The "Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum: The Balustrade" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in the Visitor's Center at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum purchasing a pass so I can walk the grounds of Landis Valley and see the thousands of items that reflect the life of a Pennsylvania German village of the 1700's and 1800's.  Young girl asks me if I'm a AAA member and I reply affirmative and tell her I also qualify for a less expensive ticket as a Senior Citizen. She looks at me as if I can't be that old (thank you dear) and hands me my receipt.  

The Caldwell House hotel in downtown Lancaster, PA.
A crowd gathers to see Lincoln who was arriving across
the street at the Lancaster Train Station. The date was
February 22, 1861.   Above the sign reading Abraham Lincoln
 is a railing covered with a banner. The railing, or balustrade,
is now on display at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.

I asked her where I might see the iron balustrade that they have on display.  She points to the room behind her and told me to enter through the door to my right.  After seeing my camera, she said, "You can take photos of the railing, but nothing else in the room."  I entered and headed right to the display that I have been waiting to view for some time for you see it was 154 years ago from behind that iron railing that one of America's greatest men addressed the people of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The railing was on an exterior wall on the north side of the Caldwell House Hotel, across the street from the Pennsylvania Railroad Station at the corner of East Chestnut and North Queen Streets.  President-elect Abraham Lincoln's train had stopped at the station and Lincoln worked his way across Chestnut Street.  He made his way to the Caldwell House balcony where he spoke to the crowd for 18 minutes on his way to his inauguration.  The iron railing, known as a balustrade, had it's 18 minutes of fame on February 22, 1861.  

LDub gets to touch the spot where Abraham
Lincoln once held while speaking in Lancaster.

The train was not supposed to make a stop in Lancaster, but a group of local dignitaries traveled to Philadelphia, where he was scheduled to speak, and talked to his security force about stopping at Lancaster.  So on Friday the 22nd, at 11:57 AM Lincoln's train stopped as a crowd gathered, brass horns tooted and drums rolled.  Local militia commander Col. Henry Hambright brought his company, the Jackson Rifles, to attention. Lincoln was sporting the beard he had grown since running for President along with his famous stovepipe hat.  Lincoln's brief speech was .... "Ladies and gentlemen of Lancaster County.  I am happy to meet the citizens of this great county face to face, but I do not feel prepared to make a speech to you today.  I have not the time now nor the strength, and what is more, have no speech to make.  I have come more to see you.  In a few days the time will come for me to speak officially, and I will then endeavor to speak plainly in regard to the Constitution and the liberties of the American people.  Until I do so speak, I deem it unnecessary to say more."  His entire talk was make while holding onto the iron balustrade in front of him.  Lincoln bade farewell and departed shaking hands as he made his return trek to the train.  In 1942 Henry Landis, one of the two brothers who started the original Landis Valley Farm Museum, acquired the iron balustrade - three six-foot lengths and two six-foot end pieces.  They sat in a barn on the Landis Valley property for the next 70 years until being rediscovered a few years ago.  Not only did Lincoln hold onto the balustrade of the hotel, but other notables such as Presidents James Buchanan and Theodore Roosevelt as well as abolitionist newspaper publisher Horace Greeley made presentations while supporting themselves on it.  And today, well-known Internet blogger LDub, grabbed the balustrade as the girl who sold him his ticket snapped his photograph.  History has repeated itself once again!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.