Lincoln in the Spotlight
By andreagaines
Lincoln preservationist Laura Longley, recently arraigned to have members of Virginia's Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Committee visit and take a tour of our village's most historic buildings – including the Janney Store and Post Office, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Oakdale School, and the Quaker Meeting House (current and former).
The Committee – part of the Martin Luthur King, Jr. Memorial Commission – is comprised of a prominant group of historians and legislators charged with recognizing and promoting President Lincoln's legacy, and his role in keeping us as one people ... one country. At each stop, tour guides described the special features of the buildings ... how they were used ... and their role in the Village of Lincoln's colorful Quaker, African American, Civil War and Underground Railroad history.
"Loudoun's Lincoln", as the village is known, has been recognized as one of the 10 most endangered historical sites in the state of Virginia -- the first time a whole village received such a designation. Formerly known as Goose Creek, it was renamed Lincoln after it got it's own Post Office -- a Post Office that continues its historic operations today.
Faced with continuing needs to bring attention to and raise money for the historic preservation challenges facing the village, the Lincoln Preservation Foundation and the Grace Annex Church are bringing well known Washington, DC-area jazz and soul artist Marilyn Ashford-Brown to Franklin Park for a benefit concert on September 12, 2009. Members of the Grace Annex Church are descendants of the African Americans who once worshiped at Lincoln's historic 1885 Grace Methodist Episcopal Church – which is in dire need of restoration. Ms. Brown performed at last year's Congressional Black Caucus event honoring then presidential candidate Barack Obama. She also performs at prominent DC area venues such as Blue Alley ... and now, Franklin Park Arts Center!
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