Springfield Day 2- June 6, 2009
Old State Capital
We visited the “Old” Springfield capital today. Although the interior was completely rebuilt, they did such a marvelous job collecting furniture and researching that if they had never told me that info, I would have never guessed it wasn’t the original. The tour was great and I think the information learned that would apply to my classroom is the scope and sense of the jobs of the government. It would be interesting to tell the students the job of the Secretary of State had back then and what they do now. This information would be great in a study of Colorado history to contrast the roles of key government officials and see if they are the same state to state.
Law Offices
The law offices of Lincoln and Herndon were ok; however I am not quite sure where they were exactly. I am still confused as to which wall was moved and where the openings were and why this couldn’t or could have been the exact spot. I actually learned more about Tinsley and his Merchantile store and that they had a post office. The information concerning postal rates at the time was interesting and I see a math and map lesson being developed concerning sending a letter over cetain distances. We may also have a discussion concerning the modern practice of junk mail and its development once we changed from the person recieving the letter paying for it to the sender paying.
The Lincoln Home
The Lincoln home was great. I will use pictures of the home as I tell my students about Lincoln and his times. I found it interesting the styles of the day incuded contrasts to show harmony. As with the pictures below, I can’t imagine for the life of me why this would create harmony.
Lincoln Home Contrast-Harmony
Lincoln Home Harmony-Contrast
New Salem Corn Mill
Now the heart of the matter, The Village at New Salem I now get the use of Primary Sources verses secondary sources. The “Village” sure took a great deal of liberty and credit for forming Lincoln as the man he was to become. To quote the Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site brochure (which is in milder language and less direct than the video) “The six years Lincoln spent at New Salem formed a turning point in his career. From a gangling young man who came to the village in 1831 with no definie objectives, he became a man of purpose as he embaked upon a career of law and statesmansship.” The video constantly asked the Question,“What was it about the town and people of New Salem that made Lincoln into the man and later propelled Lincoln to the Presidency.” What poppycock! That would be like Pueblo, Colorado taking credit for making Damon Runyon the writer he wouuld become. Wait! Ok bad example. Sorry. But you get my point. We learned the day before that Lincoln although raised in the same home was vastly different than his step-brother. How can this be if environment should be the key and deciding factor ala New Salem. The point the day before is that Lincoln had something in his inate character that made him stand out (after studying primary sources). Environment plays a part, but not to the extent the good people of New Salem would like us to believe. I would like to examiine a primary source that backs the statements made by the brochure or video.
Mark
Can Boston claim to be instrumental in Ben Franklin’s Life? He only wanted to get away! So what again is New Salem’s claim?
Yes, Paul, I believe Boston can make that claim about being instrumental in Frankilin’s life as New Salem is to Lincoln- both couldn’t wait till the day to get the HELL out of there.
The old nature vs. nurture argument. And, did the times make the man, or did the man make the times. We’ll never agree on an answer, but it’s certainly interesting pondering it. Agree that the Lincoln law firm tour was a big o waste of time, ditto the New Salem tour. “It”s a close facsimile of a reproduction of an artifact that might have been close to what might have been close to the time of Lincoln”. Quotes are mine, but not a whole lot of exageration!
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Doctor,
I completly agree about confusion over where Lincoln’s law ofices, rooms, trap doors and all the rest were at. I think that part was interesting, yet confussing! Also, New Salem is totally out of it’s gord to try & take credit for the man Lincoln would become. It’s total “Poppycock”!
Doctor Hutchinstine
Poppycock! Is that a polite term we are both using on our blogs, yet we use other vernacular when discussing these things over beers?
I’m not a doctor, but I have slept well at a Holiday Inn. Anyhow, back to New Salem–No matter what you said, it was too kind. This was nothing but a naked, shameless money grab by my home state to create (by the way–built in 1930) some sort of serious point of conflict in Lincoln’s life, apparently on the same level as whether or not to release the Emancipation Proclamation (“Gee, Secretary Stanton, I didn’t sell enough bear traps in my little horse’s ass general store in New Salem, so what could make me think I have a right idea about freeing the slaves with this decree?”). Unfortunately, this site has nothing more than an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Sort of the Joe Biden of Lincoln landmarks.
New Salem you are referring to I believe?