Hancock County’s year-long 200th birthday celebration in 2025 is coming together

A commemorative coin and ornament are now available, the schedule of events is filling up and efforts are ongoing to keep county schools and communities involved in the celebration.

Hancock County’s bicentennial is coming together with commemorative items, a full schedule of events and efforts to keep county schools and communities involved in the year-long celebration.

The Hancock County Historical Society (HCHS) is spearheading the planning and its Bicentennial Committee met Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the HCHS offices located in the Kibbe Museum in Carthage.

Samples of the brass coin and ornament received enthusiastic reviews from committee members.

“I hope the rest of the committee is as happy with them as I am,” noted HCHS board President Keith Bruns.

The coin and ornament will be available for a suggested donation of $10 each.

Committee members discussed possible opportunities to distribute the fundraising items, including mail order and at area businesses.

But because the HCHS is a small group of volunteers, the group settled on offering the coin and ornament at the HCHS offices, which are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cash and checks accepted.

The group also reviewed the county’s bicentennial logo, created at discounted rates by John McCarty of Nauvoo, which will be used in conjunction with marketing for the events.

The committee is hoping to create banners, posters and flags to promote in advance of bicentennial events, which begin in January of 2025, as well as to decorate the county with reminders of the anniversary. Members have considered banners and brackets to potentially mount on streetlight posts, but vendors haven’t been obtained and it isn’t clear whether any of the county’s communities would be interested.

Sam Harnack, executive director of Hancock County Economic Development, reported she has introduced the topic through her role as a liaison, but has not received much feedback.

“I’m still working on that,” Harnack said, suggesting many towns and villages are busy with day-to-day operations and the bicentennial is not at the top of their minds.

The Hancock County Bicentennial Celebration will kick off in January 2025, with a showcase at The Legacy Theater in Carthage. On Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, the official bicentennial will be marked with a ceremony at the Hancock County Courthouse featuring a proclamation by the Hancock County Board, a brief history of the establishment of Hancock County, comments by elected officials, and tours of the courthouse.

The Historical Society will host a series of special speakers for its quarterly Saturday programs throughout the year: Feb. 15, 2025, April 16, 2025, July 19, 2025, and Oct. 18, 2025.

A Hancock County Independence Weekend Celebration will take place July 4-6, 2025, featuring traveling exhibits from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Smithsonian’s Home Town Teams, as well as a parade and tours of the three Carthage jails.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, a countywide historical tour of cemeteries, churches and properties of commercial and residential importance will be offered; and the bicentennial celebration will end Dec. 4, 2025, with Christmas on the Square in Carthage.

Among the other events, two new free programs at The Legacy Theater have recently been added to the schedule.

Steve Duchrow is set to present “Carl Sandburg’s Lincoln: A Living Portrait.” on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 6 p.m. Carl Sandburg College is sponsoring Duchrow’s presentations both at the Galesburg campus and the Legacy program. The program is free to the public.

Additionally, the Nauvoo Pageant Bagpipe Band will perform at The Legacy on Saturday, July 5, at 2 p.m. The program is free to the public.

Hancock County Libraries are planning a Bicentennial Library road trip. A passport booklet/stamp and prizes will likely be included for those completing an on-site library visit at Augusta, Bowen, Carthage, Hamilton, La Harpe, Nauvoo, Plymouth and Warsaw.

The next meeting of the Bicentennial Committee is scheduled for Oct. 9, at 3 p.m. at the HCHS offices.