[MAY 19, 2001]  At a special presentation on Tuesday, May 15, Lincoln and Logan County residents had the opportunity to learn more about the potential impacts of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The session was in the Pegram Room of the Lincoln Public Library in Lincoln.

David Blanchette, public information officer for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, gave an in-depth presentation on the facilities and programs, along with information on Abraham Lincoln and related U.S. history. The two major buildings will be the library and museum that face Jefferson Avenue and Sixth Street.

The Presidential Library will be the new home of the Illinois State Historical Library and its world-renowned Abraham Lincoln Collection. This 46,000-piece treasure trove is the world's largest Lincoln collection and contains some of his most important significant historical documents and artifacts. Included are the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and his inaugural speech. Other areas of the Presidential Library will include the reading room for the Lincoln Collection, the main reading room and reference department, and newspapers on microfilm. There will also be a conservation lab, photography lab and microfilming lab on the third floor, for the use of the staff.

Museum visitors will first enter the plaza, a grand, elegant space featuring a 70-foot atrium, which will be the location for many public and special events. From there, visitors will see the entry points to Lincoln's life. A reproduction of his boyhood cabin in Indiana is the entry to Journey One, an immersive exhibit that covers the period from his childhood to his election as president. A reproduction of the White House as it looked in 1860 is the entry point for Journey Two, which spans Lincoln's presidency to his assassination. Some of the highlights of the journey will include Lincoln reading a book near the fireplace of his boyhood cabin in Indiana, a slave auction such as Abraham might have seen on a flatboat journey to New Orleans and an education center, featuring classrooms and a computer lab, available for use by pre-scheduled school groups.

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There will be numerous other venues to visit, such as a special-effects theater that will use three screens and surround sound to totally envelop the audience. Other attractions will be a "kids area," available just for children, and an American Holavision Theater, featuring "Ghosts of the Library." Other features will include a restaurant, gift shop and administrative offices. Space has been set aside for traveling exhibits to highlight other Lincoln sites across the country and encourage visitation at those sites as well.

The Union Station across the street from the museum will be the gateway for visitors to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum complex. This 1890s train station, which for the past 11 years has been office space for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, will be rehabilitated to serve as a bus drop-off point and visitor orientation center. There, people can obtain tickets, make reservations and learn about Lincoln sites in Illinois, such as those in Logan County, as well as in Kentucky, Indiana and other states.

At a cost of $115 million and estimated annual attendance of half a million people, the Presidential Library and Museum is important to Logan County. Residents need to be informed in order to take advantage of the tourists it will bring to the area. The library is scheduled to open in October 2002, and the museum is to be completed in late 2003, the same year as the city of Lincoln's sesquicentennial.

[Kathleen McCullough]

[MAY 19, 2001]  The Deskins hotel was built in 1836 at the site of the present VFW Hall, located on Fifth Street in Lincoln. Directly in front of this site was and still is the well used by the hostelry — a well that Abraham Lincoln would have used to quench his thirst. Our intentions are to restore the well and make it possible for everyone to follow in his footsteps and drink from this same well.

The Deskins building was at the original site of the town of Postville, across the street from the historic Postville Courthouse. While working as a circuit lawyer, Lincoln ate at the tavern during his visits to Postville. 

Lawrence B. Stringer’s "History of Logan County Illinois," published in 1911, provides this background information:

Soon after the platting of Knapp, Bird and Tinsley’s addition in 1836, Dr. John Deskins built a one story house on Fifth street, almost opposite the site where the first county court house was erected four years later, and in 1837 he added a second story. This was the recognized hostelry of the town during terms of court. Dr. Deskins was the first sheriff of the county and later a member of the State Legislature from this district. His "hotel," being substantially the first one of much consequence in Postville, is famous for the many happenings that there took place when the lawyers "traveling the circuit" and the court, jurors, witnesses and litigants made it their headquarters. It was conducted for a while by John Allison. It was the regular stopping place for Abraham Lincoln. For incidents associated with Abraham Lincoln and his temporary stay at the old Deskins’ hotel, reference is made to the chapter on "Abraham Lincoln." Further references have also been made to this early hostelry in the chapters on "Bench and Bar" and "County Government." The doors, sashes and stairs of this hotel were made by George W. Edgar and it was weatherboarded with black walnut from Orendorff’s mill. The old building was dismantled about ten years ago. (Volume I, page 568)

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The city of Lincoln truly has a "crown jewel" of great historic significance "in their back yard." Cars and people have been passing it by for over 150 years.

