Search Results for: myers brothers

A.C. Littlejohn fraud and suicide

Posted on June 13, 2018 by editor

Angus Littlejohn, once a pillar of Springfield’s business community, spent three years in the 1930s trying to recoup his reputation and keep himself out of prison. He failed. On the morning of July 2, 1938, five minutes before he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Crime and vice, Law enforcement, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Fallout shelters in Sangamon County

Posted on May 16, 2018 by editor

On April 5, 1964, about 150 people moved into the sleek, white-tiled tunnels below the State Office Building. They were to remain there for 25 hours, drinking purified water and munching biscuits, while loudspeakers blared warnings and audio recordings simulated … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Communications, Illinois capital, Local government, Maps, Public health | 9 Comments

Mother’s Day begins, 1910

Posted on May 5, 2017 by editor

A proclamation by Gov. Charles Deneen in 1910 made Illinois one of the first eight states to officially designate the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. The idea had been first promoted by a Philadelphia woman, Anna Jarvis, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Family life, Women | Leave a comment

Boston Store fire, 1915

Posted on November 30, 2016 by editor

What was thought to be Springfield’s most disastrous fire ever, up to that point, demolished The Boston Store on the east side of the downtown square on Dec. 7, 1915. The Boston Store was part of a loosely affiliated chain … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Department stores, Disasters, Fires, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Most costly fires in Springfield, 1904-48

Posted on November 30, 2016 by editor

The following list of the most destructive fires in Springfield history was published in the May 3, 1948, Illinois State Journal. The list is based solely on the amount of property damage. Damage estimates are not adjusted for inflation. Preliminary … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Department stores, Disasters, Fires | 6 Comments

Downtown business map, 1913

Posted on August 19, 2016 by editor

The Oct. 7 and 8, 1913, editions of the Illinois State Register, published during the Illinois State Fair (then held in the fall) included a map of the area surrounding Springfield’s courthouse square that showed many of the city’s downtown … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Illustrations, Maps | 8 Comments

Oriental Cafe

Posted on June 1, 2016 by editor

The Oriental Café was Springfield’s most popular Chinese restaurant for more than 40 years – and, when it closed in 1955, the only one. The café, on the second floor of the buildings at 424 and 426 E. Monroe St., … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Prominent figures, Restaurants, Social life | 1 Comment

Richard Kinsella (baseball scout, team owner)

Posted on December 3, 2015 by editor

Richard “Sinister Dick” Kinsella (1862-1939) was a semi-pro baseball player, owner of Springfield’s Three-I League team and a well-known local politician. But he was famous nationally as the right-hand man of John J. McGraw, the Hall of Fame manager of … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Local government, Media | 2 Comments

Index K-O

Posted on October 8, 2015 by editor

K Mayor John ‘Buddy’ Kapp Alex Karon Augusta Kellogg The Kelly family  John J.H. Kelly (Medal of Honor) Dr. Alonzo Kenniebrew (physician) Kerasotes Theatres Leroy Key, Andersonville hero The Kickapoo  Thomas S.W. Kidd (publisher) Killing of police detective, 1938 Legh … Continue reading →

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Springfield Glove Co., 1912 (photo)

Posted on March 27, 2015 by editor

The Springfield Glove Co. employed about 15 people, most of them women, when this photo was taken for publication in Springfield: The Capital of the State of Illinois, published by the Springfield Commercial Association in 1912. Springfield Glove opened for … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Women | Leave a comment