Category Archives: Ethnic groups

Lithuanian marker, Enos Park

Posted on October 16, 2013 by editor

Drawn by coal mine jobs, several thousand Lithuanians emigrated to Sangamon County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Enough of the immigrants had arrived by 1908 that they laid the cornerstone for  their own national Catholic church, St. … Continue reading →

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Lucretia (‘Aunt Cressy’) Moore (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 14, 2013 by editor

Lucretia (“Aunt Cressy” or “Aunt Creecy”) Moore, “a woman of colour,” paid $25 to buy a lot at the northeast corner of Fourth and Washington streets from Elijah Iles in 1827. John Todd Stuart remembered her living there in 1828. … Continue reading →

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Paving crew, early 1900s (photo)

Posted on October 13, 2013 by editor

A paving crew, nearly all African Americans, installs brick paving in the 300 block of East Lawrence Avenue. The work apparently took place sometime after 1904, since the Dana-Thomas House (then Susan Lawrence Dana’s home), far left, appears to be … Continue reading →

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Race riot deaths

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

The Springfield race riot of Aug. 14-15, 1908 was unique in that more whites died than blacks. “This was due no doubt to the armed blacks, defending themselves and their interests in the Levee,” reported Carole Merritt in Something So … Continue reading →

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Race riot of 1908

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

Update: On Aug. 16, 2024, President Joe Biden designated an area along Springfield’s 10th Street railroad tracks the Springfield Race Riot National Monument. The new monument takes in the remains of five homes destroyed during the riot. The structures were … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Disasters, Fever River, Historic Sites, Law enforcement, Markers, Race riot of 1908, Resources, Springfield | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Abraham Raymer (1908 race riot)

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

Charges against Abraham Raymer, 20, served as test cases to determine whether Sangamon County juries would convict anyone of serious crimes resulting from the the Springfield race riot on Aug. 14-15, 1908. The answer, authorities ultimately decided, was “No”. Raymer … Continue reading →

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George Richardson (1908 race riot)

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

George Richardson was a black man who was falsely accused of sexually assaulting Mabel Hallam, the white wife of a streetcar conductor, on Aug. 13, 1908. The allegation, reported in sensational fashion by local newspapers, helped instigate the Springfield race … Continue reading →

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Julius Rosenwald

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

This entry has been revised in light of new efforts to recognize Julius Rosenwald’s charitable and other contributions on both the local and national levels. Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932), a Springfield native, teamed with Richard Sears to build Sears, Roebuck & … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures, Schools and school districts, Social services | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mack, Frank and Mary “Polly” Shelby

Posted on October 8, 2013 by editor

Mack and Frank Shelby, ages 27 and 29, respectively, bought a lot at the southwest corner of Third and Washington streets in 1826, according to the Early African American Population of Springfield Illinois by Richard E. Hart (2008). Mack was … Continue reading →

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Temple B’rith Sholom

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Temple B’rith Sholom, Springfield’s Reform synagogue, began with 19 members in 1858. Originally called the Springfield Jewish Congregation, the group first met in a third-floor room at 216 S. Sixth St. It later moved to Hart’s Hall at 221 S. … Continue reading →

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