The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Local News

Related Photos

  • Photo Provided

    Library

Discussion

June 12, 2009

Lincoln on the move

Two exhibits make stop at Westville

BY APRIL EVANS

WESTVILLE — An amazing amount of Abraham Lincoln information awaits visitors at the Westville Public Library.

Two traveling Lincoln exhibits are on display in the front lobby of the library, each unique and coming from different sources. The largest, at 7 feet high and 20 feet long, is from the Lincoln Trail Library System. A local double-sided exhibit is from the Vermilion County Museum.

Library Director Rick Balsamello said both exhibits were launched in celebration of Lincoln’s bicentennial birthday. He said the library is fortunate to have the space to occupy two exhibits at once.

“We get them when we can, but it’s unusual that we have two at a time,” Balsamello said. “The timing really worked out. This might be a good opportunity for people around here. There is a lot of information located in a small area.”

The Lincoln Trail exhibit focuses on the Lincoln-Douglas debates and will be in Westville until another library requests it. The Vermilion County Museum exhibit focuses more on Lincoln’s ties to this area and will be at the library until June 18.

Balsamello said he’s found both exhibits interesting, with each containing diverse information. The Lincoln Trail exhibit shows an analysis of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, including different ways of calculating the winner and has maps showing the winner regionally in Illinois.

It also includes information about the change-over to a direct election of United States senators, compared to the state legislators electing the officials from each state in the past.

The vivid photographs and reproductions on the Vermilion County Museum exhibit are what draw visitors into it.

“It’s really nice because they have all those nice old pictures,” said library clerk Bonnie Cox.

Balsamello said the library is holding its summer reading program this week for children in all age groups. He suspected the exhibits would be examined frequently by parents, grandparents and guardians of children attending the sessions.

“People really seem to be impressed by the size and all the information on that one,” Cox said of the Lincoln Trail exhibit.

IF YOU GO

The Westville Public Library, 233 S. State St., has two traveling Lincoln exhibits on display for visitors to examine. Both will be displayed until at least June 18.



Text Only
Local News
  • Tropical Storm Beryl strengthens, nears U.S. coast

    Tropical Storm Beryl was wrecking some Memorial Day weekend plans on Sunday, causing shoreline campers to pack up and head inland and leading to the cancellation of some events as the storm approached the southeastern U.S.

    May 27, 2012

  • CASA seeks volunteers

    May 27, 2012

  • Classes transition online

    May 27, 2012

  • AmyandRomanSchweizer1.jpg Dad welcomes baby — while a world away

    Like most fathers, Brandun Schweizer wanted to witness his first child’s birth. There was just one problem, however — he was thousands of miles away in Afghanistan.

    May 27, 2012 2 Photos

  • Veterans ask people to pause

    Although the Memorial Day weekend is a time for picnics and pool parties, veterans’ groups hope people pause to remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty, as well as others who have died.

    May 27, 2012

  • Martha Stewart learns family’s roots

    Television viewers have been treated to two series lately dealing with genealogy.

    May 27, 2012

  • Haiti touches her heart Haiti touches her heart

    Janis Ostiguy of Danville experiences many emotions each time she visits Haiti — sadness at the poverty, happiness with the children, warmth for the people and their spirit.

    May 27, 2012 3 Photos

  • Turtles return to race

    Collected turtles are being fed fruits, meat and vegetables and will be ready to go for the 48th Annual Turtle Races.

    May 27, 2012

  • Hiker’s heart is in America's Highlands

    Robert Burns, the immortal Scottish poet, once wrote, “My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; my heart’s in the Highlands, a’chasing the wild deer; a’chasing the wild deer, and following the roe; my heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.”

    May 27, 2012

  • Posters recall Cannon’s 1880 opponent Posters recall Cannon’s 1880 opponent

    In 1980, John Mendenhall found three 1880 J. R. Scott campaign posters in a home he was restoring.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo