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Springfield Race Riot of 1908Get ready to embark on a historic and emotion-filled journey through theevents that have become known as “the Springfield Race Riot of 1908.”Join us as we go back in time andexplore the occurrences leading up tothose two sweltering days in Augustof 1908 and the birth of the NAACP.

a n i n f a m o u s d a y i n s p r i n g f i e l d ’s h i s t o r ySpringfield’s population in 1908 totaled about 47,000, with approximately5.5% of those black. Although this low percentage did not facilitate a large uprisingagainst the black population here, relations were becoming more strained in large citiessuch as Chicago and New York where blacks were competing with whites in the samejob market. Riots had occurred in the North as early as the first half of the 1800s, butnews coverage remained relatively quiet and the violence seemed to be contained in theNorth.until now.On August 14, 1908, tension filled the air as two black men sat in the county jail,accused of unrelated sexual assault and murder crimes against whites. A large whitecrowd had gathered outside the jail, wanting to take matters in their own hands,chanting for vigilante justice.Sensing the eminent danger for the two prisoners, police secretly took them out throughthe back door and put them on a train to a jail 60 miles away. Learning that they hadbeen tricked and that the prisoners were gone, the now-angry mob erupted in violence,destroying buildings, looting, and eventually lynching two prominent members of theblack community. The rampage continued until Governor Charles Deneen called inthe Illinois National Guard to control the situation.People across the nation were shocked by racial riots and it was bitter irony that onehad occurred in Springfield, Illinois, the hometown of Abraham Lincoln. Activistsbelieved that if it could happen in Springfield, it could happen anywhere.This is where our journey begins.on the corner of 7th & jefferson

11 TH9 TH8 TH7 TH6 TH5 TH4 TH3 RD2 ND1 STSPRINGCOLLEGESpringfield Race Riot of 1908SCOTT BURTON’S LYNCHING 4MADISONUNION SQUARE PARKJEFFERSON1 THE OLD COUNTY JAIL3 THE LEVEEWASHINGTONOLD COURT HOUSE 8ADAMSSTATE ARSENAL 6MONROE2 LOPER’S RESTAURANT5 PAYNE’S HARDWARECAPITOLSTATE CAPITOLJACKSONEDWARDSCOOK7 EDWARDS SCHOOLTour markersPreston JacksonCommemorative sculptureState CapitolRailroad Tracks For a complete description see the back panel of this brochure (Union Square Park – South Sixth Street)Map of the 1908 Race RiotT he e nt ir e st or y of t he S pr i ng f i e l d R a c e R iot of 19 0 8 i s t ol d i n a s e r i e sof m a r k e r s pl a c e d a l o n g t h e pa t h of t h e d e s t r u c t i on i n d o w nt o w nS pr i n g f i e l d . Wa l k t h e r o u t e of o n e of S pr i n g f i e l d ’s m os t d i s t u r bi n gh i s t or i c a l e ve nt s t ha t pr o m pt e d a g r e a t n a t i o n a l c i vi l r i ght s vi c t o r y.

TOUR MARKERS1Seventh and Jefferson – Old County Jail SiteIt was here the white mob congregated on August 14, 1908, demanding the release of GeorgeRichardson and Joe James, two black prisoners being held on counts of crimes against whites.Richardson was accused of raping Mabel Hallam, a white woman, and James was accused of themurder of Clergy Ballard, a white man. The county sheriff, with the help of Harry Loper, a whiterestaurant owner, secretly transported the prisoners to Bloomington, Illinois. The realization ofthis escape ignited the Race Riots.223 South Fifth – Loper’s RestaurantThe owner of Loper’s Restaurant, Harry Loper, assistedSheriff Werner in the removal of George Richardson andJoe James from the County Jail. The riot escalated asthe mob, outraged by Loper’s assistance in the prisoners’transport, demolished his restaurant and destroyed his carthat had been used to move the prisoners.2The first fatality of the riot, Louis Johnson, was a patron atLoper’s Restaurant. He was killed by a rioter’s bullet.3Seventh and Washington Street –(THE LEVEE) Business DistrictStill enraged, the rioters moved to a small black business district, breakingwindows and doors, stealing or destroying merchandise, and wrecking furnitureand equipment. By the time the mob finished looting this area, fifteen blackand several Jewish businesses had been vandalized, destroying several blocks ofbusinesses. Fishman’s Pawn Shop, the first Jewish store attacked in this area,turned out to be methodically chosen. The mob obtained weapons from thisstore. The rioters then moved north toward the black residential neighborhoodsknown as the “Badlands.”

