Centralia Attracts Abraham Lincoln and Hot Air Balloons in 1858

About the Photo: Sanders Union Reader Number Three contains the story of two children who floated over the county all night in a runaway hot air balloon. The incident occurred at the Centralia State Fair in 1858.

Written by: Jamie Allen, Marketing Coordinator

In 1858, Centralia was the host of the sixth annual State Fair, held from September 14-18. The fairgrounds were in Central City, just west of town and north of Green Street on 30-acres of land owned by the Illinois Central Railroad. Buildings were erected to host the newest agricultural, scientific, and artistic items and objects.

It was a huge attraction, hundreds camped in tents and temporary structures. The railroad company assisted those looking for sleeping accommodations, providing rail cars and running free trains twice daily to commute fairgoers to hotels as far as Decatur, Illinois.

On September 18, The St. Louis Republic newspaper wrote about the State Fair saying: “The farmers are pouring in from every direction by railroad trains, in wagons, and on horseback; strangers are here from all parts of the state and from several other states… The novelty of attending such a fair in a country district away from all cities and towns of any size is one of the most pleasing inducements to attend. The finest opportunity in offered for the display of horse and livestock. The ring or trotting course is a quarter of a mile in circumference, and the track is a hundred feet wide… The moonlight is delightful, the pleasant walks are numerous, and the shady groves surrounding the grounds are charming by day or night, and whoever goes will be amply repaid for the trip.”

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were in Centralia for the State Fair. They were in the midst of their infamous campaign trail for the U.S. senator position, coming from Jonesboro and headed to Charleston. The State Fair was not a debate location, but both parties came to check out the fairgrounds.

Lincoln was said to have arrived around noon and stayed at the Centralia House. He did not speak publicly at the fair but his presence still drew crowds and he did acknowledge his followers. Lincoln ended his evening in a quiet area in Centralia to write his letters, something he was famous for doing often to communicate with officials and generals, as well as respond to events.

Douglas on the other hand took it as a political opportunity. One newspaper wrote, Douglas took an “outrageous attack” on Lincoln. This political stance backfired, with fairgoers unhappy with politics being brought into a non-political, family-friendly event. Douglas did not stay the night in Centralia at this time, he took the evening train.

*Spoiler alert: Lincoln lost this election for U.S. Senator but the popularity he gained from his and Douglas’s debates in 1858 catapulted him into winning presidency just 2 years later, in 1860.

One of the most notable incidents at the State Fair happened with a hot air balloon. Two young children, aged 8 and 3, accidentally ascended into the sky in a balloon that was supposed to be tied to their father’s fence. The balloonist, Samuel Wilson, assured everyone that the children could not fall out, but was worried they may land in a wooded area and could be hard to locate. The children landed safely on a farm 18 miles southeast of the fairgrounds, in Jefferson County.

From the first recorded hot air balloon being flown in at the State Fair in 1858, to hosting an annual hot air balloon event, Centralia Balloon Fest, from 1990-present, hot air balloons and major events have made headlines in Centralia for 3 centuries.