During the late winter and early spring 2002, Phase III archaeological research was conducted at the site of the proposed Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.  During the course of these investigations most of Lots 1 and 2 was stripped of its overburden exposing a variety of subsurface features.  Although archival research has not been finalized, it appears that the early domestic (and potentially commercial) midden identified during the Phase II archaeological investigations on Lots 1 and 2 was deposited by John Williams and his family.  Williams, an early merchant in Springfield and partner with Elijah Iles (one of the town’s founders), may have occupied Lots 1 and 2 during the 1830s.  Stone house foundations, a well, numerous privy pits, and an early drainage system document the early domestic component at this site.  Additionally, the archaeological excavations documented several middle to late nineteenth century commercial and light industrial (blacksmithing) activity areas.  Several distinctive, double-vaulted, privy-like features were found associated with the blacksmith shop.  Williams was a typical entrepreneur of the period and dappled in a great variety of enterprises, including leather manufacture.  There is some thought that these pits may have been associated with the processing of hides.  The artifact analysis and report preparation phase of this project was only recently funded, and a final report on the results of this research is not anticipated until 2007.