Ed Leon: America is turning 250 old, and Fort Wayne is throwing a party.

Here about the festivities for downto Fort Wayne's 4th of July parade.

Is Shaquan Walker, manager of mayoral initi for the city, and Jack Hammer, who's coordinating the parade.

Guys, welcome to The 260.

Shaquan Walker: Thank you.

Jack Hammer: Thank you.

Ed Leon: So there's a theme for parade, right?

It's called Celebrate America 250 Years United.

What, Shaquan why did the city feel that it was important to throw a big party l Shaquan Walker: Well, the city f that this was important because First of all, it's the birthday of America.

Like the day it is, we're celebrating 250 yea And then we also wanted to do so that was going to bring everyone to celebrate and give the city something to c So we.

So it was a meeting and the mayo hey, let's throw a parade.

And from there it went.

Ed Leon: And then you then you had to call in the big Shaquan Walker: Yeah.

Ed Leon: Jack hammer.

Shaquan Walker: Yes.

Yeah.

Jack Hammer: If I'm known for an it's straight lines.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Ed Leon: So what is what is the Tell us about the plan.

What's going to be in the parade You know, how big is it?

Give us the details.

Shaquan Walker: So the parade is be massive, I would say, because balloons.

We have many participants, many different floats.

We have that's preparing.

We have dance groups, we have ve Because there's one big thing we to do is going to celebrate the As a matter of fact, we don't have just one grand mar We have many grand marshals, and every last one of them are v So we're going to celebrate veteran groups.

We're going to you might see a balloon.

Ed Leon: Uh-huh.

Like a tiny bal giant balloon?

Shaquan Walker: A giant balloon, and we also have one big surprise that we that we to have even starting the parade All that Jack, talk about this.

Ed Leon: Well, Jack, you have a big history with these parades in Fort Wayne with the Three Rivers Festival.

Jack Hammer: Doing parades since And so glad that when the mayor' called that I wanted to step up And then I reached out to those heavy hitters that did the marshaling, that did the scripts and all tho of things to step in and help us Not just me.

A lot of people given a lot of t but I think the parade is going off right around 10:00 in the mo Ed Leon: All right.

We actually have a map of the pa Let's put it.

Let's put that up as you talk Ja Jack Hammer: On Calhoun Street, the map of the parade starting at Creighton and running down to Main Street.

For me personally, when I look a route, it screams America.

I mean, because we have all kind different people from all kinds coming together as one, and that what we're celebrating us togeth here as one.

Ed Leon: Yea, and you sent us so from some previous parades in th Is it going to be comparable to or is it like you were talking about surprises and big?

Jack Hammer: We sure hope so.

We We are planning that way.

The things that make a parade sp for me.

I mean, you know, the the marchi and, you know, a balloon and sur Those things are wonderful.

But kids waving flags, smiling side by side, that really shows to me not just we are, but the hope of better d and days ahead of us.

And that's those smiles really tell that story.

Ed Leon: Yeah, and we're all going to be there Any expectations on the crowd that we'll get?

Shaquan Walker: We're expecting large crowd like at least 10,000 plus because I mean, we're we're expecting to just flood do So much going on downtown on the 4th of July.

We're expecting to start off and it off and flood downtown to be Ed Leon: Talk about how the comm has contributed to to the parade Jack Hammer: Well, I think there is an important thing, and I've spoke to a lot of people on the phones, whether marching bands or veteran groups but also those groups that are l there's only eight of us and the they're twirlers and dancers, and we want to be a part of this It's when those smaller things become part of it that we really see the parade's heart blossom.

So whether there's 10,000 people or there's 70 people in the line, it's the hearts of those that are doi Ed Leon: Yeah.

What has been the biggest challenge?

Throwing.

Throwing this?

Oh, Jack Hammer: Oh dealing with Sha Well, you said that before he said about me.

Shaquan Walker: Right.

Well, see, Jack is the expert.

Y I just.

You just.

