MARSHALL, Ill. — Feb. 12 will mark the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The 16th U.S. president in his younger days visited Marshall, Ill., many times, both as an attorney trying cases in the Clark County Courthouse and visiting friends in the community.
He stayed in the Archer House and walked along Marshall’s streets.
Marshall’s Lincoln Bicentennial Committee has been working to arrange many events in Marshall throughout 2009 to celebrate Lincoln.
All organizations are encouraged to participate in some way, either by hosting a program about Lincoln for members or the public, studying Lincoln, or just infusing information about him into meetings or events.
Some organizations already have begun to make plans to join the celebration.
Marshall’s yearlong celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial begins with a traveling exhibit in Marshall Public Library about the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
The exhibit will be in the library throughout January except for Jan. 23-25.
Other library events include a portrayal of Lincoln’s boyhood friend, Austin Gullaher, by Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar Brian Ellis, for Marshall third-graders on Jan. 27 in the library.
A fun birthday bash for children in grades kindergarten through fourth grade will honor Lincoln on Presidents Day in February.
Children will enjoy a craft, games, stories, and of course a birthday cake.
During the summer months at the library, children will make cabins out of the classic Lincoln Logs, and adults will enjoy learning about Lincoln at a program by Chuck Hand of Paris, Ill., in September.
Churches and government buildings are encouraged to ring their bells at noon Feb. 12, as is being done throughout the United States.
In many Illinois schools, including Marshall High School, the Gettysburg Address will be read at 9:30 a.m. on President Lincoln’s birthday.
Also on the Feb. 12, sculptor Bill Wolfe of West Terre Haute will talk about the Lincoln sculptures he has completed while he works on a bust of Lincoln at a Lincoln in Artwork Birthday Open House in Marshall Public Library.
Additional Lincoln artwork will be displayed and birthday cake will be provided to celebrate this 200th birthday.
The Marshall city band will perform music from Lincoln’s era throughout the summer at Friday night band concerts.
At the May 21 spring concert, the Marshall High School band will feature a medley describing Lincoln’s life, titled “Lincoln’s Portrait.”
The committee is hopeful that President Lincoln himself will make an appearance in the Autumn Fest parade.
Clark County Historical Society plans exhibits relating to the Civil War and Lincoln in the Clark County Historical Museum and in other locations throughout the downtown area.
Throughout the year, Marshall Public Library will have several displays relating to this interesting man and period of American history.
Clark County 4-H plans a Fantastic Friday about this famous president, and the Daughters of the American Revolution will host a Lincoln expert at its February meeting.
Marshall’s yearlong celebration will conclude on Dec. 4 with a dinner-theater event in Harlan Hall featuring a portrayal of Lincoln on Christmas Day in 1864.
For more information on the Marshall Lincoln Bicentennial Committee or for program ideas, call Nancy Claypool at (217) 826-2535 or Edie Breneman at 826-6321.
Call the committee if you plan an event for the public.
