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See The Extraordinary Ordinary, 113 W. Mulberry St., Chatham.

Sgt. James Rollman was a member of the Sangamon County-based Unit W of the U.S. Medical Service during World War I. He died of influenza in 1918. See Flu epidemic, 1918-20.

Unit W, formed by Dr. D.M. Ottis of Springfield, was part of the U.S. Medical Service during World War I. See Flu epidemic, 1918-20.

Edward Stapleton operated a weekly rodeo from 1927 until the 1940s west of New Berlin. See New Berlin rodeo.

Springfield’s former YWCA building, on the verge of demolition, was built in the afterglow of evangelist Billy Sunday’s six-week-long local revival in early 1909. In his colorful way, Sunday had called out Springfield on its lack of attention to women’s … Continue reading →

Preston Butler, a daguerrotypist, made four frequently viewed images of businesses surrounding what now is the Old Capitol square in 1859. See Springfield square, 1859.

In an 1889 letter to the Illinois State Journal, African-American Civil War veteran Isaac Gaskin of Springfield detailed his experiences as a Confederate prisoner following his capture during the Battle of the Crater in 1864. See Black Civil War veteran’s … Continue reading →

Wil-Hold Hair Setting Bob Pins were made at a plant at 10th and Miller streets from 1950 to 1959. See Bobby pin manufacturer.

James Hayes was hung in the yard of the Sangamon County Jail on Dec. 17, 1927. See Last execution in Sangamon County.

Famed aviator Jimmy Doolittle almost crashed his plane into the unlit Statehouse dome in the early 1930s. See Statehouse dome lighting.