Monthly Archives: August 2014

Illinois Soil and Soy Bean Special

Posted on August 30, 2014 by editor

The Illinois Soil and Soy Bean Special was a six-car train that promoted expansion of soybean acreage in central Illinois in the spring of 1927. See Soybeans for more information.

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Soybeans

Posted on August 30, 2014 by editor

Soybeans, now the second-leading crop in Sangamon County (as they are in most of the Midwest), became a staple on county farms in the 1920s. The increase in soybean production already had been dramatic, but it had started from a … Continue reading →

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Lithuanian children at Palmer School, 1910s

Posted on August 22, 2014 by editor

Excerpted from “An Immigrant Childhood,” written by Ann Tisckos Wisnosky and republished on Sandy Baksys’ Lithuanians in Springfield web site.   When we started Palmer School, we were looked upon as “those foreign kids” and sometimes called names. Other ethnic groups … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Ethnic groups, Lithuanians, Schools and school districts | Tagged | 5 Comments

Elizabeth Brown Ide

Posted on August 14, 2014 by editor

Elizabeth Brown Ide (1873-1978), who was born into money and married more, could have been merely a socialite. Instead, she became Springfield’s most prominent children’s advocate during the early 20th century. Ide’s parents were Christopher Brown and Caroline Owsley Brown, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Medicine, Prominent figures, Public health, Social services, Springfield Survey, Women | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Virginia Eifert

Posted on August 8, 2014 by editor

Virginia Eifert (1911-66) was a self-taught naturalist, artist and newspaper columnist and the founding editor of The Living Museum, published by the Illinois State Museum, which she oversaw from 1939 until her death in 1966. She also was the author … Continue reading →

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Alja Crook (Illinois State Museum)

Posted on August 8, 2014 by editor

Alja Crook (1864-1930), as curator of the Illinois State Museum from 1906 until his death, is credited with bringing the Illinois State Museum into the 20th century. See entry on the Illinois State Museum. A brief biography also is here.

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Amos Worthen (Illinois State Museum)

Posted on August 8, 2014 by editor

Amos Worthen (1813-88) was Illinois state geologist and then the founding curator of what was then the Illinois State Historical Library and Natural History Museum. See entry on the Illinois State Museum; a memoir of Worthen’s life is here.

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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 →

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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

Desnoyer Brothers Shoe Company

Posted on August 7, 2014 by editor

The Desnoyer Brothers Shoe Company operated on North 11th Street for about seven years before the facility was taken over by the International Shoe Company.

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