History of Springfield, Illinois, USA

1819 - Springfield, Illinois founded

wikipedia.org

1854 - Springfield
Springfield, a flourishing post-town, capital of the State of Illinois, and seat of justice of Sangamon county, is situated 3 miles S. from Sangamon river, 9(i miles N. X. E. from St. Louis, 70 miles S. from Peoria, and 230 miles S. W. from Chicago. It is regularly planned, with wide, straight streets, having a public square in the centre, on which is situated the state house and other public buildings. The town contains a court house, 3 banks, a United States land-office, churches of various denominations, several academies, and hotels. Five or six newspapers are published hero. Since the seat of government was established here in 1840, it has become a flourishing commercial town. At this point the Chicago and Mississippi railroad intersects the Great Western Central railroad, which extends from the Mississippi river across the state to Indiana. The western division of this line, ex tending from Springfield to the Illinois river, 55 miles, has been in operation several years, under... Read MORE...

1871 - Lincoln monument progress
The Lincoln monument, at Springfield, Ill., is about half done, and will be completed and dedicated on the 4th of next July.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 7, 1871

1873 - DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
Chicago, Ill., Jan. 10. - The St. Nicholas Hotel, of Springfield, was damaged by fire, last night, to the extent of $80,000. The loss on furniture by fire and waster is about $6,000. The building was owned by H. S. & M. Hubbell, of Buffalo, N. Y., and the furniture by John McCreery, the proprietor of the hotel. The loss on the furniture is fully covered by insurance in the following companies: Royal, of Springfield, Ill.; Fire and Marine, and German-American, of New-York; North British, Mercantile and Franklin. The insurance on the building more than covers the loss, and is in the following companies: German-American, North British, Mercantile, Underwriters' Agency, Franklin, Orient, Hartford, and Home, of New-York.
The New York Times
New York, New York
January 11, 1873

1887 - April 10 - President Abraham Lincoln's re-buried with his wife in Springfield Il

historyorb.com

1895 - Springfield
Springfield, a city, capital of the state of Illinois, and seat of justice of Sangamon co., is situated 4 miles S. of the Sangamon River, 96 miles N.N.E. of St. Louis, Mo., 80 miles S. of Peoria, and 185 miles S.W. of Chicago. Lat. 39° 48' N.; lon. 89° 33' W. It is regularly planned, with wide, straight streets, having a public square, in the cent" of which stands the court-house, surrounded on four sides by massive blocks of business houses. The city contains the state-house, one of the finest public buildings in the Union, costing $5,000,000, a state arsenal, a handsome and substantial post-office and court-house, which cost $300,000, a fine city hall, several first-class hotels, 40 churches, 2 colleges, 2 academies, 3 convents, 2 insurance companies, and 7 banks. Five daily and 8 weekly newspapers and 2 month. lies are published here. Springfield became the seat of the state government in 1837, and in 1840 was made a city. It is on the Chicago & Alton Railroad at its intersection... Read MORE...

1895 - Blizzard - THE STORM STILL HOVERS OVER THE UNITED STATES. IT IS SEVEREST IN THE EAST. TRAFFIC ALMOST ENTIRELY AT A STANDSTILL -- RAILROAD TRAINS BLOCKADED -- BUSINESS PARALYZED -- PEOPLE FROZEN TO DEATH AT SEVERAL PLACES...
...Trains Stuck In The Snow.
Springfield, Ill., Feb. 9. - The lowest temperature was registered yesterday by the government thermometer since 1879, with the exception of January 5, 1884, when it was 22 degrees below. Railroad service is badly crippled. The Wabash is the greatest sufferer, passenger trains being several hours behind time, one train being stuck in a drift eight feet high two miles south of the city for 18 hours...
The Delphos Daily Herald
Ohio
February 9, 1895

1895 - BURIED UNDER TONS OF DEBRIS. TOWER OF ONE OF THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR BUILDING COLLAPSES.
Springfield, Ill., Sept. 4. - A horrible accident occurred at the state fair grounds this afternoon.

The west tower on the great machinery hall, which is now being roofed, collapsed and fell in, burying several men beneath its ruins.
CHARLES HOBSON and JAMES PARKER, both plumbers of Lincoln, Neb., who were at work on the ground floor were killed. They were covered with several tons of brick and mortar...

Neither building nor tower was braced, but whether this caused the accident or not is not known. It is the general opinion that the hard rain last night loosened the mortar, which had no time to dry, work having been rushed on the building in order to have it completed in time for the fair, and that this caused the accident. The loss will amount to several thousand dollars.

JAMES CLANCEY, a slater, fell from the roof into a mortar bed, striking on his head, but escaped with a few bruises. All the imprisoned men had been gotten by 9 o'clock tonight. Several were... Read MORE...

