Susan Lawrence Dana is best remembered for her Springfield home, designed by the young Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1883, the young Susan Lawrence married Edwin Dana, who worked with Susan’s father on mining interests in the West. Six years later, Susan wrote a poem to Edwin, recounting how he first sent her a valentine and […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
From the junior leagues to the majors
On June 18, 1945, Dick Schofield, a ten-year-old fourth grader from Harvard Park School, had the opportunity to meet the state’s top elected official, Gov. Dwight Green. Schofield, a representative of the Springfield Junior Baseball League, was there to promote the Old Time Baseball Players Association’s “Baseball Day” at Lanphier Park. The program for “Baseball […]
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With help from her friends, a young widow made a life for her girls
On May 27, 1942, the Hunn sisters of Springfield were innocence and beauty incarnate as they modeled their new spring outfits at Aunt Hannah’s Baby Shop, which was then located at 126 N. Fifth St. in the Orpheum Recreation Palace. They had been specially outfitted for a party at the Leland Hotel to honor their […]
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Plan ahead and select garden catalogs
As temperatures get colder, most gardeners are starting to have dreams of the first juicy-ripe tomato or heavenly fragrance of a garden-fresh rose. While we may not be able to garden, it is not too early to plan what to grow. Plants and seeds are available from many sources, including local garden centers, hardware stores, […]
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Chase away the winter gardening blues
While you won’t be able to do many outdoor gardening activities, winter’s a great time to learn. University of Illinois Extension is offering several programs for gardeners to learn more about their favorite hobby. • The U. of I. Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit and the Springfield Civic Garden Club will sponsor “Garden Basics” seminars. This series […]
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Recycle that tree
You enjoyed the beauty and aroma of real Christmas tree this holiday season. Now what do you do with it? Springfield and other communities will have special pick-up services for discarded trees after the holidays. But, before placing the tree on the curb, think of alternatives. Consider using the tree in your garden. Discarded Christmas […]
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At home with the dean of Springfield physicians, nearly a century ago
When Dr. Wilber Price Armstrong Sr. died on July 7, 1940, Springfield papers reported his death as the passing of “the Dean of City Physicians,” an accurate and well-deserved appellation for the man whose 54-year medical career was marked by several notable “firsts.” Dr. Armstrong, pictured here today celebrating Christmas with his family in high […]
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Skating club celebrates the holidays on, um, ice
For almost a decade, the Springfield Figure Skating Club has been ringing in the holidays with an evening of skating set to seasonal songs. Skaters of all ages and skill levels don their best Christmas spandex and choreograph moves to music that matches their festive mood. For the skaters, it’s a chance to let their […]
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Last minute gift ideas
Many of us have at least one person who is hard to buy for on our holiday gift list. I know, because I’ve been told that I fit into this category. Gardening items could be your rescue. Most of us don’t think about gardening during the winter, but with gardening being America’s No. 1 hobby, […]
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Complete your decorating with a cuetlaxochitl or two
The red poinsettia is a traditional Christmas plant, but its origins are decidedly non-Christian. Europeans discovered the colorful Euphorbia pulcherrima in Mexico, near the present-day city of Taxco and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca. We know poinsettias as indoor plants, but in Mexico, they’re large, woody shrubs, often reaching 10 feet in height. The Aztecs cultivated […]
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Hippie’s calendar salutes 40 years of Mustangs
Everyone has his contradictions. Bob Waldmire, for example, is an unreconstructed hippie, as green as Ralph Nader. “Small is beautiful. Slow is beautiful. Old is beautiful,” the itinerant artist intones. Let a hot Mustang drive by, though, and Waldmire’s eyes light up. It’s a reflex that goes back 40 years. Before he embraced and helped […]
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Tips for selecting and protecting a fresh Christmas tree
A freshly cut Christmas tree can be a beautiful sight. With proper selection and care you can safely enjoy a fresh tree throughout the holidays. Before you leave home, measure the height and width of the available space where the tree will be placed. Make sure that you don’t choose a tree bigger than the […]
