Historic Illinois site’s popular horse to be honored

PETERSBURG, Ill. — Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site is honoring one of its most popular residents: A Horse named Bay.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has announced the horse that died in December after living and working at the site for nearly a quarter century will be honored with a memorial service on Saturday.

Bay was the unofficial mascot for the historic site that’s a reconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln once lived.

The horse was a popular attraction at the site about 20 miles north of Springfield. Visitors often had their picture taken with Bay, either sitting on it or standing next to it.

The service will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Later, a marker will be placed on the property, though the location hasn’t been determined.