Special Events
in and around Logan County

Coming events

• Calendar

• ‘Season’s Schedule’ of holiday events

Links to postings on annual festivals

• Festival of Trees 2001

• Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest and Crafts Festival
  2001

• Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival
  Postings from the Lincoln Daily News archives

• 2001

• 2000

[DEC. 15, 2001]  It was a perfectly ordinary sunny morning last Sunday.  You probably didn’t notice a thing was any different than usual, but Lincoln had 34 visitors drop in.  They didn’t get here by car or bus. They didn’t get here by train.  And they certainly didn’t come by boat.  How did they get here? They dropped in from the sky, landing at Logan County Airport.  A Chicago-area pilot club called the "Sunday Morning Breakfast Club" chose Lincoln as their destination.

If you have lived here all your life, it may come as a surprise to you that Lincoln is not a well-known community in all of Illinois and places beyond. It would seem that it is pretty well-known in central Illinois, but if you speak with people 50 miles north of Bloomington or 100 miles south of Springfield, most do not have much of an idea about where we are located or what we have here.  Lincoln has been said to be a well-kept secret.  A review by our visitors last weekend supports that supposition.

The following note says it all.  It was written by a Sunday Morning Breakfast Club pilot and sent out to all the club members following their favorable experience here. If other traveling clubs and such hear about what a friendly community we are and the places and events of interest that we have to offer, we can expect more visitors to discover Lincoln and Logan County.  At least we are on this club’s list for future visits.

Note sent to Sunday Morning Breakfast Club members:

What a great day of flying we had this day! Center stage was the weather... sunny, I mean sunny and not a cloud in the sky. Temps started out brisk in the mid 20s, but warmed nicely to the mid- to upper 40s by the late morning. We had a great turnout too. Our primary destination was a new one... Lincoln, Ill., to have breakfast and visit the Heritage In Flight Museum.

[We had a great turnout], for a grand total flying to breakfast this day was 34 members and 24 planes! As I said, a great day!

The crews who went to Lincoln were treated to some nice and helpful people and some great food. The locals recommended the "Tropics" restaurant, which was about 5-7 minutes away. The airport gang did the driving for all of us, using their new Chevy van and an older Buick. The restaurant was nice enough to give us the back banquet room, so we had plenty of room and privacy too. As you know, our "hanger flying" can get pretty animated and noisy too!

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After breakfast, the airport gang again drove us back to our planes. They were interested how we liked the restaurant, and everyone who responded gave it an overall 8-10 out of a possible 10. Food was top-notch, prices fair, and service, although a little slow, was handled extremely well by a single friendly waitress.

Note that there is a restaurant opening up right across the street in front of the airport. The locals did not eat there yet, but we may want to keep Lincoln in mind for just a "regular" flight. The gang at Lincoln said they would be happy to shuttle us to any restaurant we wanted, too.

We then visited the museum. The "Heritage In Flight Museum" is a new upstart, but they have a very good building with plenty of memorabilia from WWI, WWII, and Vietnam. Their hanger has some good "stuff" too. Some one-of-a-kind engines are either on display or being restored for display.  Outside there are quite a few static displays of vehicles and planes too. Nice thing on visiting these smaller museums -- they let you climb into the static displays. I had great fun in the Huey and A7 Corsair II.

All in all… a good destination.  We will have to keep this on the “list" for another visit.

It was a great day for being up in the air!

End club note.

[Jan Youngquist]

Courthouse door stood open for crowds at ‘Vinegar Hill’ Christmas event

[DEC. 12, 2001]  Unusually warm weather brought big crowds to Mount Pulaski and the courthouse for "Christmas on Vinegar Hill." Seeing dozens of people shopping around the square is not unusual, but seeing them at the event without coats and wearing shorts is.

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[Richard Schachtsiek, site manager]

Hometown boy bringing his refined
talents back for a concert

[DEC. 5, 2001]  Christian Culleton of Chicago will be returning to Lincoln on Sunday, Dec. 16, for a holiday concert. Culleton got his start in music while he was a boy living in Lincoln. Through various turns and stages in his life he began to pursue music as his life’s profession. He has honed his musical talent to remarkable distinction on the classical guitar.

Born in Springfield, Culleton is the only child of Carson and Cheryl Miles Culleton, who made their first home in Lincoln on South Hamilton Street. His father was killed in action in the Republic of South Vietnam in July 1968, when Christian was not quite 3 years old.

