The Richard E. Hart Memorial Porch Side Chats

“Growing Up in Springfield”

The Richard E. Hart Memorial Porch Side Chats spring series continues on the theme of “Growing Up in Springfield.” This spring’s series of three programs will be presented at the Elijah Iles House, 628 South Seventh Street on May 3, 17, and 31. The talks will start at 5:30 p.m. and will last about an hour. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Admission is free, but donations are cheerfully accepted. For more information email ileshouse1998@gmail.com or visit www.ileshouse.org.

May 3: Chris Noonan is a Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch’s Springfield office. Chris remembers growing up in Knox Knolls, going to Vachel Lindsay School, and riding his bike around with friends, unsupervised, noting that “kids can’t do that today.” 

May 17: Former state senator Larry Bomke grew up on a small farm west of Springfield and attended Pleasant Plains High School. After school he worked for the State of Illinois, then got involved with selling insurance and starting his political career as a Precinct committeeman then became a member of the Sangamon County Board followed by his career as a Illinois state senator. Senator Bomke and his wife Sally Jo have two children, Wulf, who is a deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office and a daughter Natalie who has become a well-known news anchor in Chicago.

May 31: The four Barringer siblings will be reflecting on their memories of growing up the children of neurosurgeon and local historian Dr Floyd Barringer, their English mother Winifred, life during the 1960s, their careers: Judith starting out in politics, Dan a museum curator, Doug the finance officer for the Illinois State Bar Association and David 32-year career in law enforcement.