Abe's Acres

We've been the Land of Lincoln for 50 years now.

STREATOR -- The state bird is the cardinal, the state fish is the bluegill, the state tree is the white oak. And, thanks to a former state senator from Streator, Illinois became known as the "Land of Lincoln" 50 years ago today.

The late state Sen. Fred J. Hart led the effort that culminated with then-Gov. William Stratton signing a bill May 17, 1955, adopting those three words as the state's slogan.

The legislation had breezed through the General Assembly, and soon after former U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen of Pekin urged Congress to pass a law granting Illinois a copyright to the phrase for exclusive use as its insignia.

The next best use the slogan (or variation of it) has to be on Eric Zorn's blog where he occasionally posts kewl internet links under the heading Land Of Linkin'.