At Galesburg, Illinois' Railroad Days one of the main attractions was a Lincoln themed encounter. On the one hand the Lincoln Funeral Car replica was on display for the 150th anniversary of the funeral procession through several states. On the other hand 'Abe' himself with his wife Mary Todd addressed the crowd on the very topics that are in our news today - liberty, slavery, freedom, and the Union. Among the scores of listeners were two motorcyclists who sincerely enjoyed the actual words from a visionary President over 150 years ago.
President Lincoln's favorite song was "Dixie." At the 28th annual and final Civil War reenactment in Keokuk, Iowa on April 26, 2015, the president requested the song and clapped along. Abe Lincoln is actor Max Daniels of Wheaton, Illinois who has played the 16th president for several years and is well known in the Midwest. His website is here.
The band was made up of Union and Confederate players who proudly played the last song following the final reenactment of Civil War battles staged in Keokuk.
A deeply sorrowed 'President Lincoln' watches the final surrender ceremonies at Keokuk, Iowa's Rand Park this past Sunday. The reenactment featured the replay of the Battle of Appomattox and the surrender of General Lee. Following the ceremony, actors from both sides resumed their normal personalities. Mr. Lincoln (who is played by Max Daniels of Wheaton, IL) posed with many audience members for selfies and group photos.
Keokuk's tourism board decided to not go forward with the Civil War series due to dwindling audience attendance, aging reenactment member population and the lack of younger members joining the players community. At Sunday's reconstructed battle a crowd of 300 or so people looked on to experience the sights and sounds of soldiers, horses, canons, guns, tents, bands and of course the Lincolns.
Illinois claims to be the "Land of Lincoln." His birth state Kentucky also celebrates its famous son. But 42N's Iowa can also claim a piece of Abraham Lincoln pie.
So what does this tract of land in Tama county look like? First of all there are signs posted on Iowa Highway 63 north of Toledo, Iowa to help get you about four miles north and two miles west of the highway. That puts you smack dab in Iowa's corn and soybean fields.
Lincoln's particular 40-acre tract is located atop a rolling hill and meadow. This season the land is in hay production, as is evidence by the round bales seen in these photos. In 1977 the Iowa State Historical Society and the Alpha PSI chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International created and paced an aluminum plaque on the property.
By several accounts Lincoln was reportedly proud of this track of land, even paid 75 cents tax on it, but never saw the property. Following his death, Mary Lincoln quick claimed the land to their son Robert. He later sold the property.
Being present on this historic land for a short time, smelling the freshly baled hay, and watching waves of wind push over soybean fields adjacent to the field, its possible to imagine this tract then and now. Somehow if Abraham himself had worked the land before his presidency, it would look like this now. He would be pleased. Know that.
42N country's Galena, IL is a step back in time. Known as a home for Ulysses S. Grant, and a political stopover for a campaigning Abe Lincoln this NW Illinois town is now a shopper's destination. In one of the many, many shop windows is this colored wig display - a photographer's delight. Another distinction for the town was being a film location for Field of Dreams where Burt Lancaster and Kevin Costner appeared in the doctor's office scenes (Galena posed as Chisholm, Minnesota in that film.)
Nearby at the Desoto House Hotel previous guests include Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, and Steven Douglas. The hotel served as the presidential campaign headquarters for Ulysses S. Grant. In fact Lincoln, while running for a congressional seat gave a speech from the hotel balcony on July 23, 1856.
Today the hotel caters to the overnight travellers and weekenders, but also specializes in catering to small and large gatherings.
At the Green Street Tavern and Restaurant, one of three places to get a beverage and meal at the hotel, we were entertained by a young lady who took delight in describing the hotel, business and what to do and see in Galena. She told us of the very popular ghost tours of downtown and nearby neighborhoods. Then she relayed stories of ghostly sightings featuring period dressed people seen in modern days at the hotel. While the bartender is studying for a business degree she may want to explore public relations. She is a natural. Know that.
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