East St. Louis in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

S. 4th St. and E. Broadway

Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019

1. S. 4th St. and E. Broadway Marker

Inscription. This intersection is where the height of brutal violence occurred. Many people died here, and their remains left for hours.

Erected 2017 by The East St. Louis 1917 Centennial Commission & Cultural Initiative, the Meridian Society, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. (Marker Number 14.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1917.

Location. 38° 37.487′ N, 90° 9.703′ W. Marker is in East St. Louis, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of East Broadway (Illinois Route 15) and Barack Obama Avenue, on the right when traveling south on East Broadway. It is located on the west side of Fountain of Youth Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 4th Street, East Saint Louis IL 62201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named S. 4th St. and E. Broadway (within shouting distance of this marker); N. 4th St. and Division Ave. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); S. 4th St. and Railroad Ave. (about 600 feet away); S. 5th St. and Railroad Ave.

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(about 700 feet away); S. 6th St. and Railroad Ave. (approx. 0.2 miles away); N. 3rd St. and Missouri Ave. (approx. 0.2 miles away); 700 East Broadway (approx. 0.2 miles away); East St. Louis Race Massacre, July 1917 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East St. Louis.

Regarding S. 4th St. and E. Broadway. Here was the apex of the violence. St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Paul Anderson counted six corpses on the street. When an ambulance arrived, rioters threatened the driver with death. Guardsmen were standing a few hundred feet away but refused to intervene, despite Anderson's pleading. Reporter Carlos Hurd witnessing a lynching there where a rioter yelled "pull for East St. Louis!" The body was left hanging for hours. One rioter approached a body lying on the gutter and fired several shots to make sure the man was dead.

Sources:
Rudwick, Elliott, "Race Riot at East St. Louis - 1917", pp. 46-47
Salisbury Evening Post, July 3, 1917. p. 6

Please note that Barack Obama Avenue (re-named from 4th Street in 2012) is a one-way street and front-side of marker is not

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019

2. S. 4th St. and E. Broadway Marker

Located at Fountain Of Youth Park

seen.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 389 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.