Historical Event Revived

Rails to Be Split at Lincoln High School Basketball Game

[January 31, 2008]  The Logan County Railsplitting Association is pleased to announce that an old tradition will be rekindled on Friday. The association will bring representatives to the LCHS basketball game versus Springfield for a railsplitting demonstration between the sophomore and varsity games. LCHS alumnus Heidi Rankin will be on hand to do the actual splitting. Ms. Rankin has been splitting rails in competition for over 10 years and is looking forward to raising new interest in the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest and Crafts Festival.

The tradition of splitting rails at basketball games was halted years ago, but now, with the festival gaining momentum again, and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial approaching, the goal is to increase awareness of Lincoln the Railsplitter.

The local festival, now in its 38th year, gives attendees a chance to look at life in Abraham Lincoln's time, as well as a chance to compete in events such as railsplitting, corn shelling, firewood splitting, crosscut sawing and tomahawk throwing. Also at the festival, there will be numerous craft vendors selling handmade items to the public.

The 38th annual Abraham Lincoln Railsplitting Contest and Crafts Festival is scheduled for Sept. 12-14 at the Logan County Fairgrounds. The Logan Railsplitting Association will also be working on several Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial activities throughout the year. For more information about the festival and the association, please visit www.railsplitting.com or call 217-732-8687.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County]