I'm just here, Ed Leon: You just boss him aroun Shaquan Walker: And so I think t challenge is where we've taken w usually takes them about 12 months to pr and we've put it into 2 months.

So it's like moving pieces and moving things.

But it's been so fun because it' the team, Jack and the team.

I get nervous, I am nervous, and they were like, oh no, you'r You just do it just right.

Like, okay, okay, now because I'm thin we should like I'm behind the ei But actually it's just it's been working smooth.

With their help, I get to sleep.

Ed Leon: Everything on track?

You freaking out?

Jack Hammer: Well, you know us.

Sleepless at times, wondering, making sure things are happening because it's a first time for so With the three rivers festival p for so many years, we knew we were going to line up We knew approximately where number 71 was going, and this time it's kind of a new experience fo but I think it's going to be a g and a lot of fun.

Shaquan Walker: Yeah, yeah.

Ed Leon: So any advice for folks Because we want people to show u come down advice for making it a great experience?

Jack Hammer: Getting there early Shaquan Walker: Get there.

Jack Hammer: Find that place that you can put your blanket ou and bring your cooler and make the kids happy.

Bring things that they can do before the parade.

Shaquan Walker: Right.

Jack Hammer: But I think that is getting there soon so you can se And there's room all the way from Creighton, all the way down in front of the courthouse.

There's going to be plenty of ro for everybody that wants to come And what we're celebrating is Am Shaquan Walker: Were gonna have a fly over.

Ed Leon: Oh nice, nice.

Fantasti Oh, suprises.

The surprises keep coming.

Jack Hammer: Yeah.

If if you sometimes think traffic gets lou We got some F-16s ripping down Calhoun Street going to enjoy.

And our 122nd came through for u And you know I don't know why I'm not a pilot, you know.

But when I hear them overhead they've been out practicing late stuff.

But when I hear them come down a parade route, my chest pumps u Shaquan Walker: Yes.

Ed Leon: By the way, I'm curious how do you coordinate a flyover like that with some in baseball?

Ed Leon: Strategically like it's It's to the minute.

Jack Hammer: Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean they really get that done But this started with our great picking up a phone and calling t And then all the wheels started turning to make this happen.

Ed Leon: Well, Fort Wayne is whe I think we're all going to be re that we're celebrating.

At the same time, the rest of America is celebrati And thank you both for everythin you're doing to to to make this happen for the city and for the and for the whole re Jack Hammer: Thank you very much we're proud of it.

Shaquan Walker: Thank you thank Ed Leon: Alright So the downtown celebrate Americ 250 years United.

The downtown parade is Saturday, Parade begins at ten.

It's going to be one for the rec books.

We'll see you there, guys Thank you for being on The 260.

Ed Leon: Stoner's Fun Store has been selling funny, goofy crap s For generations of Fort Wayne ki been a magical place where fake disappearing coins, rubber chickens, and impossible card tricks all existed under on Right now, we're going to step i Stoner's Fun store and explore how one family turned wonder into a local institution.

It was founded by local magician Dick Stoner, and I'm joined by h Kevin Stoner, who runs the opera now, and Colin Haines, Dick's gr and the current president of the Wayne Magicians Club.

Guys, welcome to The 260.

Colin Haines: Thank you so much Ed Leon: Great to have you here.

For people who have never steppe Stoners, what are they missing?

Tell us what what what it is in Kevin Stoner: Well, it's a combi It's the thing that maybe you would laugh at or have fun w and started as a magic shop, then added costumes for people's And then we added kind of comedy joke items and gift items and th Funny t shirts, known for our fu and that type of thing.

Colin Haines: Yeah.

When any given day there's so many different people from so many different backgroun whether they're there for the magic or costumes or just picking up a gag gift fo Ed Leon: Yea its a gathering pl Colin Haines: Yes.

Ed Leon: So your dad started the What was the genesis of the stor Kevin Stoner: Well, dad started actually, grandpa started the st because of dad's interest in mag Ed Leon: Gotcha.

