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 Compared to today when we have automation that helps
us do everything from cook and clean to visit our doctor, undergo
surgery, order our pizza or heat our home - in the 1860’s those
tasks were done by hand, and not easily.
This weekend, guests at Postville Courthouse could enjoy looking
back at the days gone by, and marveling at just how much work it
took to do some of the things we today take for granted.
Among the many demonstrations and reenactments on the
courthouse lawn Saturday, perhaps the most gripping one was that of
the 108th Illinois Field Hospital. The camp set up on the west side
of the courthouse lawn brought home the stark reality of surgical
procedures in the Civil War era. Around the hospital actors dressed
in military garb shared with visitors how difficult it was to take
care of wounded soldiers. Limbs were often amputated in the field,
and bleeding was a big issue, as was infection, and the sheer shock
and distress of the procedure on the patient often took the life no
matter how hard ‘doctors’ tried.
While this one display was sobering, the rest of the events around
the courthouse lawn reflected the simpler lifestyle of the 1800’s.
From the ones who were building campfires, carving wood items or
tanning hides, to those who were sitting watch over their large
kettles of applesauce - the demonstrations were very original
looking with re-enactors dressing the part, using authentic hardware
and actually doing the work!
In the 1860’s life was tougher, but it was also
simpler. For children learning meant writing out their lessons on
slate boards, but it also meant sometimes having school outside.
There were no computers, but children learned to make up games using
what they had before them. They also learned to have face-to-face
friends. Kids had chores, and didn’t give a second thought to taking
care of animals, working in the garden or even in the fields after
school. All of these things were reflected Saturday, and for some in
attendance, the idea of living such a primitive lifestyle was quite
astonishing.
At Postville there were also some great fun activities, like the
competitions that went on throughout the day. Among those was the
Woman’s Firewood Split, the Log Rolling Contest, Egg Relay, Cross
Cut Saw Competition, Amateur Railsplitting Contest and the Team
Railsplitting Contest. Across the street and down the road a little
bit, the Apple Peeling Contest also took place on Saturday in
Postville Park.
There were also plenty of food opportunities on
Saturday all from familiar faces. At the Postville Courthouse
Sherese Johnson of Heart and Soul Café in Lincoln was serving up ham
and beans with cornbread. Across the street in front of the Cronin
Brothers VFW, the Bob Graue Marine Corp League was busy grilling
pork chop sandwiches; and at Postville Park, the Luckhart Family had
their Nuthatch Hill BBQ trailer set up with great sandwiches.
Another treat at the courthouse was a bake sale offering lots of
goodies to take home, and there were free donuts and coffee set up
on the east side of the courthouse building.
At the VFW, Commander Michelle Ramlow was really
excited about the number of vendors on hand for this year’s event.
She said there was a full house inside the VFW and there were
vendors outside the building as well as vendors at Postville Park.
Inside there were familiar brand named home-based
businesses, along with some flea-market/indoor garage sale type
booths, and of course the bake sale hosted annually by the St. John
United Church of Christ. The church holds the bake sale as a
fundraiser for their annual Veteran’s Dinner held each year in
November.
At Postville Park there was a lot going on. Vendors
included Sir Renna Tea with a large collection of Route 66 and
Abraham Lincoln items for sale. Among the items being offered was
Route 66 Cola in a variety of flavors.
Another booth was set up by a local couple who do
special sewing projects. Sew Many Memories will lovingly take a
favorite clothing item or a number of items from a deceased loved
one and turn them into something that can be kept forever in memory
of that loved one.
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Seamstress Nola Turley had several items on hand to
show what she was able to make, including some really sweet teddy
bears, and quilted and embroidered pillows.
There was a stage set up on the back side of the park
for live entertainment. The first to go on stage Saturday morning
was Praise Hand Made. This is a group that are fluent in the art of
sign language. During their time on stage, the group signed several
popular and contemporary gospel songs as they played on the sound
system.
The Sign and Dine Club in Lincoln also had a booth set up to share
with people their knowledge of American Sign Language, and encourage
folks to join their meetings that happen twice a month on Sunday
afternoons at varying locations in Lincoln.
Other fun activities at Postville Park included rock
painting with Mandy Cordray, necklace and bracelet beading, stick
horse riding, and a sweet little steam powered train, too small to
ride, but plenty large enough to draw attention from visitors.
Moving on to the Mill on Route 66 Museum, the Salt
Creek ABATE was hosting their annual motorcycle show. The museum was
open to visitors and there was live entertainment offered by the
group “Sunday Afternoon.”
Prior to the National Competition, the annual
reenactment of the Christening of the city of Lincoln took place
close to the Railsplitting site.
Other events held on Sunday included the Water Boil
Contest and the Junior Railsplitting Contest. A number of young
splitters took part in the junior event, perhaps a sign that a new
generation is on the horizon to help assure that the festival will
continue on for years to come.
On Sunday the highlight of the festival was the
National Railsplitting Competition. Once again this year that
competition was held on the northeast corner of the Postville
Courthouse Lawn. It was a warm day which may have added to the
difficulty of the competition this year, but none-the-less, the
competition was fierce and the sound of sledges placing wedges, and
axes splitting large logs, rang throughout the area.
In the end, there were a few familiar faces in the
winner’s circle. Placing first this year was Chris Friedlein of
Gibson City. Chris and other members of the Friedlein family are
long-time competitors at the annual event, as well as repeat
winners.
Placing second this year was Jonathon Norin of LeRoy. Jonathon was
also the second place winner in 2017.
Curtis Porchnow of Normal was the third place winner.
Bring up the last of the top place finishers, Evan Coombs of
Bloomington, Indiana took fourth place in the competition. Evan is a
repeat competitor at the festival as well, and he also placed fourth
in 2017.
After the splitting competition, the event was for
the most part finished for this year.
Throughout the four locations over the weekend, visitors enjoyed
taking that step back in time with the many demonstrations and
competitions, and perhaps some of them took time to remember just
how blessed we are today, that we have so many conveniences that our
great and great-great grandparents never dreamed of.
[Nila Smith]
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