Collinsville in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Robert Prager Lynching Site

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 13, 2020

1. Robert Prager Lynching Site Marker

Inscription. On April 5, 1918, German immigrant Robert Prager was hanged by a mob at this site. Prager's lynching was the high-water mark of the anti-immigrant and anti-German hysteria that gripped the nation during World War I. Persecution in the guise of patriotism was especially severe in the southern Illinois coal fields. Eleven men accused of the murder were promptly acquitted. For generations there was remorse in Collinsville over the town's failure to stop the mob and the lynching. One witness later said: "Nowhere appeared a sober, clear-headed man to say 'no' and make it stick. And so came violence, death, tragedy, and shame."

Erected 2020 by The Prager Memorial Committee and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 5, 1918.

Location. 38° 39.554′ N, 90° 0.69′ W. Marker is in Collinsville, Illinois, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of St. Louis Road and National Terrace

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on St. Louis Road. The marker is located at the east entrance of St. Johns Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 National Terrace, Collinsville IL 62234, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dedicated to the Glory of God and to the Veterans of all Wars (within shouting distance of this marker); Collinsville (approx. 1.1 miles away); The D.D. Collins House (approx. 1.1 miles away); Brooks Catsup Bottle (approx. 1.1 miles away); Horseradish (approx. 1.1 miles away); Willoughby Family Legacy (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Blum House (approx. 1.3 miles away); The 1960's Additions to the Library Building

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 13, 2020

2. Robert Prager Lynching Site Marker

Located at the entrance of St. John Cemetery

(approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Collinsville.

More about this marker. The marker was dedicated on June 13, 2020. It was originally set to happen on April 4 but was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Also see . . . Robert Prager on Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Marker dedication event image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 13, 2020

3. Marker dedication event

Collinsville mayor John Miller and local historian and author Pete Stehman unveil the marker at the cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2020. This page has been viewed 1,157 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.