Monthly Archives: July 2018

Army Air Force depot, Illinois State Fairgrounds (WWII)

Posted on July 18, 2018 by editor

Livestock moved out of the Illinois State Fairgrounds with the start of World War II, and soldiers moved in. The U.S. Army Air Force took over the fairgrounds in March 1942 and operated a supply depot and training facility there … Continue reading →

Posted in Military | 8 Comments

First African-American juror in Sangamon County

Posted on July 13, 2018 by editor

The first black person to serve on a jury in Sangamon County may have been Thomas Flynn, a barber, on March 18, 1873. Flynn wasn’t the first African-American called to jury service in the county, but an earlier attempt – … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Ethnic groups, Journalism, Law enforcement, Prominent figures | 2 Comments

Record-setting heat wave, 1936

Posted on July 8, 2018 by editor

The worst heat wave ever in Sangamon County – 12 straight days when temperatures reached 100 degrees or more – killed 33 people in July 1936. The stretch of torrid weather began on the Fourth of July and continued through … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Weather | 1 Comment

Collective bargaining in state government (1973)

Posted on July 1, 2018 by editor

Gov. Dan Walker granted bargaining rights to 60,000 state workers in 1973, kicking off an organizing battle between two labor organizations with very different approaches to state employee advancement. In signing his executive order on Sept. 4, 1973, Walker said … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor unions, State government | Leave a comment