Christmas on Lincoln's 8th Judicial Circuit

Christmas open house Dec. 2 at Postville Courthouse         

[NOV. 25, 2006]  Take a step back to Abraham Lincoln's time and enjoy period holiday decorations, music and sweets during the Christmas open house scheduled for Dec. 2 from noon to 4 p.m. at Postville Courthouse State Historic Site in Lincoln. The event is free and open to the public.

The courthouse will be decorated in the simple but beautiful style of the mid-1800s, and its Christmas tree will feature prairie dolls, wooden decorations and grapevines. Tour guides will explain the ornaments on the tree and how they were crafted in the 1840s. Period music by the Postville Express, featuring John Sutton, Manny Gaston and others, will fill the historic building. The 1800s art of china painting will be demonstrated by local artisan Phyllis Bryson. A display of 1840s photography will be in the upstairs courtroom, with a presentation by Carlene Carter on the history of the pictures. A Lincoln impersonator will greet visitors. For refreshments, prairie pumpkin cake and fruit punch will be served. The site will have 300 feet of decorations along the log fence again this year.

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site in Lincoln is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. It is a reproduction of the first Logan County Courthouse, in use from 1840 to 1847, and Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the original wooden structure while riding the 8th Judicial Circuit. Postville Courthouse is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for free public tours and other times by appointment. Call 217-732-8930 or 217-735-4977.

[Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release provided by Shirley R. Bartelmay]