 The ornaments arrived last week and are already on sale at several
local businesses.The ladies explained that the new ornament
design is a depiction of the Abraham Lincoln speech on the steps of
the Logan County Courthouse on Oct. 16, 1858. The likeness of
Abraham Lincoln on this ornament is the same as the Logan County
Historical & Genealogical Society hopes to create in a lifesize
statue to be erected on the lawn of the Logan County Courthouse next
year.
Rohlfs said the ornaments have been made by Desmark, the same
company that produced the series of city of Lincoln ornaments. The
new ornaments are sized and designed to complement the city
ornaments on a tree.
Martin said that was one of the nice things about the ornaments,
and so far she's had a few people who have asked for them because
they have the full collection and want to keep it going. She also
noted that some have asked if the society will continue doing annual
ornaments in the future. Right now no specific plans are outlined
for that, but the ladies agreed that it might be nice to pick that
up as an annual event for the society.
Each of the new ornaments is numbered, comes in a hunter green
box and is accompanied by the certificate of authenticity.
The first 30 ornaments have been set aside for those who are
buying the miniature bronzes of the statue. Those purchasers will be
offered the opportunity to buy an ornament with the same issue
number as their statue. Rohlfs said that if the statue owner decides
not to purchase an ornament, the number will be put back in the
stack to be sold to the general public.
The Christmas ornaments now being offered for sale are just one
of several fundraising activities the society is conducting for the
statue.
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Currently, the committee has sold 12 of the 22-inch bronze
miniatures of the statue. Bill Donath was on hand Friday
afternoon and said a new shipment of the statues will be in next
week. When all of the statues have sold, the net proceeds going
toward the project will total about $30,000. It is estimated
that the funding needed to erect the statue on the courthouse
lawn is $48,000.
Rohlfs said that Ms. Marla Williams' history classes at Northwest
School have taken a keen interest in helping raise funds. Their
penny drive this fall brought in over $300 for the statue. The
classes will also sponsor a "Hiking for History" walking marathon in
the early part of next year.
Another fundraiser coming soon will be the sale of postcards
depicting the statue. Marlin said the cards will be coming in the
near future, and the society has hopes of selling the majority of
them at local businesses.
For those who are interested in purchasing the new Lincoln
ornament, they are currently available at Beans & Such, MKS
Jewelers, Serendipity Stitches, the Logan County treasurer's office,
or from the Genealogical Society.
The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society is located on
Chicago Street, across from the train depot. The hours are Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The society also has on display the 22-inch bronze, which is
currently being offered. Anyone who is interested in seeing and
perhaps purchasing a bronze can stop in at 114 N. Chicago St. during
the center's normal business hours.
[By NILA SMITH]
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