Kevin Stoner: It was one third o is right now.

It was one 20ft building and the that if it wanted it to be more versatile and expand at all we w to add some other products and t And so we just kind of kept on t theme, you know?

Ed Leon: So magic was very impor then, and magic was much more of a cultural entertainment vehi maybe more so than it is now back in those in those decad Colin Haines: Yes.

Ed Leon: What role did it play in the magic community in F Colin Haines: It is a... it is the place for magic in For Almost any magician you talk to in Fort Wayne says, I got started at Stoners when I and was just a kid, and Dick showed me a trick.

And there's magicians all over t who are either from Indiana and they started there, or Dick met them out on the road Las Vegas and gave them tips and So it's really a Mecca for magic even beyond Fort Wayne.

Ed Leon: And that's where you picked up the magic bu Colin Haines: Yes.

When I opened I say my father's a magician, my grandfather, uncle and great gra so I didn't have a choice.

When I was in first grade, I had my grandfather come to my and do a magic show for my class for my birthday, and he sat me down and said, I'm going to do this, but you're going to do a trick, So I about cried myself to sleep thinking about how do do it Ed Leon: Did you know a trick?

Colin Haines: He that's when he my very first trick.

And I got up for everybody and d and went over real well.

And I've been going with it ever since.

Ed Leon: Kevin, what happened to Kevin Stoner: Well, I got involv joke items and gift items and everything else.

That was at the time where we re we also needed a website.

So I kind of worked really hard trying to get our products out.

Ed Leon: Sure, sure.

Kevin Stoner: Yeah.

Ed Stoner: And now I think you w telling me that there were also some other that happened that the club was or the the store was like a Mecc for some other things that that happened with, with mo and the Laurel and Hardy.

Ed Leon: Presentation?

Kevin Stoner: Oh year, well Dad was on a local show that was Laurel and Hardys Magic Castle.

Ed Leon: Oh, OK Kevin Stoner: It had a magic the hosted the show.

They would show magic the movies and then he would have intermiss with generally an audience, a live audience of and everything was performing ma Ed Leon: What are what are some memories of being at the store?

Kevin Stoner: Well, my memory when I was a little ki we were always down there.

And, you know, my first job was, you know, cleaning the show because everything was in showca at that point, you know, under g So always clean those.

And I'd get to pick the icing for the Murphy's Donuts that were down, down about three blocks from the stor But from there we just decided, we're going to add this and add And generally fun.

It had to be funny if we were going to do that.

It can't just be a generic thing Ed Leon; Right.

People may not realize that you actually go purchase magic trick Colin Haines: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Ed Leon: Talk to you about that little bit.

Colin Haines: If you have the in Normally I try to be there to help some folks with magic, but if not, we have videos that show what the tricks do, and we can't tell you how it's d until it's sold.

That's the strict rule of magic.

And down at our shop.

Ed Leon: Is a shop like Stoners?

Is it sort of like a disappearin of Americana?

Colin Haines: I'd say so, defini There's very few shops like ours that are still left.

A lot of them never transitioned beyond magic, which is what we d And that's how so many of them h of failed and closed over the ye So we've kept it diverse with adding the costumes and jokes and everything in between to keep us going.

Ed Leon; Now there's a documenta in the works about the store, ri Colin Haines: Yes, there's two d projects actually, one of them b Isaac Cudnik who works here at PBS, and a friend of ours who lives a the street from Dick and Dee cam day with a camera and wanted to So we have two kind of going at time, which we're very excited a Ed Leon; What do you think fasci people about Stoners and about t not just magic, but also all the all the quirky things that that there.

Kevin Stoner: It's a nostalgic t think its more still like a mom pop store in a way.

Inside, when you get in there in you're not buying something onli You're actually talking to a per telling a funny story, you know?

Ed Leon: Absolutely.

It just seems like that's that's one thing, you know, that can't be replaced even though there's vast amounts of of choic on the internet, you can't repla That kind of interactive, engaged experience.

