Railsplitter Festival reflects a simpler, yet much more difficult time in our history

 

[September 18, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

Sometimes we think we have it tough in this day and age. Things don’t always go our way, we struggle and we toil, and we feel that we’ve been “put through the wringer” at the end of the day. But, if you spent any time over this past weekend at the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival, especially at the Postville Courthouse, you may have gotten a reality check on what tough times really are.

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. 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]