Category: News

Friends,

We have good news! Several of our best Pillsbury artifacts from the plant have been recovered from the 413  Adams St. building fire scene. These items include: the bicep doughboy panel, the smutters chalkboard, three custom metal grain scoops, and the service department rolodex. In total, we are estimating that about 30% of the art and artifact collection stored and exhibited on the third floor of the 413 Adams St. building were recovered. 

Last week the building was released back to the owners. They then allowed us to access the structurally sound back of the building and collect what we could in a reasonably safe manner. With several hours of careful digging through debris, we eventually found and recovered several of our best artifacts. We are grateful that they survived! 

Planning has begun for a new exhibit with these artifacts. We are working diligently on finding an appropriate place for their longer term preservation. These are important pieces of the Pillsbury flour milling and manufacturing story in Springfield. The efforts of many volunteers have made this a great aspect of the overall Pillsbury Project.

Thank you for being a part of this important community project.

~ Team Pillsbury

Friends,

Moving Pillsbury Forward is glad to see the new City of Springfield Dashboard for tracking cited properties throughout the city. As a part of the overall Pillsbury Project, we are striving to improve the entire Pillsbury Neighborhood. We work regularly with City of Springfield personnel (Neighborhood Police Officers, Housing Inspectors, Zone Managers, Public Works Crews, etc.) to ensure that the neighborhood is cared for and maintained at a reasonable level.

The new Cited Properties dashboard allows us to track (visually) the areas of concern within the neighborhood through the City of Springfield website:

https://maps.springfield.il.us/portal/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/39c0008ee2b245de9d485ed263918a70

Also included is a second dashboard for tracking Unsafe & Dangerous Buildings:

https://maps.springfield.il.us/portal/home/item.html?id=869ebbb292444377a8fe6789d8d9245e

Functionally, this new level of public information access allows us to see the status of reported issues as they are prioritized for getting addressed. Ideally, this allows for city workers to spend less time answering public questions related to tracking and more time in solving issues related to quality of life in neighborhoods. We see this as a big step forward in public services efficiency. Thank you, City of Springfield, for this tremendous improvement!

Thank you for being a part of this important community project.

~ Team Pillsbury

Friends,

Although we lost a great number of Pillsbury artifacts and historic documents in the Adams St. fire last week, we are grateful for the remaining items and documentation that still exists. The following link is a well-produced 11-minute video by AfterdaysMedia filmed during the opening of the Adams St. Pillsburied exhibit on March 28. It was posted on YouTube just this past week.

Moving Pillsbury Forward remains focused on resolving the community challenge that the former Pillsbury property has become over the last 20-plus years. We are still on track with the plan to clean up and demolish the existing structures so that renewal can take place and the quality of life for the  community surrounding the site can improve. 

The added components of arts and history to our overall project has been wonderful. Historic tours and exhibits at the site have been experienced by over 3600 people since last Fall. After a Team Pillsbury meeting held late last week, we resolved to continue moving forward with these important components. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements related to the arts and history aspects of the Pillsbury Project.

Thank you for being a part of this important community project.

Team Pillsbury

Friends,

It is with heavy heart that Moving Pillsbury Forward confirms that the “Pillsburied” exhibit housed at 413 E. Adams in downtown Springfield was lost in a catastrophic fire earlier today. The exhibit included all of the historical artifacts that have been recovered over the past two years from the Pillsbury factory, as well as numerous pieces of art fashioned from material salvaged from the factory. Three tons of artifacts and art were lost in the fire. All of it is irreplaceable.

The exhibit was curated by Robert Mazrim under the auspices of the Moving Pillsbury Forward project. Aside from the historical artifacts, this particular exhibit featured principally the work of Mazrim and the graffiti artist known as “Shock“. Also lost in the fire were historical documents and records from the factory, and new artwork that was recently brought to the site for a planned reopening of the exhibit.

The Pillsburied exhibit was part of a larger art project, supported and facilitated by Moving Pillsbury Forward, which has attempted to salvage and recycle the aesthetic potential of the abandoned factory.  The project continues. Charitable donations to support the art program are being accepted by Moving Pillsbury Forward. Donors are asked to make a note if the donation is intended for the art program.

Curator and artist Robert Mazrim wishes to thank the community for its gracious support during this terrible event, and is heartened that so many people from the community were able to share in the unique experience. 

Thanks for being a part of this important community project.

Team Pillsbury

Friends,

Moving Pillsbury Forward is hosting a press conference with Congresswoman Budzinski Thursday, June 6 at 2:30pm. Please consider coming and showing your support for the Pillsbury Project. We will detail overall project progress, and Congresswoman Budzinski will discuss the tremendous federal efforts to support the project. We see this as a great opportunity to personally thank Representative Budzinski for being such a strong advocate for progress in our community.

When: Thursday, June 6 at 2:30 pm

Where: 1525 Phillips Ave. (corner of 15th St. & Phillips Ave.)

Again, we hope to see you there. The weather forecast is favorable. The front lawn is in great shape and we have plenty of accessible parking in the immediate area. 

Thanks for being a part of this important community project.

Team Pillsbury

 Friends,

We generally try to keep things positive regarding the overall Pillsbury Project.  We have many good things happening: 200 tons of brick recycling, street art, historic tours, an ever growing employee names wall, neighborhood garden, and a new micro-pantry that has over 100 pounds of food donated and distributed to those in need every week. All good stuff.

The not-so-good stuff is dealing with the recently increasing incidents of trespass and metal thieves at the site. Unfortunately, we have had to make several police reports of incidents these past few weeks. And we have had to take time and efforts to repair fence holes, more tightly secure potential entry areas, and take on-site safety measures that slow our progress.

Yes…the Spring weather may have something to do with it.  And yes…we know the site has a few attractive features that some people just cannot resist…even at the risk of their own safety.  And…yes…this has been going on for over 20 years!

This past week late night thieves placed a board out a second floor window to access and steal some of our last remaining copper flashing on the front of Warehouse #7 (see attached photo).  Wow! That is one of the craziest and riskiest things we have seen at the site!

No…these crazy activities don’t overshadow the good things that are happening with the Pillsbury Project. But, occasionally, they do make us take pause and remind ourselves exactly why we are doing it. We don’t want to see anything tragic happen before these structures come down.

Thanks for being a part of this important community project.

~ Team Pillsbury