Springfield Business
The following information and photos are from Springfield
Business: A Pictorial Quarterly (St. Louis: G. Bradley Publishing,
1995), edited by Curtis Mann, Edward Russo, and Melinda Garvert,
curators of the Sangamon Valley Collection in the Lincoln Public
Library. Many thanks to the authors and publishers for permission
to reprint a few of these superb photos.
The book is part of a 4-volume series, on Springfield business,
entertainment, home life, and public services. For ordering information,
call the G. Bradley Publishing Company at 1-800-966-5120.
My listing covers just some of the many 1940-1960 - era photos
in this excellent pictorial history. There's no better source
for remembering how "our Springfield" looked and felt.
Sad to say, most of these places no longer exist.
Railways
- Chicago & Alton Station, 3rd Street, 20
- Streetcar at Walnut & South Grand, 24-25
Gas Stations
- Swinney's Service, 8th & South Grand, 31
- DX Service, 8th & Cook, 31
- Mobil Service, 5th & South Grand, 31
Auto Dealers
- Kaiser-Frazier, 9th & Jefferson, 33
- Penewitt Buick, 2nd & Monroe, 33
Street Scenes
Air Traffic
- Southwest Airport (1947), 37
- Capitol Airport (1947), 38
Bus Service
Downtown buses (1940)s, 38
Major Businesses
- Sangamo Electric (1950s), 46-48
- Allis Chalmers (1955), 60
- Pillsbury Mills (1949-50), 70-71
Downtown Stores
- John Bressmer
Company (1948), 79
- Myers Brothers (1952), 83
- S. A. Barker (1946), 87
- The Hub (1953), 91
- Thrifty Drug, 6th & Washington (1946), 103
Food & Groceries
- Sangamon Dairy, 8th & Monroe (1957), 107
- Tom Thumb Market,
South Grand & MacArthur, (1954), 110
- Mitchell's Super Market, 1219 West Ash, 113
- Kroger, 2nd & South Grand (1959), 115
Other Businesses
- Barker-Lubin (1950s), 122
- Eager Beaver Car Wash (1960), 125
- Stern's & Wolfson's (1950),127
- J. R. Tobin & Son Jewelers (1950), 129
- Telford's Barber Shop (1940), 133
- Franklin Insurance, 140
- Illinois National Bank (1950), 151