Lincoln and Douglas Speeches - Havana, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 40° 18.268 W 090° 03.830
15T E 749531 N 4465688
Douglas spoke Aug. 13th, Lincoln spoke on the 14th.
Waymark Code: WM4RW3
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 09/25/2008
Views: 8
Marker Erected by: Mason County Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints.
Date Marker Erected: 1987.
County of Marker: Mason County.
Location of Marker: Franklin St. & Orange St., Rockwell Park, Havana.
Marker Text:
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS SPEECHES
This mound was the site of major campaign addresses by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during their campaign for U.S. Senate in 1858. Music, fireworks, banners, and parades characterized the campaign. After firing a cannon to assemble a crowd of one thousand, Douglas spoke here for several hours on August 13th, 1858. Half the crowd left to greet Abraham Lincoln at the landing several blocks to the south. As he arrived with a brass band on board the flag draped steamboat "Senator". After spending the night with friends, Lincoln spoke for two hours in the grove on the mound on August 14th, highlighting his opposition to slavery and responding to Senator Douglas's claims. Lincoln remained in Havana for several days, visiting old friends and campaigning. On April 16th, he spoke at Bath. After renewing acquaintances all along the route. Lincoln departed on the Havana Ferry on August 17th.
Abraham Lincoln was well known in Mason County. During the 1830's and 1840's, he surveyed and practiced law here, campaigned for other offices, and owned a Mason County farm.
This park has been the scene of social and recreational activities ever since it was donated by Havana pioneer Northrup J. Rockwell in 1849. The mound was crowned with a large bandstand near the beginning of the 20th Century.