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Lincoln Statue Subjected to Unusually Undignified Vandalism
Civil War Interactive ^ | 12/15/01

Posted on 12/15/2001 10:52:58 AM PST by shuckmaster

A statue of Abraham Lincoln in Carle Park in Urbana, Illinois, was hit with an act of vandalism which, while not particularly damaging to the materials of the sculpture, did nothing for the image of dignity associated with our 16th president.

The vandals painted Lincoln's face white, then daubed the eyes with black paint. Local officials described the effect as looking as if Lincoln was auditioning to join the rock band KISS.

The bronze statue was installed in the park in 1927 and is green in color from the patina bronze acquires when exposed to the elements. It was created by famed sculptor Lorado Taft and depicts Lincoln as he looked as a young circuit-riding lawyer.

The statue has been a frequent target of misguided mischief in the past, according to Urbana Park District Superintendent of Operations Joseph Potts. It is located directly west of Urbana High School as well as being fairly close to the main campus of the University of Illinois.

"We've had people put a Santa hat on it or hang plastic breasts on it," he said. "It's more funny than it is destructive sometimes."

Potts said that the current attack involved only water-based paint, which was easily removed with soap and water. He added that occasional inscriptions of vulgarities with markers are considerably more difficult to remove.

The park district and city officials have had off-and-on discussions for several months over relocating the statue from Carle Park to another site, possibly downtown or to a historic site associated with Lincoln's activities in Champaign-Urbana. School officials have said they favor the move since the statue attracts students and others who gather there to smoke, forcing school janitors to clean up discarded filters on a regular basis.

A committee is being formed to look into ways to improve Carle Park, including possibly better protecting the statue, according to Renee Pollock, a member of the Urbana Park District advisory committee. Park District Executive Director Robin Hall said the neighborhood committee might want to add lighting for the statue, which he said could help deter vandalism.

Courtesy of: Civil War Interactive: The Daily Newspaper of the Civil War www.civilwarinteractive.com


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dixielist
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Aw, Shucks!


1 posted on 12/15/2001 10:52:58 AM PST by shuckmaster
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To: WhowasGustavusFox;Libertarianize the GOP;caseyblane;unamused;Godebert;cowpoke;stand watie; basil...
What goes around...
2 posted on 12/15/2001 10:53:32 AM PST by shuckmaster
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To: shuckmaster
Breaking News?

Hot News Flash...."two fifteen year old boys paint bad word on side of fence, film at 11...."

NeverGore

3 posted on 12/15/2001 11:03:41 AM PST by nevergore
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To: shuckmaster
What makes this most interesting of all?
Is that this park is located in the epicenter of Liberalism; Illinois' version of Madison, WI, or Bezerkely, CA.

...any more Left & this place falls off the edge of world into sheer oblivion.

4 posted on 12/15/2001 11:04:47 AM PST by Landru
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To: shuckmaster
Well frankly, the bastard deserved a defacing
5 posted on 12/15/2001 11:12:18 AM PST by rwfromkansas
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To: shuckmaster
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS.
6 posted on 12/15/2001 11:16:12 AM PST by Squire
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To: shuckmaster
KISS & MAKE UP

Honest Abe

7 posted on 12/15/2001 11:17:40 AM PST by Incorrigible
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To: shuckmaster
"Local officials described the effect as looking as if Lincoln was auditioning to join the rock band KISS."

Sooo....what would Lincoln play? Guitar? Bass? Drums? Vocals? Some combo of the above? I say Lincoln would have been a singing drummer. What about the rest of you?

8 posted on 12/15/2001 11:19:06 AM PST by Billy_bob_bob
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To: rwfromkansas
The John Wilkes Booth Fan Club always seems to have a little chapter on FR.
9 posted on 12/15/2001 11:21:29 AM PST by speedy
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To: speedy
Sad to hear so many of the vanquished with their weak attempt to bring down the vitor.
10 posted on 12/15/2001 11:25:23 AM PST by breakem
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To: Billy_bob_bob
Painting up a historical statue to look like KISS is a straight lift from the movie "Dazed and Confused"...the exact same thing happens there. Check the area for 1970s stoner types/afficianados...btw, I LOVE that movie.
11 posted on 12/15/2001 11:29:12 AM PST by EmmaPeel
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To: speedy
The John Wilkes Booth Fan Club always seems to have a little chapter on FR.

I was trying to come up with a reply to that hateful comment too! I can't top this! Thanks!

12 posted on 12/15/2001 11:33:50 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: speedy
LOL!! John Wilkes..that's funny really.< /sarcasm> Personally I wouldn't deface the statue of the Tyrant. I think it's more a testimony to future generations of where the EMPIRE began
13 posted on 12/15/2001 12:14:35 PM PST by billbears
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To: EmmaPeel
That movie nails the 70's perfectly, except for the hazing......
14 posted on 12/15/2001 12:52:40 PM PST by cinciphil
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To: shuckmaster
If it was late enough, and I had enough rye in me, a yellow stain would be found on and around that statue. Deo Vindice. The Kid.
15 posted on 12/15/2001 1:14:50 PM PST by warchild9
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To: breakem
Actually, we're serving notice that Round Two of the War Between the States has begun. The Kid.
16 posted on 12/15/2001 1:15:53 PM PST by warchild9
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To: warchild9
Why do you call yourself "The Kid"? I doubt Billy "the Kid" ever referred to himself as such.
17 posted on 12/15/2001 2:17:26 PM PST by Godebert
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To: warchild9
Hey Kid, is your name a reference to The War Child- Joe Wheeler?
18 posted on 12/15/2001 3:13:29 PM PST by FreetheSouth!
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To: shuckmaster
They probably got the idea from the Patricia Cornwell novel Southern Cross in which a teenager paints a statue of Jefferson Davis in blackface, holding a basketball.
19 posted on 12/15/2001 3:35:30 PM PST by Alouette
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To: breakem
And it's even sadder to hear so many praising a Tyrant blindly believing the propaganda campaign for the past 140 years of what a good man this man was
20 posted on 12/15/2001 3:38:15 PM PST by billbears
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