Monthly Archives: December 2022

First snowplow (1918)

Posted on December 30, 2022 by editor

Springfield’s first motorized snowplow arrived five days late. A massive blizzard, carrying heavy snow, powerful winds and temperatures as low as 20 below, struck the city on Friday, Jan. 11, 1918. Springfield already was under a blanket of snow, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Local government, Transportation, Weather | Leave a comment

Riverton High School boys basketball, 1949-50

Posted on December 13, 2022 by editor

Frank Santarelli assembled what turned out to be a great Riverton boys basketball team on a cold November afternoon in 1949. Santarelli, himself a Riverton alumnus, coached the Hawks from 1935 through 1942 and 1946 through 1957. The 1949-50 team … Continue reading →

Posted in Prominent figures, Sports and recreation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Roberts Brothers (men’s clothing)

Posted on December 11, 2022 by editor

In the cold, early morning hours of December 12, 1974, smoke billowed from the roof of Roberts Brothers clothing store in downtown Springfield. A fire had started on the second floor, and the Springfield Fire Department was alerted when a … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Department stores, Prominent figures | 6 Comments

Jesse L. McCoy, WWII “daggerman”

Posted on December 5, 2022 by editor

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Jesse L. McCoy of Springfield converted a ceremonial sword once used by a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows into a couple of daggers. By the time he and World War II were finished, … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Media, Military, Prominent figures | Leave a comment