1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
<>
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.
<>
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
<>
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
<>
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.
<>
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
<>
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
<>
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
<>
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
<>
Eddie Winfred Helm
(1911-1994) He documented African American life as a photographer in Springfield for 50 years. Source: SangamonLink.
<>
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
<>
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