“Black Jack” Logan to be featured at Mount Pulaski Courthouse Celebration February 8th

 

[February 01, 2020] 

The Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site will host an early celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on Saturday, February 8 with an appearance by Brian “Fox” Ellis portraying John A. “Black Jack” Logan, the son of Dr. John Logan, for whom Logan County is named.

The event will be held from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m., with the “Black Jack” Logan program at 1:00 p.m. inside the historic courthouse.

The younger Logan became a Civil War general, a U.S. Senator, and, through a change of heart, an enthusiastic worker for President Lincoln’s re-election.

During the celebration on February 8, visitors will be greeted by Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by John Walther of Bloomington, who will tell Lincoln stories. Other activities will allow visitors to write with a quill pen, tap out Morse code messages with oscillators, make a Lincoln birthday card or a Valentine, and put together a giant puzzle.

Refreshments to be served will include Abraham Lincoln’s favorite dessert – apple pie with rum sauce from Hilltop Catering, along with Helen Schmidt’s amazing Lincoln-themed cookies, coffee, punch and tea.

Brian “Fox” Ellis will be presenting two other Lincoln-related programs at Mount Pulaski schools on Friday, February 7.

Donors supporting the February 8 celebration at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse include Looking for Lincoln, Logan County Tourism Bureau, Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation, Mount Pulaski Grade School Parent group P.A.S.E., Mount Pulaski High School, Zion Lutheran School P. T. L., Hilltop Club, Tomlinson Trust, and Farmer’s Bank.

The Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site is operated by the Historic Sites Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Abraham Lincoln practiced law at the courthouse when he traveled on the 8th Judicial Circuit.

Vintage Quilt Winner Will Be Announced on February 8

For two years, visitors to the Mount Pulaski Courthouse have been invited to put some stitches in the Vintage Quilt on display at the courthouse. In the fall of 2019, the hand quilting was completed by the Quilters of the Hartsburg Lutheran Church, including Alexis Asher, Geneva Behrends, Nancy Robbins and Irma Leesman. Raffle tickets for the quilt will be sold up until 3:00 p.m. on February 8th when the winning ticket will be drawn.

The small scrap pieces had been sewn into 12” x 12” squares by an ancestor of Wally Kautz, former site manager of the Mount Pulaski Courthouse. The squares were purchased at Wally’s estate sale in early 2017. Master Quilter Dolly Buckles of Mount Pulaski put them together into a 52” x 72” quilt.

The finished quilt will be on display at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse leading up to the February 8 drawing. Regular hours at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse are Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 217-792-3919 or the site manager at 217-792-5126.

[Illinois Department of Natural Resources]