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Lt. Col. Otis Duncan

(1873-1937) He was the highest-ranking Black officer to serve in the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI. He was also the grandson of William Fleurville, Abraham Lincoln’s barber and friend. Source: SangamonLink.

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Inman Foster Sr.

(1886-1970) He owned and operated a printing press and published the Illinois Chronicle for more than 50 years in three locations including one at 11th and Washington Streets in Springfield. He also teamed up with the Urban League as a founder of the Carver Trade School. Source: SJR article, April 15, 1990

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Wabash Railroad Depot

This train depot was located at 10th and Washington Streets. It was built around 1868, vacated in 1938 and torn down in 1941. Passengers on this train would head east towards Decatur or west towards Jacksonville. Source: Sangamon Valley Collection

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John Bunn

(1831-1920) John and his brother Jacob came to Springfield in the 1840s. They owned J & JW Bunn Grocery Co. John was president of Marine Bank and vice president of the Illinois Watch Company. He was a friend and financial backer of Abraham Lincoln. Nearly every business in town closed for his funeral. Source: SangamonLink.

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Carrol Hall

(1905-1995) He was a co-founder and first president of Springfield-based Horace Mann Insurance Company. He was also a teacher at Springfield High School. He was involved in many civic and historical organizations. Source: SangamonLink

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The Brown Hotel

The Brown Hotel was the original name of a building located at 11th and Adams Streets. For more information about one of its founders, read about A. Morris Williams, also on the mural. Source: SangamonLink

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Ruth Ellis

(1899-2000) Ruth was an openly lesbian woman at a time when that was almost unheard of. She lived in Springfield for the first 40 years of her life. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1919. Source: SangamonLink

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Elizabeth Brown Ide

(1873-1978) She was one of Springfield's most prominent children's advocates during the early 20th century. She was very active in the Home for the Friendless, conducted surveys that led to free wellness checks called "baby stations" and was of the founders of Springfield Mental Health Center. Source: SangamonLink

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Eddie Winfred Helm

(1911-1994) He documented African American life as a photographer in Springfield for 50 years. Source: SangamonLink.

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A. Morris Williams

(1879-1936) He helped build the only hotel in Springfield opened to African Americans at the time. He was active in politics, first as a Republican, then as a Democrat. He was also involved in real estate. He was noted as one of the first black attorneys in Sangamon County. In 1908, he sued the City of Springfield in interest of the victims of the race riots. Source: SangamonLink

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The Lincoln Colored Home

Eva Carroll Monroe (1868-1950) created and operated the Lincoln Colored Home, the first orphanage for African-American children in Sangamon County, from 1904 until 1933. Source: SangamonLink

Corridor in History & Development by Jared Bader

Click/tap a person in the picture to learn more about them.
(Hint: Tap on the soldier in the bottom left to get started.)

A Sangamon County appointed mural advisory committee worked with the artist to finalize the submitted concept and wanted to include some of the rich history in Springfield and around the current location of The Hub. This mural was installed in 2023 and is located at the SMTD transfer center at the Hub on 11th Street.

In addition to the people and places highlighted in the image above, the artist included many other locations and items that are familiar in Springfield’s history including the Central Illinois Light Company, John Hay Homes, a downtown streetscape from the 1950s, a historic trolley, a modern SMTD bus and Amtrak train as well as the modern day skyline of Springfield that features the historic old state capitol building and current state capitol building.

About the Artist

Jared Bader Freelance Artist, Muralist and Graphic Designer from 2009 to the present. • Lives in Pennsylvania. • Experience in large public commissions. • Medium: Paint on synthetic material called parachute cloth. It will then be installed on the walls. >>> JBaderArts.com

Learn More About...

Lt. Col. Otis Duncan >>> SangamonLink

Inman Foster Sr. >>> SJR Article, 4/15/1990

Wabash Railroad Depot >>> Sangamon Valley Collection

John Bunn >>> SangamonLink

Carrol Hall >>> SangamonLink

The Brown Hotel >>> SangamonLink

Ruth Ellis >>> SangamonLink

Elizabeth Brown Ide >>> SangamonLink

Eddie Winfred Helm >>> SangamonLink

A. Morris Williams >>> SangamonLink, Archive.org

The Lincoln Colored Home >>> SangamonLink, Illinois Times, WRSP, Documentary of Eva Carrol Monroe

Mural Advisory Committee

Brytton Bjorngaard

UIS, Director of Visual Arts

Scott Dahl

Springfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Director

Linda Douglas Williams

Sangamon County Board Member, District 20

Bruce Ferry

Ferry & Associates, Architect

Julia Frevert

City of Springfield, Communications Director

Shawn Gregory

Springfield Alderman, Ward 2

Angela Harris

Pioneer Park Neighborhood Association, President

Zhavier Harris

Hampton University Graduate and Marketing Professional

Karen Hasara

SMTD, Trustee

Tom Hutchinson

Mather and Wells Neighborhood Association, President

Brian McFadden

Sangamon County, Administrator

Steve Schoeffel

SMTD, Director

Michelle Smith

Local Artist

Erin Svendsen

Springfield Art Association, Education Director

Senator Doris Turner

Illinois State Senator, District 48

Brian Wojcicki

Former President, Downtown Springfield, Inc.