Category Archives: Business

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 | 2 Comments

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

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 →

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Henrietta Ulrich, businesswoman

Posted on May 25, 2025 by editor

Henrietta Ulrich, the story goes, sold her fabulous pearl necklace to buy what became the near west side of Springfield. Sadly, the story probably isn’t true. As a young woman, Ulrich (1797-1887) hobnobbed with Russian aristocrats and married into German … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Germans, Prominent figures, Women | Leave a comment

C.W. Post, creator of the breakfast cereal busineess

Posted on March 8, 2025 by editor

Springfield native Charles W. Post created the breakfast cereal industry and made a fortune. He was charismatic and innovative. He also suffered from lifelong illnesses, physical and mental, that both contributed to his success and eventually drove him to suicide. … Continue reading →

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Springfield market house, 1832-1880

Posted on January 7, 2025 by editor

When residents of early Springfield wanted fresh meat or vegetables, the city market house was the place to go. But you had to get up early. City fathers decided in 1832 to build a market house, a central point where … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, Early residents, Grocery markets, Local government, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Milk dumping protest, 1938

Posted on September 21, 2024 by editor

With negotiations at a standstill in November 1938, militant farmers ambushed four dairy delivery trucks and dumped thousands of gallons of milk on Sangamon County highways. The protest lasted only a day, squelched by court action and lack of support … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Farming | Leave a comment