Preserve the Lincoln Banner!

History Spotlight by Doug Humes

During the contentious election of 1860, with four candidates running for President, each candidate’s backers took to parading through the streets, at night and by torch light, to promote their candidate.

The Wide Awakes on Parade

Public Domain

Abraham Lincoln’s supporters called themselves the Wide Awakes, and the local chapter in Media marched under a huge banner featuring a clean-shaven Lincoln (he did not grow the beard until after the election), and slogans about preserving the Union.

Lincoln Banner: The Candidate

Photo courtesy of Delaware County Historical Society

A later description of the banner noted that “The marching club at Media penetrated all sections of the county and engaged in many a miniature riot. In Kellyville [now a part of Clifton Heights –Ed.], it was fired upon by the Democrats who had sworn that the man who had carried a Lincoln banner into that district should not carry it out.” When that account was written, the banner was hanging in the office of the Republican Party in Media, and was described as “a relic of the past” with “bullet holes through the folds of it.”

When the election votes were tallied in Delaware County, Lincoln received more votes that the three other candidates combined:

Lincoln 3,181 63.05%

Breckenridge 1,500 29.73%

Douglas 195 3.87%

Bell 169 3.35%

TOTALS 5,045 100.00%

Lincoln Banner: The County

Photo courtesy of Delaware County Historical Society

That Lincoln banner still exists, 160 years later, and is now cared for by the Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS). They are raising funds for its preservation, with the ultimate plan being to restore, protect and then display it in a clear plexiglass, airpressurized case so that visitors can view both sides. We have over half a million people in Delaware County. If every person sent along a donation, the banner would be preserved for future generations.

In what promises to be another contentious election year, let’s show that we can still come together to help preserve this important piece of Delaware County history. More information about this Lincoln banner preservation project and how to financially support it by making a donation is at www.PADelcoHistory.org.

For more on the history of Marple, visit the Marple Historical Society website and Facebook page, and join the Society to keep up to date on coming events:

www.MarpleHistoricalSociety.org