Category Archives: Fever River

Robert Rudolph

Posted on October 22, 2013 by editor

Robert Rudolph (1824-68) was a master brewer who came into his fortune when he married Rosa Kun, the widow of Rudolph’s former employer, Andrew Kun, in 1864. Two years later, the Rudolphs built a lavish Italianate mansion at 511 W. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Breweries, Business, Fever River, Industry, Prominent figures, Theaters | 2 Comments

Springfield Brewery

Posted on October 22, 2013 by editor

The earliest recorded brewery in Springfield was started in 1840 by James Busher. Busher and his brother John emigrated from their native England and settled in Springfield in 1839. The brothers were tanners by trade, or at least worked in … Continue reading →

Posted in Breweries, Business, Early residents, Fever River, Industry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Kun Brewery

Posted on October 21, 2013 by editor

During its heyday, the Kun Brewery was one of the most prominent in the city, and one of its flamboyant brewmaster/owners erected a locally famed mansion at Walnut and Carpenter streets. Though long forgotten, the brewery came to light, literally, … Continue reading →

Posted in Breweries, Business, Fever River, Prominent figures | 11 Comments

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

Reisch Brewing Co.

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

The Reisch Brewing Co., which operated (with a few interruptions) from 1849 to 1966 on Springfield’s north end, remains the best-known of Springfield’s many 19th- and early 20th-century breweries. Bottles, cans, labels and other mementoes of the Reisch operation are … Continue reading →

Posted in Breweries, Business, Fever River, Industry, Prominent figures | Tagged , | 5 Comments

The Sunshine School

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

The Sunshine School, housed on the north side of Springfield High School, was an early special education facility. It also was part of a nationwide effort to combat diseases such as tuberculosis. Many school districts across the country hosted similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Fever River | Tagged | Leave a comment

West Side Capitol Neighborhood (Fever River report)

Posted on October 4, 2013 by editor

The West Side Capitol neighborhood, an area  of Springfield running west of the Statehouse, is one of five areas of Springfield that have been exhaustively studied by Fever River Research of Springfield. The resulting reports  are extraordinarily informative historical and … Continue reading →

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