It was Feb. 11, 1861, when Springfield’s chosen son left the capital city for the nation’s capital, to be sworn in as president. This event was just barely a month before the newly formed Confederacy bombarded Fort Sumter, bringing on the beginning of the United States’ bloodiest history to date.
At the Great Western Depot, Abraham Lincoln spoke the words of his eloquent Farewell Address. To kick off the Civil War Sesquicentennial, that event will be reenacted this Feb. 11.

The Depot is owned by the State Journal Register; GateHouse Media organizers are inviting people not only from central Illinois, but from around the world to join in and simultaneously read Lincoln’s address. Walt Lafferty, publisher of the Register, said, “This is a rare opportunity to relive our nation’s history and honor Springfield’s finest citizen as he boarded the train bound for Washington, D.C., to be inaugurated the 16th president of the United States.”
At the reenactment, the hope is to kick off the nation’s observance of the Civil War Sesquicentennial and have the world tune in all at one time with enough participants to create a new Guinness World Record.

At a Illinois Historic Preservation Agency press conference in November 2010, Fritz Klein, famed Lincoln impersonator, gave the address: “My friends – no one not in my situation can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting …”
Watching Klein, if it had not been for the cameras, the cars rushing past and the modern conveniences in the background, one could almost believe they were there seeing Lincoln leaving the city he loved.

Laura Gundrum, chief interpreter over the Depot and Abraham Lincoln Home, shared what she thought Lincoln must have felt that day: “He was very thankful to Springfield and its residents for supporting him to become the U.S. president. Leaving caring friends and family brought sadness to be leaving. It was a bittersweet farewell.”

The previous Guinness World record for the most people reading aloud from the same document at one time was on Dec. 13, 2006. The event, for Walden Media, brought together 223,363 participants at 909 venues across the U.S. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum attempted to accomplish a Guinness World Record by reading the Gettysburg Address on Lincoln’s 200th birthday, in February 2009.

Those numbers fell short, but brought 180,000 participants around to learning more about this wonderful historic document composed by our 16th president. For the new record, the simultaneous reading must last for at least five minutes of continued reading of the Farewell Address.

There will be opportunities to participate at many other sites as well. This event, also sponsored by the National Park Service, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area and the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, will offer the chance to be part of the event at many of their sites. To find participating locations, check http://extras.sj-r.com/r/depot

Any group with access to live media coverage of the event may also participate wherever they may be. Laura Gundrum said although the Depot is generally just open from May 1-Aug. 1, on Feb. 11 it will be open from 10 a.m.4 p.m.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.