Springfield Tour

[Rob Wick]

The day began not only with the threat of rain, but actual rain. However, once we got on the road (courtesy of Gene and his lovely wife, Joy), the sun came out and generally stayed out the entire day.

Our first destination was to Farmer's Point Cemetery where Mentor Graham lies. Graham, as you know, tutored Lincoln after Lincoln's arrival in New Salem. We paid our respects, took some photos, and then it was on to New Salem. It had been 41 years since I had last visited the site, and the only memory I have of it was when the blacksmith, showing us how horse shoes were made, accidentally let the hot shoe fly causing it to strike my aunt in the ankle. There were some things I remembered seeing, like the Lincoln statue on horseback at the entrance of the park. Somewhere in the countless pictures my mother left behind, there's a photo of me and my family next to the horse. Now, there's another of an older, and hopefully wiser, man.

With our expert guide, Joe, we walked through the site taking photos and, I think, imagining what it must have been like for the young Lincoln as he walked in that same area. There were a couple of docents holding court in the cooper's house and the first Lincoln-Berry store, both of whom told very interesting and informative stories. There were also a number of young people wandering around, early in the process of making their own Lincoln memories.

We drove into Petersburg, but the restaurant we were going to eat in didn't open until 4:30, so instead we went to the local Subway and had a fine meal anyway. We then headed for the Old Concord Cemetery, which was quite an adventure. The road, if one can call it that, which leads into the cemetery is rather crude. But once we got there, it was well worth it. Old Concord Cemetery is the original burial site of Ann Rutledge. It was a bit jarring to see the modern stone which marks the site of her grave, alongside old (and sometimes illegible) original stones. Also buried there is Jack Armstrong, of wrestling fame, some of the Clary family and other Rutledges. Bill found himself a project, as he plans to contact the closest chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans organization to help relocate the headstone of a Union veteran that had somehow become unmoored.

I would estimate that since the age of 8, I've been to Springfield over 30 times, and even though I've seen Lincoln's tomb countless times, the experience remains one of the most moving. But this year it was also unsettling. The interior of the tomb is in desperate need of repair. Where Lincoln's body lies, the trim around the alcove is in desperate need of painting and the ceiling of the front area of the tomb is falling. How the state of Illinois let it get into the shape it's in is unfathomable.

It was the experience of seeing the graves of William Herndon, the poet Vachel Lindsey and Lincoln notables and scholars like Oliver Barrett, the famous collector of Lincolniana, Benjamin Thomas and Harry E. Pratt that also moved me. Ironically, just down from Herndon's grave is an obelisk with the name "Booth" on the side, although the possibility that Booth escaped Garrett's Farm and moved to Springfield and is buried within walking distance of Lincoln's tomb is one that even Finis Bates couldn't have imagined.

As Cheryl, Donna (Bill's lovely bride), and Joy didn't want to search for treasures in Prairie Archives, the Lincoln Nerds dropped them off at our respective hotels and ventured forth. I took the prize for having the most explaining to do about how much money I spent, but I did find a treasure. It is a bust of Lincoln that, while not of the same caliber is the one I posted a while back from the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop, is still pretty darn nice. Even better...it only cost me $30. I've already turned down Bill's offer of $50, although he got a signed Lloyd Ostendorf print that he's pretty proud of.

As our time starts to wind down, and we collect our treasures and prepare to depart, we spent one last night in a wonderful restaurant, Maldaners, which is just down the street from our hotels. Everyone agreed that if you want to dine, as opposed to just eating, let Joe pick out the place. The walk down and back was made more pleasant by the lack of precipitation and the lack of humidity. I even wore a light jacket on the walk back.

Tomorrow we gather one last time to eat breakfast and then say goodbye. Even though we all will be saddened by that, we will be richer for the experience. We will bask in the knowledge that we've come that much closer to a more nuanced and mature understanding of the greatest president this country has ever produced. Not a bad thing, if you ask me.

Best
Rob