Culleton’s stepfather, Shawn Simpson; Shawn’s parents, Jackie and Harold Simpson; and Christian’s aunt and uncle Gay and David Boward, all live in Lincoln. His mother, grandmother Bernice Snyder, and uncle and aunt Bill and Jane Snyder reside in Springfield. His mother’s mother is Kate Miles of Irving. His brother, Steve Simpson, is a student at Illinois State University, while his sister, Shelley Simpson Johnson, lives in Lee.

When Christian was a child the family moved to and from Lincoln more than once. He describes the town as a "tight-knit community in which people do know and remember people."

The guitarist recalls "picnic lunches" of bologna sandwiches and lemonade shared on brutally hot summer days with David and Brett Reifsteck. At the time Culleton lived at 203 Seventh St., and the boys sat on the curb in front of St. John United Church of Christ, where David and Brett’s father, the Rev. Wallace Reifsteck, was pastor.

Culleton’s other Lincoln memories include swimming and playing at the Rec all season long, playing A LOT of basketball in pickup games at Central School, watching the Christmas parade with grandparents Jackie and Harold Simpson and seeing a mountain of Christmas gifts, most with his name on them. He also remembers good times going to various Lincoln eating establishments with grandparents: to Wyse’s on Fifth Street for carry-out hamburgers, fries and Cokes which he, his sister and Harold and Jackie Simpson then picnicked on at Memorial Park; to Hegele’s Dairy on Pulaski Street for ice cream, again with Jackie Simpson; and to The Tropics for special meals with Eileen Culleton.

Christian Culleton began his musical career in fourth grade at Central School playing baritone horn under the tutelage of Robert Long. He says he was grateful for the opportunity to play in state solo and orchestral competitions, but five years later when he began to teach himself guitar he found it confusing to play both bass and treble clef instruments.

The family left Lincoln when he was 10, returned when he entered high school and left again a year and a half later. To ease the pain of having to make new friends during high school, he began playing his mother’s guitar, teaching himself from Roy Clark’s "Big Note Songbook."

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When the family moved to Lindenhurst, Culleton encountered Betty Garrett, a "great band director," who shared her love of popular music and influenced him to try it on his classical instrument. Since then his interest in "painting sound from a broad palette of musical styles" has continued.

Culleton began his formal study of the guitar with Joseph Breznikar at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Later, private instruction with Norman Ruiz of Columbia College in Chicago led to master class performances before Pepe Romero and Manuel Barrueco at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra in Cordoba, Spain.

The artist says he is currently codifying his own guitar method based on the teachings of Sor, Carcassi and Ferdinando Carulli combined with the modern teachings of Francisco Tarrega, Julio Sagreras and Pepe Romero. The process includes pulling together a variety of influences in addition to the six named and streamlining them into something different. "All new ideas are soundly and firmly based on old ones," he explains, adding that music must change over time to remain vibrant.

Culleton collects antique books on musical subjects from which he studies how fingerings and other techniques have evolved. "I keep looking backward to find tricks of the trade," he says.

He is uniting all these influences into one method for himself and sharing it with a couple of his students. Culleton takes no more than five students at a time, working with classical students at all skill levels. Remembering his fury at unprepared teachers, he spends more time preparing than in the actual lesson. "If I can get a light bulb to pop on one time in a lesson, it’s worth it," he said

Culleton believes a musician needs both disciplined study and a sense of wonder. Intense concentration is required to resolve problems that the guitar presents, he says, and one must think of nothing else but the guitar. He quotes from one of the books in his collection: The musician "should master to the utmost degrees all the secrets which the instrument conceals."

Culleton now brings home 27 years of musical experience on his fingertips, including over 15 years of professional experience performing in the Chicago metropolitan area. His program will be centered around core works from the lute and classical guitar repertories and traditional holiday favorites. In chronological order, composers whose works he will perform include the anonymous writer of "Greensleeves," Francis Pilkington, Bach, Matteo Carcassi, Fernando Sor, Enrique Granados, Francisco Tá rrega and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

[Click here for more information about the concert.]

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

Special Events Calendar

December 2001

through Wednesday, Dec. 26
SPONSOR: Michelle's Home and Garden
WHO: Public, by admission
WHAT: Winter Wonderland Walk
WHERE: 1014 N. Kickapoo
WHEN: Monday-Saturday, 11 am - 8 pm; Sundays 1-8 pm

Thursday, Dec. 20
SPONSOR: Main Street Lincoln and the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce
WHO: Public; ticket holders must be present to win
WHAT: Ho Ho Dough holiday cash giveaway
WHERE: North side of Logan County Courthouse
WHEN: 6 pm

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Saturday, Dec. 22
SPONSOR: Lincoln Correctional Center employees
WHO: Public
WHAT: Christmas dinner for senior citizens and low-income families of our community; reservations required
WHERE: Eagles Lodge, 1621 N. Kickapoo
WHEN: 11 am - 2 pm

Main Street Lincoln presents...