Kevin Stoner: And people that ha downtown.

Thats one of the things that th conscious of is trying to suppor local businesses.

And they're walking to places.

Colin Haines: Yes.

And it's a completely different there.

There's stories and things that have happened in that building that just every day for us.

But any other place would be the talk for years, you Ed Leon: Tell me one.

Colin haines; Oh, gosh, what was Recently we were filming for Isa and we had a friend of ours bring in illusions and they chai assistant, put her in a box, clo And one curtain and he was down They had changed places and he was locked up in the box.

And we're just.

Just another day Ed Leon: Just another day.

Colin Haines: Not even the weird that's happened in that building Ed Leon: By the way, is magic going to be a career for you?

Colin Haines: I hope so.

I've just graduated from the University of Saint Fra I've been busy down at the shop and quite a few shows just since graduated over the last month, s Ed Leon: All right.

You wanted to impress us with a a little trick here, right?

Colin Haines: Yes, yea... Ed Leon: I think we should do a trick and we'll see.

We'll see how good you are.

Colin Haines: Absolutely.

And this is one of Dick Stoner's original tricks, so I had to do Ed Leon: You can patent tricks, I guess you can.

Colin Haines: Oh, yeah.

Ed Leon: You write tricks.

Colin Haines: There's some Magic maybe they don't even tour or perform at all, but they make their living making magic tricks.

Ed Leon: And you can they do they copyright them or.

Colin Haines: Oh yea, and there' different jobs within magic beyo just performing.

Ed Leon: No kidding.

Colin Haines: Its very fascinat Ed Leon: All right, Colin Haines: Well, it's a regul 52 of them all mixed up and diff They do that so you can tell it apart.

It's v Ed Leon: All right.

What have you do is I'm going to go through the cards just like t You'll tell me when to stop.

We'll land on a card.

That'll be yours.

Okay?

Ed Leon: Okay.

Colin Haines: All right Ed Leon: All right.

Colin Haines: One.

Two.

Three.

Ed Leon: All right.

Stop.

Colin Haines: Right there?

Ooh!

Ace of clubs is a good card.

Colin Haines: But I saw it.

The can never see the card Ed Leon:You saw it, yea you can Colin Haines: All right, so you card right underneath there.

Ed Leon: The one next to it?

Colin Haines: Yes.

Colin Haines: Take it out, Ill Ed Leon: All right Im going to show this to the camera.

Camera three here.

Do not look at that Colin Haines: Im not looking at the monitor.

Ed Leon: All right.

Okay, good d Colin Haines: All right.

When yo place it back anywhere in the de Ed Leon: All right, I'm going to I'm going to go under l Colin Haines: Love it.

I won't even have to touch the d I'll set it down.

I've got a very special pair of I picked up at Stoner's Fun stor I can take one look at the deck and see you had the two of clubs Ed Leon: That is... Colin Haines: Wait, wait, wait.

Three of spades.

Ed Leon: That is not the card.

Colin Haines: Did you show the c Ed Leon: Oh!

Look at that.

All right, come here, come here.

I gotta show... He's got the.

Glasses with the card that we ch Look at that.

Back to camera thr That's incredible.

That is.

That is amazing.

That's a Dick Stoner trick?

Colin Haines: Yeah, Dick stoner Ed Leon: Fantastic.

All right, you guys, you have th jobs in America, I think.

Thank you so much for for coming Colin Haines: Thank you for havi Kevin Stoner: Thanks.

Ed Leon: All right.

You'll find Stoners on South Har Street in downtown Fort Wayne an online at FunnyGoofyCrap.com Ed Leon: The Roland Center for L at the Allen County Public Library has a current exh that puts a fascinating spotlight on President Abraham Lincoln's family life.

The Lincoln's at Home invites visitors to take an inti look at this historic first fami which, through times of peace and times of war, found comfort and companionship in one another Whether it was in their hometown of Springfield, Illinois, or in the white House during our nation's greatest cri Here to talk about the exhibit is Roland Center's senior Lincoln librarian, Jessie Jessie, welcome to The 260!

