I finally found them! The pelicans at Lake Decatur that have been on the news lately, were hovering above my car with the strong wind currents above South Shores Friday.

At first I thought they were sea gulls but I realized they were much too large, plus the black tips of their wings revealed their true identity. Of course, this was the last part of the lake I thought to look. I drove around nearly the entire lake thinking they were camped out in the shallow waters by Rea’s Bridge behind Richland – well I was close except they were south, while I was north; west while I was east. Hum. My psychic powers have been letting me down lately!

Anyway, if you want to catch a glimpse of the big birds before they leave, they’re along the Grove Road area. Don’t ask me directions. I went cross-country across dirt paths and one-lane roads until I found them. You may need to use your imagination a bit with these pictures but believe me there’s pelicans in them!

It appears that some of Decatur’s city council members are reluctant to go ahead with plans to build a replica cabin of Lincoln’s first home near Decatur. The hope was to have a cabin ready by Lincon’s 200th birthday in 2009. The last I heard, Kim Bauer the director of Decatur’s Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, was pursuing a period cabin (1830 -ish) or at least its logs, to use on the project. I’m not sure how that’s gone but it looks like the 2009 target is iffy at best. Obviously the biggest concern from some on the council, including the mayor, is that the state isn’t willing to provide much for the facility – other than what they already provide. Protecting the site with 24 hour security measures, building a visitor center, and hiring personnel would rest entirely upon the city’s financial shoulders. Now some on the council are wondering if the money collected for the project should be spent elsewhere.

That’s got me to thinking…maybe it would be better to concentrate on promoting our downtown area, where Lincoln often visited, gave his first political speech, practiced as an attorney, was first nominated for president, and coined the “Railsplitter Candidate” . I’ve thrown this idea out there before – so have others. Councilman Dan Caulkins has suggested relocating the museum complex to somewhere along Eldorado Street. View the video. I agree that it needs to be in a different location than it is now. I’d prefer that it be located in downtown Decatur at Lincoln Square for several reasons:

Advantages

1 . The historical significance of the area – this is where Lincoln gave his first political speech and where a sculpture of Lincoln now stands.

2. The original courthouse was located on the southwest corner of Lincoln Square; a marker is already present. I never even noticed the marker it until a saw an article in the Herald & Review about it.

3. The Lincoln Sqaure Theatre is nearby.

4. Merchant Street and other downtown shops would benefit.

5. The recent West Main improvements would link the museum to other historic homes.

6. Visibility and location. The museum would be at the center of town along U.S. 51.

7. The newly restored Transfer House is a short walk away.

8. Art galleries & restaurants are nearby.

9. The new Lincoln sculptures commissioned by the city would also be short walks away and make for a nice walking tour.

10. Lincoln Square has a unique and interesting history that I think others would enjoy learning. Several fires have changed the look of the square throughout our city’s history. The Transfer House once stood in the center of the square making this the center of town. When I look at the square today it hardly reflects anything it used to be.

Disadvantages:

The museum that I have in mind, I’ll be posting artist sketches soon, would only be able to house the original courthouse and maybe a couple other buildings that currently comprise prairie village at the museum complex. Maybe the other buildings could be relocated somewhere along West Main? I don’t know…

Parking – I also have an idea for a new parking facility that would serve the museum and Lincoln Square Theatre.

Costs – Of course this is the real clinker, how do we pay for it? Anybody know any generous millionaires? The tax money that we’ve collected and are continuing to receive from the hotel and motel tax probably wouldn’t be enough – at least not in the near future. Obviously private donations and state grants (ha ha) would be needed.

So what do you think?