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| NewsFriday, August 29, 2008 3:24 PM CDT |
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Clinton gets signs to mark Lincoln history
CLINTON -- Maybe you can’t fool all of the people all of the time, but you can always place a marker near the spot where Abraham Lincoln was believed to have made that comment to mark its significance in history. On Tuesday, members of the DeWitt County Lincoln Heritage Committee did that, placing the first of 10 Wayside Exhibits in downtown Clinton. Each of the exhibits feature Abraham Lincoln and his presence in DeWitt County. One was also placed this week in the village of DeWitt. Marian Brisard, the chairman of the DeWitt County Lincoln Heritage Committee, describes the exhibits as a series of beautifully designed storyboards complete with pictures, images and historical text that tell unique stories about Lincoln and his connection to the area. They are termed “wayside” exhibits because they will be placed along streets and sidewalks to make them more accessible to visitors. By next summer, a total of 220 of the exhibits will be in 47 central Illinois communities “We’re very excited to be getting this,” Brisard said. “Some may question whether or not Lincoln actually did make that comment here, but we believe he said it here and this exhibit is a welcome site.” Many believe that in September 1858, Lincoln made a speech in downtown Clinton where he was quoted as saying: “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Historians have debated whether or not Lincoln actually said that in his Clinton speech, but Brisard says local research indicates it was said. “It is our belief that it happened here,” Brisard said. Wayside exhibits are intended to serve visitors exploring historic places in Illinois where events involving Abraham Lincoln occurred. The first Clinton exhibit, “You Can’t Fool the People” and “Lincoln at Work and Play” was sponsored by the City of Clinton and was placed on Mr. Lincoln’s Square in downtown Clinton, near the area where Lincoln was to have made that comment. Clinton will get eight more exhibits by June 2009, Brisard said. Sponsors for those exhibits include the DeWitt County Museum Association, Vespasian Warner Public Library, First National Bank and Trust Company, Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton Wal-Mart, Clinton Rotary, Charles Davenport family and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. “This is a welcome addition to our town and this group has worked very hard to promote the historical significance of Abraham Lincoln here in Clinton,” said Clinton Mayor Ed Wollet. In addition to Clinton, exhibits were unveiled this week in Bloomington, Carthage, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur, Fountain Green, Homer, LaHarpe, Lerna, Macomb, Mahomet, Mattoon, Middletown, Monticello, Mt. Pulaski, Normal, Oakland, Petersburg, Pittsfield, Rushville, Springfield, St. Joseph, Urbana and DeWitt. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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