Downtown in Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

223 South Fifth Street

Loper's Restaurant

— 1908 Race Riot Walking Tour —

223 South Fifth Street Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

1. 223 South Fifth Street Marker

Inscription. On August 14, 1908, Harry Loper assisted Sheriff Werner in removing George Richardson and Joe James from the County Jail. The mob overturned and burned Harry Loper's car, which had been used to move the prisoners, and destroyed his restaurant. The first fatality of the riot was Louis Johnson, a patron at the restaurant. He was killed when struck by a bullet.

The 1908 Race Riot Walking Tour starts at Union Square Park, Fifth and Jefferson Streets.

The Third Marker is located at Washington Street Between Seventh and Tenth Streets.

(reverse:)

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

Barack Obama
44th President of the United States

Erected 2018 by City of Springfield and the NAACP. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. A significant historical date for this entry is August 14, 1908.

Location. 39° 47.995′ N, 89° 38.967′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. It is in Downtown. It is on South 5th Street south of East

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Adams Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 223 S 5th St, Springfield IL 62701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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 walking distance of this marker: Fourth and Monroe Streets (within shouting distance of this marker); Leaping Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Streetscape 1859 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Streetscape 1859 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lincoln's Dentist (about 300 feet away); Curran's Jewelry Shop (about 300 feet away); Departure Point of The Donner Party (about 300 feet away); Illinois State Register (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

More about this marker.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

2. 223 South Fifth Street Marker

reverse side

This is one of eight markers that highlight the 1908 Race Riot in Springfield. All have the same format, and are triple-sided. The front contains historical text and the City of Springfield logo, one side with the NAACP logo and a quote from either Abraham Lincoln or Barack Obama. The other side says "Springfield's Race Riot of 1908"

Also see . . . Springfield race riot of 1908 on Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

3. 223 South Fifth Street Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 709 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.