‘Season’s Schedule’ of holiday events

Sites to See

• ‘Walking on the Path of Abraham Lincoln’
  A walking tour of historic Lincoln, Ill.

• Logan County historical landmarks

• "Three projects, a dinner and a birthday party planned for J. H. Hawes Grain Elevator," posted April 6, 2001, in LDN

• "Elkhart prepares for Chautauqua guests," posted May 2, 2001, in LDN 

• "Lincoln Public Library keeps its history alive," posted May 26, 2000, in LDN

• "‘Crown jewel’ found in Lincoln — Lincoln’s well at Postville," posted May 19, 2001, in LDN

• "Middletown Stagecoach Inn dedicated," posted July 5, 2001, in LDN

• Mount Pulaski Courthouse

• "Mount Pulaski Courthouse at center of life in town," posted May 13, 2000, in LDN 

• Postville Courthouse  

• "Renovated Postville Courthouse sets Dec. 9 open house," posted Dec. 6, 2000, in LDN 

• Heritage In Flight Museum open on weekends

• "HIF fall open house a success," posted Oct. 12, 2001, in LDN

• "Logan County is host to a unique museum rich in special military stories and treasures," posted Feb. 15, 2001, in LDN

Note: The following material is from a brochure produced as a high school project by J.R. Glenn and Angie Couch for Main Street Lincoln. The Main Street Lincoln office and local tourist information center is on the second floor of Union Planter’s Bank at 303 S. Kickapoo.

[Click here for larger map]

1. Town christening site

Broadway and Chicago streets

In August 1853 the first sale of lots in the new town of Lincoln took place near this spot. Abraham Lincoln, in whose honor the town was named, was in attendance. When asked on the day of the land sale to officially "christen the town," Lincoln obliged. Lifting the cover off a pile of watermelons stacked on the ground by a local farmer, Lincoln picked up a melon and conducted a brief ceremony using its juice. Lincoln, Ill., is the only town named for Lincoln before he became president.

2. Lincoln railroad depot

101 N. Chicago St.

Abraham Lincoln frequented this city by train after its founding. As president-elect, Lincoln came hereon Nov. 21, 1860. He stopped near this spot to make a few remarks from the rear of his train. This was his last speech in Logan County and the last time Lincoln would visit his namesake city. His funeral train stopped here on May 3, 1865. The current depot was built several decades later, in 1911.

3. State Bank of Lincoln

111 N. Sangamon St.

Abraham Lincoln met sculptor Leonard Volk for the first time on the boardwalk in front of the Lincoln House Hotel. Volk asked Lincoln to pose for a bust and life mask of his face and hands. Signed copies of the life masks by Volk, as well as original artwork by Lloyd Ostendorf of Lincoln in Logan County, are on display in this bank building’s lobby.

4. Site of the Lincoln House Hotel

501 Broadway St.

The Lincoln House, one of the grandest hotels between St. Louis and Chicago, stood on this spot from 1854 to 1870. All the political luminaries of the day, including Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, David Davis and Richard Oglesby, crossed its threshold at one time or another The Lincoln House was a two-story frame structure that fronted the railroad tracks and featured a large veranda.

5. Robert Latham home site

400 N. Kickapoo St.

Robert B. Latham joined John D. Gillett and Virgil Hickox in founding the town of Lincoln in 1853. Abraham Lincoln, other lawyers and judges were often guests at his house.

6. Logan County Courthouse

When Lincoln became the county seat in 1853, a courthouse was built on this spot. A second courthouse was built in 1858 and remained in use until the early 20th century, when it was replaced with the current building. Abraham Lincoln practiced law and attended political functions in the first two courthouses built on the square. A statue of Lincoln stands in this courthouse. A Civil War monument and cannon sit on the north side of the courthouse grounds.

7. Lincoln lot site

523 Pulaski St.

A plaque located on the right-hand side of this store identifies the location as a lot Lincoln once owned. James Primm, in need of money, approached former Illinois Gov. Joel Matteson for a $400 advance. Matteson directed him to have Lincoln sign a note as Primm's guarantor. Lincoln co-signed the note. Later Primm defaulted and Lincoln had to pay the note. Eventually Primm deeded Lincoln this property in recompense.

