State Bank of Lincoln purchases 1st of 30 Lincoln statues

[August 09, 2013]  The Abraham Lincoln Statue Committee has announced a major addition to the fundraising program for the statue project. The committee has committed to produce a 22-inch bronze version of the statue that is to be placed on the Logan County Courthouse grounds. The first three of a limited edition of 30 small statues have been produced.

State Bank of Lincoln has purchased one of those statues, and delivery will be on Monday, Aug. 12. The public is invited to the bank office at the corner of Sangamon and Broadway at 10 a.m. to see the new statue added to the Lincoln collection that already exists there.

The full-size Abraham Lincoln statue, to be placed on the courthouse lawn, will commemorate the speech made there by Abraham Lincoln on Oct. 16, 1858, during his run for the Senate. The speech on the Logan County Courthouse square drew a crowd of 5,000. The town of Lincoln was just 5 years old, and its population was swelled far beyond its permanent residents that day.

A total of 30 numbered statues will be made, autographed by the artist, and the mold will then be broken. The cost for a statue will be $2,000. To reserve a number and acquire one of the statues, a nonrefundable deposit of $500 is needed. The balance of $1,500 is due at the time of delivery, which should be from four to six weeks once the order has been placed.

Payment should be made to the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society, with check or money order made out to LCGHS and mailed to 114 N. Chicago St., Lincoln, IL 62656; Attn: Bill Donath. For more information, call the office phone, 217-732-3200, or cellphone, 217-737-8675.

Other donations for the project may also be made to the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society. Individuals who donate $100 of more to the project will receive an unframed, numbered copy of a print showing Mr. Lincoln giving the speech. The prints are being donated to the committee by Main Street Lincoln.

LCGHS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations are tax-deductible.