 The Mount Pulaski celebration was a more intimate event, with
the star of the day being not a person, but a cake.Mount Pulaski
began their celebration at noon, which allowed for many visitors of
the Postville event to enjoy time there, then drive to Mount Pulaski
and take in that courthouse as well, and many did just that.
Volunteer site director Wally Kautz was on hand with volunteers
Barbara Stroud-Borth and Nick Smith. Kautz and Smith offered
narrated tours of the courthouse while Stroud-Borth served up
refreshments, telling the story of the cake that was the centerpiece
of the day.
The cake was made of a recipe that has been in the Todd family
since well before Mary wed Abe.
Mary Todd was one of the Todds of Lexington, Ky. The Todd family
was considered well-to-do in the early 1800s and often entertained
dignitaries and folks who would later have significance in our
nation's history books. In 1825 one such visitor was the Marquis de
Lafayette, a French aristocrat, military officer and supporter of
the United States in the Revolutionary War.
In honor of their special visitor, the Todd family hired a French
chef to prepare a special dessert. What he prepared was a rich,
moist ivory-colored cake made with almond flour. The cake was so
well received by the marquis and the Todd family that the women of
the family persuaded the chef to let go of his recipe to them.
It is reported that when Mary Todd was in courtship with Abraham
Lincoln, she prepared the special recipe as a part of her wooing him
into a proposal.
The recipe continued to be a favorite of Lincoln's, and when the
family moved into the White House they took the recipe with them.
However, the original cake was a flat cake with a sprinkling of
powdered sugar on top. The White House chef felt this was too simple
a presentation for dignitaries. His solution was to turn it into a
layer cake with a jam filling and elegant white frosting, topped
with berries.
Saturday, visitors to the Lincoln's Birthday celebration were
treated to generous helpings of the original version of the cake
along with punch and coffee.
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While chatting with guests, Kautz took a moment to introduce Nick
Smith. Smith began volunteering at the courthouse about a year ago,
and at age 16 is the youngest volunteer they have.
Smith said he is keenly interested in history. He wants to study
archeology and eventually participate in archeological digs in
Egypt.
Kautz also shared information about the Mount Pulaski Courthouse
Foundation. The courthouse is a state historic site, with oversight
coming from the Illinois Historical Preservation Agency, but the
funding to take care of the courthouse is gone.
In 1992, budget constraints on a state level forced the closing
of the courthouse. At that time Mount Pulaski purchased the building
from the state for $1. It was agreed that the local community would
provide volunteers to man the courthouse, and the state would pay
for the maintenance of the building.
In 2008, with the state once again in dire straits for cash, the
Mount Pulaski Courthouse lost the funding for maintenance. Since
that time, the care of the building has been done with volunteer
hours and donated materials.
Last year, at the 175th celebration of the founding of Mount
Pulaski, a foundation was created for the preservation of the
courthouse. The goal of the foundation is to accept donations and
raise money for continued support of the historic site.
Kautz said anyone who wishes to support the foundation through
donations may contact the courthouse. He also noted there will be a
special event coming up in June to help raise money. He said more
details would be available at a later date.
[By NILA SMITH]
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