Jessie Cortesi: Thanks for havin Ed Leon: So this is a look at th private side of one of the most public indivi in our history.

What stands out about the privat Jessie Cortesi: Well, we're tryi humanize him, Right?

So he is this very public figure and there's a person behind the president, r The man behind the martyr.

So people can really relate to f stories we've found, especially you know, world renowned genealo at the Allen County Public Libra Ed Leon: OK Jessie Cortesi: and We tie into family those family stories as w So good or bad, joy and tragedy.

People really relate to family s So there's something there for e Ed Leon: So some of the images a actually from the Lincoln Family photo album.

I guess you have hundreds of pho right?

Jessie Cortesi: Exactly!

Jessie Cortesi: Yea, so there ar over 600 photographs in the Linc photo album.

Now there are several family photo albums in the Lincoln fami but we have the contents of the that Mary Lincoln started hersel and passed down through the gene So of about those 612, we have a on display in the Rolland Center right now through the end of thi and they've got everything from Marry and Abraham all the way down to the latest L So there's baby photographs, rig Ed Leon: Oh wow.

Jessie Cortesi: What family phot would be complete without baby p But there's actually a couple pi of John Wilkes Booth in the fami photo album as well.

Ed Leon: Really?

Jessie Cortesi: So from babies t Ed Leon: How did they end up in How did those photos?

Jessie Cortesi: I don't imagine it was Mary who collecte So that's going to be later generations of the Lincolns collecting that family story.

Hard as it may be.

Ed Leon: Right.

I want to look at we're going to put up some photo and talk about them as we as we Let's start with the photo of the family home in in Springf That's it there.

Give us some context about where this home is.

Jessie Cortesi: Yeah.

So that's corner of eighth and Jackson.

Jackson Streets in Springfield, It's, you know, really close to the capital there when it was still in Springfield when it was moved after it was moved into Springfi And so originally it was a one s And so Lincoln, as he became more successful as and started making some more mon he was able to afford to put the second level on the h Ed Leon: Okay, so that's an add Jessie Cortesi: Yep, and after M having grown up in very extravag wealth and Kentucky, Ed Leon: Okay, Jessie Cortesi: She had to accom his more modest lifestyle.

Ed Leon: Sure.

Yeah.

Put that in context for me.

The home we just saw was that.

Is that a McMansion for Springfi in that era?

Is it a common... Jessie Cortesi: Its definetly a Ed Leon: Whats that?

Jessie Cortesi: Definitely a man Ed Leon: Man on the rise.

Okay Jessie Cortesi: Thats for sure, So when he started in Springfiel he was a junior partner in a couple of law offices.

And by the time that he's in thi he is the senior partner and he's taken on a junior partn So he's definitely rising not only within his party politi but also in his career as a lawy Ed Leon: What do you think stand to people when they view the exh about the private side of of President Lincoln?

Jessie Cortesi: We find that peo connect to a Tad Lincoln's toy s So Tad Lincoln was the youngest of the four Lincoln sons, and after his older brother Willie had passed away in the White House's playmate and best friend, he became reall soldiers around the White House.

And we have these tiny little wo painted toy soldiers that Tad loved so much.

Ed Leon: I think this is that an image of them?

So those are the toy soldiers right up in the middle.

Jessie Cortesi: That is.

That is correct.

And one of them is broken.

We think maybe that was Tad hims Ed Leon: Ok, and talk about the photos that we're seeing.

Jessie Cortesi: Yeah.

So that bigger one on the top ri that is Abraham Lincoln and his That's in February of 1865.

So just a couple of months befor passed away.

And Tad and Lincoln were very cl And at the bottom, there are some more photographs.

You've got Tad with Abraham agai And then in the middle is Tad with his pony.

So they were the whole family wa very fond of animals, especially They get called out a few times especially.

But on that bottom left there is my favorite photographs in the c That's Tad Lincoln playing dress up as a soldier.