We did not know until we removed the pump from the old wooden platform if the well still existed. To our delight, when the workers pulled the pump a few weeks ago, we found the original moss-covered, brick-lined well still there!

The Logan County Health Department was asked to sample the water to see if it could be made into safe, drinkable water. From the reports we have received, we feel it will be possible. Our purpose is to begin the process of restoring this well.

In the future, we hope to have the water available for purchase as souvenirs and gifts for friends and family. We are anxious for Looking for Lincoln followers to participate in this historic experience by drinking from the same well Abe did when he worked and visited in our fair city.

[T.W. Werth]

[MAY 19, 2001]  Legislation passed by the Illinois Senate this week brings sunshine to state and local government decisions regarding land purchases and lawsuits, according to state Sen. Bob Madigan, R-Greenville. The Senate approved and sent to the governor a bill that requires the state to disclose the beneficiaries of any trusts involved in the state purchase of land for airports or prisons. House Bill 3078 also requires that the amount of money paid by the government in a lawsuit settlement be available for public disclosure.

Taping meetings

Meanwhile, a Senate executive committee is continuing to study a bill requiring verbatim records of executive sessions called by government bodies. In a public hearing, representatives of local governments strongly objected to the measure. Opponents said taping meetings for verbatim records will force people to censor themselves and not fulfill their proper roles — asking tough questions, giving opinions, etc. — because the tapes could eventually be disclosed. Others were concerned about the improper disclosure of taped information, especially personnel matters and legal advice. The committee will continue its work to improve the legislation.

New charitable and commemorative license plates

The Senate also approved legislation creating new charitable and commemorative license plates. House Bill 293 creates charitable plates for the Illinois Lions Club, pets, hospice services, corrections employees memorial, Gulf War memorial, elementary and secondary education, park district after-school programs and coal research. New commemorative plates honor union members, paratroopers and small businesses. House Bill 293 returns to the House of Representatives for concurrence with changes made in the Senate.

House bills that have been approved by the Senate and now go to the governor for consideration, include these:

Public safety pensions (HB 250) — Improves pension benefits for state police troopers, Illinois Department of Corrections prison guards and Illinois Department of Human Services security officers.

Firefighters’ widows (HB 254) — Improves pension benefits for widows of Chicago firefighters.

Scott’s Law (HB 180) — Requires motorists to take certain precautions when approaching a barricade or a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights. Violators will face suspension of their driving privileges and a fine of up to $10,000. Named after Lt. Scott Gillen, a Chicago firefighter who was killed by a reckless driver on Dec. 23, 2000, when he responded to a traffic accident.

Meth labs (HB 978) — Allows judges to impose stiffer prison sentences on those convicted of operating an illegal drug lab if emergency response personnel are injured or killed in connection with illegal drug lab fires or explosions.

Grand juries (HB 222) — Allows a statewide grand jury to be convened to investigate and return indictments for any sex offense.

Genetic marking (HB 452) — Requires felons convicted of several violent crimes to submit specimens of blood to the Illinois State Police for analysis and categorizing into genetic marker groupings.

Statewide alert (HB 643) — Requires the Department of State Police to develop a coordinated program for a statewide emergency alert when a child is missing or kidnapped.

Whirlpool safety (HB 1551) — Prohibits, after May 1, 2002, the operation of a public swimming pool, spa, whirlpool or water slide without obtaining certain licenses from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Railroad crossings (HB 579) — Authorizes a pilot project in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties to test the utility of stationary automated audible warning devices as an alternative to trains having to sound their horns as they approach highway-rail crossings.

