East St. Louis in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
1010 Pennsylvania Avenue
Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019
1. 1010 Pennsylvania Avenue Marker
Erected 2017 by The East St. Louis 1917 Centennial Commission & Cultural Initiative, the Meridian Society, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. (Marker Number 19.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location. 38° 37.715′ N, 90° 8.695′ W. Marker is in East St. Louis, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Katherine Dunham Place, on the right when traveling east on Pennsylvania Avenue. It is in an empty lot across the street from the Katherine Dunham Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Pennsylvania Avenue, 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. 621 N. 9th Street (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); N. 9th St. & St. Clair Ave. (about 700 feet away); N. 18th St. and Parsons Ave. (approx. 0.6 miles away); Collinsville at St. Louis Avenue
this page online
Regarding 1010 Pennsylvania Avenue. Stephens was the longest serving mayor of East St. Louis. He was first elected in 1887 and he actively recruited industry, including Aluminum Ore Company and the Armous Meatpacking plant. However, he was replaced as mayor in 1903 by a series of corrupt administrations. He fought for good governance and helped get one mayor indicted for corruption. After the 1917 massacre, civic leaders begged him to return, even though he was 72 years old. He served eight more years and oversaw the payment of reparations to the victims of the massacre; he personally signed each bond.
Source: Andrew Theising, "Three Lives that Changed a City," in The Making of an All-America City, East St. Louis at 150. Mark Abbott, ed. St. Louis: Virginia Publishing, 2011.
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019
2. 1010 Pennsylvania Avenue Marker
Marker stands in front of an empty lot
Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 463 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 10, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
