Union Station Park Curb Installation I

Photo: Construction Worker Installing Frame for Curb Along 5th Street


Photo: Springfield, IL Union Station Park Project 10.21.05


Photo: Work Contiues on ALPLM Union Park Project Despite Weather

The rapid pace of work which has been evident for several weeks at the Union Station Park Project has been slowed by the recent downturn in weather conditions here in Springfield, Illinois. However, work does continue.

The huge mound of topsoil which BRH has trucked in for the Union Station Park Project is now a giant mound of mud. I doubt this complication will present much of a problem for BRH as the rainy season soon comes to an end here in the Central Illinois. BRH now must face the coming of colder temperatures.

The photographs for this post are of workers installing a wooden frame which will be used in the coming days for the pouring of a new curb along Fifth street.

The photographs which appear in this post were taken on Fifth Street between Madison, and Jefferson Streets on the west side of what will be Union Station Park. Union Station Park is a part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum Campus located in Springfield, Illinois.

All photographs were taken on Friday, October 21st, 2005 by JeromeProphet.

How To Install A Street Lamp II

Photo: Foreground Ugly Street Post vs. Background Victorian Street Post


Photo: Work Continues Along Washington Between Sixth & Seventh


Photo: CWLP Utility Worker Installing Electric Line Conduit Pipe

Despite the rapid decline in weather conditions CWLP workers continue with the removal of old street lights, and the installation of new victorian style street lights. This project despite the cost is helping to transform downtown Springfield, Illinois into a beautiful city worthy of world class tourism.

Addressing "details" like street light design shows the city cares about the image it portrays to the rest of the world, and this will only increase Springfield, Illinois' reputation as a hospitality center.

Photographs above were taken on a blustery October 20th, 2005. The day before was a beautiful Indian Summer day with plenty of blue sky, and a gentle warm breeze. What a difference just one day can make.

Related Links

Installing A Street Lamp I
Face Full Of Dust

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Welcome Springfield Rewind!

Check out a most excellent Blog! Springfield Rewind Joins my blogroll. This blog looks like quite a resource for those interested in Springfield, Illinois. Just from the several post I've seen so far I can see myself stepping into the Wayback Machine, and rewinding right into Springfield's past on a regular basis!

Thanks Russ. Thanks Sangamon Valley Collection. And thanks to all those photograhers from yester-year who unknowingly reached out to us across time, cyberspace, across the planet, and right into our homes, offices, and PDAs!

Thanks to Dave of ThellthHour for the tipoff on this blog.

Warm Spirits For A Cold October Day

Photo: Hoogland Center for the Arts Vodka Delivery 10.20.05

This photograph obviously screamed out for the taking.

Thursday, October 20th, 2005 was the first horrible Fall day. Wednesday had been a beautiful day, another Indian Summer day.
Thursday was cold, wet, and windy. A gray sky day which informed us all that Summer was over, and that Fall was itself struggling against the encroachment of Winter.

I found little beauty outdoors Thursday. Dull colors, flowers dying, leaves falling but their colors dulled by gray sky tones. Yet as a leaf falling from a muse's tree so too did this photo-op - right into my camera's sights.

Yes, some in our community appear to be stocking up for the Winter. The Hoogland Center for the Arts is located in downtown Springfield, IL on Sixth Street. Definately, a Smirnoff kind of place to be.

How To Install A Street Lamp I

Photo: Jackhammer, and Prepare Hole


Photo: Install Steel Reinforcement


Photo: Build Frame


Photo: Pour Cement & Allow To Set


Photo: This is product prior to grinding (see post below)

These photos were taken over several days. It takes several days to install each street lamp as the cement needs to set. I'll try, and follow this process to it's natural conclussion.

For some folk out there, I'm sure you're wondering why I'm posting this. Why not?

Face Full of Dust

Photo: Springfield, Illinois Utility Worker


Photo: CWLP Worker Grinding Cement Smooth


Photo: CWLP Worker getting face full of dust

The City Utility Worker is getting a face full of cement while grinding smooth a street light anchor. She was very courteous, and warned me about the dust storm in advance. Someone needs to get this city worker a face mask.

Union Station Park's Dirt Mound

Photo: Union Station Park Project From Fifth & Jefferson


Photo: ALPLM Union Station Park Project Dirt Mound


Photo: Springfield, Illinois' Union Station Park Dirt Mound


Photo: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum Park

Hey Mister, Whatcha Gonna Do With All That Dirt? BRH Builders, and Constructors has hauled in tons of topsoil for the Union Station Park Project. Union Station Park is now a part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum Complex located in Springfield, Illinois. Over twelve million dollars is being spent on Union Station Park, and an equal amount on Union Station itself. This area is abuzz with non-stop activity, and it is quite impressive to witness.

The thousands of tourist who visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum each day are being treated to a bit of local, state, and national history, and it's not all in the Library, or Museum. This bit of history is taking place right before their own eyes with the refurbishment of Union Station, and the creation of Union Station Park.

