McClure, Rosenthal tour damage at Lincoln's New Salem, urge action for critical investments

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — As state lawmakers work in the Capitol this spring, buildings and bridges at the historic Lincoln's New Salem site continue to fall apart. WAND News took a trip to New Salem Monday to see the damage firsthand and learn about the significant need for investment.

As people walk through these grounds, they have the opportunity to see what life was like for Abe Lincoln in the 1830s. However, many things have changed for the worse.

Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) and Rep. Wayne Rosenthal (R-Morrisonville) are calling for a New Salem Preservation Commission to address repairs and improvements for log homes, mills and roofs. The pedestrian overpass by the Grist Mill is also facing significant decay.

"It's in very bad shape. It should probably have a debris net under it, honestly," said New Salem Lincoln League President Gina Gillmore-Wolter. "There are boards missing that have fallen down on the highway below it. Some of the steel girders don't even tough the concrete pads that support it. They shoved two-by-four shims in there, which are rotting and falling out."

A separate plan could require lawmakers to provide $5 million to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for New Salem improvement projects. McClure told reporters Monday that he plans to amend the bill to request $19 million, which is what IDNR staff estimate the cost of repairs will actually be. 

McClure said the funding must be a top priority during budget negotiations over the coming months.

"They've cleaned up boards and things like that, but they haven't done basic things like clean the moss off of these roofs," McClure said. "If you look at President Lincoln's store, the Berry Lincoln store, there's two trees growing on it with moss all over the place."

The Republicans also hope to get an exemption from the state's procurement code, meaning IDNR could authorize purchases for well-overdue repairs at New Salem faster. Experts believe that would allow for trained and experienced craftsmen to get the job done in a timely manner instead of being forced to accept lower bids.

"This is not a partisan issue," Rosenthal said. "This is a state of Illinois issue. I think there's people on both sides, history buffs, that really love Lincoln."

Rosenthal said normal maintenance become deferred maintenance when you don't have the money or people for projects. The former IDNR director stressed that lawmakers must act now to stop this property from further deterioration.

McClure hopes his colleagues can help pass the legislation out of the Senate later this month so Rosenthal can start moving the proposals in the House.

"Many of you probably came here when you were kids. You could walk around and it was a really bustling, active village - the way it was when President Lincoln was here," McClure said. "Now, you walk around and there's very few people here, the volunteers have been very discouraged from coming here, and you've got structures that are roped off." 

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