Original New Salem descendants sought for 175th reunion      

[SEPT. 30, 2005]  PETERSBURG -- What if you attended a family reunion and discovered that all of the people there had a direct connection to Abraham Lincoln? Just such a reunion is being planned for July 8, 2006, at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site near Petersburg.

The 175th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's arrival at the Sangamon River town of New Salem has been scheduled, and a call is being put out to all direct descendants of the residents who lived there during the six years Lincoln called the log village his home. A full list of known original settlers is available on the Lincoln's New Salem website at www.lincolnsnewsalem.com.

"We encourage anyone who thinks they have a connection to 1830s New Salem to visit our website," said David Hedrick, site manager of Lincoln's New Salem. "And we look forward to a great family reunion next July."

People who are descendants of the original New Salem settlers or who need more information may e-mail [e-mail] or write to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, Attn: Barbara Archer, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, IL 62675. All who provide their own name and the name of the person from whom they are descended will receive an invitation and registration form in early 2006. All descendants attending must preregister.

The tentative reunion schedule calls for a barbecue dinner, tours of the 1830s log village with costumed interpreters, recognition of descendants and a brand-new Theatre in the Park production of "Abraham."

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is located along Illinois Route 97 about two miles south of Petersburg and 20 miles northwest of Springfield. It is open daily for free public tours.

[Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release]