Effort to Save Home of "Letter to Lincoln" Girl

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Posted: 5:44 PM Feb 18, 2008
Last Updated: 7:58 AM Feb 19, 2008
Email Address: news@kake.com

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Some Kansas hope to save a home that many consider an important piece of Kansas history.

In 1860, 11-year-old Grace Bedell wrote a letter to then presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln - advising the clean shaven Lincoln to grow a beard.

She would grow up and move to Delphos. Now local residents, including Bedell's great grandson, are trying to save a piece of her past.

The house is in ruins and the town has started the Grace Bedell foundation to try and raise money to save it and turn it into a museum.

Supporters say the house is also home to more western lore. Wild west legends Bill Hickock and Bat Masterson once stayed in these rooms.

If you're interested in donating to the Grace Bedell foundation, follow the web link below.

Related Links

http://www.gracebedellfoundation.org/

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Posted by: Amy Location: Augusta on Jul 27, 2008 at 10:52 PM
I have been watching for a follow-up article on the progress of this story. Surely there are more details about Grace Bedell's life in Delphos. And what is the status of the efforts to raise money for restoring her home and turning it into a museum?

Posted by: Christa Location: Wichita on Feb 29, 2008 at 09:04 PM
I think it would be great if Delphos was able to save this historic home. It would be a shame to lose a great piece of Kansas history. I hope to see an update on their efforts.

Posted by: Shawna Location: Douglass, KS on Feb 22, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I believe it is important to preserve our history. This is something to inspire students, especially Kansans and girls. It is possible for someone to potentially make a difference, even a child. I would enjoy hearing more about Grace Bedell's life.

Posted by: Jami Location: Delphos on Feb 22, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Thank you for covering this story. Grace Bedell's life and the mark she made in our country's history is one that needs to be preserved. Let's send those pennies and dollars to make sure this historical home stands to tell it's story to future generations!

Posted by: Ellen Location: Douglass, KS on Feb 21, 2008 at 09:55 PM
I'd like to see and hear more details about Grace Bedell and her life here in Kansas. As a child, I read biographies about famous American women like Clara Barton, Pocahontas, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller and Maria Tallchief. Their stories had a big impact on the formation of my values and goals. Today's children have an even greater need for "real life" heroes. Kansans need to spearhead this effort to save Grace Bedell's home and establish a museum to preserve not only local Kansas history, but also part of the personal history of one of our greatest presidents.

Posted by: Bob Location: Abilene on Feb 21, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Great story. We need to preserve our history and I appreciate people who will go the extra mile to make that happen.

Posted by: Karen Location: College Park, Md on Feb 21, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Being from Kansas originally, it was exciting to discover the new Grace Bedell letter at the National Archives, and to visit Delphos in November. This piece of history which ties Kansas to Lincoln is too valuable to lose. It is inspirational for girls and children, in general, to know that they can make a difference. Kansas residents can make this happen. So send those pennies and Lincoln $5 bills and we will have the funds in no time to save the house.

Posted by: Stacey Gingell Location: Delphos on Feb 21, 2008 at 06:31 PM
I think this was a very inspirational story. I live in Delphos and walk by this house almost daily. There is alot of history with Grace,like the buffalo hunts with her husband and Wild Bill, Anna Morgan's story, (kidnapped by Indians and rescued by Custer. It is Kansas history and should be saved.

Posted by: Kenny Location: Longford on Feb 21, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Anything tied to Lincoln is wonderful Kansas history and should be saved. I hope Kansas steps up.

Posted by: Linda Location: Delphos on Feb 19, 2008 at 02:08 PM
This would make a good story for Larry Hatteburg.

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Man Injured In Fireworks Accident Has Hand Amputated

Posted By: Ron: I read the comments and one thing comes to mind. During the 4th of July celebrations, what do they give the smallest kids? A SPARKLER! The bigger kids shoot off the larger more dangerous stuff. Maybe they should ban sparklers!
Posted By: Ann: My children spend every summer in MO where it is totally legal to shoot off fireworks. Sunday, I asked them if they thought that sparklers were dangerous. Before the oldest could say anything, my 10 year old said that they were. I then asked would it be dangerous to put two sparklers together, again the 10 year old said that would be very dangerous. I then asked them what they thought would happen if 20 sparklers were taped together, the 10 year old told me that that would be a bomb. They had not heard about this story until I told them because they were out of state. If a 10 year old could figure it out, why couldn't somebody who was in his 40's? Also, does this mean that anybody that wants to celebrate a milestone is allowed to shoot of fireworks or make bombs not matter what time of the year it is? I am sure many people are celebrating the fact they may have lived another year without cancer or something.
Posted By: William: Cant we all just get along, get in here and gimmie a hug, wrap your little nub around me and help hug it out...
Posted By: Jamie: this to scott the : fyi bill is the guy who says "here's you sign."
Posted By: Amy: I thought that any grown person who would think that lighting 50 sparklers tied together was a GREAT idea must be drunk... then I saw where it said that he had just attended an AA meeting!!
Posted By: fred: for all you dorks who are sayin does he not know when he can do fire works.... look taking 50 sparklers and tieing them together make a bomb, not a fire cracker. he should be in jail spakler bombs are never legel
Posted By: scott: to jamie bill don't say Here's your sign, thats some other guy. and to all who don't know what he was doing. its a sparkler bomb. its lots of sparklers tied together real tight, the fuse is a sparkler that you would leave sticking up farther then the rest. i don't know what he did to lose a finger, but anyone knos you run after lighting one of those. its BOMB, not no little fire cracker. don't people go to jail for making bombs? why is this so different? that could of killed someone. charges should be files for making a IED improvised explosive device. so let me get this straight, if i make a bomb, set it off, blow my hand off, i won't get in trouble? whats this say about our law. what this guy did was not safe, it could of killed. oh, have i said, its illegle to make bombs. someone should do something about this. i am a recovering drug addict, you think i would get away with something like this, heck no. i guess when i get caught blowing off sparkler bombs, it will be ok
Posted By: frank: I understand the man had to have his hand amputated. Some people will say anything as long as it's anonymous. This man isn't the only one with lapses of judgment.
Posted By: nunya: You people should be ashamed of yourselves! Yeah people have lapses of judgement from time to time and do stupid things, but that doesnt mean this man would have been better off catching himself on fire and suffering more than he did! I am sure YOU have all done stupid things in your life too, it just hasn't caught up to you yet!
Posted By: Jamie: Ok i'm going to tie 50 sparklers and light them all at one time and see what happens to me! But first I have to go to my Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. No commen sence. This is what Bill would say "Here's your sign."
Posted By: Concerned: Wow, so much for Anonymous. I can't believe the SGT went that far. That's incredibly unethical. Sure they could have mentioned that it happened in that parking lot, and yes the man is lacking common sense, but it should not have been a clear attempt at defamation. It is nobody's business what his personal issues are. The point of the story should have been that he wasn't thinking and made a mistake that cost him his hand.
Posted By: Deb: Funny? Laughing? How sick! This man is hurting and his family and friends are hurting also. How sad this is. Praying for healing of his surgery.
Posted By: Anonymous: Amy: just because you attend an AA meeting or any support group DOES NOT mean you are always DRINKING...its a RECOVERY group that you attend FOR A LIFETIME TO HELP MAINTAIN SOBER! so for all you know, he could be sober for 10 years and still blew his hand off. way to be judgemental Amy
Posted By: Amy: How odd that he would have just attended an AA meeting... my first thought is that he must have been drunk. I feel sorry for the poor guy, but at the same time what did he really expect? You are 44 years old, not 17!
Posted By: Sad: I heard this that day on my scanner.. I was praying so hard that this wasn't a child...I'm sorry that this guy was hurt. This could happen to any one ...If you are around Hutch on the night of the fourth of July , then you would think this could happen a lot more then it does, with all the fireworks going off all over the place...
Posted By: nonya: he knew they would explode when he tied all the sparklers together!! Idiot... a spoon is dangerous if you jam it in your eye. You can't blame the sparkler... it's just natural selection.
Posted By: LOL: Stupid is what Stupid does!! I hope the tax payers didn't have to cover any of his bill,and he better not get disability for doing stupid stuff.
Posted By: Quigley: Two quotes come to mind. 1 Ron White:"You can't fix stupid!" 2 Bill Engval:"Here's your sign!" What on earth was he thinking, or not?!
Posted By: tom: I agree that accidents do happen but, when a 44 yr old man bundles 50 together and puts a fuse in the middle of it and holds it in his hand as he lights the fuse. Come on people, I see a lot of red flags that would stop me from doing it. It sounds like somebody with alcohol or drugs in thier system and wanting to show off for his friends.Sounds like something from the "Jackass" movie.
Posted By: AJ: First of all, from my understanding, he blew off 2 fingers, not his whole hand. But of course, it's not funny anytime someone gets hurt. JJ is right, explosives are dangerous no matter what. My husband is an explosives technician and he has to keep updated on trainings to be able to do his job, and even then accidents still happen.It does sound as though this man was an amateur who was trying to have a good time. He should have been a lot more cautious when dealing with explosives, especially home-made ones.
Posted By: Anonymous: Seriously u people think this is funny? A man blew his hand off and its funny??? I just dont understand our world these days. And those of you who say "should have finished the job off" or "to bad he didnt catch himself on fire" What the Hell!? Seriously!? Your thinking he deserved more than losing a hand? I pray that nothing like this happens to anyone that you know, maybe if it did you wouldnt be laughing. Have you never used fireworks? Accidents happen.
Posted By: JJ: This takes dangerous to a whole differant level. However; one of my kids got thier hand burned so bad by ONE SINGLE SPARKLER that his skin was fused together. Needless to say fireworks are dangerous no matter what the situation is. All the caution in the world would not have helped my son. A bad product is a bad product. This guy should have used a little more sense.
Posted By: Jenna J: Ok, I might be going to hell for this, but I can't stop laughing.
Posted By: : Honestly people.....how cruel can you be?? So, he was having a little fun, got carried away, and is now hurt. But do you all have to make fun of him like this. Shame on you!!!
Posted By: : From the sound of the story he made a sparkler bomb which exploded in his hand.
Posted By: : I can't believe how cruel you people are. I'm sure he wouldn't have done if he thought it was going to hurt anyone. Remember what you mother said or should have said-if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!
Posted By: Anonymous: He obviously needs to learn about the rules of when & where fireworks are legal.
Posted By: : Oh my! I just nearly spit coffee through my nose, this is so funny.
Posted By: : I bet anything the national news syndicates will pick this up and he'll become a target of jokes on late night talk shows everywhere... Why do so many people from Hutch come off as backward, rednecked, and incompetent to be living amongst the rest of us?
Posted By: Mimi: Glad he's alive, but ... how darn dumb can you be??????
Posted By: : Darn. Sounds like we almost had a Darwin Award winner. Too bad he couldn't have finished the job.
Posted By: : Thats whats happens when you quit drinking
Posted By: g: to bad he didn't catch himself on fire, that's how stupid he is.

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