|
Which
U.S. president is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame?
Two
weeks to historic wrestling and temperance demonstrations
Send a link to a friend
[July 21, 2007]
PETERSBURG -- The most famous match of the only
U.S. president to be recognized by the Wrestling Hall of Fame is the
inspiration for a new special event about wrestling and temperance
scheduled for Aug, 4-5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Lincoln's New
Salem State Historic Site.
|
|
An interpretation of the 1830s wrestling match between Abraham
Lincoln and Jack Armstrong will take place in front of the carding
mill. Lincoln was known as a "scientific" wrestler and Armstrong as
a "tricky" wrestler. Mike Chapman, author and executive director of
the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa,
will explain these two wrestling styles and recount the historic
match. There are several versions of the outcome of this famous
wrestling match, but all agree it was important to Lincoln's
development as a leader. Porta High School wrestlers Zach Langloss,
"The Tallula Tangler;" "Greasy" Garrett Talla; David "Double D"
Devine; and "Mean" Matt Lounsberry will demonstrate various
wrestling moves and styles. The female members of Dr. John Allen's
Temperance Society will temporarily interrupt the wrestling match at
noon as they focus their energies on reducing the "habitual tippling
of ardent spirits" by the men of the village. They will be led by
Methodist circuit preacher Peter Cartwright as they attempt to
remove their men from Clary's Saloon. Visitors may also see cooking
and quilting at the Rutledge Tavern.
[to top of second column]
 |
 The Aug. 4-5 event, co-sponsored by the New Salem Lincoln League,
is free and open to the public.
Lincoln's New Salem
State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency, is a re-creation of the 1830s log village where
Abraham Lincoln lived for six years. It is located along Route 97
about two miles south of Petersburg and 20 miles northwest of
Springfield. The site is open daily for free public tours.
[Text
from Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency news release received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
 |
