Vinegar Hill in Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Site of the Fred Gottschalk Grocery Co.
1888-1971
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 4, 2025
1. Site of the Fred Gottschalk Grocery Co. Marker
National Register of Historic Sites
1984
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.
Location. 39° 47.782′ N, 89° 39.455′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. It is in Vinegar Hill. It is at the intersection of West Edwards Street and South College Street, on the right when traveling west on West Edwards Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 W Edwards St, Springfield IL 62704, 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: Pasfield House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Spring and Edwards Streets (about 500 feet away); The State Capitol (approx. 0.2 miles away); I Have a Dream (approx. Ό mile away); Robert Stuart Fitzgerald Boyhood Home (approx. Ό mile away); Spanish American War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Second and Monroe Streets (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hutchinson Cemetery & Springfield High School (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.
Regarding Site of the Fred Gottschalk Grocery Co..
this page online
The store was started by Gottschalk in 1887 at the corner of College and Edwards Streets. At the time he was 18 years old and lived with his parents (John and Mary) in a home a block east of the store. Since he was not of legal age, his mother had to sign checks for him, according to Mr. Gottschalk's granddaughter Gottschalk's first grocery store was a frame building; it was replaced in 1898 with a masonry building with a cast iron front.
The Fred Gottschalk Company survived until 1971 when Arthur Gottschalk, the founder's son, died. Since there were no interested heirs to carry on the family tradition, the store was closed by Arthur Gottschalk's daughter and his wife.
Also see . . .
1. Fred Gottschalk's Grocery Store (PDF). National Register nomination for the property, which was listed in 1985. (Prepared by Charles Kirchner; via National Archives) (Submitted on April 22, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Gottschalk Grocery. Before the era of the supermarket, family-owned groceries were a fixture of Springfield neighborhoods. Gottschalks was unusual, however, in both the variety of its selections and in that it remained in business until the early 1970s. (William Cellini
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 5, 2025
2. Site of the Fred Gottschalk Grocery Co. Marker
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 5, 2025
3. Former Fred Gottschalk Grocery Co. building
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 22, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