1896 - ACCIDENT AT A SOCIETY CIRCUS.
Springfield, Ill., June 25. - At a society circus, given last evening on the lawn of JAMES T. JONES, a section of the seats gave way and their occupants were thrown to the ground. MRS. J. L. HUDSON, suffered a broken leg, JAMES BRAINARD'S spine was injured, and MRS. BRAINARD had an arm badly lacerated. Ex-Adjt. Gen. ALFRED ORENDORFF and Postmaster R. M. RIDGELY each had a foot crushed. MISS CATHERINE T. WILEY of Fredonia, N. Y., who is visiting DR. and MRS. L. C. TIFFANY, had a bruised ankle, and several others were bruised. The accident caused considerable excitement, and for a time there was a danger of a stampede, as the crowd at the burlesque was a large one.
The New York Times
New York, New York
June 26, 1896

February 28, 1900 - A massive storm spread record snows from Kansas to New York State. Snowfall totals ranged up to 17.5 inches at Springfield IL.

WeatherForYou.com

1906
Springfield, a city, capital of the state of Illinois, and seat of justice of Sangamon co., 185 miles SW. of Chicago, on the Wabash, the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern, the Chicago and Alton and other railroads. It is regularly laid out, with wide, straight streets, and contains a number of notable public buildings, of which the most prominent are the massive capitol, with a dome rising to 364 feet, the state arsenal, and the old capitol (county court-house). The city has a number of collegiate institutions (St. Agatha's School, Concordia College), a state museum of natural history, railroad machine-shops, and extensive industries, represented by engine and boiler-works, foundries and machine-shops, and manufactures of watches, woollens, vehicles, farming implements, soap, leather, clothing, and malted liquors. The city is one of the most important horse-breeding centres of the United States. In the vicinity are productive coal-mines.

Springfield is memorable as having been the... Read MORE...

1908 - YOUNG AERONAUT KILLED. Skull Crushed Against Tree as Balloon Arises.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, June 7. - Luther Edward Jones, a 22 year old balloonist, was killed at Mildred Park this afternoon. At the balloon rose the parachute swung Jones through the air, his head striking on a sharp limb of a tree, crushing his skull and killing him instantly. He left a widow in Hot Springs, Ark., who is an aeronaut.
Morning Oregonian
Portland, Oregon
June 8, 1908

1908 - August 14 - Race riot in Springfield Illinois

historyorb.com

1912 - WOMAN AVIATOR KILLED. MISS JULIA CLARK OF CHICAGO FALLS AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
Springfield, Ill., June 17. - MISS JULIA CLARK was killed while making her first flight in an aeroplane at the fair grounds tonight. She fell into a tree.

MISS CLARK was a Chicago girl who became interested in aviation during the International Aviation Meet in Chicago in August, 1911. Last fall she went to San Diego, Cal., to learn to operate a biplane. She was successful, and was the third American woman to obtain an international aviation pilot license.

With several other aviators, she was under contract to fill a series of engagements in the Central West this Summer. Two weeks ago in Milwaukee she was not permitted to fly because the authorities considered the machine she then had unsafe. It had since been overhauled and was considered sound. Though holding a license, she had flown by herself for only a few months.

MISS JULIA CLARKE is the third woman to lose her life in an aeroplane accident. She is the first American woman to be killed, the other two being of French... Read MORE...

1915 - Struck and Killed by C. H. and D. Train. Oscar Burge and Wife of Springfield Meet Sudden Death.
Oscar Burge, 54 years old, of Springfield, was instantly killed, his wife was fatally hurt and their four months old child was seriously injured late Thursday night when the buggy in which they were riding was struck by a C. H. & D. passenger train at the Eighteenth Street crossing in the Capital City. Mrs. Burge died in the Springfield hospital two hours after the accident which occurred at 11 p. m.

The victims of the accident were on their way to visit their son and reached the private street crossing just as the passenger train, backing out of the city to Reservoir Park to its roundhouse, pulled over the dangerous point. Their son saw the accident and rushed to the crossing at once. “I’ll bet that’s my father and mother,” said he to several companions when the crash sounded.

Burge was thrown beneath the train. Both legs and one arm were severed and he received many cuts about the head and face. Mrs. Burge suffered the loss of one leg and the infant was badly bruised. The... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Springfield:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: This is a must-visit for anyone interested in American history. Explore the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, one of America's greatest presidents, through interactive exhibits, artifacts, and immersive displays.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site: Take a guided tour of the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned. You'll get a glimpse into the family life of the 16th President of the United States.

Old State Capitol: Visit the beautifully restored Old State Capitol, where Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech. It's a historic gem that's a must-see for history enthusiasts.

Illinois State Capitol: Take a tour of the current State Capitol, a stunning building with impressive architecture. Don't miss the opportunity to view the legislative process in action when the General Assembly is in session.

Lincoln's Tomb: Pay your respects at the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln and his family. The tomb is a National... Read MORE...