While
visiting in
Logan County:
|
|
|
Special
Events
in and around
Logan County
|
Coming
events
Links to
postings on annual festivals
|
|
Heritage in Flight
open house Oct. 7
[SEPT.
28, 2001] Heritage
in Flight Museum, at the Logan County Airport, 1315 Airport Road,
will have its fall open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7.
Heritage in Flight Museum members will be on hand to explain the
displays and educational programs. This is an event that
grandparents, parents and children can enjoy together.
|
The
museum’s static aircraft collection includes a Bell TH-13T Sioux
helicopter, Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter, Beech 18 (C45), Lockheed T-33
Shooting Star, McDonnell F-4E Phantom II and a Vought A-7C Corsair
II. The Huey and Corsair II cockpits will be open.
The
museum has various examples of military vehicles, including a pair
of Jeeps painted in military police schemes, one Army and the other
Navy; a Desert Command car; a six-wheel-drive Army Gamma Goat that
floats; a red firetruck; and a Korean-era Army ambulance. Children
often enjoy vicarious rides in these vehicles as much as those involving
aircraft.
After
11 years of operating the Logan County Airport with most of the
member volunteer hours devoted to mowing grass near the runways,
volunteers now spend the
majority of their hours preparing and
presenting exhibits for the enjoyment and education of citizens of
the surrounding communities. Weekday tours by school groups, by
reservation, are receiving special attention, and weekend visits by
families are encouraged.
![](../images/ads/LDN/job%20hunt_employers.gif)
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
![](../images/ads/Key%20Printing/key.gif)
The
outside of the museum’s display building has recently been
painted, new display cases have been installed, and the gift shop
has been expanded.
Refreshments
will be served at Sunday’s open house. Admission is free, but
donations are appreciated.
The
Logan County Airport is just off Kickapoo Street (Business US 55) in
northeast Lincoln. The Logan County Airport sign is just north of
the Illinois driver’s license branch office.
For
more information, call the HIF museum at (217) 732-7126.
[News
release]
|
|
Hoppin
Watermelon Contest winners
[SEPT.
17, 2001] The
31st annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest and Crafts
Festival included the Hoppin Watermelon Contest. Winners were named
in several categories.
|
Champion
watermelon
Marty
Oltmanns — 19 lbs.
Matched
pairs
Hannah
Williams, Broadwell
Watermelon
carving
1.
David and Timothy Carter, Lincoln; Barbie Car
2.
Rebekah Crider, Lincoln; 4-H emblem
3.
Vernon Apel, Lincoln; watermelon slice
Watermelon
preserves
1.
Darlene Crider, Lincoln
2.
Carlene Carter, Lincoln
3.
Annie McLaughlin, Atlanta
|
Watermelon
pickles
1.Carlene
Carter, Lincoln
2.
Phyllis Martin, Lincoln
3.
Darlene Crider, Lincoln
Watermelon
handmade needlework
1.
Carla Ackerman, Lincoln; garment
2.
Suzanne Behle, Morton; quilting
3.
Carla Ackerman, Lincoln; crochet
Honorable
mention: Darlene Crider, Lincoln; cross-stitch
Watermelon
seed guessing
Jamie
McFadden — guess: 7,620; actual count: 7,691
|
|
New
winners, friends, family, activities, good food
Refreshing
diversions found at
31st annual railsplitting festival
[SEPT.
17, 2001] Three
Missouri railsplitters and one from Illinois walked away from the Logan
County Fairgrounds with the honors and the prize money Sunday at the
31st annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest. Marty Yount
of Hiram, Mo., who has taken first place in previous years, is once
again the national railsplitting champion, taking home a cash prize of
$1,000.
[Click
here to view pictures of the railsplitting contest finals]
[Click here to
view more pictures of the railsplitting festival events]
|
Yount was
the first to finish splitting his 10-foot red-oak log into eight even
rails. Judging was based on time and also on the quality of the finished
rails.
Taking
home second place and $500 was another Missouri contestant, Ryan Evans
of Silva. Ryan, who won fourth last year, is only 21 years old and
promises to be back in the years ahead.