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8. Rustic Inn

412 Pulaski St.

In 1876 members of a counterfeiting gang met here to hatch a plot to steal Lincoln's corpse from its burial vault in Springfield. The gang had planned to hide Lincoln's body in the Indiana sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan and negotiate with the governor of Illinois for $200,000 in cash and the release of Ben Boyd. The bartender at the Rustic Inn overheard the plot and reported it to the authorities. The Secret Service later apprehended the gang members. Robert Todd Lincoln had his father's coffin encased in several tons of cement to prevent future attempts to steal the body.

Other Lincoln sites in Lincoln

9. Stephen A. Douglas speech site

Comer of Fourth and Logan streets

Stephen Douglas visited this city during the famous 1858 Illinois senatorial campaign. Douglas paraded with all his supporters through the decorated streets to the tent that was pitched on this site. Lincoln, who was also in town, listened to his opponent from the back of the crowd. In the end, a majority of Logan County voters favored Lincoln, but Douglas won the 1858 election.

10. Postville Courthouse

914 Fifth St.

This state historic site is a replica of an 1840 courthouse where Lincoln argued, won and lost cases while he traveled the 8th Judicial Circuit.

11. Site of Deskins Tavern

915 Fifth St.

Lincoln often stayed at Deskins Tavern when he traveled to Postville. A well where he quenched his thirst is also at this site.

12. Postville Park

1300 Fifth St.

Abraham Lincoln was well-known for his athletic abilities, and he frequently joined in games of "town ball" at this village park.

13. Lincoln College and Museum

300 Keokuk St.

A nationally registered landmark, Lincoln College was founded and named for President Lincoln on Feb. 12, 1865. The museum houses an extensive collection of memorabilia on the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Other sites of interest in downtown Lincoln 

Lincoln Public Library (a Carnegie building)

725 Pekin St.

Logan County Genealogical
& Historical Society

114 N. Chicago St.

Lincoln City Hall

700 Broadway St.

U.S. Post Office

102 S. McLean St.

Courthouse Square Historic District

including historic sites, restaurants and shops

[Click here for larger map]

Atlanta

J. H. Hawes wooden country elevator. Open Sunday afternoons June through August. Free.

Atlanta Public Library and Museum. On National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1908. Comer of Race and Arch. Phone (217) 648-2112. Free.

Chestnut

Monument proclaims the geographic center of the state of Illinois. Town was laid out in 1872.

Elkhart

Elkhart Cemetery. Richard J. Oglesby, who was elected governor of Illinois in 1864, 1872 and 1884, is buried here; also John Dean Gillett, known as the "Cattle King of the World," and Capt. Adam Bogardus, wing shot champion of the world. For tours of the cemetery and John Dean Gillett Chapel, please phone (217) 947-2238.

Emden

Bethel Church. Built in 1854. Three miles from Route 136 between Emden and Atlanta on County Road 20.

Lincoln

Site of Deskins Tavern. Across the street from Postville Courthouse, 915 Fifth St. Signage. Free.

Site of well Abraham Lincoln drank from. Across the street from Postville Courthouse, 915 Fifth St. Free.

Site of town christening by Abraham Lincoln on Aug. 27, 1853. Lincoln was the first community in the United States to be named for Abraham Lincoln before he became famous. Also, Lincoln's funeral train stopped here on May 3,1865. Located at the south side of the Lincoln Depot, Broadway and Chicago streets. Official Looking for Lincoln signage. Free.

Logan County Courthouse. Contains second-largest courtroom in Illinois. Built in 1905. Located on the courthouse square, downtown Lincoln. Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday until noon. Phone (217) 732-6400. Free.

Lincoln College Museum. Over 3,000 historic items. Lincoln College was founded and named for President Lincoln on Feb. 12, 1865. Keokuk and Ottawa streets. Summer hours: 9 to 4 Monday through Friday; 1 to 4 Saturday and Sunday; closed May 28 and July 4. Free.

Heritage In Flight Museum. Museum is filled with memorabilia from all U.S. military conflicts back to World War I. Located at the Logan County Airport. Phone ahead (217) 732-3333 to confirm hours. Free but donations accepted.

Lincoln Public Library. Original Carnegie library built in 1902. Tiffany-style glass inner dome. 725 Pekin St. Open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 to 6; Saturday, 9 to 3. Phone (217) 732-8878. Free.

