Tributes to Lincoln in Racine

PRESERVATION NEWSLETTER RACINE, INC. Spring, 2009 Tributes to Lincoln in Racine For the Chinese this is the Year of the Ox, for Americans it is the year of Lincoln. February 12, 2009, marks the bicentennial birthday anniversary of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His memory is being celebrated nationally throughout the year. Preservation Racine has recognized him in the January 12* Journal Times "Commimity Newsletter" and at the February 2°'' membership meeting when we enjoyed "Lincoln in Wisconsin" presented by Lincoln historian, Steven Rogstad. Bom into a poor, pioneering rural family, Abra ham Lincoln began his self-education at an early age. With scarcely a full year of actual schooling, he became one of the greatest masters of the English language. First elected to the presidency at a critical time, preceding the Civil War, his leadership skills resulted, at the end of that conflict, in a reunited nation. Across our country his name appears on street signs, buildings, parks, schools and colleges, monuments, and banks. And, so it has been in Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln Racine. The former Cross Street was renamed East Park, 1000 block South Main Street, Racine Lincoln Street in 1874; Lincoln Field is now Lincoln Park; Lincolnwood Court (1962) and Lincolnwood Drive (1985) are the latest streets to bear his name. Mount Pleasant boasts Lincoln School was built in 1890. Through the Lincolnshire Drive and Lincoln Village Drive. combined fimd raising efforts of the Ninth Ward Contiguous to Lincoln Park, on the bluff near Booster Club and Racine school children, on Prospect Street, is an area called Lincoln Heights. February 12, 1924, the bronze statue of Lincoln was dedicated. A. L. Van den Bergen executed Continued on page two the 7'4" statue, entitled "All Men Created Equal," which stands at the intersection of State, Summit, and Hamilton streets. In East Park on Main Street is a statue of both Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. It is one of two known statues in the United States depicting the Presi dent and his wife. Dedicated on July 4, 1943, (during WW II) it is inscribed "To children and all people, may this Monument inspire devotion and patriotism." Frederick Hibbard of Chicago was the sculptor. Mrs. Lena Rosewell left her entire estate for the erection of this monvunent. The Lincoln statue at Kane and State streets in Burlington was dedicated on October 13, 1913, a gift of Dr. Francis Meinhardt, a Burlington dentist. Abraham Lincoln 906 State Street, Racine ' > Titled "President in Thought," the statue stands 8' tall and was sculpted by George Etienne Ganiere who agreed it would never be duplicated. Of note is the fact that the three statues were erected during the twentieth century, underscoring the lasting influence of and devotion to Lincoln. H. Russell Zinmiermaim described the Lincoln Block (c. 1900) at 906 State Street as "One of Racine's most exceptional applications of archi tectural sheet metal work. The Lincoln Block has two octagonal bartizans, four bay windows, and an ornamental "pediment" which contains the building's name. While the great majority of conmiercial sheet metal work was in zinc or galvanized iron, here the chosen material was copper, the most costly of the common sheets. It Abraham Lincoln is handled, in this application, with a great variety Comer of Kane and State streets, of complex and omamental shapes." Burlington There was once a Lincoln Bixilding and Loan dered, whistles sounded. Two local men, W. H. Association in Racine. "Honest Abe's" name was Pugh and John H. Lewis, ascended into the bell no doubt used to inspire confidence in the finan tower of the Presbyterian Church and the tolling cial institution. Lincoln Contractors Supply Inc., of the bell echoed throughout the city. The city on the frontage road, was founded in 1954 on was filled with elation. Lincoln Avenue in West AlHs, WI. On the morning of April 15^, Racine was starting The Lincoln Lutheran system has grown since its its seventh day of celebration. Its 12,000 inhabi inception in 1954 when the vacant Lincoln Isola tants were still rejoicing over the newly estab tion Hospital was purchased by Lutheran Men of lished peace. C. F. Clement, U.S. telegrapher, America in Racine to provide care for the aged arrived at his telegraph office early that morning. and infirm. More and more victory news had been pouring in over the lines during the past few days and Clem Admired by people in all walks of life, Lincohi ent kept arriving at his post earlier and earlier as identified with the common man and common to not miss the slightest detail. However, on that looking people. He said "The Lord prefers particular morning victory news was not to be common looking people. That is the reason he had. Instead, the words translated "President Lin makes so many of them." coln has been killed!" Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Clement, dumbfounded by the message, immedi ately rushed the news to Charles W. Fitch, pub lisher of the Racine JoumaL Instantly a one-page Barbara S. Walter extra was prepared. The news that the president had been murdered spread rapidly throughout the five wards. By 9:30 the entire city was aware of the news and people Racine Numbed at News from all areas of the city wandered down onto Main Street where they descended on the Journal of Lincoln's Death offices. Not less than 500 people stood in the street and on the boardwalk below the offices, by Steven Rogstad then located on the second floor of a building that was situated on the east side of Main Street, One hundred and forty-three years ago, citizens of between 4*** and 5* streets (where J. C. Penney Racine plunged into a state of shock and disbelief used to be). Other groups surrounded the tele when they received an early morning telegram graph office and city bulletin boards. which stated that their dearly beloved president had been brutally murdered. The demand for the "extras" outnumbered the supply. The 8 x 12 inch "extras" were finally On April 14,1865, Abraham Lincoln, the presi dropped from the second story window to the dent who successfully struggled to save a country anxious crowd below, who hoarded over them that had been ripped in two by a civil war, was like hungry vultures. shot while he attended a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. He was carried across the Within the next two hours, Racine was trans street, lingered nine hours, and died. formed from a city of elation into one of dismal mourning. Businesses, churches, offices, and Lincoln was the first chief executive to ever fall at private homes wore crepe which was to remain the hand of an assassin and it caught Racine by hung for several weeks. Sadness over Lincoln's surprise. Since April 9*, the city had been cele passing caused the city to become enveloped by a brating the near-end of the war which claimed so deafening silence. many lives and which lasted four tedious years. When the news was received that Lee had surren Continued on page four Newly elected mayor, J. W. Hart, issued a proc heads" (Northem democrats who opposed the lamation requestmg the day of April 19* "to be Union's war policy and favored a negotiated consecrated as a day of Fasting and Prayer'* and peace) angered those who participated in the added that "oijr people meet at their respective ceremonies. A bartender at the Washington places of worship." In requesting their coopera House, who stated that he was glad Lincoln was tion. Mayor Hart stated that **the nation shot, was seizied, taken on a wagon to Market mourns—the people are in deep affliction and Square (Monument Square), and was moments sorrow for the death of our beloved President." from being himg when Thomas Falvey, recently defeated candidate for mayor, with the aid of The Circuit Court of Racine County resolved to Sheriff Frank Schneider and two other men, adjourn for one week due to the "consequences rescued the man from the angry mob and locked of the violent and shocking death of President him in the jail at the old Racine Courthouse for Lincoln." his own protection. The Racine Advocate described the reaction of Another man was chased into an alley between citizens to the news in terms of disbelief The 4* and 5^ streets where he jumped into a large public hoped that new War Department releases crockery crate, pulled straw over his head, and would somehow disprove the already released remained hidden until nightfall. These types of reports that Lincoln was dead, and that it was all instances were few, however, and most people a grave mistake. However, when the news was were prostrate with sadness. confirmed, "men looked at each other in blank amazement, lips were compressed, and strange The great "Angel of Death" had spread her faces instinctively scrutinized," The Advocate wings over the city. Perhaps Sen. Doolittle, reported. Wisconsin's fourth U.S. Senator and a close friend of Lincoln who resided in Racine, said it The day of the 19**" was a solemn one in every best when he stated that "Abraham Lincoln is respect. The weather itself seemed to indicate dead. My soul is overwhelmed and would sink that something was wrong. By late morning, utterly, but that I know God lives, and our be rain was falling in such torrents that it seemed as loved country is in His holy keeping." if heaven itself were wringing its tears for the nation's fallen chief.

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