The name of that building was the Abe Lincoln Hotel. It was on the southwest corner of Fifth & Capitol. It was imploded in 1978, if I recall correctly. The picture was taken from the NE corner of Fifth & Monroe, looking southwest.
There was some thought given to renovating the hotel into office space, but the powers that be decided the ceilings weren’t high enough to allow for the installation of heating & cooling ductwork. Though by no means a spectacular building, the loss of the Lincoln Hotel left a large hole in the fabric of downtown Springfield, especially since it was replaced with a crummy parking lot.
This is still the block south of the focus of the photo: The State of Illinois decided it wanted to build a super state office building on that site. Using the powers of eminent domain, it filed condemnation proceedings on every parcel on the block. But, the YWCA fought it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. The State, being the State, didn’t want to build around the Y, so it abandoned the building plan. Hence the large hole of a parking lot.
At the Southern edge of the block of 5th St pictured here sat the Lincoln Theatre. 5th St Flower Shop occupied the southeast corner of the theatre building. The Abraham Lincoln Hotel was across Capitol St to the south. Johnny’s Rexall Drugs was in the northeast corner of the hotel building. It had a luncheonette with a counter and booths and was a great Saturday night hangout.
The brick building housed the Roxy Theater. After it closed, the predecessor of the present day State Board of Education had their in-house Television studio and associated offices. I think it was part of the Office of Public Instruction which was a Statewide elected office.
anyone know what the multi-story building is in the background on left?
ileaner | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
I think it is the Hernden building or somthing like that.
bobby | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
The name of that building was the Abe Lincoln Hotel. It was on the southwest corner of Fifth & Capitol. It was imploded in 1978, if I recall correctly. The picture was taken from the NE corner of Fifth & Monroe, looking southwest.
There was some thought given to renovating the hotel into office space, but the powers that be decided the ceilings weren’t high enough to allow for the installation of heating & cooling ductwork. Though by no means a spectacular building, the loss of the Lincoln Hotel left a large hole in the fabric of downtown Springfield, especially since it was replaced with a crummy parking lot.
Scott | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
This is still the block south of the focus of the photo: The State of Illinois decided it wanted to build a super state office building on that site. Using the powers of eminent domain, it filed condemnation proceedings on every parcel on the block. But, the YWCA fought it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. The State, being the State, didn’t want to build around the Y, so it abandoned the building plan. Hence the large hole of a parking lot.
Marie | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
Anyone remimber the Roxy Theater that was just south of here on 5th?
secretsquirel68 | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
At the Southern edge of the block of 5th St pictured here sat the Lincoln Theatre. 5th St Flower Shop occupied the southeast corner of the theatre building. The Abraham Lincoln Hotel was across Capitol St to the south. Johnny’s Rexall Drugs was in the northeast corner of the hotel building. It had a luncheonette with a counter and booths and was a great Saturday night hangout.
Jerry Waters | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
The brick building housed the Roxy Theater. After it closed, the predecessor of the present day State Board of Education had their in-house Television studio and associated offices. I think it was part of the Office of Public Instruction which was a Statewide elected office.
ramses9 | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
Herndon building.
bobby | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply