Monthly Archives: October 2013

John Bressmer Co.

The John W. Bressmer Co. was founded as a dry goods store in 1861 and later expanded into a full-fledged department store, selling men’s and women’s clothing, furniture and household items. With Myers Brothers, it was one of downtown Springfield’s … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Business, Department stores, Disasters, Historic Sites, National Register, Prominent figures | 14 Comments

Bridgeview Beach, 1942 (photo)

Beaches at Lake Springfield were segregated until 1952. The Lake Springfield Beach, near Lindsay Bridge, was open only to whites. African-Americans were restricted to using Bridgevew Beach, which was on the south side of the lake. Utilities Com. John Hunter … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Amusements, Local government, Sports and recreation | 7 Comments

Clayville Historic Site

See Broadwell Inn.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Broadwell Inn

Moses Broadwell (1764-1827), a Revolutionary War veteran, moved to Sangamon County with his family in 1820 and settled along Richland Creek, a mile east of the present-day community of Pleasant Plains. There they built a home and a traveler’s inn … Continue reading

Posted in Buildings, Early residents, First Citizens, Historic Sites, Hotels & taverns, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Rev. Henry Brown

Rev. Henry Brown (1823-1906) was an African Methodist Episcopal preacher in Springfield and elsewhere. He worked in various capacities for the Abraham Lincoln family and led “Old Bob,” the Lincoln family horse, in President Lincoln’s funeral procession. He also was … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Churches, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Bunn family

Grocer Jacob Bunn Sr. (1814-97) and his younger brother John Whitfield Bunn (1831-1920) began a family whose energy and initiative have helped mold Springfield for more than 150 years.  Their business interests have ranged from the original Springfield Marine Bank … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Early residents, First Citizens, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Bunn School cooking class, 1910 (photo)

A cooking class at Bunn School, circa 1910. The school was at 12th and Division streets. (Photo: Sangamon Valley Collection)

Posted in Education, Photos and photosets, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bunn-O-Matic Corp.

George Regan Bunn (1915-2002), while managing the Capitol Wholesale Grocery Co. in the mid-1950s, started a division dedicated to coffee brewing equipment. In 1957, he perfected the world’s first flat-bottomed fluted paper coffee filter, a step that revolutionized coffee brewing, … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Industry, Prominent figures | 4 Comments

Business Men’s Association

See Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Posted in Business | Leave a comment

Camp Dunne, 1916 (photo)

This entry was corrected and expanded in 2024. Camp Dunne was a temporary mustering facility at the Illinois State Fairgrounds prior to the United States’ entry into World War I during the military callup that followed Pancho Villa’s raid of … Continue reading

Posted in Military, Photos and photosets | Tagged | Leave a comment