REMAINS FROM THE RIOT

By Cap City

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Excavated remains of homes burned during the 1908 Springfield race riot could be destroyed or buried by city government and railroad officials. According to Jerry Jacobson of the nonprofit organization Save Old Springfield, the remnants – discovered in 2014 near the corner of 10th and Carpenter streets by an archaeological crew working on the high-speed rail project – could be “destroyed or buried and forever out of view” if the current version of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Federal Railroad Authority, the Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer and the Mayor of Springfield is enacted. A statement from Save Old Springfield stated that “not addressing the disposition of the burned house floors and foundations…would preclude any public viewing of the most visible actual remains of the riot.” The Springfield Rail Improvements Project team will host a public open house to provide information on the high-speed rail and rail relocation project 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Bank of Springfield Center.

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