Diane Osborn presents a chronological look back on 2022 at January meeting of the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society

 

[January 25, 2023] 

At the January meeting of the Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society, member Diane Osborn welcomed the new year with a quick look back on the old.

Osborn has spent time throughout the year noting significant happenings within the city of Lincoln as well as the entire Logan County region.

Osborn shared her notes with guests at the Monday, January 16th meeting.

JANUARY

I-3 Broadband is continuing its installation of 100 percent fiber optic high speed internet, TV, and Voice service throughout Lincoln. The business plans to open a local retail office.

10 Lincoln’s Big R store officially became Lincoln Farm and Home with its grand opening today.

22 While white plastic wrap is going up around the dome of the Logan County courthouse to protect it from the elements, the courthouse restoration project work continues. From time to time county offices have been moved to the Orr building or Assessor’s/ Veterans office buildings to accommodate construction work.

27 The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway has awarded the Logan County Tourism Bureau $1,000 for the future construction of a pavilion on the large lot behind the Mill on Route 66 Museum.

FEBRUARY

February saw its second largest amount of snow accumulation ever including 8.3 inches falling on the 2nd and 6.8 inches falling on the 17th.

11 Habitat for Humanity blessed its 26th home today at 1017 Tremont St. Occupants will be Rylee Long and her family.

MARCH

4 The Elkhart Station General Store was opened by Conn Hospitality.
 

7 The Lincoln IGA store reopened today following an arson fire in June of 2021.

28 E. G. Keith, 11, published her first novel, “Havoc.” An Open House and book signing was held
at the Lincoln Woman’s Club building.

APRIL

24 Habitat for Humanity broke ground for a home at 330 Fourth St. today.

MAY

7 Fire destroyed Unity Point Health Outpatient Use Facility, Unity Place, at 125 N. Sangamon St.

10 The Palms Grill Cafe on Historic Route 66 reopened today as Missy’s Sweet Shoppe. Missy Gaither is leasing the location from the Atlanta Public Library.

11 Ty Tucker and Levi Curry conducted their first auction at CT Auctions new renovated location at 1112 Keokuk St.

13 Lincoln College has notified the Illinois Department of Higher Education and Higher Learning Commission of its permanent closing today. The College had been in operation in Lincoln for 157 years. The COVID 19 pandemic and a several month software glitch contributed to a decline in student enrollment which led to the closure.

JUNE

19 and 20 A Juneteenth and PRIDE activities including a parade and festival at the county fairgrounds commemorated the weekend. It is estimated more than 500 persons attended the fairground event.

JULY

The Mulligan Solar project began operating and delivering clean energy to the electric grid to power approximately 14,000 U.S. homes this month. Mulligan Solar employed over 300 workers during peak construction and will provide over 30 years of annual revenue for Logan County schools and other taxing bodies, totaling $7 million in local tax revenue.

Mulligan Solar donated $70,000 to the Hill Prairie Habitat Conservation Project located about eight miles west of the facility. They also donated funds to the Lincoln Rural Fire Department to purchase a brush fire unit which can be placed on the back of an ATV.

AUGUST

1 An EF-1 tornado touched down on the far west side of Beason. According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, there was damage to the grain elevator, a large grain bin, and equipment. A few homes had roof damage as the storm followed a 1.7 mile track.

27 The City of Atlanta Tourism unveiled a new commemorative sign, “Being the First: African-Americans in Atlanta,” in Route 66 Park. The new sign was placed just off the concrete pathway leading from the park entrance to the Atlanta Fair Ticket Booth, around items from Atlanta’s past.

The new sign focuses on four significant African-American firsts in Atlanta—the first high school graduate, Civil Wear veterans, publicized Emancipation Proclamation Celebration, and church. The importance of Atlanta High School and the Atlanta Fairgrounds are featured along with a quote from an 1863 letter written by James /Ewing of the Hawes Family which captures their sentiments of many Atlantans shared before and during the war.

Route 66 Park is the brick walled park on the corner of Race and Arch Streets. An Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byways grant made the signage possible.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

18 The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society resumed regular hours today for the first time since smoke damage was sustained from a fire in an adjacent building a year ago.

29 The City of Lincoln offered tours today at the newly refurbished water testing laboratory building at the City of Lincoln Waste Treatment Plant. The laboratory building is the original structure built in 1936.

The refurbishing included reassigning spaces, installation of new fixtures, and updating the water testing lab. Improved climate control involved the installation of new central heating and cooling.

31 John Martenik and partners Nathan Hoefs and Vic Martinek snipped the ribbon on their new business, The Travel Tap, a beverage delivery service which includes a refrigerated trailer with six beverage taps.

NOVEMBER

The Lincoln Woman’s Club building became handicap accessible this month with the addition of a ramp.

