|
 In the yard at the Postville Courthouse, visitors
were able to see how difficult it was for pioneers to perform
everyday tasks. Pioneer volunteers were making apple butter over an
open fire, sewing with needle and thread, making ropes, whittling
with knives, making tools with metal, and much more. Visitors were
able to participate in these educational displays in order to have a
brief experience of pioneer life.
The Postville Courthouse, used by lawyer Abraham Lincoln, was open
for visitors during the festival. Built in 1953, the current
courthouse is a replica of the one built in 1840. Henry Ford bought
the original structure and moved everything to the Henry Ford Museum
in Dearborn, Michigan, where it stands today.
Competitions also took place on the courthouse grounds including:
women’s firewood split, log rolling, amateur rail splitting, team
rail splitting, apple peeling, cross cut saw, egg relay, water boil,
junior rail splitting, and corn shelling. Because the Railsplitter
Festival is a national event, competitors come from many different
states.
Kitty-corner cross the street in Postville Park there were games and
crafts specifically designed for the kids. Jewelry making, painting,
face painting, and coloring were just a few of the activities for
the kids. Vendors were also set up in the park including food
vendors selling barbeque, walking tacos, and desserts for the family
to enjoy.
More vendors could be found at the VFW selling jewelry, clothing,
and more.
Rita Coleman and Hilary Shaw were back to entertain with their
horses Lakota and Domino. Trick riding was started by the Cossack
soldiers as a war time strategy to hide from the enemy. As the idea
migrated to the United States it was used for entertainment during
rodeos and soon became a rodeo competition with points awarded for
the hardest tricks.
Trick riders started performing more daring and
extreme tricks to receive more points and rodeo producers deemed
trick riding too dangerous and stopped sponsoring trick riding
competitions. Trick riders went back to entertaining crowds at
rodeos and circuses, anywhere they were allowed to ride.
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About two years ago, trick riding competition was reinstated and
Rita and Hilary were ready to compete; they ride every chance they get in order
to store up points for major competitions. Rita knows she can’t prepare alone
and appreciates that Hilary is able and willing to help her train, critique, and
video tricks. They train seven days a week, exercise, and “don’t eat sugar.”
Rita is now ranked 7th in Canada/America. After qualifying in Missouri with
1,100 points, she will travel to Las Vegas in December for a national
competition. Rita rode in “Legends for 40 and Over” with best of the best riders
and recalled, “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” She says, “I say I’m
done every year, but I’ll be back next year.”
Just a short walk down the road was “The Mill on 66” Museum. The museum hosted
the 2nd Annual Salt Creek A.B.A.T.E. Motorcycle Show with live entertainment in
the parking lot.
With perfect weather and a large crowd, the Railsplitting committee will have a
lot to discuss before next year.
[Lisa Ramlow]
To learn more about the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival visit
www.railsplitting.com.
To learn more about Salt Creek ABATE call 217-871-0677 or visit
SaltCreekAbate.com.
Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County is a non-profit organization
working to promote and preserve Route 66 sites. The Mill is one of the sites and
was opened for visitors to explore and ask questions. To learn more about The
Mill visit savethemill.org. To volunteer, call 217-671-3790 or email
info@savethemill.org.
[Lisa Ramlow] |
