New immigrants from Ireland, Germany and Italy moved to Staunton, and the community soon became one of the largest cities in southern Illinois.

Two large mounds of slag that rise from prairie farmland on the outskirts of Staunton tell much about the history and the present status of the small city.

The front doors of this fine structure opened onto an attractive lobby with a wide stairway to the second floor on the right and a ticket office centered between two entrances to a large auditorium which had a sloping floor, aisles between three sections of comfortable seats and in front a large, well-arranged stage.

Upstairs were toilet facilities, several small conference or committee meeting rooms, and a large hall where lodges met and dances and receptions could be held.

It was the subject of a documentary, Silver Lining, about federal-sponsored art projects in Illinois during the Great Depression.

[5] In the 1950s, the Illinois Traction system ran its last passenger train through Staunton, leading to a substantial decline in business in the area.

Beginning on February 12, 1918, Staunton experienced two days of mob vigilantism and rioting that gained attention nationwide.

Two men were tarred and feathered, with scores of others forced to kiss the American flag and sign loyalty pledges.

[6] The demonstration was initiated by members of the United Mine Workers, Local Union 755, who decided to "Americanize" the city through vigilante tactics.

[7] The riot began at 9 p.m. at a meeting of Local Union 755 at Labor Temple, where a $100 donation was being ratified to help defend Severino Oberdan from a previous charge of seditious talk that violated the Espionage Act.

[7][8][9] Oberdan's lawyer, John L. Metzen, had been summoned from Chicago by telegram to attend, but after being barred entrance went to his hotel.

[9] Metzen was seized from the hotel lobby, and he was clubbed by police before being marched down a dark street where he was stripped and a bucket of tar poured over his head.

[10] Working under the direction of the American Protective League,[11] the mob of men and women was reported to be as large as 400 persons, many of whom began storming homes of suspected pro-Germans and IWW supporters.

They were dragged from their homes to a stand where, under threat of being tarred, they were forced to kiss the American flag and sign a pledge of loyalty.

More than 100 homes were visited, including that of former County Clerk William C. Seehausen, who was forced to kiss the flag next to a boiling pot of tar.

[12] The police did nothing to stop the attacks, claiming citizens were exercising their patriotic duty during a special emergency.

[15] In May the Staunton Vigilance Corps of the State Council of Defense posted signs that demanded that only English be spoken in public.

Olive Herald congratulated the vigilantes and issued a warning: "To Staunton belongs the honor of being first in the county in a real loyalty demonstration...In the future, anyone with pro-German tendencies will do well to keep their mouths shut."

The Gillespie News commended the citizens and explained that while "we are not believers in mob violence...under the existing circumstances we are for it, and every man who took part in the Staunton demonstration should be given a medal."

[citation needed] The governor of Illinois, Frank Orren Lowden, also supported what the local union did.

The city of Staunton is split into four wards in order to maximize efficiency in civic maintenance and representation.