4Eleventh and Madison – Scott Burton’s LynchingAround 2:00 a.m. on August 15, 1908, rioters came to the home of Scott Burton. The black barbertried to escape, but was attacked and beaten unconscious. The mob then paraded him from hisporch to Twelfth and Madison and hanged him from a tree in front of a saloon. Burton’s bodybecame the symbol of the mob’s hatred of blacks and was riddled by bullets until themilitia came and put a stop to the destruction of his body.This lynching occurred in a location known as the “Badlands.” This area sufferedserious damage including the destruction of 40 black homes and businesses.Fourth and Monroe – Payne’s HardwareAfter taking the day to cool off, the mob reassembled around 7:00 p.m. and walked to Payne’sHardware Store for a length of clothesline rope. This rope was intended to be used to hangWilliam Donnegan, an elderly, retired black shoemaker.65Second and Monroe – State Arsenal SiteIn the daylight of August 15, 1908, while the mob was temporarily quiet, two-to-three thousandblack residents took this opportunity to flee Springfield, many never to return. By this time, upto five thousand Illinois National Guard troops were brought in to restore order to the capital.They took up residence at the State Arsenal, which in turnserved as a safe haven for many black families.The rioters had intended to attack the State Arsenal, but decidedagainst it upon the realization of the National Guard militia’spresence. Frustrated, they turned toward William Donnegan’sresidence.

7Spring and Edwards – Site of Edwards Schooland William Donnegan’s LynchingA result of his powerful political connections and wealth as a black man, the elderly WilliamDonnegan was taken from his home by the mob and dragged across the street to Edwards School.The rioters slashed Donnegan’s throat and were in the process of hanging him in front of theschool when the militia approached. The mob fled while the militia rushed Donnegan to St. John’sHospital, where he died the next day. This was the last mob action of the riot.Adams between Fifth and Sixth Streets –Sangamon County Courthouse Site8After the August 1908 Race Riot, conclusion was sought at this site, including: Joe James, a black man, was tried and convicted for the murder of Clergy Ballard.Despite the fact that James was 18 years old and, as a minor, not subject to thedeath penalty, he was executed on October 23, 1908.During the Grand Jury investigation of the alleged rape of Mabel Hallam, a whitewoman, by George Richardson, a black man, Mrs. Hallam admitted that the accusationhad been fabricated. Consequentially, Richardson was released.In August of 1908, a special Grand Jury returned 107 indictmentsagainst nearly 80 white riot suspects on charges ranging frommalicious mischief to murder. The trials that followed resulted in onlyone conviction – petty larceny.Some of the riot victims are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery and theMechanicsburg Cemetery. These burial sites have been marked tosignify each victim’s role in the Race Riot events.The Race Riot of 1908 was the catalyst that led tothe formation of the National Association forthe Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Commemorating a tragedy THE PRESTON JACKSON SCULPTUREIn the riots’ aftermath, two chimneys stood resolutelyamid the burnt out ruins. The iconic nature of this imageinforms the work of a new sculpture commissioned by theCity of Springfield, State of Illinois and the SpringfieldNAACP. Created by nationally known sculptor, PrestonJackson, commemorated in early 2009, it stands amidstthe downtown sites of the city’s historic outbreak of civilinjustice. In remembrance of the 100th anniversary ofthe 1908 Springfield Race Riots, the sculpture provideshistoric perspective and encourages visitors to considerthe impact of the event on society today, and its meaningfor our future. (Union Square Park – North Sixth Street)SP R I NGF I ELD CONVENTION AN D VI SITOR S B U R EAU109 North Seventh Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701217-789-2360 800-545-7300 Fax 217-544-8711www.visit-springfieldillinois.comAll interior photos courtesy of the Illinois State Historical Library, Old State Capitol Building, Springfield, Illinois 62701.

The Race Riot of 1908 was the catalyst that led to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Adams between Fifth and Sixth Streets – Sangamon County Courthouse Site After the August 1908 Race Riot, conclusion was sought at