October 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alton’s Lincoln-Douglas Square. Schedule details below.
A truly amazing reenactment experience, with the Great Rivers Lincoln Coffin reunited with the St. Louis Lincoln Funeral Hearse at this important Alton site. Look for details in a series of articles in the Alton Telegraph, a Telegraph insert on October 15, and other publicity outlets. Abraham Lincoln will be present, as will Mary Todd Lincoln. Frank Sands, Lincoln’s undertaker, will talk about the coffin; Benjamin St. James Fry, a Union chaplain, will talk about the hearse. Civil War period songs will be featured. This is a must-see.
Features: Great Rivers Lincoln Coffin, Abraham Lincoln Funeral Hearse, Lincoln Greatcoat, Flag raising ceremony with1865 American flag
Reenactors: Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Lincoln undertaker, Union Army chaplain, U. S. Senator Lyman Trumbull, Veteran Honor Guard
Music: folksinger Barry Cloyd as The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.
Schedule details from Alton Regional Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and subject to change.
9:30 – 10 A.M.: Music
10:00 A.M.: Welcome – Tim Tomlinson
• Recognize dignitaries
• Alton Mayor Brant Walker Presentation
• Alton-Godfrey Rotary President Elizabeth Parker Presentation
• State Sen. Haine Presentation
10:15 A.M.: Coffin brought in to square by honor guard
• Flag removed from coffin
• Flag raised over Lincoln-Douglas Square
• Music: Hail to the Chief/Star Spangled Banner (Jerseyville H.S. Band?)
10:30 A.M.: Barry Cloyd opens program with musical memorial to Civil War
10:40 A.M.: Mary Todd Lincoln Reminisces
10:50 A.M.: Frank Sands, Lincoln Undertaker and Coffin Maker
11:00 A.M.: Benjamin St. James Fry, Chautauqua Society Founder, Civil War Chaplin
11:10 A.M.: Lyman Trumbull (U.S. Senator) Reminisces
11:20 A.M.: Barry Cloyd – Little Drummer Boy of Shiloh
11:30 A.M.: William Porter, Jerseyville train employee talks about working on the funeral train
11:40 A.M.: Edmund Beall Reminisces
11:50 A.M.: Lawson A. Parks founder/editor of Alton Daily Telegraph
12:00 (Noon): Abraham Lincoln
Intermission Entertainment: Barry Cloyd
12:45 P.M. Second Program Begins
12:45 P.M.: Barry Cloyd opens program
12:55 P.M.: Mary Todd Lincoln Reminisces
1:05 P.M.: Frank Sands, Lincoln’s Undertaker & Coffin Maker
1:15 P.M.: Benjamin St. James Fry, Chautauqua Society Founder, Civil War Chaplin
1:25 P.M.: Lyman Trumbull (U.S. Senator) Reminisces
1:35 P.M.: Barry Cloyd: Little Drummer Boy of Shiloh
1:45 P.M.: William Porter, Jerseyville train employee talks about working on the funeral train
1:55 P.M.: Edmund Beall Reminisces
2:05 P.M.: Lawson A. Parks, founder/editor of Alton Daily Telegraph
2:15 P.M .: Abraham Lincoln
2:45 P.M. Closing Ceremony (Flag lowered and placed over Lincoln Coffin)
More information from (and photo courtesy of) Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau