Category Archives: Local government

Engine House 5 (“the colored firehouse”)

Posted on May 12, 2021 by editor

Engine House 5, 1310 E. Adams St., was known as Springfield’s “colored firehouse” from its construction in 1901 until after its fire company moved to a new building in 1954. “The Springfield Fire Department routinely gave Five the worst of … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Buildings, Local government, Markers | Leave a comment

Cotton Hill

Posted on April 23, 2021 by editor

Cotton Hill was the only community wiped from the map by the construction of Lake Springfield in the 1930s. But there wasn’t much there to begin with. The Illinois State Journal explained the origin of Cotton Hill in an editorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Local government, Parks | 9 Comments

Salvation Army band arrested, 1887

Posted on March 4, 2021 by editor

Springfield police arrested all 16 members of the Salvation Army Band in July 1887, after a frightened horse careened down Sixth Street, leaving chaos in its wake. The Illinois State Register described the incident, which took place about 8 p.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Local government, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

New Year’s 1921

Posted on December 29, 2020 by editor

What was on the minds of Sangamon County residents for New Year’s 1921? Potholes. For its special New Year’s coverage on Sunday, Jan. 2, 1921, the Illinois State Journal asked 47 “prominent citizens” (not surprisingly for the time, all were … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Business, Celebrations, Journalism, Law enforcement, Local government, Prominent figures, Social life, Transportation | Leave a comment

Boys’ Week parade, 1922

Posted on November 14, 2020 by editor

Boys’ Week 1922 culminated May 5 with a mile-long parade through downtown Springfield. Boy Scouts, who had “governed” the city the entire week before, led the march, which also involved non-Scouts from every local school, public and private, joined by … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Children, Local government, Photos and photosets, Social life, Spectacles | Leave a comment

Old Capitol restoration, 1960s

Posted on October 27, 2020 by editor

Before the Old State Capitol was restored to the way it looked in the 1850s, the building housed Springfield’s public restrooms. You could tell by the odor. Earl “Wally” Henderson (1931-2016), co-founder with Don Ferry of the Ferry & Henderson … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, First Citizens, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, Local government, Museums, National Register, Prominent figures, Sangamon County, State government | Leave a comment

Iron Spring, Washington Park

Posted on October 16, 2020 by editor

The Iron Spring in Washington Park originally poured forth from a sandstone cave at the foot of a steep clay bluff. Cattle drank its water. But when Washington Park opened in 1901, the spring was one of its earliest attractions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Sites, Local government, Markers, Parks, Social life, Sports and recreation | Leave a comment

Founding of Douglas Park, 1921

Posted on September 22, 2020 by editor

The Springfield Park Board bought the property that became Douglas Park (later Duncan Park) in September 1920, but there was a problem with developing the new land: the neighborhood stank.* The park district paid $20,000 to buy the 26-acre “Enos … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Parks, Public health | 5 Comments

Harry Eielson’s miracle touchdown, 1918

Posted on May 30, 2020 by editor

Harry Eielson was a dominant athlete in high school and college. The Springfield High School basketball team, with Eielson as captain, won the 1917 state championship. Eielson took first place in pole vault at the 1915-16 state track meet, setting … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | 3 Comments

Smallpox and Springfield’s ‘pest house,’ 1901-02

Posted on May 13, 2020 by editor

This entry has been edited and expanded to reflect questions about whether there really was a smallpox “epidemic”in Sangamon County in 1901-02. When a smallpox scare broke out in Springfield in 1901, the Springfield City Council decided to build a “pest … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Local government, Maps, Medicine, Public health | Leave a comment