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House bills that have been passed by the Senate and now return to the House for concurrence with changes made in the Senate include these:

Plates for disabled people (HB 846) — Tightens requirements for the issuance of license plates or placards for disabled people and allows police officials to seize improperly used plates or placards.

Gang crime (HB 1812) — Strengthens penalties for street gang members who violate laws against murder, assault and battery.

Restricted call registry (HB 176) — Creates the statewide Restricted Call Registry for consumers who do not want to be called by telemarketing sales companies.

Incest penalties (HB 1125) — Increases criminal penalties for incest and sexual assault within families.

Senate bills that have been passed by the House and now go to the governor for consideration include these:

Zero tolerance (SB 1032) — Codifies into law the Illinois Department of Corrections’ and the Illinois State Police’s current zero-tolerance policies for drug abuse.

Project Exile (SB 5) — Encourages the federal prosecution of all persons who illegally use firearms in crimes against others. Requires a five-year prison sentence for convicted felons found in possession of firearms.

Teen traffic tickets (SB 627) — Creates a pilot program in DuPage, Kendall and Sangamon counties to notify vehicle owners when a person younger than 18 is issued a traffic citation when driving their vehicle.

Seat belts (SB 98) — Requires every person who is transporting passengers from ages 4 to younger than 16 to be responsible for ensuring that passengers are either in child restraint systems or seat belts.

Disabled hunters (SB 874) — Allows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to issue permits to disabled people to allow them to hunt from vehicles. The department would set the requirements for the permits.

Insurance ombudsman (SB 1505) — Establishes an ombudsman program to help educate uninsured individuals about health insurance benefits options and their rights under state and federal law.

Southern Illinois water (SB 153, SB 298) — Helps the Gateway Water Company provide a stable and quality water supply for residents of six southern Illinois counties. Allows the company to use Carlyle Lake east of St. Louis as their major water supply and gives the company a property tax break on a new water treatment plant.

Adoption (SB 838) — Encourages and facilitates adoptions by redefining the kinds of homes — adoption-only vs. foster — that care for children placed with them by the Department of Children and Family Services.

DCFS publications (SB 842) — Allows the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to use royalties earned from the publication of materials owned by or licensed by the department as an additional funding source for its foster parent training programs.

Senate bills that have been passed by the House and now return to the Senate for concurrence with changes made in the House include these:

Genetic testing (SB 42) — Bans discrimination against workers and applicants for health insurance based upon genetic testing.

Mental health (SB 435) — Requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to establish standards and procedures for the provision of mental health and developmental disability services to people with mental illness and people with developmental disabilities who are confined in local jails or juvenile detention facilities. The department must inspect each facility at least once each year and make the results of the inspection available to the public.

Insurance (SB 935) — Requires insurance companies to notify their health insurance customers of changes in lists containing information about the prices of approved medications.

[News release]

[MAY 18, 2001]  The ninth annual Mayor's Awards for Historic Preservation were presented Thursday evening during the first Main Street Lincoln Antiques Roadshow.

 The roadshow was based on the popular public television series. A steady flow of people took advantage of the opportunity to have their treasures evaluated.  "For our first time, it was a success" said co-chair Bette Steffens.  Program Manager Wendy Bell added, "Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, it's low cost entertainment, and sends people home with a good feeling."

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of two awards, one for residential and one for nonresidential buildings.  In the residential category, Jerry and Colleen Roate collected an award for "Sympathetic Alteration" for their home at 146 Ninth St.  The Roates have re-roofed the house and re-created the front porch from a 1960’s picture they found at the courthouse. Though they have sided the home, they have carefully kept the architectural elements. 

[Home of Jerry and Colleen Roate at 146 Ninth St.]

