Court of Honor, Springfield IL

The Court of Honor was organized in Springfield, Illinois, in 1895, with an elaborate ritual.  It prospered principally as an insurance company (in 1920 there were over 75,000 benefit members and only 2,300 social members), and then transformed itself into a regular life insurance company. In the early 1920s it changed its name to the Court of Honor Life Association, and in 1924 reincorporated simply as Springfield Life Insurance, after its headquarters city. In 1934 it merged with Abraham Lincoln Life, and in 1934 it was reinsured with Illinois Bankers Life.
Court of Honor Ritual

Here is a piece of their advertising from 1915

The 1915 City Directory states that the Court of Honor was at East Adams, on the South East corner of Second and Adams.

Lincoln Postcards from 1909

 Click to enlarge

For 2011: I resolve to work to ensure the survival of the Historic West Side Neighborhood's Residences

Some years ago, a dear friend gave me the photograph  (because I love cats) shown below of a home at 834 College St.  The young girl in the photograph is 9 years old.  I assume the photograph was taken in the autumn because of the leaves on the ground but both mother and daughter are wearing summer dresses.

"Mama and Linda Howden" Clicking on photograph will enlarge it.

I drove by the site today and saw a huge parking lot that covered the lots of two homes. Sadly this home, built around 1896, does not exist anymore.

Merry Christmas to The Historic Westside Neighborhood

The first Crimestoppers ad

The year of this auto theft is not noted on this postcard, but Essex cars (made by the Hudson Car Company) were made from 1919 - 1932. The postcard resembles those that were sent in the 1920's. (clicking on the image will enlarge it)