Excitement builds as Lincoln's
150th birthday nears

[JUNE 19, 2003]  Signs that plans for Lincoln's sesquicentennial are moving into the final phase abound: Glossy brochures are circulating, souvenir sales are taking off and tickets began making their appearance at the planning committee's Wednesday evening meeting.

Fifty thousand color brochures itemize events of the Aug. 21-24 Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival as well as the overlapping 150th birthday party. Brochures are available at several locations, including the office of Mayor Beth Davis, who chairs the sesquicentennial committee, and the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County.

Souvenir chair Sharon Awe happily reported a turnaround: Receipts now outpace bills.

The check for $2,000 she handed to treasurer Paul Short more than balanced the $200 in new bills.

Some souvenirs are selling so well that Awe is reordering. Especially hot are T-shirts and throws. New items include a locally crafted wooden watermelon slice with a bite out of it and notecards depicting Lincoln christening the city with watermelon juice. The notecards reproduce the same Lloyd Ostendorf painting as the throws.

A ticket in hand is a pretty good indicator that an event is organized and just around the corner. Three sets of tickets came up for discussion at Wednesday's meeting and are or will soon be available to the public.

Publicity chair Thressia Usherwood has begun distributing free tickets to "An Evening with Abraham Lincoln in Logan County," set for Monday, Aug. 25, at Johnston Center on the Lincoln College campus. The tickets are available at the tourism bureau, phone 732-8687.

The program begins with a speech by Paul Beaver, LC history professor emeritus, on Abraham Lincoln's life in Lincoln and Logan County. Afterward, audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions of a panel of Lincoln historians, including Dr. Mark Plummer, Dr. Wayne Temple, Paul Gleason and Beaver. The moderator is Ron Keller, curator of the LC museum. A reception will follow.

Tickets to a chicken dinner on Sunday, Aug. 31, are available from all members of the sesquicentennial committee. The dinner features a choice of fried or barbecued chicken at a cost of $6 for adults and $3 for children. The Knights of Columbus Auxiliary is serving the midday meal at the KC Hall. Members of various churches are making desserts and helping with cleanup.

Following the chicken dinner a circuit rider preacher will lead an interdenominational church service at Latham Park. Wallace Reifsteck, co-chair for the service, announced that the Rev. David Hultberg will ride Timex, already a local star as Lincoln's horse in the video "From Surveyor to President: A. Lincoln in Logan County." The sorrel gelding is owned by Roger and Lynn Bock of rural Elkhart.

 

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A third set of tickets go on sale Monday. These are $1 tickets for an ice cream social scheduled for Postville Day -- "Where It All Began" -- Sunday, Aug. 24. Queen contest chair Pat Geskey said girls ages 14-18 have until this Friday to sign up for the contest and will receive their tickets Monday. The girl who sells the most tickets will be queen. Sales begin immediately and continue until Aug. 22.

The ice cream social will follow the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln well in front of VFW Post 1756 and the coronation of the queen in Postville Park. Earlier in the day an 1860s craft fair will take over the Postville Courthouse grounds. Postville chair Shirley Bartelmay said 23 booths and four musical groups are scheduled.

Music chair Greg Pelc added the Prairie Aires to the list of musicians performing during the weeklong celebration. The trio will play their period instruments both at the craft fair and at Latham Park on Wednesday, Aug. 27, during a free watermelon feed.

Pelc said he would still like to find groups to perform during the ice cream social and chicken dinner, but for the most part he has moved on to meeting power needs of scheduled bands. In this he is working with newly appointed infrastructure chairs Bob and Penny Thomas.

Re-enactment chair Ron Keller said those participating in the period dance lessons taught by Bonnie Knieriem of Mason City are having great fun. The lessons cover 10 dance steps plus tips on 19th-century etiquette and attire in preparation for the Civil War ball at the Elks Lodge on Saturday, Aug. 30. The 33rd Infantry Band will provide the tunes.

Keller said another set of five dance lessons would be offered if there is sufficient interest. Those wanting to participate can contact him at 732-3155, Ext. 295. The cost is $25 per couple or $15 for singles. The ball itself is free.

Since Monday night, when Lincoln City Council approved blocking off streets for the parade, stages and alcohol consumption, most big decisions for the 150th birthday party are set. However, planners on Wednesday were still discussing the exact location in Scully Park for an ethnic food festival on Friday, Aug. 29. The problem is to locate tents close enough to a power source but far enough from the Hometown Stage at the corner of Clinton and McLean. Pelc and Bob Thomas said they can work out a plan to accommodate about 10 vendors.

[Lynn Spellman]

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