At the
other end of the age spectrum, Oliver Friedlein, 63, of Hull, who came
in second last year and has taken first in previous years, took home the
third prize of $250.
Roy Usery
of Des Arc, Mo., placed fourth and took home $100. Roy has been entering
the competition here since 1987 and has placed several times.
[Click
here for a picture of the winners.]
Even if
Oliver Friedlein decides to retire (which hasn’t happened yet),
Friedleins will still be splitting rails in future Lincoln contests.
This year Oliver’s son, Chris Friedlein of Leroy, and his grandson,
Cory, also of Leroy, were among the contestants.
As usual,
Missouri was well represented in this year’s contest. Also entering
were Brad Jones, Tony Meloy and Jason Hill, both of Greenville, and
Dwayne Yount of Hiram.
![](../images/091701pics/band_art.jpg)
Kentucky
sent three contestants from Hodgenville this year: Terry Obersen and
brothers Daniel and Matt Trumbo.
From
Illinois, along with the Friedleins, were four more contestants: Glenn
Bryson of Lake Fork, Bud Johnson of Danvers, Jonathan Norwin of Leroy
and Casey Jones of Lincoln.
All
contestants brought their own tools: wedges, mauls, sledges, and
double-bitted axes.
Winners in
Saturday’s two-man team split contest were Marty Young and Larry Hill
of Greenville, Mo. Jason Crider of Arrowsmith won the men’s amateur
contest and, like all amateur winners, must now compete in the
professional class.
Winner of
the junior division railsplitting contest (up to age 13) was Tim Hill of
Greenville, Mo.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
Another
honor, a plaque, was presented to Ted Young of Peoria, who for many
years has brought the miniature steam train he built
himself to the festival and has given free rides to children.
[Click
here for a picture of the presentation.]
![](../images/091701pics/train1_art.jpg)
Before the
contest, the historic christening of Lincoln by Abe himself was
re-enacted in front of the grandstand. Lincoln’s own Charles Ott
played the part of Abe, cutting a watermelon with his pocket knife and
distributing pieces to those dignitaries who attended the christening.
Those
dignitaries, wearing appropriate costumes, were Robert Latham of Lincoln
(played by Daris Knauer), Virgil Hickok of the Springfield and Lincoln
area (Dean Tibbs), John D. Gillette of Elkhart (Robert Presswood), and
"the little Stevenson boy" who wrote about the event later
(Todd Schumacher).
A
highlight of Sunday’s activities was a concert by the 33rd Illinois
Volunteer Regiment Band, playing music of the Civil War era
—
quicksteps, marches, ballads and polkas
—
on authentic period instruments. Band members also wore
uniforms patterned from actual uniforms worn by Union soldiers.
Historic displays, including
quilts and other handicrafts; demonstrations of old-time crafts; a
talking buffalo; Indian tents and lodges; antique machines and farm
implements, some powered by steam; historic displays from Lincoln and
other area communities; contemporary craft items for sale; a flea
market; Boy and Girl Scout encampments; and plenty of food concessions
were available for the more than 4,000 people who attended the two-day
event.
[Joan
Crabb]
|
|
![](../images/091701pics/placers_art.jpg)
[Winners of the 31st annual national railsplitting contest
took home a total of $1,850 in prizes. From left to
right are first-place winnter Marty Yount of Himan, Mo.,
second-place winner Ryan Evans of Silva, Mo., third-place
winner Oliver Friedlein of Hull and fourth-place winner Roy
Usery of Des Arc, Mo.]
|
![](../images/091701pics/plaque_art.jpg)
[Ted Young of Peoria (second from right) gets
a plaque from officials of the 31st annual national
railsplitting contest to honor his many years of bringing
his miniature steam train to the festival and giving free
rides to children.]
|
|
|
Railsplitting
contest brings
full schedule of events
[SEPT.
13, 2001] The
31st annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest and Crafts
Festival will bring a full schedule of events for the entire family to
the Logan County Fairgrounds this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 15, and
Sunday, Sept. 16.
|
The
highlight of the weekend, the championship railsplitting contest, is set
for 3:15 p.m. Sunday, when contestants will compete for cash prizes of
$1,000, $500, $250 and $100. Working against the clock and seeking
perfection in the outcome, railsplitters will work with solid red-oak
logs which must be split into eight uniform rails. Splitters will bring
their own tools.
