Bristol, PA – A significant historical site in Bristol, marking the spot where President-elect Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech on february 21, 1861, is set to receive enhanced recognition. The Men of Harmony choir will perform the “Battle Hymn of the republic” at an upcoming event commemorating the location.
The site, featuring a 75-foot train track, has been marked by a sign from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for some time, but it’s historical importance was not widely recognized. The initiative to make the location more prominent was sparked earlier this year when local resident Frank Pezza took his grandsons to the site and found it underwhelming, with little to indicate its historical significance.
pezza collaborated with fellow members of the “Raising the Bar” group to improve the site’s visibility and educational value. “I thought this could be a real educational asset, being so close to the school,” Pezza stated.”It could be a tourist asset.”
Bristol was one of 93 whistle-stop locations on Lincoln’s extensive journey from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington D.C. This 1,900-mile route was deliberately longer than necessary, as Lincoln aimed to visit nearly every northern state on his way to his inauguration as the nation’s 16th president.