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site. Guided tours. 914 Fifth St. Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Ph. (217) 732-8930 for additional information. Free but donations accepted.

Middletown

Stage Coach Inn. The inn was on the old stage route from Springfield to Peoria. Built mid 1800s. Village is also famous for its aeronautical history. Free.

Mount Pulaski

Mount Pulaski Courthouse. This building is one of only two original 8th Judicial Circuit courthouses in Illinois. On National Register of Historic Places. Was Logan County Courthouse from 1847 to 1855. Guided tours. Open 12 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday. Phone (217) 732-8930. Free.

[Link to historical information on communities in Logan County]

A little-known historical site full of large and small treasures sits on the outskirts of town on the Logan County Airport property. The Heritage In Flight Museum building itself is a part of history. It is a remnant of Camp Ellis, located west of Havana, which was the largest military training and prisoner-of-war camp in the United States during World War II. After the war the camp was closed and the buildings were sold. Logan County Airport is fortunate to have one of the few remaining structures from Camp Ellis.

A little-known historical site full of large and small treasures sits on the outskirts of town on the Logan County Airport property. The Heritage In Flight Museum building itself is a part of history. It is a remnant of Camp Ellis, located west of Havana, which was the largest military training and prisoner-of-war camp in the United States during World War II. After the war the camp was closed and the buildings were sold. Logan County Airport is fortunate to have one of the few remaining structures from Camp Ellis.

Several historic items are found outside at the airport, including the rotating beacon, the green-and-white light that identifies the airport location to pilots flying at night. Before being moved to Logan County Airport, it was part of the lighted airway system that the airmail pilots in the 1920s used to navigate at night. The one that now resides here was originally located between Lincoln and Atlanta and provided a bright signal for Charles Lindbergh when he flew the airmail route between St. Louis and Chicago.

While outside you can also view a number of aircraft that are on display from various time periods.

Moving to the inside, you find that the Heritage in Flight Museum is filled with items of aviation history from the military and civilian branches of flying and from the earliest days of open-cockpit biplanes to the latest jets. Veterans who reside in Logan County have donated much of what the museum has. Families from the community have donated items that belonged to our war heroes, revealing special sentiments, symbolism and forgotten practices that held a community together in war times. Other items offer a look at early technology such as the airplane and ship radios. Of the thousands of items in the museum, each can be said to teach us something about our past. Visitors can relive history through the numerous displays, mostly grouped in wartime periods, and gain a strong sense of patriotism while studying military displays throughout the building.

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A guided tour is recommended to get the most from these displays. The volunteers are both knowledgeable and passionate about their subject matter and will bring to light little-known nuances that make the displays fascinating.

The museum is always interested in adding items of aviation history. Its greatest need, however, is for more volunteers to help in the guardianship of this important gateway to Lincoln and Logan County.

The museum requires lots of care and maintenance. Members are always looking for interested people of all ages to help care for it, share their interests and preserve a bit of aviation history.

Heritage In Flight Museum is operated by an all-volunteer, non-profit organization: Heritage-In-Flight, Inc. You are invited to come meet the members and sit in on their meetings anytime. Meetings take place at 1 p.m. the first Saturday of each month in the terminal meeting room.

The museum is a great resource to educate our youth about our aeronautical and military past and shares the wealth of military traditions from a community and national perspective. Schools, youth groups and families are welcome.

Heritage in Flight Museum

1351 Airport Road, Lincoln

Open Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: (217) 732-3333

Call the airport and leave a message to request a guided tour, schedule a time during the week or ask for more information.

[LDN]

You can read more about HIF from the archives of LDN. Go to: http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2001/Feb/15/comunity/business.shtml#Logan County is host to a unique museum rich in special military stories and treasures

Entertainment

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

Recreation

• Lincoln Park District, 732-8770

Parks

• Lincoln Park District, 732-8770

• Edward R. Madigan State Park

Dining

Transportation

• Amtrak

• Illinois Department of Transportation

Maps

• Logan County

• Townships in Logan County

• Lincoln

• Mount Pulaski

• RouteMAP Illinois

• "Getting Around in Illinois" -- Illinois Department of Transportation

Community Information

• Lincoln-Logan County Chamber of Commerce

• Main Street Lincoln

• Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County

Links to Other Tourism Sites in Illinois

• State of Illinois Tourism

• Enjoy Illinois  (Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Bureau of Tourism)

• Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Springfield, Illinois

• Springfield Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau

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