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[Building at 200 N. Chicago St. owned by Jane Wright]

In the nonresidential category, 200 N. Chicago St. received an award for "Exterior Rehabilitation."  The building, owned by Jane Wright, was part of the facade renovation program last summer.  Wright worked with the Main Street design architects on the color scheme, which included using the accent color from the State Farm sign.  In presenting the awards, Mayor Beth Davis stated she was "pleased to recognize these winners" and that she "hoped to put a designation system in place for historic homes to facilitate grant availability."

The awards ceremony and Antiques Roadshow wrapped up four days of activities during National Historic Preservation Week.  Historic window displays will continue throughout the next week.  Local activities for Historic Preservation Week are sponsored by Beans and Such, Blue Dog Inn, Mayor Beth Davis and Main Street Lincoln.

[Main Street news release]

[MAY 18, 2001]  For a share totaling $16,347.17, the city of Lincoln could join Logan County’s Internet network, Carla Bender, Logan County Circuit Court clerk and a member of the county’s technology committee, told the council at its May 15 session.

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[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 18, 2001]  Although the lines weren’t quite as long as they are for the popular PBS program, Lincoln’s first Main Street Antiques Roadshow proved that antique collectors are alive and well in Logan County.

[Click here to see photos from the Antiques Roadshow]

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[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 17, 2001]  Sen. Bob Madigan’s proposal to provide assistance to help Illinoisans find medical insurance coverage needs only the signature of the governor to become law.

The Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the legislation Wednesday.

Under Senate Bill 1505, the state would create an ombudsman’s position within the state Department of Insurance. The ombudsman will be responsible for coordinating information about available government and nongovernment or private-sector insurance plans.

"There are programs in existence to help the uninsured obtain insurance, but many of those who are about to lose their health insurance coverage are simply not aware of these programs," said Madigan, R-Lincoln. "The ombudsman will help provide information on state programs such as KidCare and the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan. These programs were specifically created and designed to help those who are uninsured because of their inability to afford coverage."

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Madigan said the legislation also would allow counseling for the uninsured in the discovery, evaluation and comparison of options for obtaining health insurance coverage. Counseling could be one-on-one or through public forums.

With the House vote May 16  and previous approval by the Senate on April 6, the measure will now be sent to the governor for consideration.

[News release]

[MAY 16, 2001]  The cost figures are in for the upgrade to Lincoln’s wastewater treatment plant, and the "guaranteed project price" has been set at $10,066,207, Lincoln City Council members learned Tuesday night. Estimates of anywhere from $9 to $12 million had been made for the project.

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[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 16, 2001]  The Logan County Airport is again operational. At their meeting Tuesday night, the Logan County Board voted to give a monthly contract on an interim basis to Sam Evans to provide services until bids can be received for the position of fixed-base operator.

Evans, a former airport manager, is to keep the grass landing strip mowed, as well as other areas of the grounds, and to provide fueling services. He will work four half days a week and be paid $600 a month and the use of the maintenance hanger.

The action comes following a two-week period that left the airport without an FBO after the one valid bid for the position was withdrawn when language problems surfaced at the April meeting of the board.

In other board activity, a 10-0 vote ensured the installation of an Internet system for five county buildings, with the opportunity for the city of Lincoln to tie into the proposed system.

Figures presented to the board by the Logan County Technology Committee, established by board chairman Dick Logan, indicate that the entire system will cost approximately $102,000, with total contributions from departments and other users at $52,847, leaving a $49,235 balance to be paid from the general fund.

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State and federal mandates are putting more pressure on local communities to tie into the Internet system in order to process health programs and payments, to take advantage of training opportunities, and to update and maintain vital statistics records, to name a few of the uses available.

Logan established the committee to investigate the need of such services and also to prevent duplication of services when different departments and offices phase into the Internet services system.

Wayne Alberts’ request to rezone 3.4 acres in rural Atlanta from agriculture to B2 commercial failed by an 8-3 vote. Instead, the board asked Alberts to resubmit his request to the zoning office, asking for a variance in the current regulations, which would allow Alberts to relocate his landscaping business to that location.

