FIRST BLACK FIREHOUSE

In 1902, Springfi eld created an all-black fi rehouse to segregate black fi refi ghters from their white counterparts. Located at what is now 1310 E. Adams, it was the only fi rehouse at which black fi refi ghters were allowed to work. Firefi ghters from that building responded to blazes torched in the infamous 1908 Springfi eld race riot. While the building hasn’t been an active fi rehouse for decades, it has been maintained as a Masons lodge. A group of city offi cials and representatives from the private sector met this week to announce a plan to restore the building’s façade to its original beauty. Several Springfi eld-area organizations contributed to the fi rst step, which was architectural and engineering work. The next step is raising the estimated $200,000 for the construction, says project leader Ken Page, who is Past Worshipful Master of the Prince Hall Masons in Springfi eld and former president of the Springfi eld NAACP. He said the project is important because it will preserve a piece of the city’s history. “Springfi eld is a history-saving city, but often we forget that there are things here other than Lincoln,” he said. “This is a huge part of the African-American community, so we’re very proud of it. We want it to stand as a legacy.” For more information or to donate, contact Ken Page at [email protected] or at 816-9275. Check out the project online at www.facebook.com/fi rstblackfi rehouse.