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February 2005: The Spirit of the Place
No doubt many of you readers have visited New Salem, the reconstructed village where Lincoln lived before he moved to Springfield. The place has been totally reconstructed. Nothing there today was there in the 1830’s when Lincoln worked in a store in town. Oddly enough, there is a connection between Hampton and old New Salem. I’ll reveal what it is after describing how the place came to be reconstructed.
New Salem did not exist for long. In 1847 a traveler described it as “desolate”, The buildings gradually either deteriorated or their parts were carted away for use elsewhere. All except one run-down log structure that survived until about 1880. People continued to visit the site, however. They usually brought along some of the local old-timers who remembered the 1830’s when the town was thriving.
In 1884 a Chicago Tribune correspondent described a visit to the site. He was accompanied by William G Greene, described as a lifelong friend of Lincoln; Murray Goff, president of Menard County Old Settler’s Association; and County Judge John Tice, an acquaintance of Lincoln. They reached the bluff above the Sangamon River in a carriage drawn by two mules, passing the old milldam where in 1831 a New Orleans bound flatboat carrying Lincoln got stuck. Tice stood in the buggy and pointed out “where the weeds were lower” and buildings had once stood. Over there was “where Lincoln boarded when he kept store for Denton Offit” he said. Nearby was George Warburton’s store. “Over to the south was the Baptist Church and the cemetery alongside”
Stories associated with the place started to emerge from those old-timers. Greene pointed out the site of the Rutledge house. He explained “Lincoln was engaged to Anne Rutledge. Her death almost broke his heart.” He mentioned he had clerked with Lincoln at Denton Offit’s store. At the depression left at that site grew 3 trees, about 50 feet high with boughs entwined, making it look like one tree. Greene said “Behold, an emblem of the Union maintained by Lincoln!”
They pointed out the place where Lincoln wrestled Jack Armstrong, champion of the Clary’s Grove boys.. These were a group of tough guys who lived near New Salem. Greene’s memory was: “Jack tried all sorts of tricks. Then Lincoln said that if they were enemies, he was ready, or friends as it suited them. Big Jack Armstrong slapped him on the back and said ‘We were only in fun’” This turned into a big asset for Lincoln, for when he ran for the state legislature a few years later, no one worked harder for him than the Clary’s Grove boys.
The mention of the Clary’s Grove boys called forth more stories. Goff said: “These boys were always up to some mischief. They trimmed the manes and tails of horses, cut bridles so they broke when the rider pulled on the reins, likely landing him on the ground”. He pointed to a steep incline near Offit’s store where the boys supposedly stuffed a fat drunk in a big barrel and rolled him downhill nearly into the river.
Lincoln had a reputation of being a joker, but did not indulge in Clary’s Grove type pranks. Even at this time he was studying to be a lawyer. The reporter ended his story saying: “A move is under foot to revive the memory of New Salem and have a park laid out. Tourists would certainly come”, he predicted.
It took awhile but tourists did come and eventually, in the 1930’s and 40’s the state of Illinois, assisted by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started restoration. The design for the site was made by State employed architect Joseph F Booten. Booten was determined to reconstruct the buildings as closely as possible to the sites and appearance of the originals.
So now we have a gem. A place that captures the feel of when our greatest president started his career there. Now is the time to unveil the Hampton connection. When researching for the restoration, they searched through all the store records they could find to get a line on what items were carried. Of all the records searched, Brettun & Black’s Store had the most complete records and that store had the largest stock of goods. So, we Hamptonians can be glad we helped in the reconstruction and helped capture “The Spirit of the Place”.