Sesquicentennial Celebration
Reliving Abraham Lincoln Worshiping at First Congregational UCC
October 2, 1859

During the first weekend of October 1859 Abraham Lincoln visited Janesville, WI. During his visit he stayed with the William Tallman family. On Sunday October 2, 1859 Mr. Lincoln joined the Tallman family as they attended worship at First Congregational UCC.

It is the church in which Abraham Lincoln worshiped on October 2, 1859

September 27, 2009 Worship Service

(View the Order of Worship)

A special feature of the service was an appearance of the Civil War 1st Brigade Band who provided all the music for the service. The history of this band goes back to 1864 when they were organized from Brodhead, WI. They marched with General Sherman in Georgia and other engagements near the end of the Civil War.

Today this band is based in Watertown, WI and is comprised of musicians from several states. The Heritage Military Music Foundation is the band's sponsoring organization. The keystone of the organization is the collection of rare brass, woodwind and percussion instruments restored and in playing condition. They are all antiques.

The music presented by the 1st Brigade Band is selected from still existing books of   Union and Confederate bands, from manuscripts and from original sheet music of the period. The music is edited to make it playable by constructing scores, correcting obvious errors, and filling in missing parts. A special project of the 1st Brigade Band is to revive the music of the original 1st Brigade Band from their original books which were discovered in 1980.

More than eighty men and women, all volunteers, are involved in the 1st Brigade Band. Widely varied in age and occupation, they are brought together by common interests in music, history, antique instruments and especially, a desire to perform.

You can find more information  at the band web site.  Listen to a sample of their music as the band performs an 1853 arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner by Allen Dodworth which was the most popular one in use during the Civil War.

Following worship and a potluck luncheon hosted by members of the church, the band marched north on Jackson Street to the Tallman House where they performed an afternoon concert.

 Watch the band march to the Tallman House in this video.

Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Vernon Risty from Arlington Heights, IL participated in the service. He shared how he came to worship at First Congregational. He also shared his Gettysburg Address and his Farewell Speech at the Springfield Train Depot. Mr. Lincoln was joined by his wife Mary, portrayed by Mareya Risty, in sharing a story and some new Lincoln pennies with the children. For more information concerning Vernon Risty, see his web site.

Rev. Eyster is a retired clergyman and retired chairman of the social studies department at Parker High School. He was founder of the Washington Seminar program.

William Tallman, portrayed by Jerry Hahn from Sun Prairie, WI joined the Lincolns in greeting visitors as they arrived for worship and marching in the parade with the 1st Brigade Band to the Tallman House. Jerry is the brother of Marlene Gilmore of our congregation. He has appeared as William Tallman at area reenactments.

Additional Sources of Information