Oldest Building in Lawrenceville
The history of the Edward Dobbins Lodge Building can be found in the Abstract of Title of Lot 69 in Valentine J. Bradley’s Addition to the Town of Lawrenceville. The building may be the oldest in the city. The first entry is the land patent from the United States to Toussaint DuBois that was granted on August 28, 1788. The land Patent covered a group of seven locations comprising what was known as ‘the Schoals’, a part of the Northwest Territory France ceded to the colony of
Lawrence Lore
Mar 263 min read
African American Churches
Plan to attend the program “The Little Town with a Big Heart” on February 21, 2026, at 1:30pm at at Sumner’s new City Hall, 224 S. Christy Ave. Free admittance and refreshment courtesy of the city of Sumner. Presentation by George Zwilling. Black churches in Lawrence County, Illinois formed the spiritual and social backbone of the county’s early African American communities. Congregations such as the AME churches provided far more than Sunday worship—they were places wher
Lawrence Lore
Feb 185 min read
Rescued at Thrift Shop
Occasionally, an artifact arrives in the mail unexpectedly and tells a long-forgotten story. Such is the case with this key tag rescued...
Lawrence Lore
Apr 24, 20251 min read
April 2 1880
Old winter had almost “marched” out in April of 1880. Sumner News: Business improved as the roads got better. The surplus wheat that...
Lawrence Lore
Apr 3, 20255 min read
News of January 1880
The year 1880 was to be an eventful one. The census of the United States would be taken, a new President elected, and it was a leap year....
Lawrence Lore
Jan 29, 20256 min read
Churches of Bridgeport
Churches of Bridgeport (Religious leaders as of 1957) Assembly of God-- George Rutledge Minister 3rd and Jefferson Church of God- - Mrs....
Lawrence Lore
Jan 15, 20251 min read
"We can do it!," said the Women
The new Christian Church building at St Francisville was under construction in September 1974 but had come a long way since the first...
Lawrence Lore
Sep 5, 20241 min read
February 1879 --Ma, Are We Rich Yet?
Our researchers continue to deep dive into Lawrence County’s history in 1879. In February 18 deaths were recorded. One set of twins was...
Lawrence Lore
Aug 29, 20246 min read
Don't Take Your Dynamite to Church, Boys
LAWRENCEVILLE ILLINOIS JANUARY 25, 1900 The Devils Work: A Terrific Explosion of Dynamite and Falling Plaster, Rattling Windows And...
Lawrence Lore
May 2, 20242 min read
Thomas Fish
Thomas Fish’s ancestors have been documented in England as early as 1555, arriving in Connecticut about 1656. Later his family moved to...
Lawrence Lore
Mar 26, 20244 min read