Author Archives: editor

Sparrow slaughter, 1891-1901

Posted on August 23, 2025 by editor

Illinois had a bounty on English sparrows from 1891 to 1901. The birds endured, but the bounty was a bonanza for young boys with BB guns. The English sparrow (also known as the house sparrow), was introduced in the U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Animals, Children, Farming, Local government, Science | 1 Comment

The automobile as ‘devil wagon’ – Illinois State Register, 1907

Posted on August 13, 2025 by editor

The Illinois State Register, in an editorial published on Friday, Nov. 8, 1907, reluctantly admitted “the automobile has doubtless come to stay.” But the writer – probably the Register’s longtime editor, Henry W. Clendenin (1837-1927) – wasn’t happy about it. … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Business, Communications, Journalism, Media, Politics, Prominent figures, Transportation | 4 Comments

Kiddie Land amusement park

Posted on August 7, 2025 by editor

Kiddie Land was Springfield’s home-grown amusement park in the 1950s and ‘60s. On opening day, May 27, 1950, every child received a balloon, and rides – on the merry-go-round, ponies, boats and a fire engine – cost 13 cents each, … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Business, Children, Parks, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Illinois State Fair beer ban, 1953-74

Posted on August 5, 2025 by editor

Acting on complaints from church groups and parents, the administration of Gov. William G. Stratton prohibited the sale of beer at the 1953 Illinois State Fair. The ban on beer, as well as on any other alcoholic beverage, remained in … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Illinois capital, Illinois State Fair, Social life, State government | Leave a comment

Pillsbury, 1940: 100 steps between wheat & flour (illustration)

Posted on July 29, 2025 by editor

The Pillsbury Flour Mills Co. celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Springfield plant with, among other things, this advertisement in the Feb. 29, 1940, edition of the Illinois State Register. As this entry is written in summer 2025, the plant, … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Illustrations, Industry | Leave a comment

‘Bee-Keeping for Women’ (1909) by Louisa C. Kennedy

Posted on July 20, 2025 by editor

John A. (1808-92) and Elizabeth Kennedy (1812-92) moved with their six children from Pennsylvania in 1860 and took up farming in the Curran area. For some period of time, possibly beginning as soon as the Kennedys arrived in Sangamon County, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, Early residents, Farming, Women | Leave a comment

Peter Vredenburgh Lumber Co. & its Alabama company town

Posted on July 16, 2025 by editor

The Vredenburgh family operated lumber businesses in Springfield for 145 years. One of the main reasons for the Vredenburghs’ success, though overlooked in Springfield, was the logging empire the Vredenburghs built in the forests of southern Alabama. That venture even … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Industry, Mills, Prominent figures | 1 Comment

Rev. Billious Pond and the Farmington abolitionists

Posted on July 5, 2025 by editor

The Rev. Billious Pond (1781-1874) was the spiritual leader of a band of abolitionists who traveled from Vermont to western Sangamon County in 1833. Local historian Richard Hart compiled their history in his pamphlet Lincoln’s Springfield: the Underground Railroad, published … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, Churches, Communities, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Henry Stephens: miner, Carl Sandburg muse

Posted on June 28, 2025 by editor

Henry Stephens was an African-American coal miner in central Illinois from the 1890s into the early 20th century. Poet Carl Sandburg talked to Stephens sometime around 1917 and turned Stephens’ thoughts about racism in the mines and the need for … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts and letters, Coal mines and mining, Labor unions, Prominent figures, Theaters | Leave a comment

Charles Coe, “Texas immigration agent”

Posted on June 23, 2025 by editor

Charles C. Coe took an unusual approach to his Springfield real estate business: he tried to get people to leave town. Coe  (1860-1926) worked in central Illinois from about 1901 until 1920, billing himself in city directories as “Real Estate … Continue reading →

Posted in Business | Leave a comment