Anywhere
from 15 to 20 splitters, from the Midwest states of Kentucky, Missouri,
Illinois and Indiana, are expected to compete for the championship,
according to Nancy Kleinman, Logan Railsplitting Association president.
The contest will take place in front of the grandstand at the
fairgrounds.
The
festival is based around the era in which Abe Lincoln lived, and its aim
is to help promote tourism in Logan County, Kleinman said.
Festivities
begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with an opening ceremony. The exhibits at the
fairgrounds will carry out the theme of the Lincoln era, and many of
them are geared to be educational for children.
A talking
buffalo will tell visitors how the buffalo was important to Native
Americans. Eight Indian lodges will be set up to show how native people
lived and worked.
About 40
people will be demonstrating a variety of early American crafts,
including skills like chair caning, woodworking, making apple butter and
lard, making brooms, tatting and bobbin lace.
A frontier
farm will include a henhouse with nests, a wash house, ducks and sheep,
and a smokehouse for preserving meat for winter use.
A horse
and buggy will be on hand both days to give carriage rides to the public
for $1.
Historic
displays from all over Logan County, including displays of Indian
arrowheads, will be set up in one of the buildings on the fairgrounds.
Other buildings will hold crafters from all over Illinois who have items
for sale. A flea market will be on the north end of the fairgrounds.
A quilt
show will demonstrate quilting techniques and display a variety of
quilts. Bed-turning stories, on both Saturday and Sunday, will feature
four women who take turns telling stories about the history of the
quilts that are placed across an old-fashioned bed. Bed-turning stories
on Saturday will be told at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. On Sunday
they will be at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Steam-powered
machines, such as corn shellers, and antique tractors will also be
demonstrated on the fairgrounds.
Logan
County Boy and Girl Scouts will set up encampments. Girl Scouts will
demonstrate cooking skills and sell corn on the cob to fair visitors.
More than
50 food items will be on sale, including rib-eye sandwiches, grilled
chicken, corn on the cob, corn dogs, walleye sandwiches, onion blossoms,
elephant ears, funnel cakes and lemonade shake-ups.
There will
be contests of various kinds, most in front of the grandstand, on both
Saturday and Sunday. Most contests will award cash prizes.
Saturday
events begin at 10 a.m. with the women’s firewood split contest.
Contestants must split four pieces of firewood from an 18-inch log.
Also at 10
a.m. is the Fred Hoppin Memorial Watermelon Contest. Prizes will be
given for the best carved and decorated watermelons.
At 10:30
a.m. there will be a log rolling contest in a 5-foot water pit, with
teams of four men and one woman. A crosscut saw contest for women and
professional classes will be at 11 a.m.
A tree
fall contest, where contestants chop down logs "planted" in
the ground to stand erect like trees, will be at 1:30 p.m. A team
railsplitting contest will be at 2 p.m. and a junior railsplitting
contest at 2:45. An amateur railsplitting contest, in which contestants
split six rails from oak logs, will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
![](../images/091301pics/splitter_1.jpg)
![](../images/091301pics/splitter_2.jpg)
![](../images/091301pics/splitter_3.jpg)
![](../images/091301pics/splitter_4.jpg)
On Sunday
a nondenominational worship service will be at 10 a.m. in a tent on the
grounds.
A tomahawk
throwing contest will be at 11 a.m., with both men and women trying to
cut a playing card in two with a tomahawk. A rail toss contest is set
for 11:15 a.m. and a cow chip throw at 11:30. A corn shelling contest
for children, men and women will be at 11:30, with each contestant
trying to be the first to fill up a can with shelled corn.
At noon
three-man teams will make campfires and see who can boil water first.
At 3 p.m.,
just before the championship railsplitting contest, Lincoln impersonator
Charles Ott will re-enact the Aug. 17, 1853 christening of the city of
Lincoln with the juice of a watermelon.
