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

Eleventh and Madison Streets

Area of Scott Buron's Lynching

— 1908 Race Riot Walking Tour —

Eleventh and Madison Streets Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

1. Eleventh and Madison Streets Marker

Inscription. On August 15, 1908, at about 2:00 a.m., the mob reached the home of Scott Burton. The fifty-six-year-old black barber tried to escape out a side door of his home but was overtaken and pummeled unconscious by the mob. He was then dragged to Twelfth and Madison Streets and hanged from a dead tree in front of the saloon. The area, known as the Badlands, suffered major damage including the destruction of forty black homes and businesses.

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

The Fifth Marker is Located at Fourth and Monroe Streets.

(reverse:)

"Yes, our progress has been uneven. The work of democracy has always been hard. It's always been contentious. Sometimes it's been bloody. For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back. But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all and not just some."

Barack Obama
44th President of the United States

Erected 2018 by City of Springfield and the NAACP. (Marker Number 4.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. A significant historical date for this entry is August 15, 1908.

Location. 39° 48.215′

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N, 89° 38.439′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. Marker is at the intersection of North 11th Street and Madison Street, on the right when traveling north on North 11th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 229 N 11th St, Springfield IL 62703, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lincoln’s Farewell to Springfield (approx. 0.3 miles away); Great Western Depot (approx. 0.3 miles away); Great Western Railroad Depot (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Lincoln Depot (approx. 0.3 miles away); Seventh and Jefferson Streets (approx. 0.3 miles away); Washington Street (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lincoln-Era Fire Companies (approx. 0.4 miles away); Florville's Barber Shop (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

More about this marker. 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

2. Eleventh and Madison Streets Marker

reverse side

Photographed By Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

3. Eleventh and Madison Streets Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 525 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.