[Fuzz Werth]

[MAY 15, 2001]  Burnetta "Bernie" DePuy will have a belated birthday present this year.  She'll turn 80 on Tuesday, May 15.  One day later, on Wednesday May 16, a project she's been associated with for more than a decade will take a giant step and leave town.  It's not often you celebrate something you love leaving, but in this case it's a move in the right direction. 

The Indian Maiden statue currently located near the center sidewalk on the west side of the Logan County Courthouse has been in disrepair for a number of years.  Specifically, she has lost her hand and the water jug it held. There has also been some general wear from nearly a century of existence.

The statue was a gift "of the people, by the people, for the people" conceived by the Lincoln Woman's Club in 1906.  At the time, anything put on the courthouse lawn had to be both beautiful and educational.  The club and the artist, Charles Mulligan, agreed upon the Indian Maiden design. The 7-foot, 2,000-pound statue was displayed that year at the Illinois State Fair.

Mulligan is also associated with such works as the massive "Law and Knowledge" and "Justice and Power" that stand outside the Supreme Court building in Springfield, as well as the Illinois Memorial at Vicksburg.  He is best known for his creations "Lincoln the Rail-Splitter" and "Miner and Child" for the Chicago Park District.

The statue in Lincoln was originally a fountain, with water passing through a coil of pipe flowing from a vase in the woman's hand.  The water fell into a basin and then ran through the base to fill two hollows used for dogs and cats to drink from.  Although no one remembers exactly when the fountain was shut off, it is certain that the statue has been missing her hand for more than 50 years. 

DePuy is a member of the Lincoln Woman's Club and serves as chairman of the community improvement project.  As chairman, she has the opportunity to choose which project the club undertakes.  She felt the statue was a fitting choice, and the club looked for the Indian Maiden's hand but with no luck.  When Lincoln was designated a Main Street community in 1994, Kate Orr from the Design Committee approached DePuy about the statue.  DePuy joined the Design Committee, and Main Street Lincoln adopted the project to restore the maiden.

Unfortunately, the project has had more twists than the road the statue will follow on Wednesday.  With the original hand and water jug long gone, a photograph had to be found to use as a basis for restoration.  No one seemed to have such a picture.  Finally, in 1996, Bart Ryckbosch, an archivist for the Art Institute of Chicago, located a picture of the statue in a 1908 edition of Park and Cemetery Magazine. 

The next turn of events was a problem in locating the Tennessee pink marble used to create the statue.  The quarry was out of business, and the project was therefore put on hold.  In August of 1997, Orr found an article in Stone World Magazine announcing that Tennessee Marble Company had reopened its quarry of Tennessee pink, and the stone would be available in the next few months.  The impetus for this was the Grand Central Terminal renovation in New York.  They were building a stairway to match the original, which was also made of Tennessee pink.

Finding funding for the project and an artist to do the job became a top priority.  Nita Sunderland from Washington (Ill.) saw an article in the newspaper and contacted the Main Street Office.  Sunderland was well-qualified as a sculptor; therefore, Main Street investigated a SOS or Save our Sculpture grant through the Smithsonian Institution.  However, in order to qualify, the artist had to be one of 12 nationwide, and only one statue per year per state would be chosen.  Main Street then began to seek private funds and worked on a contract with the Logan County Board.  The legalities took some time, and when a contract was finally written, Sunderland no longer wanted the job.  

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At this point, it seemed the Indian Maiden statue would never leave town.  Wendy Bell, program manager for Main Street Lincoln, suggested they contact Michael Dunbar at the Illinois Capitol Development Board.  Dunbar, a sculptor himself, oversees all artwork owned, purchased or restored by the state.  Dunbar recommended David Seagraves of Elizabeth, and Design Committee Chairman Larry Steffens contacted him. Seagraves visited Lincoln to inspect the statue about three weeks ago and has agreed to do the work.