Ed Leon: Oh cute.

Jessie Cortesi: That soldiers un was made just for his tiny little size, but he actually drew on it after He drew on a mustache and goatee Sword and sword belt.

Ed Leon: How would you character their family life in Springfield versus how it was in the White House?

So, much more public.

Is the obvious answer.

Right.

And it's a very chaotic househol wherever they are.

So one of Lincoln's law partners Ed Leon: Chaotic why?

Jessie Cortesi: His law partner boys little Hellions.

Notorious Hellions, in fact.

So they would get up to all sorts of trouble.

And Abraham was a very permissiv parent and Mary as well.

They had a very long leash, or some might say none at all.

So the chaos followed them and it just got more on the on the national stage rather than t and Springfield side.

Ed Leon: We have some other phot from the white House.

Todd, if you can pop those up that that are part of the exhibi this seems like a family dinner.

What is happening here?

Jessie Cortesi: Yea, so of cours being the first family becoming more famous and then pa even after Abraham's death, you know, they're so famous and people want to look at this now, the family never sat for a together, you know he was... Ed Leon: No kidding.

Jessie Cortesi: Yea Abraham was six foot four and Mary was five foot three, five foot two, five foot three.

And she said they'd look ridiculous together.

Now.

He could have sat.

She could have stood.

But she sa But after he passed away, in par the public really wanted family photos, family images of the family toge So this is what's called a compo So they would take known photogr so that one of Abraham and Tad, from that famous photo session i I mentioned of ‘65.

Ed Leon: Okay.

Jessie Cortesi: And then they ki pasted in these other portraits Robert and Willie there.

Ed Leon: All right.

So that scene never took place.

Jessie Cortesi: Correct.

I mean, you'd have the family around the table, but.

It wasnt painted that for life Ed Leon: Its almost like 1800s happening, working here.

Jessie Cortesi: And I am so ofte schoolchildren about old school Absolutely.

Ed Leon: All right.

There was one more that I though was really, really colorful.

Oh, this is now those are some opera glasses, ri Jessie Cortesi: Yes.

That was ou Lincoln's own opera glasses.

Ed Leon: And was she the she was fan, not the president so much.

Jessie Cortesi: He he loved the theater as well.

He was a very fond of the theate They would they loved to go toge And she, you know, just like any else, wants a good view of the s and hold them up to get a better Yeah.

Ed Leon: What have people told y you know, coming out of the exhi What what are they surprised abo Jessie Cortesi: Well, they're su it's here in Fort Wayne for one.

And and then especially that it's in a public library, r Because it's such an amazing col amazing gallery to be in a publi But that's part of our legacy he Wayne are tie to Fort Wayne hist Locals might remember the old Lincoln M that was here in town, and it's my understanding that it was something of a rite for local students to go through But when the museum closed, peop didn't recognize that the collec stayed here in Fort Wayne and in Ed Leon: Do you think that the e any myth or preconceived notions that people have of the Jessie Cortesi: People come to t with all kinds of preconceived notions of American history.

And the president.

And I think part of the great th about the gallery and about history is that you take your own interpretations fr Ed Leon: What's the most humaniz in there to you?

Jessie Cortesi: I really love th of Tad drawn on, because we'll a children when we show, you know, the photograph Tad dre with the soldier's uniform.

Like, would you mom like you to on your school photograph?

And they're like, no, no, mom would be so mad.

But I imagine Abraham would be l that's totally.

That's hilarious.

Ed Leon: All right, that's aweso I can't wait to see it.

You can see the Lincoln's at Hom exhibit during normal library ho through the end of the year at the Roland Center for Lincoln at the Allen County Public Libra Jessie, thank you so much for being on The 260 Jessie Cortesi: Thank you, my pl Ed Leon: The Roland Center for L at the Allen County Public Library has a current exh that puts a fascinating spotlight on President Abraham Lincoln's family life.

