'Love and Lincoln' event starts Wednesday in East Dundee
In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday and Valentine's Day, the village of East Dundee is putting the recent snowfall to good use as it prepares for a new "Love and Lincoln" event on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Professional snow sculptors will begin work on a 10-foot bust of Abraham Lincoln beginning Wednesday, Feb. 12. The culmination of their efforts will be officially completed and dedicated by a Lincoln impersonator on Saturday at The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee at about 11:30 a.m.
On Saturday, Feb. 14, visitors will be greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln at the Depot beginning at 11 a.m. There, they will officially unveil the snow sculpture and be available for pictures. Afterward, the Lincolns will discuss their lives and will be available for questions at the Village Hall Annex adjacent from the Depot.
"We're thrilled that the downtown East Dundee business district will be hosting these artists in the spirit of Lincoln. Who else has a replica of Lincoln's family home in their downtown? It's a great way to introduce folks to the area," said Lael Miller, East Dundee village president.
As part of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination, the Dundee Township Historical Society will introduce its speaker from the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Train. The funeral car, when completed, will be joined together with an already existing period locomotive, The Leviathon, and travel along the route taken by Lincoln's funeral train.
Starting in Washington, D.C., on April 21 and ending in Springfield, Illinois, on May 3, the Lincoln Funeral Train will make its way through the cities of the original train route.
In addition, area schoolchildren have been asked to participate in a writing project in which they write a letter to Lincoln regarding his quote, "I do not like that man. I must get to know him better." Visitors can view their efforts throughout the week at The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee.
Throughout the year, visitors can view and take pictures in front of a replica of the Lincoln family home in Springfield located in downtown East Dundee. Used as professional offices, it was built in 1993 by a Lincoln enthusiast and businessman, Gerald Heinz, and is at 206 N. River St., East Dundee.
The evening portion of the day will focus on Valentine's Day and include a play at 8 p.m. suitable for mature audiences - "Love Letters" by A.R. Gurney. It will be performed by the independent theater group, Good Company, at the Dundee Township Park District Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville. Tickets are $10, or $5 with proof of purchase from a local shop or restaurant from that day, Reservations are recommended as seating is limited.
For information, call The Depot at (847) 426-2255. Visit www.eastdundee.net/.