Seagraves’ resume is lengthy.  He holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Washington University School of Fine Arts in St. Louis and completed his master’s in fine arts at California College of Arts and Design in Oakland.  He moved to rural Elizabeth in 1973 and opened his own shop in 1977.  He specializes in carved furniture, architectural carvings and sculptures.  His first major statue commission, which he received in 1981, was for a 3-foot figure of Mary and Anne for St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Morrison.  Many of his commissions have been for churches in Illinois and Iowa and have included works in basswood, walnut, mahogany, limestone, marble and bronze.  In the mid-’80s, he re-carved parts of the stairway at the Springfield train depot, then owned by the Scully family.  Several of his later works have been awarded first and third place in the International Woodcarver's Congress, the largest and most prestigious show in the United States.  Through the Capital Development Board he has created works for Highland Community College in Freeport, the University of Illinois at Chicago and 12 of the Illinois National Guard Armories. 

Seagraves will be back in Lincoln on Wednesday, and the work to remove the statue will begin about 1 p.m.  The statue will be taken to his studio in Elizabeth for restoration and then returned to Lincoln in October.  The maiden will have a new home then, on the south side of the courthouse, in her own brick courtyard.  The memorial bricks are part of the fund-raising program for the project and are available through Main Street Lincoln for $25 each.  Those who donate $100 will be included on a bronze plaque that tells the story of the statue.  $500 donations will be noted on benches for the area.  The project cost is $10,000 and is being raised through private donations.  To make your donation, contact the Main Street Lincoln office at 732-2929. 

Part of DePuy's duties as the project chairman for the Woman's Club is to make reports to both the district and state organizations.  She has chronicled the project’s many steps, both forward and backward, and now plans to write the final chapter shortly after Oct. 26.  That is the day the statue will be rededicated, 95 years to the day from when it was originally given.  The Woman's Club organization has been so impressed with DePuy's efforts that they have asked her to write an article on the project, to be included in both the Illinois and National General Federation of Women's Club magazines.

When contacted, the octogenarian stated, "When the statue leaves it will be the best birthday present I could possibly have, even if it is a day late."  Ironically, Wednesday is the birthday of the artist, David Seagraves. Maybe they can blow out the candles on the cake together.

[Main Street Lincoln news release]

[MAY 14, 2001]  Several candidates are vying for the appointment to the 90th District Illinois House seat that will be vacated when Rep. John Turner (R-Atlanta) becomes an Appellate Court judge. His statehouse position becomes vacant May 25, when he takes his seat on the 4th District Appellate Court.

Carla Bender

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Joe Alexander

[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 14, 2001]  Main Street Lincoln recently debuted their new partnership brochure in conjunction with their current partnership campaign.  The brochure features the 600 block of Broadway Street during the ’60s and specifically highlights Boss Drug Store and the Vogue Theatre.  "Our idea was to take the reader back to a time they could relate to, when downtown was bustling every day.  It's our mission to make downtown Lincoln as vibrant today as it was then," said Program Manager Wendy Bell.

The annual partnership campaign supports Main Street Lincoln's ongoing programs in the design, promotion and economic restructuring of the downtown area. Partnership is not limited to downtown businesses.   As noted in the brochure: "A vital and dynamic downtown is important to every member of our community.  We all have something to gain."

There are four basic levels, including personal or family partnerships for those without a business but who want to support the program, and business partnerships for retailers, service professionals, bankers and industries.

By increasing their donation, patrons are automatically linked to the Main Street website and are included on the Concerts in the Park poster. Benefactors receive all of the preceding, as well as sponsorship of Harvest Fest or the new children's Adventure Zone during the Art and Balloon Festival, at no additional sponsorship fee.

All donations are tax deductible.

For more information on Main Street Lincoln's partnership campaign or programs, contact the Main Street office at 732-2929.

[Main Street Lincoln news release]

[MAY 14, 2001]  Police are investigating the report of an armed robbery at Centennial Courts. The incident was reported to have occurred at 3:45 Friday afternoon. A 24-year-old Lincoln man who lives there said he was putting a diaper bag in the trunk of his car while carrying a child in his arms when he was poked in the back with something. A male voice said, "Give me your wallet." He lifted his shirt, and the thief took his wallet and ran. The thief is believed to have been a white male.

[LDN]

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