15 The Logan County Board approved the Top Hat wind farm located near Mt. Pulaski and Latham in the southeast portion of the county. The project includes 60 turbines, each with 384 foot towers. The Top Hat project has signed an agreement to slow the turbines in the event of threatening weather.

18 The Logan County Board and Lincoln Park District opened the new ice skating rink in Scully Park at 4 p.m. today. Tickets for skating were available at the Park District website. Guests may bring their own skates or rent them at the park. The rink can be concerted to a pickleball court. The ice rink is scheduled to close Jan. 15.

22 The Logan County Board approved a conditional use permit for the Pike Creek wind farm project. The Pike Creek project is located near Elkhart. The approval came with 52 conditions.

The board did not vote on a proposal to change the zoning ordinance to permit applications for carbon sequestration. An underground battery storage proposal is also being eyed.

DECEMBER

1 The Central Illinois Veteran’s Commission has completed three tiny Homes at Sixth and College Streets. A fourth home is planned for 908 Decatur St.

3 Spud Newhouse and Marsha Fernandes were grand marshals for the Lincoln Christmas Parade.

12 Elkhart Hill Vineyard released its New Kid Nouveau Wine today. This is the first wine to be produced from the Elkhart Hill Vineyard. The Marquette grapes for this wine were picked by the Conn family and friends Aug. 25.

The wine is available for purchase only at the Elkhart Station General Store. Jude, 3, grandson of Court and Karen Conn, helped plant the vines and is featured on the bottle label of the, “Smooth and Sumptious semi-dry red with hints of black cherry, dark berry, and a bit of chocolate on the nose.”

The Lincoln High School holiday wrestling tournament has been named to honor Floyd Bee, who has been involved with it for as long as 50 years ago.

14 The Star Buffet opened at the location of the former McDonald’s Restaurant, 1109 Hickox Drive.

25 A record number of Christmas trees decorated by area civic groups, businesses, and individuals beautified the courthouse square.

26 The Humane Society of Logan County has announced it is planning for a new addition to its shelter on North Lincoln Parkway Drive.

29 Keystone Power Holdings is developing a solar project on City of Lincoln owned property across South Lake Road from the city water treatment plant.

President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint Bill Thomas of Atlanta to the Route 66 Centennial Commission.

Joseph Meister has been named the new Lincoln Chief of Police.

Two new title companies began doing business in Logan County in 2022. Prairie Land Title Co. purchased the Logan County Title Co. location on Pulaski Street. The Title Center is doing business in its office in the Logan County Farm Bureau building.
 

The Pink shutter announced plans to move to its new location on Broadway Street.

31 Today is the final day for the delivery of babies at Lincoln Memorial Hospital. The family
maternity suites are being converted into patient rooms.

Renovation work continued this year at Holy Family Catholic Church. Accomplishments included altar furniture made by local craftsman, painting and installation of a new floor. Most of the work was done at the front of the church.

Plans for 2023 include additional painting, floor work, and obtaining new pews.

According to information received by Beth Kavelman, Logan County has been ranked first among Illinois counties for renewables.

The Lincoln Courier ended the year without a local managing editor and without the weekly column of Dan Tackett. In both instances no swan songs were offered.

The courthouse dome’s exterior copper work is about 80 percent complete. Bill Walter, project manager, said he expects the dome to be finished and the scaffolding to be removed in July. The 38 geothermic wells, each 400 feet deep, and loops are finished. Connecting pipes running duct work and piping is being installed for a system of high efficiency heat pumps.

Brad Swim, project manager for coordinating the new climate and electrical systems, reported asbestos abatement has been completed and one of the old boilers removed. Preparations are being made for the new electrical transformer and panels.

The year closed out with vandals causing major damage to the Covered Wagon tourist attraction located near the Best Western Hotel. It was indicated the damage would cost thousands of dollars to repair.

The damage included complete destruction of the wagon’s back gate and some of the items inside the wagon. The back wheel, rim, and sidewall of the wagon had been pushed out of place with the wheel being badly damaged. Plans call for the wagon to be restored.

Snowfall for the year totaled 28.5 inches. The normal snow amount is 19 inches.

Also in 2022 Tom Schmitgall’s Dove Tail Inn opened in Emden, the New Holland Cafe has re-opened, and The Top of the Nineteenth Restaurant at the Elks has closed. The Rusty Rail opened at 405 Pulaski St.

First Presbyterian Church, 301 Pekin St., approved accessibility with the installation of a decorative stone and concrete ramp which enters the Sanctuary.
 

Roanoke Concrete Products, 601 S. Kickapoo St., is constructing a new plant on Connolley Road.

Tremont Bank constructed and opened a banking facility on Woodlawn Road, and Tom’s Lodge became the Lodge off Route 66 near Hartsburg.

New owners of the Lincoln Daily news are Karen Hargis and Nila Smith. The business has moved to downtown Lincoln.

[Diane Osborn with photo by JoAnn Marlin]