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Springfield (Guiding Light)

Springfield is the setting of the television soap opera Guiding Light. It is generally portrayed as a small city or large town in the midwest, and circa 2008 is more specifically named as Springfield Township in the shows opening sequence. The township is also next to a lake large enough to have a lighthouse.

Location

The show was proximal to other midwestern soap cities, such as Bay City and Oakdale. Bay City and Oakdale, in the storyline, are located in the state of Illinois (in real life, there is an unrelated Oakdale, Illinois), so, ostensibly, Springfield would also be in the same state (or possibly an adjacent state). However, Springfield, Illinois is the state capital and the town represented on Guiding Light is much smaller. Also, no hints have ever been dropped that the town was the capital of the state like it is in real life. The real life Springfield Township, LaPorte County, Indiana is a good fit distance and location wise, but is much too small, while Springfield, Ohio is about the right size, but too far away.

In other references, most recently in a check written by the character Alexandra Spaulding (played by Marj Dusay), Springfield is a generic city merely located in "U.S.A." (much like Salem on Days of Our Lives and the Springfield depicted in The Simpsons).

The original setting of Guiding Light was Five Points, Illinois, followed by Selby Flats, California; the location changed to Springfield in 1966 when the show's core family, the Bauers, relocated there.

Notable

Families

Spaulding family
Bauer family
Lewis family
Santos family
Spencer family

Citizens

main article at Citizens of Springfield, Guiding Light

Locations

The Beacon Hotel – A project thought of by Cassie Lewis and Olivia Spencer. After some years of co-owning the hotel, Cassie sold Olivia her 50% stake in the hotel. Current Residents include Marina Cooper, Cyrus Foley, Lizzie Spaulding, Vanessa Chamberlain, and A.C. Mallet. While Olivia was dying she gave her ownership to Cassie, but she survived and they split it again.

Company – A diner owned by Buzz Cooper, currently being run by everyone in the Cooper family. It was built on the site of the Reardon family's house, which also became a boarding house for residents of the town.

CO2 – After the success of his diner on Fifth Street (which burned down) and Company, Buzz Cooper branched out and has a little Starbucks-themed coffee shop on Main Street. The current manager is Ashlee Wolfe.

Lewis Oil & Construction - A construction firm that has been owned by various members of the Lewis family and regularly goes up against Spaulding Enterprises in business matters. The CEO is currently Bill Lewis III.

Lizzie's Place – A bar owned by Lizzie Spaulding. She purchased it because it reminded her of her ex husband Jonathan Randall, who had previously managed the bar.

Spaulding Enterprises – An international conglomerate located in Springfield. Headed by the ruthless Alan Spaulding, the company has traded hands throughout the years to many Spauldings. It has many divisions, and is the sole source of money for the Spaulding family fortune. Alan Spaulding stepped down early 2007 and made his sister Alexandra Spaulding acting president. Since all of the Spaulding family members are heirs, control of the company is often a point of contention. Lizzie Spaulding is the eldest Spaulding heiress.

Spaulding Mansion – This is the biggest house in Springfield. In addition to the main house, the property also has a guest house, servants quarters, a pool house, and a potting shed. Control of the mansion is sometimes as contentious as that of the company. So in patriarch Brandon Spaulding's will (which became company by-laws), the C.E.O of Spaulding Enterprises would not only control the company, but also the entire Spaulding Mansion. Current or recent residents include Alan Spaulding, Alexandra Spaulding and James Spaulding. Even though Zach Spaulding and Emma Spencer-Spaulding live with their mothers, they occasionally stay at the mansion. Lillian Raines, Beth Spaulding Bauer, Lizzie Spaulding, Natalia Rivera and Rafe Rivera have also lived in the mansion.

Spaulding Lake House- This is a lake house owned by the Spaulding family. This house is where Daisy LeMay and Rafe Rivera had sex for the first time and conceived a child.

Spaulding Island- Is the Spaulding Vacation destination. The entire Island is owned by the family and is called San Gabriel's. This is where Beth Spaulding Bauer miscarried her son with Alan Spaulding when she found out Phillip Spaulding was alive. This is also the place Beth gave birth to the couples second child that survived a daughter Peyton Alexandra Spaulding.

the Lewis Mansion - This is the former home of Joshua Lewis and Reva Shayne. It previously belonged to the late H.B. Lewis I., but was sold upon Reva and Joshua's 2006 divorce. Reva has since moved back to her Reva-bend Farmhouse and temporarily have stayed at the Spaulding Mansion with Alan.

the Jessup Farmhouse - Originally the home of Adam Jessup, but was passed down to Roger Thorpe when he murdered Adam. Roger's son Hart Jessup took control of the farm from his father and it became his permanent residence with Dinah Marler for over 2 years. After Hart and Dinah divorced, Hart became engaged to Cassie Layne Winslow. After he was murdered by ex-wife Dinah, the farmhouse was given to his son with Cassie, Roger Joshua Jessup and has become his permanent residence along with his mother Cassie (who controls interest until RJ reaches age the age of 18) and Cassie's new husband Joshua Lewis.

the San Cristoballian Palace - The home of the monarchs of San Cristobal. Currently vacated, but rights are reserved to William "Will" Winslow when he reaches the age of 18. It previously housed Cassie Layne Winslow and her late husband the deceased Prince Richard Winslow. It also temporarily was the home of Ambassador Edmund Winslow.

the Carriage House - Recently sold, but formerly the home of Blake Marler and her late husband Ross Marler for over a decade. After Ross's death in 2006, Blake sold the house and moved into the Beacon Hotel.

Reva-bend Farmhouse - Currently the residence of Reva Shayne and Jeffrey O'Neill. The house was built by Hawk Shayne, Rusty Shayne, and Roxy Shayne for Reva and has been her sole home. At one point, it was the home of Holly Reade.

the Bauer Cabin-Lodge - Currently the home of Rick Bauer,Beth Spaulding Bauer, and his stepdaughter Peyton Spaulding. the Cabin Lodge also played host to Rick's ex-wife Mel Boudreau and his daughter Leah Bauer for 4 years. The home was originally built for Ed Bauer.