The ginormous dirt pile which is featured in this posting's photo series is the largest man-made dirt mound I have ever seen in person. Soon it will be level, and the mound will be nothing but history - just a dirty little secret that people will soon forget.

Historic Marine Bank Installs Chase Sign

Photo: Ace Sign Company Installs Marine Bank's Chase Sign & City Crews Install Lights


Photo: Ace Sign Company Installs Marine Bank's Chase Sign


Photo: Springfield, IL Historic Marine Bank Trades in Bank One Sign For Chase Sign

Springfield, Illinois' Ace Sign Company finished installing the Chase signs on the Historic Marine Bank located at the corner of Sixth and Washington. Marine Bank, the oldest bank in Illinois dates to the period when Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield, Illinois. It was owned, and operated by the Bunn family until it was sold to Bank One. Bank One was recently acquired by J.P. Morgan & Chase Corp.

Washington street between Sixth, and Seventh is a hub of activity. While Ace Sign Company workers were busy installing the Chase Sign Springfield's City Water Light, and Power work crews were busy installing Victorian style lampost, and street lights. In one photo included in this post you will notice a city worker sunken waist deep in the street while employing a jack hammer. Trenches are being created to install underground electrical tubing.

Meanwhile one block away to the north a large project, by Springfield, Illinois standards is being undertaken at Union Station, and Union Station Park. Downtown Springfield, Illinois is bustling with tourist, office workers, and construction workers. It is truly an exciting time in downtown Springfield.

Historic Marine Bank Gets New Chase Sign

Photo: Chase Sign Awaits Installation To Historic Marine Bank 10.17.05


Photo: Ace Sign Company Employee Atop Historic Marine Bank 10.17.05


Photo: Springfield, Illinois' Ace Sign Company Ladder 10.17.05


Photo: Springfield, Illinois' Ace Sign Comp. Employee Readying Chase Sign

With New York based JP Morgan & Chase Company's aquistion of Chicago based Bank One Chase has become second in size, and assets only to Citigroup. The Historic Marine Bank Building, located at the corner of Sixth, and Washington in downtown Springfield, Illinois is Illinois oldest bank. The historic Marine Bank was owned, and operated by the Bunn family of Springfield, IL from the period of Abraham Lincoln's residence in Springfield until it was aquired by Bank One.

About Photographs: The Chase Sign was installed by Springfield, Illinois based Ace Sign Company 10.17.05. I'll post photographs of the sign fully installed when I get them.

Bring In The Dirt!

Photograph: Topsoil for the Union Station Park Trucked In By BRH 10.14.05


Photograph: Topsoil for Union Station Park Trucked In By BRH

BRH has been removing tons of cement which from old Union Park which is now a part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Complex. The the cement is being replaced with topsoil (see mounds of dirt in photographs above). The pace of work at both the Union Station, and Union Station Park has been both rapid, and non-stop. When finished the area will be transformed into one of the most beautiful public spaces in Springfield, Illinois.

Upon The Pinnacle of Union Station

Photo: Construction Worker Atop Union Station Northwest Window Peak

About Photograph: I used a very high contrast, and a super saturated color setting to brute force the "Upon the Pinnacle" theme. The photograph was taken of the north face of the Union Station in Springfield, Illinois. Union Station located on Madison Street between Fifth, and Sixth streets is under construction, and is now a part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum Complex. The photo was captured on the north side of Madison street at street level.

I am impressed with the casual nature of the construction workers working to renovate the roof of Union Station. Just one momentary lapse of judgement, just one slip could result in a fatal fall, yet the carpenters seem to take it in stride.

Floyd's Thirsty Reaper Makes Sport of Sammy's

Photo: Floyd's Thirst Parlor's Grim Reaper Peers At Sammy's Sports Bar

Floyd's Thirst Parlor, located at 210 S. Fifth street in downtown Springfield, Illinois is definately in the Halloween spirit. Floyd's Thirst Parlor has a very spookey looking set of window displays which I immediately knew deserved a blog post.

About the Photograph: Floyd's Thirst Parlor's Grim Reaper peers out longingly across the street at patrons of Sammy's Sports Bar and Grill (217 S. Fifth). I don't know which is worse knowing that Sammy's is due a visit from Mr. Reaper, or knowing that Mr. Reaper has taken up residence in Floyd's?


Photo: Floyd's Thirst Parlor Vampire Bat Ominously Seeking Next Victim

O.K., Floyd's Thirst Parlor also has on display a funky looking vampire bat, which although not really scary, unless you're six years old, looks rather cool. It might make a nice pet, but we already have cats. Despite the greatly increased chance of becoming a creature of the night as a result of frequenting Floyd's Thirst Parlor, or falling dead at Sammy's Sports Bar and Grill I hear the food is always good, and the beer cold.