Category Archives: Railroads

Springfield in 1912 (‘General Facts’)

Posted on November 12, 2014 by editor

Above is a page from Springfield: The Capital of the State of Illinois (1912), published by the Springfield Commercial Association, a forerunner of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps the most illuminating “general fact” to the modern reader is … Continue reading →

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Chatham railroad history

Posted on October 5, 2014 by editor

In the early 1800s, like many other places on what was then “the frontier,” lack of reliable transportation was an impediment to the growth of Sangamon County. The Sangamon River was an outlet to the Illinois River, but was too … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Communities, Historic Sites, Museums, Railroads, Transportation | Tagged | 5 Comments

The interurban railway

Posted on September 2, 2014 by editor

The Illinois Traction System, though originally an electric railway, was far more than a trolley. The ITS, also widely known as “the interurban” or “the traction,” was, in fact, a lifeline for many in central Illinois during the first half … Continue reading →

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Cornelius Flagg Farmstead, Sherman

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

                                                  Flagg Farmstead, 2013 (SCHS photo) The Flagg Farmstead , 500 Old Tipton Road in Sherman … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Buildings, Business, Historic Sites, Hotels & taverns, National Register, Prominent figures, Railroads | Leave a comment

Northern Cross Railroad

Posted on October 14, 2013 by editor

The Northern Cross Railroad, the first railroad in Illinois, briefly operated from Springfield to Meredosia, giving central Illinois long-coveted access to the Illinois River and then the Mississippi. The line was one of eight railroads called for in the state’s … Continue reading →

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Pawnee Railroad

Posted on October 13, 2013 by editor

As railroads became vital to community development in the late 19th century, Pawnee farmers and businessmen took the unusual step of financing and building their own rail link. The line originally ran west from Pawnee to connect to the north-south … Continue reading →

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Springfield in 1867 (map)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

Although not to scale, the 1867 bird’s-eye view of Springfield drawn by A. Ruger for the Chicago Lithographing Co. is considered accurate in its placement and depiction of city buildings and streets. Note that the map is oriented with north … Continue reading →

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Springfield Iron Co.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Iron Co. — better known as “the Rolling Mill” — produced railroad rails and other products at a 45-acre plant near 11th Street and Ridgely Avenue from 1872 until the early 1900s. More than 1,000 men worked at … Continue reading →

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Union Station

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Springfield’s Union Station is a former railroad passenger terminal that has been converted into a visitors center for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The station opened in 1898. … Continue reading →

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Wabash Railroad Employees Hospital

Posted on October 5, 2013 by editor

Wabash Railroad employees injured on the job were brought to Springfield for treatment from 1884 to 1902 at a hospital dedicated to them. The infirmary was established in the former James Conkling mansion at Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Public health, Railroads | Tagged , | 3 Comments