Richard Dickerson was an African American laborer living in Springfield, Ohio, whose lynching by a white mob on March 7, 1904 became the catalyst for further racial violence, including the targeted destruction of Black-owned businesses in the city’s “Levee” district.
On March 6, 1904, Richard Dickerson, an African American laborer, was involved in a confrontation with a woman named Anna Corbin. That Sunday, the two had an argument, and Dickerson sought the assistance of Police Sergeant Charles B. Collis to retrieve a personal item from Corbin.
What began as a seemingly routine intervention quickly turned violent. While the details remain unclear, it is alleged that Dickerson shot Anna Corbin during the altercation. When Sergeant Collis attempted to intervene, he was also shot. Corbin survived her injuries, but Collis was mortally wounded and later died the next day.
As news of the shootings spread through Springfield, outrage grew among the city’s white residents. Rumors and sensationalized accounts fueled the anger, with calls for swift and brutal justice. That evening, a white mob gathered outside the jail, where Dickerson had been detained. Armed with sledgehammers and other tools, the mob broke into the jail, overpowering the deputies. Dickerson, cornered in his cell, was dragged out like a doll.
The mob marched Dickerson to a paved lot outside the jail. He was beaten, knocked to the ground, and shot multiple times as he lay defenseless. His body was then taken to Fountain Avenue, where he was hanged from a telegraph pole. The mob, numbering in the thousands, continued to desecrate his body, firing shot after shot into his corpse. His body remained hanging for approximately four hours before being cut down and taken to a funeral home. What followed was a wave of violence that struck at the very foundation of Black economic independence.
In the wake of Dickerson’s death, a coordinated effort to cripple Black businesses ensued. On March 8, white mobs shifted their focus to Springfield’s Black community. More than 1,000 rioters descended on the “Levee,” a predominantly Black neighborhood known for its saloons and small businesses. The area was a symbol of Black enterprise and resilience, and its destruction was a direct attack on the economic and social foundation of Springfield’s African American residents. These type of attacks were often justified by the false narrative that Black prosperity was a threat to white supremacy and social order.
Armed with flammable materials, the mob divided into groups, each targeting a different establishment. Seven Black-owned businesses were set ablaze, and while the city’s fire department was called to the scene, they arrived and did nothing to stop the destruction. Reports indicate that firefighters stood by as the flames consumed the buildings, while white residents cheered on the devastation.
African American residents were forced to stay indoors, effectively imprisoned in their own homes. Anyone who ventured outside risked being attacked or killed. In one reported incident, five shots were fired at a Black man who attempted to move through the town.
The Governor of Ohio, Myron T. Herrick, eventually dispatched 15 companies of Ohio National Guard troops to restore order in Springfield. However, by the time the soldiers arrived, the worst of the destruction had already taken place. While the troops enforced curfews and imposed strict measures to halt the violence, their presence did little to undo the deep psychological and emotional toll on the Black community. The residents, who had already witnessed the brutal lynching of Richard Dickerson and the targeted destruction of their businesses, were left struggling with the aftermath. The sense of security and economic independence they had worked so hard to build had been shattered, leaving them fearful and uncertain about their future in the town.
The destruction of Black-owned businesses in the aftermath of Dickerson’s lynching had a lasting impact on Ohio’s Black community. These businesses were crucial sources of employment, wealth, and social mobility. When they were destroyed, so were the livelihoods of countless Black families who depended on them for survival.
The sense of security and economic independence they had worked so hard to build were also shattered, leaving them fearful and uncertain about their future in the town. The message sent by the lynching and subsequent destruction of Black businesses was clear: Black success and independence were unacceptable in a society dominated by white supremacy.
The Ohio National Guard would later face internal scrutiny, with several officers court-martialed for failing to act decisively during the riots. However, they successfully argued that they had not received direct orders from the governor to mobilize.
Anna Corbin, who survived her injuries, filed a $5,000 lawsuit against the city for its failure to protect Dickerson and maintain law and order.
In the aftermath of the destruction, two mob leaders, Albert Loback and George Hill, were arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property. However, no one was held accountable for Dickerson’s lynching.
