, he flew the U.S. mail between Springfield, Chicago and St. Louis for the Robertson Aircraft Corporation. The first official flight, piloted by Lindbergh, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Air travel, Airport, Prominent figures, Spectacles, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Guy Mathis

Posted on October 16, 2013 by editor

Guy Mathis (1866-1932) was a ground-breaking photographer and automobile entrepreneur in Springfield. Mathis is best remembered today for his photography.  In addition to opening the city’s first camera shop in the late 18990s, Mathis took hundreds of photos himself, with … Continue reading →

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Northern Cross Railroad

Posted on October 14, 2013 by editor

The Northern Cross Railroad, the first railroad in Illinois, briefly operated from Springfield to Meredosia, giving central Illinois long-coveted access to the Illinois River and then the Mississippi. The line was one of eight railroads called for in the state’s … Continue reading →

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Paving crew, early 1900s (photo)

Posted on October 13, 2013 by editor

A paving crew, nearly all African Americans, installs brick paving in the 300 block of East Lawrence Avenue. The work apparently took place sometime after 1904, since the Dana-Thomas House (then Susan Lawrence Dana’s home), far left, appears to be … Continue reading →

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Pawnee Railroad

Posted on October 13, 2013 by editor

As railroads became vital to community development in the late 19th century, Pawnee farmers and businessmen took the unusual step of financing and building their own rail link. The line originally ran west from Pawnee to connect to the north-south … Continue reading →

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Route 66

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

  Historic U.S. Route 66, which ran from Chicago to California beginning in the 1920s, went through Sangamon County. Traveling north to south, Route 66 entered the county near Williamsville and traveled through Sherman to Springfield. The highway then took … Continue reading →

Posted in Route 66, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments