Sept. 25, 2000
For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Bailley
In 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas had to climb out a window at Knox College's Old Main for their debate, because the doors were blocked by the platform. This fall, Knox is updating the doors, using a grant from the National Park Service and matching funds from the College.
The National Park Service awarded Knox a grant of $10,000 toward the $30,000 project to renovate the doors.
"As you'll find in many historic buildings, the doors of Old Main were installed prior to modern safety standards," said Pamela Faria, Vice President for Adminsitrative Services. "The College is repairing the doors, weatherproofing them, and installing custom safety 'panic bars.' We've worked with an architectural firm to make sure that the doors remain historically accurate."
Architect for the project is Metzger Johnson Architects, Inc., Galesburg; the general contractor is Fox Construction Co., Galesburg.
Founded in 1837, Knox is an independent, four-year, liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with 1,220 students from 47 states and 41 nations. Knox's "Old Main," a National Historic Landmark, is the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.
This news release:
http://www.knox.edu/x160.xml2001/Old_Main_Doors.html
Photo:
http://www.knox.edu/x160.xmlphotos/old_main_doors_1a.jpg