History | Thursday, April 28,2005

history talk 4-28-05

The Rev. Dr. James H. Magee (1839-1912) is one of the most interesting, yet obscure, characters in Springfield history. Were it not for a semiautobiographical book he publish

History | Thursday, April 14,2005

The gifts of the Greeks

By Bob Cavanagh

In the summer of 1942, the District Convention of the Order of AHEPA (the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) was held for three days at the Abraham

History | Thursday, April 7,2005

The man who played Jesus

By Bob Cavanagh

The terrible fire that gutted the Herbert Georg Studio in downtown Springfield in February 1980 was very nearly thorough in its destruction of the studio building and its

History | Thursday, March 24,2005

history talk 3-24-05

By Bob Cavanagh

Two of the most interesting, accomplished, and talented people ever to appear on the Springfield arts scene were Romain and Ellen Proctor, who quite casually fell in love wit

History | Thursday, February 24,2005

history talk 2-25-05

By Bob Cavanagh

Among the many collections that make up the Audio-Visual Department of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the Guy Mathis photographic collection stands out for its

History | Thursday, February 10,2005

The speed demon’s green dragon

By Bob Cavanagh

One hundred years ago, automobile racing came to the Illinois State Fair dirt track for the first time when the Springfield Automobile Club sponsored a meet at which the feat

History | Thursday, January 20,2005

When the drugstore served the best drinks in town

By Bob Cavanagh

At the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Edwards Street is a two-story building with a "For Lease" sign in the front window of the vacant first story. Until recently, the location served as a

History | Thursday, January 6,2005

You never know where a job here might take you

By Bob Cavanagh

Like most other capital cities, Springfield has always had a certain transient population whose ebb and flow are governed not by the moon but by the rising and falling tide of work necessary to

History | Thursday, December 23,2004

Fifth Street, December 1938

By Cheryl Pence

Photographer Herbert Georg captured a classic film noir image in early December 1938, with the neon of Springfield's many movie theaters reflecting on the rain-washed bricks and streetcar track

History | Wednesday, November 10,2004

For many veterans, the sacrifices never ended

By Bob Cavanagh

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me work -- I am the grass; I cover all. And pile them high at Gettysburg And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.