New signage greets passersby of Lincoln-Douglas Square
(Submitted photo)
(Submitted photo)
While Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton has stood as a historical landmark in Alton for decades, it has not been readily apparent to thousands of motorists passing through the Landmarks/Piasa/Broadway intersection. But thanks to the efforts of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club, it is now hard to miss the significance of the site.
New signage has been placed on the western side of Lincoln-Douglas Square, which is essentially the back side of the historical site which commemorates the 1858 debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in their contest for the U.S. Senate, a seat to which Douglas was elected, two years prior to Lincoln being elected President of the United States.
The new sign became possible after Rotary worked with the City of Alton to pour a concrete base for the Community Christmas Tree which is erected annually at the site by the Rotary Club. Once the new pad was in place, it became obvious that the face of the platform made a perfect canvas for new signage.
Bill Moyer, who chaired Rotary’s Lincoln-Douglas committee in the early 90’s, reached out to fellow Rotarian Craig Schaaf, who’s company, Elias Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Homes, has a memorial sales division with experience in engraving. “Craig supplied the expertise and the artisan to engrave the classic-styled signage into the concrete facing of the pad,” said Moyer. “It really helps identify the site for those passing through that busy traffic corridor.”
The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club has a long history with the square. It conducted the fund-raising efforts for the 1994 renovation of the square, which included the casting of life-sized statues of Lincoln and Douglas. The sculpting of the statues was commissioned by Alton-Godfrey Rotary and created by Jerry McKenna of Boerne, TX, a world-renowned sculptor. Memorial bricks and stones on the plaza of the site commemorate those who contributed to the renovation of the square.
On October 15, 1994, the newly renovated site played host to a re-enactment of the debate, commemorating the 136th anniversary of the seventh and final Lincoln-Douglas debate. The re-enactment featured local actors as Lincoln and Douglas as well as other historical figures and was broadcast on C-SPAN, as had been the re-enactments of the previous six debates throughout Illinois.
After the re-dedication of the square more than three decades ago, Rotary has served as a steward of the site, adding lighting enhancements and landscaping over the years. In addition, Rotary purchased and erects and disassembles the Community Christmas Tree that adorns the site each holiday season.
The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club was chartered by Rotary International on March 1, 1921. Since that time the club has served the Alton and Godfrey communities for over a century by exhibiting Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” Many notable projects have been completed over the years, including a picnic pavilion at Haskell Park, the Steamboat Mural at Broadway and Henry Streets, the statues of Lincoln and Douglas at Lincoln-Douglas Square, the Wadlow Statue, numerous fountains including the current fountain at State House Circle, a Habitat for Humanity House, the community Christmas tree at Broadway and Landmarks, and Alton-Godfrey Centennial Rotary Park at Third and Easton Streets in Alton.
Those interested in learning more about the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club may visit the club’s website at www.altongodfreyrotary.org. The club meets Monday evenings at 6 p.m. at the meeting room at Gentelin’s Restaurant on Broadway in Alton. Visitors are welcome.