On both
days, a parade of antique cars and tractors will end the festivities in
front of the grandstand.
On
Saturday, entertainment will be provided by the Logan County Starlites
at 10:30 a.m., Andy Wiesenhofer with western music and cowboy poetry at
noon, the Flying Feet Cloggers at 1 p.m., and the Prairie Aires at 3
p.m.
On Sunday,
country music will be provided at 11:30 a.m., and Andy Wiesenhofer will
appear again at 12:30. At 1:30 p.m. the Civil War Band from Bloomington
will present a program, playing Civil War-era instruments and talking to
the public about the times and the music of the era.
On both
days, there will be drawings for cash prizes. Admission to the
fairgrounds is $2 per person, with children under 12 free. Parking is
free, and handicapped parking is available.
"The railsplitting
contest is a tradition here in Logan County," Kleinman said.
"We have been doing it for 31 years and never missed a year. Our
motto is, ‘Visit the past, enjoy the present.’"
[Joan
Crabb]
See
also: http://www.lincolnillinois.com/
railsplitter/index.html
|
|
Special
Events Calendar
|
October 2001
Sunday,
Oct. 7
SPONSOR:
Heritage in Flight Museum
WHO:
Public
WHAT:
Fall open
house
WHERE:
Logan County Airport, 1315 Airport Road, Lincoln
WHEN:
1-4 pm
Saturday,
Oct. 20
SPONSOR:
St. John United Church of Christ
WHO: Public
WHAT:
German Fest
WHERE:
St. John United Church of Christ, Seventh Street
WHEN:
11 am - 6 pm
WHO: Public
WHAT:
1850s open house
WHERE:
Mount Pulaski Courthouse
WHEN:
1-8 pm
SPONSOR:
Knapp/Chesnut/Becker Historical Society
WHO: Public
WHAT:
Turkey supper
WHERE:
New Holland-Middletown School, Middletown
WHEN:
4-7 pm
[to
top of second column in this section]
|
Saturday,
Oct. 27
SPONSOR:
Lincoln Christian Church
WHO: Public
WHAT:
Harvest of Talents, benefiting the International Disaster Emergency
Service
WHERE:
204 N. McLean St.
WHEN:
Daylong activities
SPONSOR:
Eminence Christian Church
WHO: Public
WHAT:
Eminence Christian Church bazaar
WHERE:
Atlanta Community Building, city roads 2500 North and 1600 East
WHEN:
8 am - 2 pm
Tuesday,
Oct. 30
SPONSOR:
Lincoln Park District
WHO: Public
WHAT:
Halloween Funfest
WHERE:
Lincoln Park District ballroom, 900 Primm Road
WHEN:
6:30-8 pm
[Click
here for more information on October, November and December events.]
|
|
Sites
to See
|
-
"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
|
|
‘Walking
on the Path of Abraham Lincoln’
A
walking tour of historic Lincoln, Ill.
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.
|
![](../images/081001pics/lincoln%20map%20small.gif)
[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.
![](../images/081001pics/Lincoln%20on%20horseback.jpg)
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.
[to top of second column in
this section]
|
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.
![](../images/081001pics/Men%20in%20inn.gif)
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
![](../images/081001pics/lincoln%20map2%20small.gif)
[Click here for larger map]
|
|
Logan
County historical landmarks
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]
|
|
Heritage
In Flight Museum open on weekends
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.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
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
|
|
|
Recreation
|
|
|
Parks
|
|
|
Dining
|
Blue Dog Inn
111 S. Sangamon
Lincoln
735-1743
Monday 11-2
Tuesday-Thursday 11-10
Friday & Saturday 11-11
|
Wendy’s
2815 Woodlawn Road
Lincoln
735-1011
|
|
|
Transportation
|
|
|
Maps
|
|
|
Community
Information
|
|
|
Links
to Other Tourism Sites in Illinois
|
|
Back
to top
|
News
| Sports
| Business
| Rural
Review | Teaching
& Learning | Home
and Family | Tourism
| Obituaries
Community | Perspectives | Law
& Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual
Life | Health
& Fitness | Letters
to the Editor
|
|