The Lincoln's at Home invites visitors to take an inti look at this historic first fami which, through times of peace and times of war, found comfort and companionship in one another Whether it was in their hometown of Springfield, Illinois, or in the white House during our nation's greatest cri Here to talk about the exhibit is Roland Center's senior Lincoln librarian, Jessie Jessie, welcome to The 260!

Jessie Cortesi: Thanks for havin Ed Leon: So this is a look at th private side of one of the most public indivi in our history.

What stands out about the privat Jessie Cortesi: Well, we're tryi humanize him, Right?

So he is this very public figure and there's a person behind the president, r The man behind the martyr.

So people can really relate to f stories we've found, especially you know, world renowned genealo at the Allen County Public Libra Ed Leon: OK Jessie Cortesi: and We tie into family those family stories as w So good or bad, joy and tragedy.

People really relate to family s So there's something there for e Ed Leon: So some of the images a actually from the Lincoln Family photo album.

I guess you have hundreds of pho right?

Jessie Cortesi: Exactly!

Jessie Cortesi: Yea, so there ar over 600 photographs in the Linc photo album.

Now there are several family photo albums in the Lincoln fami but we have the contents of the that Mary Lincoln started hersel and passed down through the gene So of about those 612, we have a on display in the Rolland Center right now through the end of thi and they've got everything from Marry and Abraham all the way down to the latest L So there's baby photographs, rig Ed Leon: Oh wow.

Jessie Cortesi: What family phot would be complete without baby p But there's actually a couple pi of John Wilkes Booth in the fami photo album as well.

Ed Leon: Really?

Jessie Cortesi: So from babies t Ed Leon: How did they end up in How did those photos?

Jessie Cortesi: I don't imagine it was Mary who collecte So that's going to be later generations of the Lincolns collecting that family story.

Hard as it may be.

Ed Leon: Right.

I want to look at we're going to put up some photo and talk about them as we as we Let's start with the photo of the family home in in Springf That's it there.

Give us some context about where this home is.

Jessie Cortesi: Yeah.

So that's corner of eighth and Jackson.

Jackson Streets in Springfield, It's, you know, really close to the capital there when it was still in Springfield when it was moved after it was moved into Springfi And so originally it was a one s And so Lincoln, as he became more successful as and started making some more mon he was able to afford to put the second level on the h Ed Leon: Okay, so that's an add Jessie Cortesi: Yep, and after M having grown up in very extravag wealth and Kentucky, Ed Leon: Okay, Jessie Cortesi: She had to accom his more modest lifestyle.

Ed Leon: Sure.

Yeah.

Put that in context for me.

The home we just saw was that.

Is that a McMansion for Springfi in that era?

Is it a common... Jessie Cortesi: Its definetly a Ed Leon: Whats that?

Jessie Cortesi: Definitely a man Ed Leon: Man on the rise.

Okay Jessie Cortesi: Thats for sure, So when he started in Springfiel he was a junior partner in a couple of law offices.

And by the time that he's in thi he is the senior partner and he's taken on a junior partn So he's definitely rising not only within his party politi but also in his career as a lawy Ed Leon: What do you think stand to people when they view the exh about the private side of of President Lincoln?

Jessie Cortesi: We find that peo connect to a Tad Lincoln's toy s So Tad Lincoln was the youngest of the four Lincoln sons, and after his older brother Willie had passed away in the White House's playmate and best friend, he became reall soldiers around the White House.

And we have these tiny little wo painted toy soldiers that Tad loved so much.

Ed Leon: I think this is that an image of them?

So those are the toy soldiers right up in the middle.

Jessie Cortesi: That is.

That is correct.

And one of them is broken.

We think maybe that was Tad hims Ed Leon: Ok, and talk about the photos that we're seeing.

Jessie Cortesi: Yeah.

So that bigger one on the top ri that is Abraham Lincoln and his That's in February of 1865.

So just a couple of months befor passed away.

And Tad and Lincoln were very cl And at the bottom, there are some more photographs.

