Category Archives: Uncategorized

J. Frank Prather was important to the development of shorthorn cattle in Sangamon County, in Illinois and in the U.S. He owned the Price-Prather House, a National Register of Historic Places site in Williamsville, from 1882 until 1927. See Price-Prather … Continue reading →

Springfield voters defeated a proposal to create a city community college by a 5-1 margin in 1961. See Lincoln Land Community College founding.

George Hoffmann was a lawyer and civic leader who led a decade-long effort to expand higher education in Springfield. He received the Copley First Citizen award in 1969. See Lincoln Land Community College founding.

The Caldwell School in Thayer, like that in Chatham, was named after the school’s major benefactor, U.S. Rep. Ben F. Caldwell. Both schools also had an unfortunate history of fires. For more on the Thayer school, see Edith Martin, teacher … Continue reading →

The Caldwell State Bank, founded by Ben F. Caldwell, operated in Chatham from 1879 until the early 1930s. See Ben F. Caldwell: politician, farmer banker.

The Caldwell Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in the 1870s for Ben F. Caldwell. See Ben F. Caldwell: politician, farmer, banker.

Caldwell School was at Main and Walnut streets in Chatham from 1895 to 1964. See Ben F. Caldwell: politician, farmer, banker.

Football great Red Grange faced an unpleasant welcome to Springfield when he accompanied runners to the city during the 1928 Transcontinental Foot Race.

The Bunn Park Beach, Springfield’s first public beach, operated from 1916 until 1928. See Women’s bathing suit controversy, 1916.

Harriett Reid was a suffragist, progressive and labor and civic activist in Springfield during the 1910s. Her application to become an workers’ compensation arbitrator with the Illinois Industrial Commission established the precedent that women could not be discriminated against in … Continue reading →