Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

This mound was the site of major campaign addresses by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during their campaign for U.S. Senate in 1858. Music, fireworks, banners, and parades characterized the campaign. After firing a cannon to assemble a crowd of one thousand, Douglas spoke here for several hours on August 13th, 1858. Half the crowd left to greet Abraham Lincoln at the landing several blocks to the south. As he arrived with a brass band on board the flag draped steamboat "Senator". After spending the night with friends, Lincoln spoke for two hours in the grove on the mound on August 14th, highlighting his opposition to slavery and responding to Senator Douglas's claims. Lincoln remained in Havana for several days, visiting old friends and campaigning. On April 16th, he spoke at Bath. After renewing acquaintances all along the route. Lincoln departed on the Havana Ferry on August 17th.

Abraham Lincoln was well known in Mason County. During the 1830's and 1840's, he surveyed and practiced law here, campaigned for other offices, and owned a Mason County farm.

This park has been the scene of social and recreational activities ever since it was donated by Havana pioneer Northrup J. Rockwell in 1849. The mound was crowned with a large bandstand near the beginning of the 20th Century.

Comments (1)

Jim Kuntz: ... T believe the entry above which says: "On April 16th, he spoke at Bath." is probably a typo. The sentence structure about implies it was August 16th. Also the marker in Bath about the speech dates it as August 16th. So, it was probably a misprint and should have been August instead of April. 1 March 25, 2008

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment