The Lincoln Highway Association and the Richland County Bicentennial Committee have been planning the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway for a decade. Yesterday, all that planning came to fruition with the dedication of a new Lincoln Highway marker post at the five way intersection along Marion Avenue and Park Avenue. Lincoln Highway travelers from as far away as New York City were present along with many local history buffs. A former boy scout who has seen the country by traveling entire length of the Lincoln Highway, 101 year old Bernard R. Queneau, undraped the marker.
The marker, which indicates to travelers that they are the historic road, has a portrait of Abraham Lincoln along with the traditional “L” marker above it, framed with band of red on top and a band of blue on the bottom. The concrete marker is placed in a plot of red brick. The distinctive markers can be seen along Park Avenue, Western Avenue, highway 42, and highway 430, among others.
Terry Bevins is a Richland county resident, and a dedicated fan of the Lincoln Highway and its history. “There could be a whole series dedicated to the history,” Bevins said. “Once you begin researching, it really pulls you in.” He recalled the fact that “at one time, it went through Marion, Galion, and Ashland.”
A group of travelers from New York City present at the unveiling started their journey along the Lincoln Highway weeks ago, and will meet a tour group from San Francisco in Kearney, Nebraska on July 1st. Lorrie Fleming has been moving west along the historic road for 4 weeks and ten days with her husband Robert Walker and their dog Begbie. “We’ve been planning this trip since 2003, which was the the 90th anniversary. My husband handles all the GPS duties.”, she mentioned.
While most travelers are making this trip in modern vehicles, some historical automobiles were driven to the unveiling. A 1913 Stevens-Duryea was on display near the marker. A friend of the owner, Randy McMiller said he’s driven it and “It’s big and fast; for the day it was made, anyhow. That car was way before its time. It has an all-aluminum body.” 1913 is the year that the Lincoln Highway was originally dedicated, and cars like the Stevens-Duryea are a testament to the automotive industry which caused the widespread appeal of a coast to coast highway.
According to the Lincoln Highway Association’s website, “The idea of the Lincoln Highway came from the fertile mind of Carl Fisher, the man also responsible for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Miami Beach. With help from fellow industrialists Frank Seiberling and Henry Joy, an improved, hard-surfaced road was envisioned that would stretch almost 3400 miles from coast to coast, New York to San Francisco, over the shortest practical route.”
Travelers left Wednesday morning for the next portion of the Lincoln Highway tour. Age and health issues sometimes prevent enthusiasts from enjoying the full length of the Lincoln Highway, but Mr. Queneau and his wife Esther won’t be missing much from here, as it was that old road that brought the two of them together for the first time here in Mansfield many years ago.
