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Community to honor Abraham Lincoln with special events

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By Dale Huffman, Staff Writer 9:22 PM Sunday, September 13, 2009

It was 150 years ago this week in 1859 that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, climbed up the steps at the old Montgomery County Court House, at Third and Main streets in the center of Dayton, to address thousands who had gathered there.

In celebration of Lincoln’s visit to Dayton, and also to honor the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln’s birth, which was Feb. 12, 1809, the Lincoln Society of Dayton is planning some special festivities.

The highlight will come Thursday, Sept. 17, the anniversary of Mr. Lincoln’s court house speech.

“We are very fortunate to be able to greet Harold Holzer, a top Lincoln scholar and the author of a number of books about President Lincoln,” said Maribeth Graham, who is on the committee making the plans. “Holzer will be the speaker to help us kick off the many activities in conjunction with honoring Mr. Lincoln.”

Holzer is a frequent guest on national television talk shows, and is co-chair of the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial commission. He has been honored at the White House and is a senor vice president for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the nation’s largest art institution.

Holzer will begin his remarks at noon in the rotunda of the Old Court House building, now a museum operated by Dayton History. His speech is free and open to the public.

Later Thursday, at 4 p.m., the Dayton Kid’s Voting organization will sponsor a rally of young people on the front lawn of the Old Court House and winners of the Lincoln essay contest will present their writing.

Throughout the month, a scale-model of Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Ill., will be on display at the Dayton Metro Library, on East Third Street downtown. The display resembles a large doll house and was commissioned by Lincoln collector and scholar Gary Kersey of Wilmington.

Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. He’d like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St., Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.

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David,

That is one of the dumbest statements I've read in a while. You have a Democrat leader in the Senate who is a former Klan recruiter, it was Democrats who just 40 years ago fought tooth and nail against the Civil Rights Act. It was Democrats who were on the side of slavery during the time of Lincoln. Lincoln would be a member of the Republican Party today much quicker than he would side with the big government Democrats that is for certain...read a book you might learn something.

Read History
11:53 AM, 9/14/2009

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Would Lincoln be a member of today's Republican Party? I don't think so.

David
6:05 AM, 9/14/2009

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