Moffitt
Halpin
“Nothing happens unless first a dream,” Carl Sandburg wrote in his poem “Washington Monument by Night.”
That spirit of vision and determination is deeply rooted in Galesburg, Ill., Sandburg’s birthplace and home to the Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association. It’s also the heart of the legislative districts represented by Sen. Mike Halpin and Rep. Dan Swanson.
Sandburg, one of America’s most celebrated writers, won three Pulitzer Prizes, including one for his multivolume biography of Abraham Lincoln. He addressed Congress on the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday and even earned a Grammy. Before achieving literary acclaim, he worked locally as a milkman, an ice harvester, a firefighter and a pottery laborer, and he served in the Spanish-American War.
Swanson asked NCSL to speak with his predecessor, former Rep. Don Moffitt, who is vice president of the Sandburg association.
What does the Carl Sandburg Historic Site mean to your district?
Halpin: The historic site is a physical reminder of the enduring legacy of Carl Sandburg and his connection to Illinois as one of its most renowned poets and authors. I’m proud to have the cottage as part of the 36th District, and to share its simplicity and beauty with everyone who’d like to see it.
Moffitt: The historic site definitely brings tourists to Galesburg. Sandburg was a distinguished biographer of President Abraham Lincoln, and his connection to our area is strengthened by history. One of the famous debates between Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858 was held at Knox College in Galesburg. And there’s other history here. For example, Ronald Reagan attended first grade in Galesburg in 1917-18. Illinois governors are known for quoting Sandburg all the time.
What kind of legacy did Sandburg leave in your area?
Halpin: Carl Sandburg was born and buried in Galesburg. Part of his legacy is that whatever his later travels through life, the small city of Galesburg was always home. He also will be forever known as someone who brought Abraham Lincoln’s story to life, as told by someone who knew what it meant to live and work in rural Illinois.
Moffitt: The historic site is a three-room cottage Sandburg was born in and lived in until he was 1½ years old. There’s a nice message there that you don’t let your current circumstances define who you are or limit you. Sandburg just kept building on his education and life experiences and eventually became internationally known. That’s why he’s often called the “people’s poet.” He had a real connection to working people.
There’s a statue of Sandburg in the town square, and my wife and I donated a bench beside it with one of my favorite quotes of his: “When a nation goes down, or a society perishes, one condition may always be found; they forgot where they came from. They lost sight of what had brought them along.”
Do you have personal connections to Sandburg’s life or writings?
Moffitt: I’ve always been fascinated by Sandburg. I have five Sandburg books. One, “Abe Lincoln Grows Up,” I have signed by five people, including Sandburg biographer Penelope Niven and statue sculptor Lonnie Stewart. That book was bought for me by my son, who, like Sandburg, is a firefighter. As a board member of the site, I help organize monthly meetings and partner with local groups to keep the site active and accessible.
What else makes your district special?
Halpin: Although I may be biased, the 36th Senate District is the best in the state of Illinois. It is diverse, a mixture of relatively populous urban centers and rural communities of fewer than 100 people. It is the birth home not only of Carl Sandburg but of Wyatt Earp (Monmouth). It’s the world headquarters of John Deere (Moline) and is home to the Rock Island Arsenal. It is located on the north-south shipping route that is the Mississippi River (and it’s the only place where the river flows directly east to west) as well as the shipping routes to the east and west of several major railroads. Lastly, the people of the district make it special, and I’m proud to represent it.
Moffitt: We’re a very strong agricultural area. Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John Block is a Knox County native, and his family still farms here. We have Knox College and the Carl Sandburg Community College in Galesburg. And we have a great community here to help support our historic efforts. For example, our retired fire chief, Tom Simkins, got a new fence built for (the historic site) at a fraction of the cost we would have paid on our own. And I thank Sen. Halpin and Rep. Swanson for all the support they have given us in the Illinois General Assembly to support our efforts to keep the history of Sandburg alive.
“My District” gives NCSL members a chance to talk about life in the places they represent, from high-profile events and destinations to the fun facts only the locals know. The responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Denver-based freelance writer Gene Rose retired from NCSL in 2023.