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 The cut this year was a unique to the point of being
its own historical event at the Railsplitter. Instead of cutting the
ribbon with the scissors provided, Heidi Mueller who with help from
her dad Bob Rankin and several others, oversees the rail splitting
activities at the festival, chose to cut the ribbon with an ax.
When the countdown to the cut occurred Mueller smashed the ax down
on the ribbon that was lying on a tree stump sized log. The first
whack made a big dent but the ribbon did not cut. But as they say,
anything worth doing is worth doing again. The second time, Mueller
achieved a clean cut and the ribbon floated away from the stump to
the sound of claps and cheers from all those gathered around.
Among the many people included in the line up behind the ribbon was
Darlene Begolka, Rankin, Mueller, Postville Courthouse Site Director
Denise Martinek, many of the volunteers who help make the festival a
success each year, Lincoln Aldermen Kevin Bateman, Sam Downs, Rick
Hoefle, Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Tony Zurkammer, City Clerk Peggy Bateman,
and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch.
Helping with the ribbon cut were Lexi Groves with the Logan County
Tourism Bureau, and Karen Hargis and Nila Smith with Lincoln Daily
News.
Begolka spoke on behalf of the Railsplitting Association thanking
the many people who worked so hard to make a successful festival.
She also spoke about how the association is growing the event, and
said to look for several new additions to the festival this year.
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Mayor Tracy Welch thanked the association for all their efforts and praised them
for the hard work it has taken to make for a successful festival for 51 years.
It was noted that for any festival to have run that long is a remarkable feat
that does not often happen.
After the cut, everyone was encouraged to visit all that was available for the
Saturday event. Among the fun attractions were tents set up with 1800s era
settings. Each tent was staffed with volunteers who were there to demonstrate
certain tasks that were commonplace during that time, such as making apple
butter over an open fire, growing herbs and other useful plants such as broom
corn, which was literally used to make brooms. Speakers shared information about
hunting and tanning hides as well as trapping for the fur trade, which was a big
money earner back in the day.
The Lincoln Boy Scouts were on hand on the courthouse lawn selling food and
there was also a bake sale going on.
On the south side of Fifth Street the Marine Corps League was offering food in
the form of freshly grilled tenderloin sandwiches. Inside the VFW vendors
offered their wares and there were more food opportunities.
There was one food truck on hand on the side street west of the courthouse where
there was also a car show hosted by the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club.
The Lincoln Park District had a play area set up for youngsters that came
complete with a large resting spot made of bales of straw covered with blankets
for weary parents.
Activities at the festival continued into the evening on Saturday, then resumed
on Sunday morning with an open air church service and several pioneer lifestyle
competitions, such as corn shelling and water boiling. The last events of the
festival on Sunday afternoon was the Junior Rail Split and the Professional Rail
Split.
LDN will have additional coverage from those events in the Tuesday edition.
[Nila Smith] |
