Coles Count Historical Society Board of Directors Releases Statement on the Passing of Steve Thompson

For Immediate Release – July 23, 2021

The Board of Directors of the Coles County Historical Society were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Steve Thompson. Steve Thompson has been one of the biggest champions of the history of Mattoon and all of Coles County. He embodied the true spirit of fighting to preserve military and local history. He leaves a gaping hole in our local historical preservation community.

Steve spearheaded a limitless number of local historical preservation projects. Steve was the driving force behind the Mattoon Civil War Memorial Ellipse/ Camp Grant Municipal Park Project. The Ellipse site overlooks the location of Mattoon’s Civil War-era Camp Grant which functioned as a Union muster camp for Illinois infantry regiments from 1861-1865. In May of 1861, then Illinois recruitment and training officer Captain U.S. Grant performed some of his first Civil War duties at this locale. Units raised at the site include the 21st, 79th, 123rd, 135th and 143rd Illinois Infantry Regiments.

Steve worked tirelessly on behalf of the Coles County Historical Preservation Committee getting the Lumpkin Heights and Elm Ridge Subdivision Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district encompasses more than 160 residences along much of Wabash, Lafayette and the south side of Charleston avenues between Sixth and Logan streets, and along Elm Ridge. Lumpkin Heights was started in the early 1900s and was gradually developed over more than 50 years. Elm Ridge was started in the mid-1930s. More than a dozen styles of architecture can be found within this district.

Steve donated a great deal of time and effort in creating the Historical Society’s current Women’s Suffrage Exhibit located in the Mattoon Train Depot Museum in partnership with SC3F Wealth Management. Steve’s dedication to finding locally significant items and artifacts related to the Suffrage Movement was amazing and inspiring.

Steve was also honored as the one of the recipients of this year’s Historical Societies Honorary Achievement Awards in June for his devotion to the Women’s Suffrage Exhibit and his efforts towards the mission of the preservation of Coles County history. We will truly miss his larger-than-life presence and volunteerism.