African American Historic Sites
Presenters, Ken Page and Sue Massie

African American Historical Sites: Lincoln Colored Home, Colored Firehouse #5, and The Judge Taylor House

Local historian and preservationist Mr. Ken Page will discuss the historical importance to the Springfield community and its direct link to the 1908 Race Riot and a segregated Springfield. He will also discuss the ongoing restoration and preservation of the Historic 1st Black Firehouse, known as Colored Firehouse #5, and the current ownership by the Prince Hall Masons. This discussion also includes Mr. Donnagan (lynched during the 1908 Race Riot) and his membership with the Prince Hall Masons.

Ken Page is a former president of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP. Ken retired from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency as the Environmental Justice Officer and is currently the president of the Springfield Illinois Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He is also a member of the Prince Hall Masons that currently owns the Historic Black Firehouse in Springfield, Illinois.

Preservation advocate Sue Massie will be discussing the Judge John Wycliff Taylor House, which came within one day of demolition eight years ago. The house is 165 years old and stands at the intersection of Cass and 12th. The house served as a private residence, the Ulrich Home for Fallen Women and became the Ambidexter Industrial and Normal Institute for Negro Children in 1901. The Institute eventually closed and was neglected for over 100 years, however, there may be a promising future ahead for this important historic building. Sue will also discuss the Lincoln Colored Home, which has a very unique history of its own.

Sue Massie is an owner of the landscape architecture and planning firm Massie Massie + Associates. The firm has been involved with many historic sites over the last 50 years including the Lincoln Tomb, entrances to Oak Ridge Cemetery, the Governor’s Mansion, Lincoln Memorial Gardens, and the Strawbridge – Shepherd House.