You've got Tad with Abraham agai And then in the middle is Tad with his pony.

So they were the whole family wa very fond of animals, especially They get called out a few times especially.

But on that bottom left there is my favorite photographs in the c That's Tad Lincoln playing dress up as a soldier.

Ed Leon: Oh cute.

Jessie Cortesi: That soldiers un was made just for his tiny little size, but he actually drew on it after He drew on a mustache and goatee Sword and sword belt.

Ed Leon: How would you character their family life in Springfield versus how it was in the White House?

So, much more public.

Is the obvious answer.

Right.

And it's a very chaotic househol wherever they are.

So one of Lincoln's law partners Ed Leon: Chaotic why?

Jessie Cortesi: His law partner boys little Hellions.

Notorious Hellions, in fact.

So they would get up to all sorts of trouble.

And Abraham was a very permissiv parent and Mary as well.

They had a very long leash, or some might say none at all.

So the chaos followed them and it just got more on the on the national stage rather than t and Springfield side.

Ed Leon: We have some other phot from the white House.

Todd, if you can pop those up that that are part of the exhibi this seems like a family dinner.

What is happening here?

Jessie Cortesi: Yea, so of cours being the first family becoming more famous and then pa even after Abraham's death, you know, they're so famous and people want to look at this now, the family never sat for a together, you know he was... Ed Leon: No kidding.

Jessie Cortesi: Yea Abraham was six foot four and Mary was five foot three, five foot two, five foot three.

And she said they'd look ridiculous together.

Now.

He could have sat.

She could have stood.

But she sa But after he passed away, in par the public really wanted family photos, family images of the family toge So this is what's called a compo So they would take known photogr so that one of Abraham and Tad, from that famous photo session i I mentioned of ‘65.

Ed Leon: Okay.

Jessie Cortesi: And then they ki pasted in these other portraits Robert and Willie there.

Ed Leon: All right.

So that scene never took place.

Jessie Cortesi: Correct.

I mean, you'd have the family around the table, but.

It wasnt painted that for life Ed Leon: Its almost like 1800s happening, working here.

Jessie Cortesi: And I am so ofte schoolchildren about old school Absolutely.

Ed Leon: All right.

There was one more that I though was really, really colorful.

Oh, this is now those are some opera glasses, ri Jessie Cortesi: Yes.

That was ou Lincoln's own opera glasses.

Ed Leon: And was she the she was fan, not the president so much.

Jessie Cortesi: He he loved the theater as well.

He was a very fond of the theate They would they loved to go toge And she, you know, just like any else, wants a good view of the s and hold them up to get a better Yeah.

Ed Leon: What have people told y you know, coming out of the exhi What what are they surprised abo Jessie Cortesi: Well, they're su it's here in Fort Wayne for one.

And and then especially that it's in a public library, r Because it's such an amazing col amazing gallery to be in a publi But that's part of our legacy he Wayne are tie to Fort Wayne hist Locals might remember the old Lincoln M that was here in town, and it's my understanding that it was something of a rite for local students to go through But when the museum closed, peop didn't recognize that the collec stayed here in Fort Wayne and in Ed Leon: Do you think that the e any myth or preconceived notions that people have of the Jessie Cortesi: People come to t with all kinds of preconceived notions of American history.

And the president.

And I think part of the great th about the gallery and about history is that you take your own interpretations fr Ed Leon: What's the most humaniz in there to you?

Jessie Cortesi: I really love th of Tad drawn on, because we'll a children when we show, you know, the photograph Tad dre with the soldier's uniform.

Like, would you mom like you to on your school photograph?

And they're like, no, no, mom would be so mad.

But I imagine Abraham would be l that's totally.

That's hilarious.

Ed Leon: All right, that's aweso I can't wait to see it.

You can see the Lincoln's at Hom exhibit during normal library ho through the end of the year at the Roland Center for Lincoln at the Allen County Public Libra Jessie, thank you so much for being on The 260 Jessie Cortesi: Thank you, my pl